Jake Saves the Day!

Well, after more of the same this past week, bottomed by the Sox for the first time ever losing 3 of 4 to the O's in Fenway, the Card lead was down to 2.5 entering Yankee Stadium (the House that Hankie Built) on Friday. The trend continued as the Hose lost 9-1 on Saturday. Sunday had a twinbill due to Friday'
s rainout. With Wake starting the early game, the dive continued, Sox losing 6-2. The two runs in the Hose were by Jake, giving him 30 HR's and 100 ribbies for the year, and making him the first player in Soc history to be a 30-30 man. Unfortunately, the Sox need wins now, not personal records. So, entering the nitecap, the Hose Card lead was down to 1/2 game. Lackey took the ball, and by the end of the 1st, it was Stripes 3, Hose zip. One of the runs was unearned, but 3-0 is still 3-0! Lackey then turned up the heat and shut out the Stripes from then through the 6th. At the same time, the Hose were chipping, chipping and found themselves up 4-3 entering the Stripes' 7th. Part of the rebound was from JD, playing in his first game in over two months,as he drove in a run with a timely single. Unfortunately, Mr. Hankie's Yankees got the run back in their half of the 7th and the score was tied where it stayed until the 14th. During the drag through inning after inning to that 14th, the Hose bullpen was outstanding. No runs, and when The Laser came in to face the Stripes with bases loaded and two out in the 9th, he struck out the batter on 3 pitches--zip, Zip ans ZIP! Was that it for Pap? Hell, no! He stayed around for what has to be one of his all time best Sox performances, going a total of 2 1/3 perfect innings and getting 4 K's. He was followed by Morales for a couple and then in the 14th, the Hose found themselves with two gone and two on. Jake came to the plate, took a look and noticed that the Stripes seemed to be lacking enough balls in their bullpen in right center. Being a very considerate and charitable sort, he decided to help remedy the situation--by sending them another ball to play with--airmail express! First pitch and Jake took a knee high heater up and away--into said Stripes pen! As a reward for his charity, the Hose added three runs to their total and, with Dubront pitching the bottom of the inning, won the game. The Card lead is now one with three to go, and the Sox for the season are 12-6 on the Stripes, as nice a double as any!