Napoli Erupts -- Again!

Didn't get a chance to post after last night's thrilling turnaround over Mr. Hankie's Yankees, but, suffice to say, it was in large part due to the bat of Nap. Going 3-3, including a homer and a double, as well as a pair of passes, he got on base every time he went to the plate. The big blow, of course, was with the Sox behind, 8-4, largely off a surprising bad night by Dubront. Sox loaded them up, Nap came to the plate and sent one off to the right field porch, just clearing Ichiro's leaping grab for the ball. Grand slam--TIE SCORE. The Sox took the lead for keeps in the following innings, finally winning their second in a row at the House that George Built, and moving ten games ahead of the Stripes, and 7.5 up on the Rays.
Which brings us to today's game, one played as baseball was meant to played, in the sunshine. Starting quickly in the 2d, Papi doubled, followed by Nap. Continuing on the recent tear he's having, he wasted no time and rifled a shot into the left field cheaps on a three and oh count. No taking a pitch here. Score, two zip, Sox. After the Stripes took one back in their half, the Hose continued their surge. Gomes to the plate and not waiting a bit. One pitch, a swing and the ball came to rest more or less in the same suntan seats in left as had Nap's and it's 5-3, Sox. After the Stripes took another single run in their half, the Sox sent nine to the dish, and when the smoke had cleared, had a 10-2 lead, compliments of a sac fly by Papi and six Sox hits, including a pair of two baggers. At that point it was beginning to look like a replay of the Sox game against the Tigers that ended 20-4. But, pay attention. This is the Evil Empire.
They took back a single run in their half of the inning and then, the Sox added a pair in the 5th, via a two run shot to the same set of cheaps from recent call-up, Bogaerts, scoring another rookie, Jackie Bradley, ahead of him. The score was now 12-3, and looking more and more like a Tigers repeat.
N   o   t     S   o    F   a   s   t! In the bottom of the 6th, the Yankee hitters started pounding and trying to spoil the Sox weekend party. Sending ten men to the plate, the Stripes picked up four runs, all of them with two gone. The culprits were a combo of the usual suspects and a few ho-hum inserts to their lineup. Suddenly, it's Sox 12, Stripes 7, and it's only the 6th inning! Now, I realize that even with Hank's Yanks this close, my five run safety rule still applies, but still, the momentum appears to have shifted, and in a direction I didn't particularly care for. If that weren't uncomfortable enough, after their pitching held the Sox bats in check for a couple of innings, the Stripes tacked on another pair of runs in the bottom of the 8th. Sox 12, Stripes 9. Worse, in addition to Ichiro, a future Cooperstown honoree if ever there was one, the Sox years long nemesis, Overbay, will also bat. If the Hose can only add on some insurance.
Not to worry. After Papi K'd leading off, Nap worked the count to 1-1, and then--another rocket shot to the same left field cheaps as all other Sox taters of today have gone. Score, 13-9, Sox, and while that's all they'd get, at least it was a little added comfort. Now, for the home team to take its final try. Tazawa is still pitching, after having closed out the Stripes 8th by quickly taking out the last two Stripes players. The first he faces in the 9th, he easily retires. Looking good. Maybe this won't be so trying after all. Wait a minute--this is my home town cardiac causing team we're talking about here. After all, it IS the Sox who, even in championship years, that the saying, "Good luck to you and the Red Sox" is about. Next batter, Overbay, and, true to form, he reaches base, this time on a four pitch freebie from Taz. Time for the showers, Taz. Uehara is not a preferred option here, even though with last nights 12 pitch perfect inning, he now has 27 consecutive perfect innings (his own version of a Perfecto). He's pitched in two consecutive games. Breslow comes in. Hail to Yale! Ichiro pops to the catcher and Wells, another historic long time Sox thorn, grounds out. Six pitches, perfect 2/3 of an inning.  Why do I worry so? (Because I'm a six and a half decade Sox fan)Game over--Sox win--AGAIN! Sox are now eleven up on Mr. Hankie's Yankees with 18 to play. For the margin over the second place Rays, have to wait for their final. That's tonight. Sox are also now thirty over .500 on the year. One other interesting stat: BY getting at least nine runs a game for each of the three games so far, the Sox have become the first team in over 100 years (actually 1912) to do that to a Yankees team in New York. In fact, in 1912, they weren't yet called the Yankees; it was the Highlanders, and there was no Yankee Stadium; it was Hilltop Park.