Don't You Love the Drama?-Peter

Well, here we are again--ninth inning and needing a run to take the lead so our closer(s) can nail down another victory. Last night it was 4-3 Tribe entering the ninth and the Sox bats came through, followed by another Papelbon laserium. Tonight we entered the ninth at least tied, but still needing a run to nail it down and avoid the added stress, wear and tear of extra innings.

Wake started and was doing pretty well entering the fifth; even had a 1-0 lead. The Indians, however, worked a two-spot out of him, combining two walks and a like number of singles for the deuce. They still had men on base, but Wake avoided more damage by getting a grounder for a well timed twin killing. That's the way the score remained until the Sox 7th. The first two Sox hitters were walked and then Lugo tried a bunt. As I've said previously, they call this a game of inches. The bunt doesn't go to the ground instantly, but stays airborne long enough for the Tribe reliever to get a good shot at a catch for the out. Had this happened, a DP very well might have resulted and goodbye rally. But, for whatever reason, it wasn't caught--only caromed off his glove. "In play", you say. So why not pick it up and wing it to 2d or 3d and at the very least get the lead runner or the next in line? Well, the gods were really looking out for the Sox on this one. It went from the pitcher's glove through the catcher's legs as he went out to assist if needed. When the smoke cleared, there were Sox players on every base. Jed Lowrie, just called up last week from the Pawsox wasted little time. Jumping on a pitch he liked, he placed it into center field for a two run single, and the Sox had reclaimed the lead.

Unfortunately, the Indians wasted little time in knotting the score again. Bottom of the same inning, they quickly loaded the bases and then 'The Other Manny', Delcarmen to you, hit the Tribe first sacker, Garko, with a pitch forcing in a run. That was all he'd allow, though and we rolled through a mutually scoreless eighth. Aardsma came in during that inning with two already gone, fired two pitches and the stage was set for the ninth inning heroics.

With one gone, our captain, Jason Varitek, came in as a pinch hitter. Since Wakefield started and Tek doesn't catch him, he'd been letting Cash handle the duties as Wake's latest iteration of Doug Mirabelli. But with Wake long gone by now, it made sense to get Tek into the game, particularly as Cash was already 0-3 on the evening and hitting only .200. Tek worked the count to 1-2, and then drove the next pitch to the opposite field for the lead, 4-3. His third HR of the young season, it's also his third career pinch homer. Couldn't have come at a better time.

We could use a little insurance here, though. The Tribe has some very good hitters. So, insurance runs requested--insurance run delivered. The Sox proceeded to load 'em up and Youk delivered a single for the final run.

This,of course, presented Francona with a bit of a dilemma. Who to send out for the finish? Papelbon had done a spectacular job last night, but he may be needed tomorrow in Yankee Stadium, so ideally he doesn't go tonight so he can stay fresher than those eggs you had for breakfast this morning. Aardsma could have gone on, but he's not really a closer. So the task fell to Okajima. No problemo! Twelve pitches, nine of them strikes and another perfect inning is in the books, including two K's. Game over once again and Okajima didn't even break a sweat.

Some commentary: the rookie playing third tonight, looked pretty good. Handled all his chances cleanly and drove in a trey, even though he was just one for four. Timely hits are always appreciated and his certainly was. Papi also got a single, that's three hits in two games. He's still got quite a way to come back, but these hits can only help him regain his eye and his confidence. Hopefully, it won't be very long before he's crushing the ball again.

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