Normally, You'd Expect--But This Ain't Normally--Peter

Normally, you'd expect that when Josh Beckett is the starter and, to make things better, he only gives up 2 runs in seven innings, we win. Normally, when JB is the starter and he gets 9 K's and walks nobody, you'd expect we win. Normally, a lot of things, but what it all comes down to tonight is we lost--in other words, it ain't normally.

Everything I just described happened, but, unfortunately, what else happened is that the Sox only got two baserunners. One, when Tek was hit by one of Duchsherer's pitches in the seventh and the second when Papi got a line single an inning later. As you might expect, and this time you'd be right, when the Sox offense is this quiet, read non-existent, they lose. Simple as that. That's exactly what they did. In case the obvious escapes you, what this all means is that a journeyman pitcher who has pretty decent numbers so far this year had a perfect game going entering the 6th and a no-hitter until there was one out in the 7th. Now, it's not John Lester stuff, but not too shabby. The guy pitched a good game.

I have nothing else to say about the game other than Lester goes tomorrow,and hopefully, can at least approach the quality of his last start. Manny, who took the night off, orders of Tito, will play tomorrow as well.

Oh, by the way, Celts beat Detroit in Detroit by 14; Celts lead series 2-1.