What a Difference a Day Makes - Jenn

When I posted on Monday about the Blue Jays weekend series, I was afraid I wouldn't have any finger nails left by the time Dice-K and Kazmir left the mound. Turns out it was a fear unrealized - at least 24 hours ago.

As Dad said, Monday's first game against the Rays saw Kazmir so off his game he had already given up nine runs by the third inning. And by the time Dice-K left the mound there were several more on the board. Why you may ask? It's all because Monday wasn't a baseball game. It was a long-ball game. Of the nine starters on the bench, 6of them, that's right, six of them, hit balls out of the park; which is quite a feat since the Trop is hidden inside a dome. As a matter of fact, Jason Bays' homer was hit so hard it disappeared inside one of the catwalks never to be seen again.

But that was Monday night. A great game not only because we won, but because the win tied us with the Rays for first place in the AL East. A place the Sox haven't seen since before the All Star break.

Unfortunately last night's game, while starting off favorably, as per usual when it comes to the Rays vs. Red Sox, didn't end nearly as well. Beckett started off strong. So strong in fact that he was perfect through the first 4.1 innings. Then he gave up his first hit. But not to worry, one hit does not a run make. However a solo shot does.

Neither team could get on the board, until the sixth when Youkilis hit a deep fly ball to left. Although Hinske made the catch, the ball was plenty deep enough for Ellsbury to tag up, run home and get the Sox their first run. Unfortunately Carlos Pena, the Rays version of Big Papi, came to the plate in the 7th and tied the score with his solo shot. Beckett held strong for another inning and left with the score still tied.

It was Masterson's turn to keep the Rays at bay. He was unsuccessful. Bartlett started off the inning with a soft line drive to right. Then Pena worked a walk when an errant ball from the bullpen found it's way onto the field. That miscue led to the umps taking away Pena's 2nd strike so he could take the swing again. In elementary school we called that a do over and we always thought it was a cop out. Twenty years later I still believe it's a cop out. But cop out or not, that do over allowed Pena to land on first. Masterson did manage to strike out Longoria, unfortunately he followed up that K by hitting Floyd to load the bases.

The only thing that would get Masterson out of that jam was an infield popout, a strike out, or the best option - a double play. But none of those choices happened. Instead Navarro sent the ball all the way to the center field warning track, and because all the Sox fielders were pulled in, Crisp never had a chance of catching that ball. And even if he had, Bartlett still would have scored on the sacrifice.

So the Rays got the walk-off and regained the lead in the East. But they're still only up by a game. Today Wakefield faces Garza. And hopefully my fingernails will get the chance to start growing back.