Rollercoaster for Beckett and Papelbon

Dad --

Great having you here over the weekend although because of your visit, neither one of us got to blog about the disastrous series against the Rangers. So we're still seven games behind the Yankees but at least we're tied for first with the Rangers. And that's because of last night's game.

Yesterday was the first of a three game series against the Jays and Beckett was on the mound. It should've been smooth sailing. But Varitek had a sore neck so he was out of the lineup which meant Victor Martinez, or V-Mart as the fans call him, was behind the plate. Beckett's never worked with Victor before and while it shouldn't have made a difference it obviously did.

Beckett was great for the first four innings allowing only three runs to score, all from solo shots. Meanwhile, in very un Red Sox style we had racked up six runs and chased the Jays starting pitcher from the mound in the fourth. But then the fifth inning happened.

While the Sox got another run making their lead 7-3, Beckett took the mound and wound up giving the game away. The Jays scored two more times in the fifth and then again in the sixth tying up the game and chasing Beckett from the mound. It was very unusual for Beckett to fall apart like that, but I really think it was because he was working with a new catcher. He probably wanted to be extra perfect and wound up failing. I just hope future outings with Beckett and Martinez don't have the same result.

Luckily the Sox were able to get another three runs in the top of the 8th. But as is Sox fashion recently, for some reason we can't get runs without giving up some in exchange. Bard was pitching, and I don't know what's happened to this kid. His first few outings he was lights out, but now he's good for a couple batters and falls apart. He got the first two outs of the 8th, then gave up two hits. Francona didn't want to take any chances so he pulled Bard and put in Papelbon, Mr. Lights Out.

Well Papelbon was anything but lights out last night. He gave up a hit that plated two more Jays, but manages to get out of the inning with the Sox still ahead by a run. He finished off the 9th by walking three more batters. I was a wreck. What happened to our Laserman from the last few years? You used to be able to count on a win if Pap took the mound, unfortunately it doesn't seem to be a given anymore. Luckily, Pap didn't allow any other runs and the Sox won 10-9.

It was definitely a nail biter, one I hope we don't duplicate tonight or for the rest of the series. See Dad, we really need to start wracking up the wins if we want to see the post season.

Jenn