One More Gasp of Air: Peter

Jenn, it's getting awful close to midnite. After Lester hurled his great game a few days ago, I was re-energised. Baltimore coming to the Fens, even with their good record under Showalter, should be a positive. And maybe it would have been if the Sox had their full roster. Anyway, we lose the first, 3-1, in a well played game, sans much offense. Yesterday, however, was very hard to take. Bucky's holding a one zip lead, finally gives up an unearned run and leaves after six. The roof then quickly falls in, beginning with Atch giving up a trey and ending with Pap in a non-save nightmare allowing three of his own on a five hit inning. Very out of recent character. Final: O's 9, Hose the same lousy run they had since early in the game. I'm trying to find some ray of light amidst the clouds, and the best I can come up with is, since the Rays also lost both days, we're still six and a half from the card. Only trouble is the games are dwindling down to a precious few and we're not narrowing the margin--at all!
So, tonight, we get Lacky, in the midst of the worst losing streak, four, of his MLB career--not exactly what Theo was planing for when he signed the Lack to an $85 mill contract in the off-season.
Hold on! Tonight Lackey pitched one of the best games of his recent past. He went seven, allowing a lone run in the 4th and posting a game WHIP of 0.71 and change. Not a typo--0.71+! That's what Theo had hoped for all year. The pen held up their end of the deal as well, Bard being perfect for an inning with a pair of K's and The Laser, totally opposite to last night, striking out the side.
Offensively, Papi had four ribbies, including three on his 31st homer of the season and brought his ribbie count to 96. He has ten remaining to get to the Franklin mark again for the 6th time in his Sox career--should be seventh but he got jobbed last year for his 100th as the year ended. Beltre moved to within one RBI of his second career century season with his 45th two bagger of the year, and Reddick got his first shot of the year, a drive deep into the right field seats--and I mean deep! Had it been hit any harder it would have gone through the back wall and foundation of the stands at that point.
So, here we are, still six and a half back of the card, as the Rays took one from Mr. Hankie's Yankees, and just ten games to go. It's hard to say with a straight face the Sox will make it, but it has happened before. In 1964, the Phils were leading the NL (no divisions then) for the pennant and a trip to the Series. They'd led almost from Opening Day. The lead was up to the same 6.5 games and there were the same ten games left. A lock, right, Jenn? N o t S o o o F A S T!! Phils lost their last ten and the Cards won the pennant by a game--took the World Series too--against guess who?!! The Yankees (pre-Steinbrenner)!(In '65, they dropped like a rock, eventually hitting last place.) So, my point (and the same one I made to you after the Hose were down three zip in the ALCS to the self-same New York mob) I wouldn't bet all my money on it, but they still have to play the games and it's not over until they do.