Boston Red Sox 3, Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2
In case you haven’t heard, the Yankees are “struggling” through a tough season fraught with injuries. Awww poor babies. Did Sheffield, Cano and Matsui hurt there widdle wristies? Frankly I am sick and tired of all the “Yankees stop gaps step it up” and “Joe Torre must me a genius to win with these guys” commentary out there. It’s about time the Sox and Francona get some props for the job they have been doing with the walking wounded they manage to field every night. Wells, Foulke, Coco, Clement, Pena, Nixon, Wakefield, Varitek, and DiNardo all have missed major time or are currently on the DL.
Now Lowell and Mirabelli might be joining them. Mikey Doubles has hit about a half dozen foul balls off his instep and sat out this first game (hopefully just this game) and Belli got his knee and ankle really screwed up when Crawford slid into home (he was out). Luckily Javy Lopez was just picked up to serve as the backstop just incase this situation arose… I just didn’t think it would be this soon.
So after all that damage and all those bad breaks… have the Sox given up? NO! They just keep battling and keep getting out of jams and keep chugging along. Schilling had a gritty (see: shaky) 7 inning start, but held the pesky Ray to only 2 runs (both solo homers). Delcarman was hot again for the 8th and Papelbon… well do I even have to say it? Save #30.
The bats were more or less held in check by the hodgepodge Tampa staff… unless your name is David Ortiz. Two of the three runs were huge blasts by our resident colossus, including a go-ahead shot in the 8th. He now has 39 HR on the year and 107 RBI. If isn’t the MVP this year then that award just doesn’t make any sense at all.
So they keep grinding through. Clutch is the only know cure for a snake bit team and the Sox are stocking up. Let’s hope Wells has had his shots. He faces Fossum tonight… ugh crafty lefties… they need to hammer him into the ground. GO SOX.
Posts
