Dusty Leads The Way Again--Peter

Well, once again the Sox took a lesson from Dusty. Trailing the O's by four going into the 7th, very uncharacteristic because the O's runs came all from the Diceman, their bats suddenly came alive, at least a little. Pedroia took a pitch to his liking and drove his 17th homer of the year into the cheaps to get the Bosox on the board. Then they picked up a second run by a combo of hits before the inning ended.

That still left them trailing 4-2 as they entered the 8th. However, the Sox MVP candidate again showed the way, and by the time the inning ended, they had tied the game at four. The O's came up for the 9th, and everyone expected Papelbon to take over to ensure the O's stayed where they were while the Sox found yet another way to claim victory. However, expectations were not reality. Laserman did not show, but sat while Masterson remained in the game for another inning. He matched his work of the 8th, allowing no runs and leaving it to the Sox offense to settle the issue.

Settle it they did--sort of. They quickly got a pair of runners on, Crisp in the lead at 2d. Coco's bunt was beautiful! He laid one down along the first base line and it appeared to be rolling foul; even Coco was watching it as he ran. Suddenly, for no explainable reason, it popped up a foot in the air, remained fair and died on the base path, getting Coco to first safely. Ellsbury, better known in these parts as Speedracer bunted to the left side of the infield where the O's hurler tried to pick it up and throw out the lead runner, Coco. Not tonight, guy! His throw was way off target, missing the O's third sacker by a good six or seven feet and rolling down the left field line. Coco needed no more of an invitation and jogged home with the winning run. A win by walkoff--error. I'll still take it.