Nap HR beats Tanaka, Yanks in 9th

Well, after getting embarrassed last night at the home of the Evil Empire, six zip, the Sox came back tonight to beat the Stripes in a classic pitching duel, 2-1. Both Sox runs came on solo shots into the cheaps, one by Ross in the 3d and one with two gone in the 9th. Both were off Yankees ace, Tanaka, who leads the AL in starting ERA and wins.  Nap's HR, by the way, is his second against the Japanese ace, the prior one coming at Fenway in May.  The Sox outhit the Stripes, seven to five, had four extra base hits amongst their hit total, and were further supported by excellent pitching from both the starter and winner, Lester, and their closer, Koji.  Lester went eight solid innings, allowing only the five hits and a pair of freebies, for a game WHIP of 0.87--excellent numbers for anyone. the only run he surrendered cam in the Yanks' 3d and was unearned. So Lester's ERA has now dropped below three for the first time this season, at 2.92. Koji was classic Koji, and what else can you say. The man is so efficient with his pitches. He threw a perfect 9th, including a pair of K's in his stats, while tossing only a total of eleven pitches, eight of which were strikes. This is his seventeenth save in 18 chances for the season.
With tonight's victory, the Sox have completed 81 games--half the season, and are under .500 for the first time since 1997. Hard to believe that in the horrible Year of the Valentine they weren't under at mid-year, but apparently had managed to keep afloat until the last half of that season when they then totally collapsed under his management and "leadership", eventually losing 93 games, including the last eight in a row and 12 of the final 13. But it's true--their halfway record after 81 games in 2012 was 42-39. 
Looking forward to the second half, the Sox expect to have Vic back from the DL, as well as a number of others who have spent long periods on the list. Also, they now have Bucky back in the rotation and, if his first start this past week In Seattle was any indication, should be able to count on him to complement the continued quality hurling shown thus far by Lester and Lackey.
Can they return to the post-season? Well, with today's W and the corresponding Jays loss, they're now seven behind in the AL East, not at all an insurmountable gap. but they have to get improved hitting throughout the lineup, as well as have more team members return from and/or remain off of the DL. These are all possible goals, and only time will tell how well they do at this. However, I have faith. After all, I'm a Red Sox fan. What else would I have?