Another Laugher--Peter

Well, this game was somewhat reminiscent of the 18-5 one of a couple of days ago. The Sox started early when JD took a 1-2 pitch and placed it where no outfielder goes--in a fan's hands deep in the stands. Immediately it's one zip. Next up is Manny Uncharacteristically, he doesn't waste any time. Swinging at the first offering he sees, he goes opposite field and drops it in the bullpen, two zip, Sox.

Meanwhile, Wake is pitching like he has in most of his recent starts, only better. While he'll ultimately leave after seven with only two hits against him, one of them is a solo shot by an O's hitter that briefly--only briefly--cuts the lead to 2-1. A couple of innings later, the Sox go on a rampage. Quickly picking up a single run, they then find themselves with the sacks jammed and Yooouk coming to the plate. One swing and he's got his first career Slam and the Sox are up 7-1. By the end of the inning, they've added yet another run and it's 8-1, and, for all practical purposes, the game is long over.

Not the Sox lineup,however. As things wind their way through the remaining innings, the Sox pick up another four runs, two of them compliments of Yooouk, giving him six ribbies for the day, and the Sox team leadership in that category. This is the first time in quite a few years that the team leadership in ribbies this deep into a season has been held by someone other than Papi or Manny. Manny, by the way, has 60 for the season thus far and is in second on the team.

After Wake left, the bullpen cruised through the O's lineup with just as much ease, first Hansen, then Jenn's fav, Timlin, shutting out the O's through the end of the game.

Making things even better, the Rays lost, moving the Sox to within a half game of the lead.