Sox Save Finale In Oakland

Well, since last we talked, the Hose came to Oakland for four, yours truly attending game 2, and all four were one run games. The A's took the first three, #'s 2 & 3 being won by former Sox player Coco Crisp with 8th and 9th inning RBI singles for the winning runs. However, today, the A's, holder of MLB's best record to date couldn't make it all the way back. The Sox built an early and growing 6-1 lead behind the pitching of Lester and the collective hitting of the team. Most notable to that point were HR's by Nap and Ross, plus a screaming three bagger by Herrera. Lester left after 7 2/3 with what was a 6-1 lead at that point, but men on base. Badenhop allowed the two of them to score: 6-4, Sox. Into the 9th comes old reliable Uehara. Koji starts his normal routine, getting the leadoff batter on a simple unassisted grounder to Nap. Then the fireworks begin. Next A's hitter gets taken to 1-2 in the count by Koji and looks a cinch for a quick K, when, instead he drives the ball deep into the right field cheaps--Sox, 6-5. Another former Sox vet, Nick Punto, followed and popped to short. Two gone, and it looks as if we're home free. But wait! Jaso comes up to pinch hit and picks on the first pitch he sees from Koji. BAM! Score's tied at 6. Koji gets the next former Sox player, to dribble the ball back to him and he tosses to Nap to end the bloodshed.
Enter the 10th and after the A's virtually replace their entire infield and right fielder, Papi leads off.  Suddenly it's 2004 again and on a 1-2 count Papi leaves no doubt sending the ball deep into the center field sun seats for what bedcomes the final score, Sox 7-6. It's Papi's 448th career shot, and also helps the Hose pick up a game on the Jays, who lost today. Hopefully, once everybody's back from the DL and no-one else goes there, the Sox can turn the season around and play as we know they can. The continuity they can generate from the DL returns should go a long way to generating that kind of quality.