The End of the Series and it's All About the Pitching - Jenn

Like Dad said, Dice-K was amazing in the A's home opener last night. I won't rehash, I'll just say that he had 9 K's and Papelbon had another save with three K's in the 9th. I love this guy. I had a T-shirt made specially that says "Papelbon Saves" and based on last night it still holds up.

I agree. Varitek was robbed. That shot to right center should have been called a home run. Because it was. But this isn't the first time the umpires have screwed up a call. That story's as old as time itself. But we got the win even without that 3rd run. And that's really all that matters.

Now onto today's game: the final of this four game series. And while it took place in McAfee Coliseum it might as well have been at Fenway Park for the number of Sox fans in the stadium. I swear, there was way more red than green in those seats. And just like last night, Red Sox Nation was treated to a great show. Today's game was again all about the pitching. This time it was John Lester on the mound and like Dice-K last night, he also went 6.2 innings. He didn't have as many K's but he was just as effective - keeping the A's scoreless. Then Corey and Delcarmen finished off the last 2.1 innings leaving the guys in green with a big goose egg.

But while pitching was the story for these two games something amazing happened today. Papi got a hit breaking his 0-12 streak. It was a blooper into short left, but a hit is a hit no matter how small. And that was all he needed to get back on his feet. Because in the top of the 7th he belted one out of the park giving Papi his first home run of the '08 season. Whew! This may have been the longest dry spell so far for Ortiz, but he came through as he always does and got the Sox on the board. Varitek got another home run in this game, and unlike last night, there would be no discussion among the umpires. You see, this ball sailed over the right field wall never to be seen again. Varitek's rocket put the Sox on top 5-0 and that's where the score remained.

A shutout is a pretty good way to end the series and a great way to start the season.