A Pain in Someone Else's Neck

Well, a couple of games ago, and prior to their latest loss to Texas (yesterday) I had devoted a good part of this site to a worrisome and growing list of Sox injuries. I'd forgotten to include Gonzo in the list. Seems he'd strained his neck and, as a result, was altering his swing just enough that it was robbing him of a lot of his power. Well, after tonight's 11-5 win over the Rangers, the Hose' first of the year, I might add, it appears safe to say that Gonzo is back to what he had been for most of the first half of the year-- a pain in everyone else's neck and a wonderful feeling to the members of Red Sox Nation. Leading the way, he went 3-4 tonight with 2 homers and three ribbies, allowing him to get closer to reclaiming the league lead in that category. While he'd been hurting, the lead had been claimed by a couple of Stripers, Granderson & Texeira. After tonight, Gonzo has narrowed the gap behind Granderson to one, 98-97. Other members of the Sox also played big parts in the W, but it was Gonzo leading the way. Jake came back to the lineup and promptly got a hit and then stole his 35th base of the year, later to score on the first Gonzo drive. Newcomer Lavarnway went 2-5 including a run scoring two bagger. Salty and Lowrie also had two-hit evenings and Scoots picked up three ribbies with his 11th double of the year.
Defensively, Lackey dropped below 6 for his ERA, while getting his 12th W. He also dropped out of the running, at least for now, of being only the third pitcher in history to have at least ten wins and also have an ERA over 6.
The other benefit of tonight's victory is the most important of all. We are again tied for first in the Division with the Stripes. They had to lose to Oakland to complete the gain for the Sox, and being the A's it was in doubt until the final out, a catch against the Yankee Stadium center field wall by a former Hose hero, Coco Crisp. Until that catch, I was afraid a Sox success was going to again be cheated out of its full pleasure for Sox fans.