Just Barely: Better Than Not At All--Peter

Well, it took just over two weeks, 15 days to be exact, but after today's low scoring contest against the Birds in Fenway, the Sox are back where we all want them to be--first place. Not only that, but going into the All-Star break, they've won 5 of 6, while the Rays have lost seven straight.

The Hose stared off well enough, scoring single runs in the first and 4th innings, providing Dice-K a two run cushion to work with. The Diceman, as is his wont, managed to walk a fairly good number of O's batters, five in six innings, but, as is also his habit going back to his Japanese baseball days, he got out of every jam he got himself into. Leaving after six, he had only allowed four hits and had rung up seven K's. Had the Sox offense been a bit more timely, the lead at his departure (not to mention at Papelbon's appearance in the 9th) might have been a bit healthier.

Nevertheless, Dice made the 2-0 lead stand up for the duration of his time in the game. Hew followed by his countryman, Okajima. Oki, gave up a pair of free passes in his 2/3 of an inning, but managed to escape unscathed for his troubles. He was followed, in turn, by The Other Manny--Delcarmen.

TOM handled things like an expert. Facing four batters in an inning and a third, he pitched perfect baseball, including one K, totalling just 22 pitches. I wish he were this good on a more consistent basis, but, as my wife is fond of saying, "It is what it is." Thanks, Jane.

The 9th arrives and on comes The Saver. Normally, I'm tempted to count the game as a 'W' at that point, relying on the Laser's usual trusty assortment of nasty. Tonight, he came close to blowing the save, leaving the Hose in second and disappointing all of The Nation. Throwing the same number of pitches as TOM, he surrendered three hits. You didn't read that wrong and it's not a typo. I DID say three! This resulted in an O's run crossing the plate, and the Birds still having baserunners.

Next pitch, a classic Laserman beam. Melvin Mora, attempting to redeem himself for an earlier bases loaded inning ending groundout, uncoiled and when bat met ball, a screamer took off, hit written all over it. However, fate and Sox leather intervened and it turned out to be just a loud game ending line drive out. I could breathe again! That's good, because although blue is my favorite color, I don't look too good with cyanotic skin.

For the record, it's Pap's 100th career save. Well on the way to some historic career numbers. Separately, Dusty went 2-4, entering the All-Star Break with 124 hits, just one shy of the franchise record for hits at the Break. That record is shared by Wade Boggs and Nomar Garciaparra, the former already in the Hall and the latter still active and playing with Red Sox Light (Translate, Dodgers) and still having a shot (however, many injuries in later years have made that shot quite thin at this point) at the same destination.

Seven Sox are headed to Yankee Stadium for the All-Star Game, and then everybody meets up again in Anaheim for a set against the AL West leaders.