Another Walk-off - Jenn

For the 8th time this season, the Sox won on the final at bat of the game. That's the most in the major league. And while it was a nail biter to get there, it was worth it.

Papi went 2 for 4, with both hits counting toward the final score. The first came in the 7th with one out. Then Papi, who hasn't had a hit since April 24th stepped to the plate and belted one to the 2nd row in right field. It was just out of the reach of Alex Rios and the score's 1-0 Sox. But this is the Red Sox and God forbid they make things easy.

Manny Delcarmen came in for one batter - Adam Lind. It was just one because Lind reached on a liner back up the middle. So Delcarmen's pulled and Okajima takes over. But Okie can't take care of things either. At least not at first. The first guy Okie faces is Gregg Zaun who knocks the ball down the 3rd base line to the corner for a double. So now Lind is 90 feet away and there's nobody out. But Okie gets it together enough to have Rios fly out to center. Unfortunately the fly is deep enough to get Lind home and tie the score. Okie was lucky Brandon Moss made such a spectacular diving catch for the sacrifice, otherwise both Lind and Zaun would've scored. But what could've been doesn't matter. All that matters is what is. After Rios' sac fly, the next two batters Okie faced struck out to end the inning and any further damage.

Papelbon came on in the 9th and while it wasn't a 1,2,3 inning, he got the job done and no more Jays scored. Unfortunately Timlin was warming up in the bullpen which meant we had to score. We had to end this game if for no other reason than to make sure Timlin wouldn't be on the mound for the 10th.

Bottom of the 9th and the score is tied at 1. But the heart of the order is coming to bat. We could end this game. Papi's first and gets his second hit of the evening when he drives the ball down the first base line and somehow misses the shift. Then Manny walks. Two men on nobody out. The faster Jed Lowrie comes in to pinch run for Ortiz. Then Lowell steps in. And strikes out. Brandon Moss comes to the plate and drives the ball up the middle to Vernon Wells. This should be the end of the game. But unlike last night, Wells handles the ball and throws a laser home to Barajas who blocks the plate and tags Lowrie for the second out. Damn! But there's still one more chance. The Captain's coming to the plate. But with a .111 batting average against Scott Downs, things look grim. However that average doesn't get to Varitek as on a 2-1 count he follows Moss' lead and lines the ball back up the middle. Manny dashes around 3rd and heads for home. This time Wells' laser is slightly off-line and Manny slides to safety for the 2nd Sox run and the win.

Two nights in a row the Sox have ended in a walk-off. Two nights it's been on the final at bat. And two nights Papelbon is the winning pitcher. There's one more game of the series - who wants to make it three?