Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Game 80: Comeback City

Final Score: Boston Red Sox 5, Arizona Diamondbacks 4

I can't believe it took eight innings to get the Diamondbacks' third starter, but I'll take a comeback win at the hands of the Arizona bullpen, thank you very much. Pedroia, Lowell, and Varitek combining for four runs in one sustained burst is the kind of thing that really breaks the back of a game, and might be the morale killer the Sox need to win the series today against Randy Johnson. Actually, check that: if Johnson pitches against the Sox the way he did the last few times he faced them, we don't have anything to worry about.

Robin pointed out a couple of days ago that this team runs hot and cold like a shower hooked up to a bad plumbing system with the toilet running; last night only emphasizes the point, by showing off the opposite: lacking Ortiz (swing that bat, buddy) and Youkilis, seemingly down for the count with the Rays breathing down their necks for first place, they motivated, put together the runs, and got the win. If this team makes it out of June still in first, it won't be just a minor miracle; it'll be another demonstration - following the one this same group of guys gave last October against Cleveland - that this particular team has the component parts to be repeat champions. Take out some pieces and the tower doesn't fall - that's got to be an excellent sign.