One At A Time: An Exciting One At That!: Peter

Jenn:
If you saw the game live, you already know what I'm talking about before I even say it. If not, you've got quite a show in store on Tivo tonight! There the guys were, up three zip after two, the Yanks getting one back in the 3d, and I'm worrying. But after four,. it's 7-1, Sox, and, if that's not enough to get your juices flowing, they're up 10-1 after five--against Mr. Hankie's Yankees--IN NEW YORK--AGAINST ANDY PETTITE, their long time tormentor. I'm trying to not get too excited. After all, all of the aforementioned is still in effect, and it's only the 5th. But hey! I mean how bad can it get? Just wait, as it almost turned out.
Comes the last of the 6th and both A-Rod and Texeira go deep, followed by a walk to Cano. I'm thinking, actually telepathizing (is that a word?) to Tito to pull JB before things really go south. Just as I start these thoughts, JB recovers and closes out the inning without any more damage. So, it's now 10-3; still more than comfortable, right? Not right! Comes the Hankiemen's 7th, and with two gone, Jeter,one of the few New York players I actually respect, walks, followed By Swisher's shot to the cheaps on the first pitch he sees. It's now 10-5. Tito, anything happening down there? But wait! Atch takes the ball from JB. First guy he sees is Texeira, and walks him on a full count. A-Rod wastes little time, going deep on his second pitch and now the score is an uncomfortable 10-7. Fortunately, Atch stopped the bleeding there. After the Sox go hitless in the 8th, Bard takes over, and does exactly what he's paid to do--retire batters. Although he allows a two out single to the Grandyman, nothing else leaves the infield and the lead holds. Just three more outs, right. Oh Boy! The tension. Hose again get nothing in their half of the 9th other than Victor's leadoff free pass. Then, The Laser comes on to close things out. Now, back in the 5th, everyone in the Sox dugout, I'm sure, was figuring that the pen would have an easy evening, maybe not even have to do much. Shows you what a few pitches in the wrong place can do. Turns out Pap looks pretty good--for the first two batters, getting Jeter on strikes and Swisher on a soft fly. He then faces Texeira and gets to a 1-1 count. The next pitch looked very good from a pitcher's standpoint--down and in, where it takes a damn good bit of hitting to do anything at all with it--which, unfortunately, is exactly what Texeira does--a damn good bit of hitting! When next the ball is seen, it's resting well up in the right field seats, a no doubter. Sox, 10-8, and I'm really concerned, particularly when A-Rod works the count full (a couple of questionable calls by the ump,but, like they say, baseball is a game of inches), and then walks. He quickly takes second on defensive indifference, and I'm really worried. Why? Because Cano, having perhaps his best all-around season and batting in the .320's, is now in the box waving his bat around. A single, and it's tied. Just what we need at this point. I'm really watching for Pap's 'death stare'. I see it, so I feel better. He'll get Cano out--I hope. The count gets to 2-2, and Cano's hanging in there. He's really grinding; giving nothing away. But finally, The Laser has had enough of this bulls--- (I know, it's a family show) and burns Cano with a third strike. Cano swings, creates a quick breeze for anyone in the immediate area, and the Sox WIN!
Statswise: Lowrie goes a career high four for four, including his seventh shot of the year, a three run jobbie to start the Sox scoring. JD gets three hits, Papi is 2/5 with his 35th two bagger, and Hall gets his 18th HR of the year, moving ever closer to that magical twenty mark. Beckett got the 'W' and the pen got some good numbers, Bard his 31st hold and Pap his 37th save. So, the Hose knocked the Hankiemen out of first, and rest six and a half out of the card and seven from first with nine to play. Still tight, but mathematically possible. As the MLB net commentator noted, the Sox are just concentrating on one game at a time, and not concerning themselves about anything after that until this game is over. Then, the same for the next game,and so on. Just stay focused!