What A Week It's Been: Bookends Continued

Well, as those of you who faithfully follow this site know, I've missed a few games. But, if you faithfully also follow the Sox as I do, you know there haven't been too many recent games to cheer about! They have continued, through yesterday's early game, to create the second half of the season's bookends. Many issues here, but the biggest continues to be injuries--the same thing that kept the Hose from last year's post-season. Most of the troubles are now in the rotation, with only JB and maybe Lester healthy. Bedard is just making his first start in a couple of weeks due to a strained muscle, Bucky is still out with that fracture in his back, although if the Hose make the playoffs, he may be available. Everyone else is just thrust in there to stem the tide. It's like the fable of the Dutch boy who stuck his finger in the dike. Unfortunately, with very few exceptions, the stuck fingers here haven't been thick enough to stop the leaking. Add to this Youk's bursitis complicated by a sports hernia (Is that different from a regular garden variety hernia? I've once had one of those and know the issues.) Add in a few subpar performances from normally reliable players and you have our second half bookend. Even the umps have contributed. Yesterday's early game had the Hose trailing by what became the final, 6-5 and Papi drilled one that replay after replay showed was fair and probably would have been at least a double, but the umps called it foul. After that, Papi went quietly and so did the Hose' hopes.
At least yesterday's late game was a partial reversal in trends. Sox got a season high tying 18 runs on 20 hits, including Jake's 27th HR, an inside the park job. Gonzo got a couple of hits to help the cause and also put a little distance between himself and those pursuing him for the silver bat.
So, going into today's games, the Hose lead the Card by a pair, with the Rays facing the Stripes in the House that Steinnie Built to replace the House That Ruth Built. Keep your fingers crossed. It's going to be a wild ride to the finish. I think the Sox can do it. Now they have to perform!