Coco & Cash and a Lotta' Pitcher Panache--Peter

Well, tonight was further proof, if any were necessary, that the Sox have the capability to hit and score on anybody, and from anywhere in their lineup. Although they picked up a run early on some not too impressive stick work, that 1-0 score was about all that was happening against Randy Johnson for five innings. Johnson, who's had his troubles this season, was looking at least somewhat like the RJ of old. True, he wasn't overpowering everyone he faced, but he did manage to add five K's to his second all time lifetime total, and the hits he gave up were, for the most part, fairly scattered.

Now, when that's happening, you get a bit uncomfortable, because you know that at any time a couple of quick BB's mixed with a timely scratch single or two can eliminate your lead in an instant.

Fortunately, Coco was pretty solid with the stick tonight. Picking up three doubles, he was involved in every Sox scoring rally of the evening, and even scored one of the Sox' final runs in the 8th. Ably assisting Coco was Wake's new caddy, Cash. Like his recent predecessor, Mirabelli,not carried for his hitting ability, he nonetheless matched that predecessor in getting a most timely roundtripper to basically salt away the win for Wake and the Sox.

That's all the runs anyone would need this evening. Wake's knuckler was tumbling, floating, fluttering and whatever else a knuckler does when it's working. In seven he gave up only two hits and a walk, leaving him with a game WHIP of under 0.5. Add in six K's and he was on. What makes his stuff even better is that by the time opposing batters begin to get a handle on a low 70's fast ball, not to mention the knuckler, they're totally without any hope when the relief comes in and cranks a few past them at 95+--haven't a clue what to do.

So it was tonight. After seven, in comes The Other Manny-Delcarmen. He hurls a two-K perfect inning in only 13 pitches. TOM was so on, only three pitches were for balls.

He was followed by Hansen, who was also throwing incandescent heat. However, after getting two quick outs in the 9th, he then loaded the bases with a pair of free passes and a hit. Having seen enough, Tito yanked him and handed the ball to Laser, who did exactly what he's supposed to do--SLAM THE DOOR! Five pitches later, only one a ball, and it's K, 3 outs, game over. What more can you ask for?

Also a plus: Youk started and played the whole game, getting a double in the process. His eye is still looking something like he stepped in front of a Marciano (the real Rocky & the true Greatest, for those of you not old enough to remember) jab, but he's playing through it.