GUTS!!--Peter

The title says it all! There's just no other way to describe the performance of Josh Beckett. He gets hit hard in the ALDS by the Halos. He starts game 2 in the ALCS against the Rays with a chance to put the Sox two up in the league championships--and gets lit up again. He says he's fine, just "off a little bit", but it's clear something's not right with JB. But he's such a competitor you just know he's dying for another chance to prove he's still the best post-season money pitcher anywhere.

Well, the Sox 8-7 comeback the other night in the Fens gave him that chance, and he grabbed it, held it, and basically dared anyone to try to take it away from him. There was an instant in the Tampa 1st when his situation might have again caused questions. That was when B. J. Upton once again made like Carlos Pena and drove a ball so long, hard and high that it hit off a supporting beam deep in the Tampa stadium for a home run. In trouble? Not tonight--Not JB! He bore down and got the next two hitters to end the inning. After Yoooouk tied the game in the Sox top of the 2d, JB was almost unhittable. One inning later, Big Papi doubled, sending Dusty to third, and Yooouk came through again, plating the lead run on a hard grounder.

From that point on, JB was almost untouchable. He allowed three more hits, but kept them very scattered, and hit a batter on a two strike count. While one of those final Rays hits was a solo homer, it was just a pitch that was a little too good. Stroked by the Rays weak hitting shortstop, Bartlett, it left the game knotted at two. How does a guy who gets just a single roundtripper in the entire regular season hit one in a league championship series? It could have been worse, however, as the Rays catcher, Navarro had led off the inning with a single. But the captain of the Bosox, Tek, showed why he is so valuable to this team, even if he never gets another hit. Navarro had been put in motion and Tek threw him out. The ball was so perfectly thrown that Lowrie had time to stop for a sandwich and beer before applying the tag, had he wanted to. No throwout and the Sox would have trailed after Bartlett's HR, 3-2. With the tag, the shot just tied it and left the Fenmen in position to grab the lead again.

Which they immediately did in the top of the 6th. With two already gone in their half of the 6th, Tek again provided the heroics. Already a cumulative 0-14 in the ALCS, and not doing a lot better in the entire post-season, everybody was hoping he'd get a hit and start something going. Get a hit--Did he ever! Working the count to 2-0, he got a pitch he liked and drove it on a line into the seats in right center, just over the 379 marker--Sox, three-two.

Thus spurred on, the Sox continued their recent tradition of two out scoring. Coco beat out an infield hit, and, after a pitching change, Dusty was safe on an error by Bartlett, simultaneously sending Coco to third. From there Papi singled to center and the Sox had a two run lead. As it turned out, that was all they would need for the evening.

Okajima came in, working two innings and faced only seven batters over that stretch, allowing only a full count, two out walk in the 6th. Once again, as he has done more and more recently, Oki has shown he is again the Oki of 2007.

With the 8th, the Sox brought on Masterson. Once again, a tight spot for a rookie to gain his battle experience. He started a bit tight, almost immediately hitting the first batter he faced, and then running the count to 2-0 on Iwamura. A quick visit by Sox pitching coach Farrell, and all of a sudden, he was focused and on! The 2-0 count on Iwamura quickly became a K, after which Masterson really showed who's the Master. He popped up Upton and Pena in succession, closing out the 8th.

After the Sox went quietly in the 9th, you know what happened when the Rays took their final turn at bat. Papelbon came on in all his brilliance. It was a classic matchup. The Rays had come from behind this year when trailing by two or more runs, regular season and playoffs, 31 previous times. Facing them is a pitcher with a Major League record 24 consecutive scoreless playoff innings. Less than ten pitches later, all three Rays batters were on their way to the showers and the scoreless innings record was now 25.

The way this Red Sox team refuses to die is truly inspiring! First, they stage Thursday's amazing comeback. Then, JB comes out and defines the word guts--never asking or giving any quarter. Then, the pen turns off the lights and slams the door, supporting the heroic timely at bats of the offense. They remind this writer of the expression used during Larry Bird's prime with the Celtics--they Refuse To Lose.

Six down, five to go.