Games 67 - 69

Final Scores:

Game 67: Boston Red Sox 4, San Francisco Giants 6
Game 68: Boston Red Sox 0, San Francisco Giants 4
Game 69: Boston Red Sox 9, Minnesota Twins 2

Edgardo Alfonzo proved to be Red Sox Nation's public enemy number one this past weekend, helped by a few mistakes, a bad call and a phenomenal performance by San Francisco pitcher Jason Schmidt on Sunday. Unfortunately, I was only able to listen to Sunday's game, so I don't know how the call played out, but it strikes me as a bit weird that Nomar would take his foot off the base...I vote bad call based on Garciaparra's abilities, if nothing else. Good first time of the season for Francona to get ejected as any, I guess. As to whether or not the Sox would have won that game...Schmidt was still pitching 95 mph in the 7th inning at 100 pitches. I don't think the Sox would have worn him down in time.

The one cheering thing about Sunday's baseball games was that the Yankees lost. And not only did they lose, but it was obvious to me that the loss was going to occur. I checked the score Sunday night and discovered that it was 5 - 3 Dodgers in the 8th. My first feeling was of dread - the Evil Empire leads the majors in come-from-behind wins this year, if I remember correctly. Then I saw who was pitching for the Dodgers and felt instant relief. 'Unless hell has frozen over,' I thought, 'Eric Gagne will get his 81st straight save tonight.' It's so nice being right.

However, the Sox then came home and showed the Twins a thing or two about hitting AND pitching, with Schilling giving up one run and four hits in seven innings and homers from Ortiz, Ramirez and Garciaparra...and by Garciaparra homerun, I mean fifth grand slam of his career. Abooya. Honestly, there's really no better way to start off any sort of set of games, especially a homestand. The Sox played last night like the team they have the potential to be - and if they can sustain a momentum, it'll be quite a race by the end of August.

In other news, Epstein has signed Curtis Leskanic (whose name is *almost* as cool as Doug Mientkiewicz, but not quite), who was recently released from the Royals, as a middle reliever to go alongside Scott Williamson. Since Williamson just came back from the DL (and has continued to pitch as well as he did in the post-intervention playoffs last year), picking up some more depth to prevent burnout is certainly a good idea - and you can never have too much pitching. Hopefully the switch of teams will improve Leskanic's 0 and 3, 8.04 ERA record. His player profile suggests he has the potential to be a better pitcher - a 2.40 ERA or so is decent as a backup. Guess we'll see what happens. YANKEES SUCK!