Absolutely AMAZING!--Peter

Well, Jenn, if tonight's last two innings--OK, the whole game--mean anything at all (besides getting the win), things may be turning around for a couple of the leaders of the team. JB took the ball for the start against the Rays, the Sox newest nemesis, and pitched better than he has for a while. True, he gave up three in the six innings he pitched, but through it all, he was in control, getting five K's and then turning it on with a 96 mph heater when things got tight in the 6th. After Oki and Ramirez followed with a combined two innings of perfect ball, the Sox came to bat in the bottom of the 8th. Papi led off and took one huge swing. The ball initially took off towards the Monster and I thought, the drought is over. I mean his swing was beautiful (all night it was looking good, in fact), the ball's trajectory was climbing, climbing, climbing as it neared the Wall. Finally, it ran out of gas a few feet too soon, but it did make the wall and Papi was standing on second. No outs and Bay came up and immediately took one of the pitcher's offerings even higher off the wall. Sox up 4-3. They get nothing else the rest of the inning even though the Sox had Bay on second with no outs after the ribbie. On to the 9th. Papelbon comes in--game over, right? Well, not so fast. Laser appeared to briefly (thank God) take a page from the book on how to pitch by your favorite, Julian Tavarez. Right--Jekyll and Hyde. Apparently, according to Jon Miller, Pap's slightly altered his motion this year to try to get more power into his pitches. More power? How much do you need? I mean trying to get around on one of his heaters is like trying to catch a slug from a Sig Sauer with your teeth. It's not easy on the best of days and usually the hitters facing Pap aren't having their best day.
But tonight? Well, he walks the first batter on four pitches, then throws the ball away on a pickoff attempt and then gives up a hit to the next batter, sending the runner to third . So, here we are with men on first and third, no outs and the Laser is misfiring. I mean his speed is there, but unfortunately, he can't find the plate. Pap's version of Mr. Hyde. What to do? Is Dr. Jekyll in the house? Indeed!He stops throwing at 93-94 and starts firing lightning bolts--like a bunch at 97, occasionally dropping to 'only' 95. The next three batters who have to face this searing heat, including the A.L.'s HR leader, Pena, all K. Bang, Bang, BANG! Game over! Nerve racking until Dr. Jekyll's Pap showed up. I can relax. Tomorrow's Boston Herald will read Sox, C's, B's win. A true Boston sports sweep for Mother's Day.