One Hit Shy--Peter

Well, as with all good things, the Sox winning streak in playoff games over the Angels came to an end last night, 5-4, in the 12th inning. The Halos got the better of Beckett in his five innings, managing to come from behind to tie and then go ahead, 4-3, in the 5th, largely due to a pair of round trippers by their catcher, Napoli. While he's not exactly a household word, he also isn't without a decent amount of power, having hit 20 homers during the regular season.

The Sox picked up a 3-1 lead on an all-time first and only in post season play, a three run SINGLE (you read that right) by Ellsbury. It wasn't that impressive a stroke, rather a simple popup that barely made the outfield grass. Three Angels fielders converged on the ball and then decided to discuss who would have the honor of making the putout. Unfortunately for them, gravity was unwilling to be on hold and the ball fell to earth safely in fair territory and while they were busy having a collective convulsion over this fact, all three Sox baserunners came home and scored.

It wasn't too long, however, before Napoli did his thing and when Beckett left, he was once again trailing. He had his velocity, but his command just wasn't there. If nothing else this proves that too much rest between starts, 13 days, in his case, is not necessarily a good thing.

In their half of the 5th, the Sox tied the score, Yooouk following a double by Jake with one of his to the wall just left of straightaway center. There things sat through the rest of regulation and into extra innings.

the Sox bullpen was holding the Angels in check, more or less, and Papelbon was doing his Laserman routine for two innings and 31 pitches (I counted 35, by the way). No difference.

In the 10th, the Hose loaded the bases, but couldn't get just one more hit or walk to bring home the winning run. In the 11th, they had a man on second, but same story. In the 12th, Lopez, having relieved Laser, they gave up a run to the Halos, making it 5-4, Angels, and then couldn't generate any reply in the bottom half. Game over.

They play again today, and, in this writer's opinion, have to do it here and now. I don't deny another Sox win in Anaheim would be beyond the bounds of the possible, but I don't wish to see the Sox have to go back in the face of renewed Angels momentum.