Truly a Team Effort/Jenn May Be Right-Peter

Well, tonight's game was the rubber of this first series of 2008 with the Yanks. We won and it was truly a team effort. The Yankee starter, Hughes, never had it and the Sox started in right away in the first. Ellsbury led off with a walk, stole second, continuing to third when the throw ended up in center field, and later scored on Manny's single. On that same single, JD took third, having reached base a moment earlier by a walk. When Yanks catcher Molina couldn't handle a Hughes pitch, JD came home, followed a few moments later by Manny on Youk's sac fly--3-0 Sox.

After the Diceman gave up a run in the third (he was wild all night--six walks in 5 innings), the Sox immediately struck back with four in their half of the inning. Fueled in part by three Sox singles, one by Manny, they drove Hughes to an early shower, following shortly after by getting their final two of the inning on a wild pitch and an Ellsbury single.

Dice gave up three the very next inning, again partly due to his inability to put the ball where he wanted consistently. But he gamely soldiered on, making it through the fifth, thereby being eligible for the W should the Sox win. It was tough, though. He deserves credit for fighting through the game. Usually, when you throw 116 pitches in only five innings, the letter you'll get at game's end is a big L. But tonight, Dice was equal to the task he faced. Now all the Sox had to do was have the remains of their overworked pen nail it down. Easier said than done, believe you me!

Francona had said before the game that he didn't want to use Papelbon or Okajima tonight as they'd both worked yesterday. So barring something cataclysmic, they weren't available. Sixth inning, in comes Aardsma. Now he's been kind of interesting. So far, his ERA looks good and he does get outs, but he has also given up key hits at the wrong time. He starts off with two walks, and I'm already thinking who Terry can throw out there next before things get out of hand. Little did I know what was coming. But Aardsma finds whatever he lost and, other than the two walks, pitches two perfect innings. ERA drops to 2.35, we're through seven, and I'm starting to breathe a tiny bit easier.

Then comes the eighth and with it, Jenn's bete noir, Timlin. I scream a few undeleted expletives, and he lives down to them--immediately. Before the first game of this series, Giambi had only a single hit of any kind all season. He faced Timlin that night and got his second, what became a game winning home run. Tonight he waited until the third pitch from Timlin to duplicate his earlier feat. Another home run, this time not quite as long a drive. It ended up in the right center bull pen, JD just missing what would have been a highlight film catch--7-4. Two more batters follow and the Yanks suddenly have two men on base, trailing by three with the tying run coming to the plate and nobody out.

Lopez replaces Timlin, getting all three batters out, and then, just to give solid little emphasis to his performance under pressure, faces Abreu leading off the ninth and blows him away. Three pitches, three strikes.

This brings on the 'Other Manny', Delcarmen. I'm a bit concerned. Again, he has explosive speed, but sometimes is a bit careless about placement and the results on those occasions are not good--not one bit. But, hey! He only has to face ARod followed by Matsui. I'm imploring him to pitch as well as he can, but to 'be careful' on every pitch. I figure I'd rather see ARod get walked from too much caution by Delcarmen than put one on Lansdowne Street. However, Delcarmen does not disappoint--not me; he very definitely disappointed ARod. He challenged him and soon ARod was gone. Back to your place at the end of the bench, Mr. Rod. Assume the position, please. Matsui, known in his native Japan as King Kong for good reason gives Delcarmen a real workout in his at bat, but, in the end, Delcarmen gets him as well and the game is over; Sox win, 8-5. See ya' next week for a pair at Yankee Stadium.

Now, back to Timlin. I hate to say it, but Jenn may have been right yesterday. The guy still throws in the 90's consistently, but he's become consistently very hittable. This is not a trait a reliever wants to even contemplate, much less lay claim to. He gave us a lot of good innings over the last four years, and for that I'm grateful, but it may be time to hang 'em up. These last two outings look too consistent, and in the wrong way. Terry may want to give him a couple more chances when the game isn't hanging on the line, but I think we're at the end of the line here.

On another matter that has nothing to do with the game: a pro-Boston construction worker working on the construction of the new Yankee Stadium apparently planted an Ortiz Red Sox jersey in the foundation work as the concrete was being poured somewhere along the third base line. He was trying to put a permanent curse on the 'Stripes. It came out earlier this week in the New York Post, and, after much Yankee front office pooh poohing of the possibility, a couple of other workers turned up who witnessed the placement of the jersey. So, today some of Hankie and the Boss' money was expended to pay for five hours of good union overtime to jackhammer up the concrete until they could locate and remove the offending shirt. Will the curse remain? Won't know until next year, but I'll bet Hankie will be thinking of it while he continues to mouth off about it. Watch out, Hankie--the spirit of 'The Shirt' will be with you---Oooooooooooo.....