Sox Fall One Hit Shy--Peter

Well, tonight was a heartbreaker to lose. The Sox and Rays played long ball derby and swapped the lead back and forth through the first five innings, including four lead changes through five. The Sox finally tied it at eight in the 8th on a wild pitch, but kept failing to deliver the one big hit that would have salted away the game.

After Beckett was shelled from the game, leaving before the 5th was over, and charged with all eight of the Rays runs to that point, the bull pen held up remarkably well. From Lopez to Delcarmen, through two outstanding innings by Okajima (Oki looked like the Oki of '07!), through one and a third by Papelbon, the bull pen held firm. No runs were able to get home for the Rays. But, while this was going on, the offense was getting men on base, time and again--and leaving them there. They stranded thirteen for the entire game, but most seriously a pair in the 5th after already having scored with three solo shots by Dusty (his second of the game), Yooouk, and Bay; a pair again in the 6th; one each in the 8th and 9th; and a pair in the 11th.

To compound matters, in spite of his three hit evening, in the top of the 8th the Hose had two men on with nobody out and Yoouk grounded into a twin killing. Thankfully, one of the Sox runners made it to third on the play, to score a moment later on a wild pitch, tying the game at eight.

Aside from that unfortunate grounder, Yooouk was one of four Hose hitters getting three hits for the night. In fact, those four, Yoooouk, Dusty, Coco and Bay, accounted for all of the Sox' hits. One more hit in any of a number of the aforementioned key situations would have resulted in a Sox victory and a two zip series lead.

As it turned out, Jenn's favorite pitcher, Timlin, came on in the bottom of the 11th and walked the first two batters he faced. During the second of these, some of Timlin's pitches looked like strikes, particularly the second, but they were called balls by the umpire. After the count went to three and O, the Sox pitching coach, Farrell, and Tito both went out to complain to the umpire. Farrell, in particular, was really hot, and the TV pitch locator graphic showed he was correct on at least the second of the balls. All to no avail, as he returned to the dugout, he kept bitching and was tossed by the ump. This is another of the relatively recent changes that supposedly makes the game 'better' that I think are ridiculous. Can't argue balls and strikes, or you'll be run. It's right up there with no brushback pitches. For what the umpires earn, you'd think they could develop thicker skins--and maybe a few cojones.

Anyway, the two baserunners made it to second and third on a grounder to Yooouk at third, allowing the lead runner to be plated with the winning run a moment later on a shallow sacfly to Drew in right.

Back to Fenway and Lester on Monday for a day game. At least the Sox have taken home field advantage with their win in game one.

Still four down and seven to go.