CELTICS WIN 17TH!!!!--Peter

I know. I know. This is a Red Sox blog, but let's face it. A Boston fan is a Boston fan through and through. So, tonight we'll get to the Sox, but first let me luxuriate in the other Green Monster. That is the Celtics, who were just that to the Lakers in the clincher of the NBA Championship tonight at the Garden, 131-92. It was great to see all of those Celtics greats of the past in attendance: Russell, Jo Jo, Maxwell, and Hondo, and it was somehow fitting to have the Celts clinch their 17th on the 17th, which, when you add them together, is the number that is on Pierce's jersey--34. Somewhere, Red is enjoying another victory cigar. CELTICS WIN!!!!

Now, for the Sox, who also won making it a true Boston evening. Or,as the Boston Herald of my youth would headline it, C's, Sox win. Lester is getting to be more and more a complete pitcher. Tossing a very controlled seven innings, he limited the Phils to six mostly scattered hits. Even when he briefly got in a small jam in the 7th, he did what true pitchers do. He pitched out of trouble with no damage on the scoreboard. That is the mark of a real pitcher. The bullpen finished up the evening's gem. First Oki, with an inning of one hit shutout ball, came on, and included a pair of K's in his work. Then, Laser took the ball in the 9th and it was truly vintage Papelbon. Fourteen pitches, only three for balls--a trey of K's and game over--as Tito then said, let's go watch the Celtics game.

As far as offense, most was provided by Coco's 5th homer of the year, but a Sox record was also tied tonight. Six stolen bases in one game. Like that Celtics score above, this is not a misprint. Crisp got a pair to go with his homer, while Lugo, Pedroia and Casey each got one. Jake also joined in the general thievery. Coming in as a defensive replacement for Manny late in the game, he wasted little time, stealing his 34th base of the season and maintaining his place at the top of the league standings.