Well, they always say there's nothing like home cooking to cure whatever ails you, and it certainly looked that way tonight in the Fens. The Diceman went deeper than usual into the game without giving up any runs: 7 1/3 innings and was matching zeroes with the Twinkies' pitcher.
Replaced by Okajima, the zips continued to mount on the board. Oki pitched his second successive 'Oki of Old' appearance. After entering with two men on base, he walked the first batter, Morneau, he faced, on a full count. The he buckled down and got the Twins' pinch hitter to foul out and Young to ground to a fielder's choice ending the inning.
On came the Sox in their half of the 8th. Dusty got a two bagger to extend his career high hitting streak to 15 games, was moved to 3d by JD and Manny came through with a crisp single to plate the game's only run.
Into the 9th--who else? The Saver! Pap came on, threw nine pitches, eight of them strikes and just like that the door was slammed shut. With the Rays losing to KC, the Sox also picked up a game in their pursuit of the Rays. Let's hope that it's the start of a nice long winning streak that will get them back into first.
As part of their roster activity, Masterson was sent down to the Pawsox, to be converted to a reliever. Buchholtz may soon be called up, particularly with the way he's been pitching in AAA ball. Add in Big Papi in the weeks after the All-Star Game and the Hose look like they'll be ready for the stretch run.
Speaking of the All-Stars, Sox put seven players on the AL roster for the game next week. The AL will be managed by Tito.
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