Sox Get Timely Hits

Well, after a dismal slide that took them from not only the Division lead, but also to the best record in MLB, the Sox may have found the remedy. It wasn't a secret. All they needed was the occasional timely or clutch hit. They were getting baserunners against the Twins and the Rangers, but somehow, couldn't get them home. The trend continued for the most part in Toronto as well. Then off to the Trop to face their recent nemesis of the last 2-3 years, the Rays. So, last night, they settled the issue in the opener in the 3d inning. Putting four runs across against last year's Cy Young winner, before he left with a strain in his throwing arm that today found him on the DL, they then loaded the bases. A simple hit could help get them some breathing room and a W. Drew at the plate and, Boy, did he take care of business. One swing--Grand Slam--Sox up eight zip. They gave back a pair of those in the Rays' half, but later added a solo shot off the bat of Middlebrooks for a final score of 9-2. Lester wasn't perfect, but got better as he rolled along and ended up raising his record to a perfect 6-0 on the season, tying rotation mate Bucky.
Which brings us to tonight's game. With minimal hits for either team, the Rays broke on top in the 2d, 1-0 and the Hose tied in the 4th on a base hit by Papi, plating Victorino. A couple of innings later the Rays retook the lead, scoring a pair of runs as Hose starter Doubront ran out of gas; 3-1, Rays. Although he only shows five innings of work, he pitched into the 6th, but couldn't put anyone away in that inning. The Rays pitchers, in the meantime gave up no hits at all after the 6th, and only a total of three up to that point, including Papi's aforementioned RBI hit and Victorino's two-bagger that set it up. Came the Sox 9th! The Dustman and Papi led off the inning with freebies, followed by Nava's full count BB after Nap fanned. Sacks jammed! After Drew waved at a third strike, Middie drove a hard double into left clearing the bases and giving the Hose their only lead of the evening! And, like the man said, the only score that counts is the one at the end of the game. Failing to add any insurance, the Hose turned to their new closer of the moment, Tazawa, already having thrown an inning of shutout ball. Here it was classic Sox tension. The Rays leadoff man singled, and the winning run came to the plate. Did Taz worry? Well, he didn't show it. He promptly got Zobrist on a liner to third and followed it up with a great K of Rays offensive star Longoria. Could Sox fans breathe easier? Not   so    fast. Rays batter Escobar singles and suddenly the Rays have two on, with the winning run at first. Loney, a pretty good hitter strides to the plate, one hit away from driving a stake through the Sox' heart. Does Taz worry? Nah! Loney swings, makes contact--and it's a simple ground ball to Drew, who closes things down. Sox win. With the loss by the Stripes, Sox get back to within a game of first and a half game up on the O's. Two in a row! And all it took was a timely hit. It's great when things go the way you want them to.