Well, tonight's victory in KC was truly a team effort--13 hits, five for extra bases, from eight guys. Even though we left eight on base, we still managed to get what we've all too often been missing--timely hits. Also, the pitching was solid from start to finish.
JB started out with a quick one zip lead and, although he gave up the tying run in the bottom half of the 1st, partly due to JD's error, and then surrendered a leadoff double in the 2d, he quickly returned to the form we've come to expect from him. Of the next 17 batters he faced, he retired 16. Finally surrendering the Royals' second run in the 7th, he left with 7 K's, only 4 hits and a pair of passes, his WHIP for this game under 1.0.
Jenn's favorite pitcher, Timlin, took over, closed out the 7th and then pitched a scoreless 8th, surrendering just a single hit while tossing only 15 pitches. He was followed in the 9th by Smith, who threw a nine pitch perfect inning to close out the game.
I also noted the return of SpeedRacer, better known to you all as Jacoby Ellsbury. Jake not only continued to show signs of recovering his stroke, going 2-4 and driving in a run, he also got back on track in the running department, stealing his 36th and 37th bases, extending his league leading total over Seattle's Ichiro.
Papi only got a single hit in 5 AB's, but it accounted for the first Sox run. In my opinion, both he and Lowell are still slightly affected by their injuries; their timing isn't exactly on, but it's close.
Oh, some other good news--as I was writing this, the Rangers finished off Mr. Hankie's Yankees, dropping them 3 1/2 to the rear of our heroes. Unfortunately, Tampa won tonight, coming from behind to beat the Tribe for the first time in six games. While I'm at it, the Chisox are tied with Detroit in the bottom of the 10th, 6-6, but have a runner on 1st. Root for the Bengals to hold off and then beat them! The Twinkies are trailing Seattle in the bottom of the 6th and the M's have the bases loaded. Hope they get 'em all home and blow out the Twins!
OOOPS! Latest update: Seattle picked up a pair in the 6th and now lead 6-3 in the top of the 7th, while the Tigers and Pale Hose are still knotted at 6 in the bottom of the 11th. You'll have to catch the finals in tomorrow's paper or later tonight on ESPN.
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