Jake, Cap & A Perfect Pen

OK< so I haven't been faithful for the last few games (four vs A's {3-1 including a rain soaked doubleheader} and last night's loss to the Stripes), but I've got an excuse. Last weekend was my 50th -- that's right, Five O, high school reunion back just outside of Boston. Add to that an overriding awareness of Hurricane Irene AND a pending birthday (yesterday), and I was a trifle distracted or pre-occupied, or whatever else you want to call it. I did watch all or listen to all of the games live, including the four hours plus of rain delays in Saturday's double header (do you believe ten plus hours of baseball by the time game two was safely in the W column?). Well, the reunion was swell, the Sox play, except for the first A's game last Friday night and last night's loss to Mr. Hankie's Yankees, was really impressive, particularly their perseverance through all of the moisture in the twinbill. I mean, it almost never stopped raining once it got going and that wasn't even part of Irene. She came on Sunday and for this long time veteran of New England hurricanes, was pretty much a non-event (not so for the unfortunate folks in Vermont who will be feeling her watery sucker punch for quite some time).
Anyway, that all brings us to tonight's fabulous game against these same Stripes. JB was pitching, and for the first five innings was looking pretty vintage Beckett. True, he did briefly allow a one zip Stripes lead for about a half inning, but then the Hose reclaimed the lead, 2-1, in their half of the 3d on some timely hitting with men on base. Two innings later, Big Papi came to the dish with Gonzo on first, and proceeded to launch one deep into the cheaps in dead center field just to the right of the 420 foot mark--4-1, Sox. It was looking pretty good at that point for the Hose, but this is Sox-Yanks, and nothing is ever over until its really over. Came the Stripes 6th and JB got a bit off course. He hit Texeira, WP'd him to second and after Cano drove that run home, things got quickly worse. A combo of NY hits, an error in right by Reddick, and before you could blink, the Stripes had taken over the lead, 5-4. NOT TO WORRY!
In their half of the inning, once again showing their ability to come back, the Sox struck. With one gone, and a man on, Tek, the Sox Captain and emotional heart of the team, doubled in the tying run. A couple of batters later and the Sox second MVP candidate stepped to the plate. One swing later and Jake had deposited the sphere into the cheaps and it was again the Sox in front, this time 7-5. When the Fenmen returned to the field, to almost everyone's surprise, JB was still on the mound, in spite of the previous inning's troubles. Followers of this blog have long heard me talk about what it really means to pitch, as opposed to just throwing the ball plateward. JB's 7th inning was a classic example of what pitching really is. Not only that--it'll give him even more gut strength the next time he faces a serious situation that requires good solid, stare in the face of death pitching. Facing some of the Stripes most dangerous hitters, he calmly set down Jeter, Granderson and Texeira in order, just like it was the most natural thing anyone could ever expect.Jeter grounded out; Granderson struck out on a 94 mph heater and Texeira popped weakly to The Dustman. Sit down, Stripes!
In the 8th, Bard took the ball and just as quickly set down Cano, Swisher and Chavez in an inning of perfection. Got Cano on an amazing 'WebGem' stab of a screaming shot to short, followed by a perfect throw to Gonzo at first, followed by Swisher hitting an equally scorched on to Dusty, again ending up in Gonzo's glove for the out, after which Bard took things into his own hands and blew away (literally) Chavez on 98 mph heat. The trouble with trying to hit Bard is that he has such an effortless motion, it's damn near impossible to believe that he's really throwing these miniature cruise missiles past you until you swing and realize that you're about two seconds too late--it's already settled in Varitek's mitt. Inning over, Tek drives the final nail in the NY coffin--with a drive into the Sox bullpen that also plates Reddick, who'd opened the Sox half of the 8th with a double that just kisses the left field foul line. In fact, it was so on the line, the third base ump at first was incorrectly signalling foul before he changed his signal and, correctly, motioned it as fair. Nine-five, Sox. With no further offense to follow, The Laser takes over for the final inning, and is even more perfect than Bard had been. Two K's and a fly ball, just seven pitches, many of them over 95, and the game's over--no question about it. Definitely a team win, and the Sox heart really showed with everyone stepping up to make sure that no matter what happened, the Sox would close on top. Jake, The Dustman and Cap were each 2-5, and Papi had the aforementioned monster shot into the cheaps. Overall, the Sox offense garnered a dozen hits, six of which were either two baggers or seat shots.
Final Fenway game of 2011 tomorrow against the Stripes. The win tonight guaranteed that no matter what the outcome then, the Hose will finish this series still in the division lead, not to mention extending their season series lead over the guys from 248 miles to the south to 11-3.