Twoi In A Row:Sox Bats Get Hot!

Well, 'hot' is, in this case, a relative term, but today's game was the perfect illustration of what can happen when the team batting order is producing from end to end. If one guy is off for the day, someone else picks up, and if that someone is collared for the game, than another steps up and gets the job done. Today, facing the leading starter in the league for the young season, Weaver, 6-0, coming out of April, the Sox had their work cut out for them. Yet early on they took a slim one zip lead in the 1st. Unfortunately, Bucky allowed a tying run in the 3d and a lead run in the 5th. Not looking good, Suddenly, Sox lightning began to strike.With Crawford on 3d and Jake on 2d (fielder's choice and his 7th swipe of the year), Dusty worked a 13 pitch at bat into a two run scoring single, 3-2 Sox. Then, just to remove any doubt about who the eventual winner would be, the Hose batted around and tacked on six, capped by Papi's shot into the Monster seats. Although the Halos would later pick up three runs over the last few innings, the Hose had them down for the count once again. In fact, were it not for Wheeler's looking like a member of the Arson Squad, rather than a fireman, the final would have been more lopsided. Never mind. Terry had that one solved too. When it began to get a bit hot for Wheeler,Oki came on in the 9th and, after allowing a two bagger to score tha Angels' final run, got his stride and closed out the Angelinos over the rest of the inning to end the game and preserve Bucky's W.
Leaders this time: so many: Jake, Yoouukk, Papi and Crawford each had a pair of hits (two games in a row for Crawford--one more sign that he may finally have gotten his stride).Papi had the aforementioned homer and Jake, Gonzo, Yoouuuk and Crawford each had a two bagger to move the attack further along.It was Gonzo's 11th for the year and that, along with his 18th ribbie and Yoouuk's 17th, may allow us to start seeing a higher place in the race and more Sox players in the league leaders as soon as tomorrow a.m.