The Winning Streak Continues - Jenn

It was another come from behind win as both Ellsbury and Pedroia helped the Sox take their fifth game in a row from the Angels.

The bad news came about a half hour before game time that Beckett wouldn't play due to a stiff neck. So David Pauley, a kid literally on his way back to Pawtucket, got a call on his cell telling him to turn around, he was going to the show. While there were no police escorts, the guy showed up and was ready to take the mound when the game started at 7 pm eastern. His first two innings were very strong, going three up three down, and just as I started thinking we could have a repeat of Buchholz's no hitter last season, Izturas came to bat in the third and smacked one to center for the first Angels double of the night. There would be several more over the next two innings as the Angels would take an early lead of 5-1 by the middle of the fourth.

But this is Fenway park and our beloved Sox have a penchant for coming from behind. And by the end of the 5th inning Dream Weaver had turned into a Nightmare. It started in the 4th when with a lead of four runs Weaver threw a ball that JD drove up the middle for a base hit. After Casey flied out, Cash lined to center and with two out and two men on, Lugo's grounder found its way into right field to drive in JD. 5-2 Angels. Ellsbury would ground to 3rd for the final out, but the Sox were just getting started.

Once Pauley allowed another hit in the 5th, he was gone and Tavarez, in the form of Dr. Jekyll, took the mound. That was the end of the Angels scoring - for the time being. And it was a good thing because it allowed the Sox to pound the hell out of the Angels and come back to tie the game in the fifth.

It all started with Pedroia who on an 0-2 pitch drove one to right that got over Vladdie and bounced into the seats for a ground rule double. That brings the hitting streak to 11 games for last year's rookie of the year. Then Ortiz hit a ball through the shift and drove in Pedroia to make the score 5-3. Unfortunately Vlad would catch the ball that Manny lined just past Pesky's Pole and now there were two outs. But Youk was coming up. While Kevin Youkilis is not known for his home runs, this is a man who's at the top of the league for driving the ball for extra bases. Last night was no different. On a 2-2 count Youk launched the ball over the green monster to tie the game. Weaver would end up getting the next two outs to keep the game tied, but the damage had been done and Weaver's night was over.

In the bottom of the 6th, Ellsbury would continue the rain of runs as he hit his second solo shot of the night to right field giving the Sox the lead. (The 24 year-old outfielder started the game with a solo shot, the fourth game opening home run of Weaver's career.)

Unfortunately the one-run lead would only last until the top of the 8th when Okajima gave up the tying run to Kotchman. Okie would get the next two batters out, but then Ayvar doubled off the wall and Francona was forced to replace him with my favorite pitcher - Mike Timlin. I prayed he wouldn't let the Angels get the lead and my prayers were answered as he got Chone Figgins to ground to Lugo for the final out of the inning.

Now with the game tied, the Angels brought in their closer - Scot Shields. While Shields is great, he sucks against the Sox. They've got his number. At Fenway he's 0-3 with an ERA of 17.65. Last night both those numbers got larger as with one out and Ellsbury on first, Pedroia, again, sent the ball down the third base line to the corner to get Ellsbury home and give the Sox the lead.

Papelbon would replace Timlin (thank God) to make sure that lead stuck. And stick it did as Pap struck out two and got Anderson to pop out to Manny Ramirez for the final out of the game bringing his saves to a total of 8.

I hope tonight's game goes as well, as it seems the Sox are starting to drop like flies. Dice-K was another last minute scratch as he's come down with the flu. Youk was scratched due to a sore back from a play he made last night. Varitek is still out with the flu as is "the other Manny". Sounds like the team failed to get their flu shots this year. The good news is that Beckett's expected to make his next start and Lowell's improving slowly but surely. We'll have to wait and see if we can keep this winning streak going.