Bucky & The Bats: Peter

I'll tell ya', Jenn, for awhile, I was beginning to think this game would never get played. First, a rain delay before starting of well over an hour and a half, then another of about an hour in the top of the 3d, and things were looking as if we'd drop, at least temporarily, another half game behind both NY and the Rays, both of whom were well on the way to wins. But, the sun more or less came out and the game continued to its finale. And Bucky was looking pretty good for his six innings. He had a couple of rough stints, but pitched himself out of trouble in each occasion. You've heard me say many times that when the opposing team has guys on base and things are looking dangerous is when you separate throwers from real pitchers. Bucky once again proved himself to be the latter. In the 1st, he found himself facing Jays on first and third with just one out, but successfully pitched himself clear. Then, again in the 6th, he was in a jam and, once again, worked his way out without allowing a run. After he left, the Sox pen, first Bard, then Doubront, kept the Jays scoreless and preserved Bucky's 15th 'W' of the year. He's still on track for a shot at twenty. You can definitely tell, Jenn, this is the guy whose potential first showed up in his rookie year with the No-No. Now at 15-5, he has the lowest ERA of any AL starter at 2.26, a full 0.10 lower than at first pitch. Getting there he picked up seven K's and scattered five hits, all harmless singles. In going shutout again, he extended his current string of innings without any earned runs to 23 2/3, and, even better, gave up three or fewer runs for the 15th of his last 16 starts! Not too shabby! And, Jenn, since I'm on a statistical roll, this is the third consecutive game he's allowed five hits or less! I think you'll agree that's pretty damn good for the third or fourth starter on the staff.
Beyond Bucky, the Sox bats came alive in two innings--the 5th and the 8th. In the former, the power was evident as Papi tripled (can you picture him chugging his 230+ pounds around to third?), and then on the next pitch was plated by Beltre's 37th double of the year. Three batters later and it was Hall's turn to bring in the runs and he did so with his 17th HR of the year, scoring Beltre ahead of him. In the 8th the Hose finished the scoring as one of the exciting Sox rooks, Kalish, doubled and was brought in by V-Mart. Papi then brought Scoot home for the final Sox run with a hard single.
Can you imagine how the final six weeks of the season might go if we only had the whole team back (OK, Youk is gone for the year, but otherwise) to play. Dust and Jake alone could make a difference, so there it depends if they can get healed enough to stay in for the duration. Otherwise, 2011 is looking closer and closer.