Too Little, Too Late: Peter

Jenn, when I asked if you'd seen tonite's game and you said not yet, I had to restrain myself from telling you how things had just turned out! Really exciting, but thoroughly frustrating! There things were. The Hose started well enough, taking an early two zip lead at the Fens, complements of Martinez, who launched a two run shot in the 1st. Unfortunately, Lackey was once again lacking. Very next inning,he gives the lead back--and then continues to give and give and give until he'd given seven runs, taken a shower and goodbye--and it was only the 5th! It got worse. In the 6th Bowden continued the giving by the Hose hurlers, allowing three more Jays runs on a pair of singles, a wild pitch and the AL leading Bautista's 48th HR of the year--10-2, Jays. I think the evening's over; at least that's what I'm thinking.
Not So Fast!In their half of the same inning the Sox show some life, taking back three of those runs on a couple of singles and two doubles, as well as a ground out ribbie by V-Mart to go with his 1st inning homer--10-5, Jays. Unfortunately, Fox, who began looking pretty decent for the Sox weakened and gave up another run on a pair of two out singles and a wild pitch in the Jays' 7th. Wake had to come in and get the last out of the inning or who knows what might have happened--Jays, 11-5.
Which is where things stayed until the bottom of the 8th. Having kept the Jays from scoring again, the Hose tried to take back the game. Leading off and pinch hitting, Nava greeted the Jays new pitcher by walking setting up V-Mart for his second two run shot into the cheaps, and it's now 11-7, with no outs. Unfortunately, that was it for the inning. Another new Jays pitcher shut that door.
To their credit, however, the Hose weren't done for the evening. No sir! Bottom of the 9th--last chance, and here come the Hose! It was getting exciting again, and I'm thinking we still can keep pace with Mr. Hankie's Yankees (who won) and get a game on the Rays (who didn't).
Lowrie opens the inning with a ringing double. Then, hopes fall....and fall, as the next two Sox hitters (and I use the term lightly) strike out. Down to our last out. Is it over? Are we done? Not yet! Navarro, who normally can't get a hit for love or money, produces a run scoring single, 11-8, Sox. After this, he's rewarded for his efforts by been plated when Nava doubles into center, 11-9, Sox, and the guys on MLB Network are going crazy! Why? Well, guess who's coming to the plate! V-Mart--he of the two homers so far! MLB to hype things up shows how the very light hitting Chin Soo Choo of Cleveland only moments earlier hits his third HR of the evening,and then ask the rhetorical question, will V-Mart do the same? If so, it will be tied at 11! Jays manager Cito Gaston counters with Gregg, whose lifetime record against Martinez is getting Victor out all six times he's had to face him, including a pair of K's. That's OK, I'm thinking. It's Victor's turn. Yeah, right! The pitch....a swing....a weak popup to the edge of the OF and it's over.
Seven back of NY with 15 to go, 6.5 back of the Rays. But, as the guys on MLB were pointing out as they debated the fact, Sox can still get in to the post. Even old "Cowboy Up" Kevin Millar of the 2004 Champions, who's now on MLB network, was strongly pushing that. "Just watch", he kept saying. "It's not over!" Hope you're right, Kev.