Game 79: Sox 1 Phanatics 2

Ugh. Sox can't get anything going against the Phillies' number 6 starter. Worley spread out 5 hits and 2 BBs over 7 innings and only give up one run. And to add insult to injury, the one run came from a double from Lackey of all people. Reddick was really the only person who seemed comfortable out there going 2-3. Sox had Gonzalez play left and Ortiz play first to get some more offense but to no avail.

Lackey actually pitched really well giving up only 2 runs on 8 hits and 1 walk over 7 2/3 innings. And even then, Lackey really only struggled to get Ibanez out who was a triple shy of the cycle and knocked in both of the Phillies' runs. Morales got the last out in a game which should have been a complete game from Lackey.

Gotta avoid the sweep tomorrow in what is becoming a messy interleague series for the Sox. We'll send Lester but the Phillies will have Hamels on the bump.

Game 78: Sox 0 Phanatics 5

Yikes. Sox can't get anything going against Lee while the Phillies are the definition of efficient against Beckett. Sox only end up getting two hits (Scutaro single and McDonald double) and two walks (Pedroia and Youkilis) all game. Granted, with the left handed pitcher, the Sox didn't trot out their most explosive lineup today. McDonald and his 0.122 BA was batting 5th after all. The Sox did also seem to hit several line drive atom balls that might have resulted in something if they could have gotten a break.

The Phillies got their breaks though. They tagged Beckett for 5 ER but only on 5 hits. Two home runs helped but they only had 1 LOB until Jenks stranded 2 in the 8th. On a day when the Sox weren't going to score any runs (let alone get past 2nd base), there wasn't much room for error from Beckett.

Oh well. We've lost 5 of the last 6 but we know from the start to this year that baseball is a game of highs and lows. Let's start getting to one of those

Game 77: Sox 4 Jolly Rogers 2

What a messy game to avoid the sweep. Pirates commit 4 errors and the Sox add two more as only 2 of the 6 combined runs scored were earned. Miller pitched just well enough to win against a weak Pirates lineup but he didn't look nearly as nervous and fidgety as he did last time. Aceves, Bard, and Papelbon combined for 3 innings to hold the lead.

The offense was driven mostly by the Pirates' defensive miscues but Reddick seemed to have his name all over this one. He hit a fly ball in the 4th the ended up scoring Saltalamacchia when McCutchen overthrew the throw to third as Salty tagged up. In the 6th Reddick hit another fly ball that scored Youkilis on the sac fly. Pretty good for going 0-3. He also had a nice catch in right field that nearly doubled off the runner on first. Of course he also made up for this with an error of his own in the 3rd. He seems to be fitting in really well with his cup of coffee. And the way Cameron and McDonald have played, it might be hard to send him back down.

Day off today and a three game set against the Phillies next. This will be a big test for us as the Phillies are considered the favorite for the World Series this year. We'll send Beckett, Lackey, and Lester to the bump; the Phillies counter with Lee, Worley, and Hammels. Were lucky we don't have to face Halladay.

Game 76: Sox 4 Bucs 6

Sox just couldn't find their mojo in this game. Three home runs in the game (Gonzalez, Reddick, and Ellsbury) but they're all solo shots. It didn't help having to play NL rules as Wakefield was a waste of at bats and unfortunately, so was Scutaro batting ahead of him, going 0-4. NESN also kindly reminded us that the Sox were 0-8 on the day with RISP and 0-16 for the series so far. We've lost our mojo!

Wakefield had one of those knuckleball games, cruising for a few innings, running into trouble (especially whenever someone got on base) and got tagged for 5 runs over 6 innings. Most of the damage came from a 3-run home run by Overbay but the biggest problem for Wake today was the walks. He struggles with runners on so giving up 4 free passes is a problem. Albers gave up his first home run of the season and breaks a 77 inning homerless stretch (impressive!). Bard pitches a clean 1 1/3.

Well, it's really frustrating losing back to back series, especially to the Padres and Pirates. We gotta get a win tomorrow so we have some momentum going into the Phillies series. Miller's pitching next. Let's find our mojo!

Game 75: Sox 1 Pit Rats 3

Man oh man. Where has the offense gone? One run on 9 hits and 4 walks? Sox had golden opprtunities in the 7th and the 8th managing to score no runs with guys on 1st and 2nd with 1 out in the 7th and 2nd and 3rd with 1 out in the 8th. Yeesh. Both Gonzalez and Ortiz were in the middle of those inept innings.

Lester pitched okay. Eight hits over 6 innings was too many for the Pirates and walking the pitcher (the pitcher!) of all people to load the bases with no outs in the 2-run third was unbearable. Really, he seemed to be lucky to get out with what he did. Albers, Hottovy, and Wheeler pitched cleanly to finish the game but only one run against the Pirates is not going to win games.

Let's get this losing streak done with and start kicking butt again. We want wins!

Game 74: Friars 5 Sox 1

What a miserable day for baseball. Three separate rain delays before the game got called mid way through the 8th inning. And on top of that, we got bad Lackey. Three and 1/3 innings, 5 ER, 4 Hs, 4 BBs, and 4 Ks. It didn't start well with Lackey giving up a home run to lead off the game (Venerable's first of the year). In the 4th, he walked the first batter, hit the second, and gave up a bunt single on a wet infield to load the bases. He struck out the next batter but followed that with a bases loaded walk (I hate 'em!), a hit by pitch, a wild pitch, and a single resulted in 4 runs. Bad Lackey, bad.

At the dish, the Sox best opportunity came in the first. Cameron hit a single but was entirely surprised by the pick off throw, and was out standing only 2 feet away from the bag. Ellsbury and Pedroia both walked and Gonzalez gave us our only run of the game with a single. So it should have been either two runs in or 1 run and the bases loaded with no outs. Youkilis flew out and Ortiz grounded out to end the inning and the threat.

Ortiz seems to be struggling and I can't help but notice that he seems to have stopped trying to go the other way too. Seems like those two facts are correlated. Sox got the day off before starting a series in Pittsburgh today. It'll be interesting to see how Tito gets playing time for Gonzalez and Ortiz while playing without a DH. I say keep A-Gon in the lineup.

Game 73: Pods 5 Sox 4

I hate walks. Hate 'em. Giving the other team a free pass for doing nothing but standing in the box. Plus, they make the games take so much longer for me to watch.

Aceves had trouble mastering control of his pitches today. In the second inning, after two quick outs, Aceves proceeded to walk five batters in a row, plating two for the Padres. Of the 26 batters Aceves faced, only 6 saw a first pitch strike. Still, the game was tied at 4 in the 7th when Wheeler gave up two hits and an IBB to load the bases with one out. Bard nearly got us out of the jam but the ground ball hit to Gonzalez tied him up enough he couldn't go home for the force out.

The offense did well to keep us in the game but still wasn't very efficient. Thirteen hits and five walks should get us more than 4 runs. Pedroia worked three walks in the game which was impressive. David Ortiz also stole 2nd but struggled at the plate all day going 0-5 with a GIDP. Drew also continues to slump going 0-4 with 3 Ks. He seems to be to infatuated with his sense of the strike zone to adjust to the strike zone the umpire is calling. He's batting 0.230 and seems to have taken an inordinate amount of K's looking.

Rubber game is next. Hopefully we'll get the good Lackey.

Game 72: Dads 5 Sox 14

This game was actually a lot closer than the score appears. Sox got out to a 3 run lead early off the bats of Ortiz and Ellsbury. But the Padres rallied with a three run home run from Orlando Hudson in the 6th over the Monster (his first home run of the year). It looked like the Sox were going to get by with just a one run lead in the 7th. But with 2 outs, the Sox offense explodes for 9 more runs in the inning to make this one one-sided.

Andrew Miller started with Buchholz on the DL and didn't look bad against a raw Padres lineup. He looked very nervous and jumpy though. He had some great stuff with a low 90's fastball, a deceptive change, and a biting curve. But he was wild too often having difficulty throwing strikes even with the lead. He needs to be more consistent if he's going to stick.

Gonzalez gets the nod for MVP of the game going 3-5 with 3 RBI and 2 R although really everyone contributes when there's 10 run inning. Youkilis has been batting well but I'm surprised Tito keeps trotting him out there as his ankle seems to be really bothering him.

Beckett was supposed to go in the next game (today's) but has the flu so Aceves will start instead. After watching game 1, this is really a series we should sweep so hopefully Aceves can keep the wins coming.

Game 71: Brew Crew 3 Sox 12

Wakefield had the knuckler dancing tonight! Eight innings of dancing in fact to get the win. Sox offense exploded early for a 6 run 1st inning. Brewers rallied for 2 in the 2nd but the Sox came back with 2 in the 4th, 1 in the 5th, and 2 in the 6th to run away with it. The backbreaker came from Youkilis with a 3 run shot in the 1st to give the Sox the lead for good. Pedroia also added a solo shot; he's been hitting the ball well lately which is good to see. Scutaro hit a two run home run, taking advantage of Lowrie's time on the DL.

Feels good to win the series against a tough Brewers team. It was especially nice to have some short games to watch as I tried to make up the missed time being gone this weekend! Sox start a series against the Padres next with Andrew Miller starting in place of Buchholz who went on the DL with a back injury. Miller's looked good in the minors. Hopefully he can translate that to the majors. Sox face the Padres next so Miller should have success against a young team.

Game 70: Brew Crew 4 Sox 2

Well, that game just goes to show you that baseball is not fair. Lester has essentially the same line as Lackey yesterday and gets tagged with the L. He got knocked around early in the first giving up back to back solo shots and then gave up another solo home run in the 3rd. By the 4th inning, he settled down and had a final line of 8 innings 4 Rs (3 earned), 7 Hs, 3 BBs, and 8 Ks. Wheeler, Hottovy, and Bowden each get an out to finish the 9th.

The runs were short of winning the game though. There were a lot of hits against Wolf but he did a good job of spreading them out to avoid any damage. Saltalamacchia and Cameron drove the offense getting 2-out hits in the 2nd. You know it's either a high scoring day or a very low scoring day if those two names are the offensive highlights. Gonzalez seemed to struggle which was odd 1) because he's amazingly good, but also because b) he's got the most NL experience on the team.

Oh well. Rubber game will be Wakefield v Gallardo. Gallardo's been awesome of late but the Brewers probably haven't seen anything like Wakefield's knuckler before.

Game 69: Brew Crew 4 Sox 10

Lackey wins a game that it didn't look like he'd be in for very long. The offense explodes for 10 runs and Lackey settles down after giving up 4 in the first three innings. Lackey ended up pitching 8 innings giving up 8 hits and no BBs with 5 Ks. Albers pitched a clean 9th as the Sox were without Papelbon for this game and the next, serving a two game suspension.

The Sox were playing a tied game through 5 innings until they got 1 in the 5th, 2 in the 6th, and 3 in the 7th. Ellsbury started us off with a solo shot in the first and Gonzalez gave us the lead for good with his shot over the Monster in the fifth. Ortiz had a good game as well going 3-5 with a run and a RBI. Pedroia had a couple of web gems in the game two, one to start the double play from his knees and the other getting to a ball up the middle and throwing out the runner.

Couple of players left this game early. Crawford pulled him hamstring legging out an infield hit in the 1st. Hopefully that's not a lingering injury. Brewers starter Shaun Marcum also left after 1 inning, throwing 44 pitches. He might have just been bad but they said he left with a strained hip flexor. Lastly, Youkilis came out in the 5th with stomach pain, although he had been battling ankle pain after twisting it in the last game.

Good win. Glad to get it against a good team like the Brewers. Strange seeing them with interleague and all but my impression is that they've got some good pitching and a solid core of hitters in the middle (Weeks, Morgan, Braun, and Fielder). Sox will continue to have to exploit the bottom of the order from them.

Game 68: Sox 4 Devil Rays 2

What a great series! Good pitching from both sides. Sox just barely eek out the series win. This game didn't feel as close as it actually was as the Sox jumped out to an early 3 run lead in the second. But the Rays got a run off of Buchholz in the bottom of the 2nd and got a solo shot off of Aceves in the 6th. Gonzalez gave the Sox some insurance with his 14th home run, a solo shot, in the top of the ninth. It's a good thing too as Papelbon gave up a walk and an infield hit to third base to start the bottom of the ninth. He wiggled his way out of the jam though getting a pop up on the sac bunt attempt followed by 2 Ks.

Sox batters did a fantastic job of getting to Price early. He ended up leaving after 5 but I think he was up to about 70 pitches after 2 innings. The biggest news story out of this game though were the injuries. Lowrie appeared to reaggravate his ailing shoulder in the first inning on a swing and a miss. He came out of the game and it looks like a trip to the DL is in his future. Buchholz also came out early after only 81 pitches in 5 innings. Apparently his back was bothering him again. The Sox have a few days off coming up and Andrew Miller has been looking good so they may shuffle the rotation without sending Buchholz to the DL. But then again, with interleague games at NL ballparks coming up, I don't think the Sox want to see Buchholz holding a bat.

Great series and a great roadtrip! Sox are playing some of their best baseball in franchise history. Next up are the Brewers at Fenway so let's keep it up.

Game 67: Sox 3 Devil Rays 0

After getting shutout by Shields on Tuesday, the Sox counter with a one-hit masterpiece by Beckett. He was one swinging bunt, a worm burner, away from a perfect game. Fantastic to watch and a quick game too.

Hellickson pitched well for Tampa too so this game had a bit of that Pedro v. Clemens instant classic feel to it. In that game Trot Nixon hit a two-run shot in the top of the ninth with two outs to win the game 2-0 with both Clemens and Pedro throwing complete games. Hellickson didn't pitch a complete game but the only scoring against him was a triple by Pedroia followed by a IBB to Gonzalez and a three-run home run by Youkilis. Which was great for Youkilis because he really didn't seem to be squaring up the ball very well up to that swing.

Sox go for the series next but they face a VERY tough David Price next. It's not gonna be easy but as Tom Hanks said, "If it was easy, everybody would do it. It's the hard that makes it great."

Game 66: Sox 0 Devil Rays 4

Sox ran into a wall named Shields in this game. Shields pitched the complete game shutout limiting the Sox to 5 hits and 3 walks. Their best opportunity came in the first when they loaded the bases with two outs. Not a great opportunity but their best for the day. Gonzalez was the lone bright spot getting 3 of the 5 hits the Sox had on the day. Ellsbury put some good swings on the ball too but only came up with one hit and one walk. Youkilis struggled the most getting a K and 2 GIDP to go with some feeble swings. Yeesh.

Wakefield pitched pretty well going 7 innings, 2 runs (1 earned), 4 hits but 5 BBs. The first run came on a home run to LF Ruggiano who was today's "foul ball home runs turned home run down the line" candidate. The unearned run came on 2 BBs and 2 passed balls by Saltalamacchia. In the eighth, Hottovy had a messy inning hitting one batter and giving up hits to two lefthanders (which shouldn't be getting anything off of him). Aceves put out the fire but did give up an inherited run on a bloop single.

It was a good streak while it lasted but all good things come to an end. Too bad it came against the Rays but we've got Josh F. Beckett going next so the series is still very much up for grabs.

Game 65: Sox 14 Bluebirds 1

Hoo-hum. Another day, another Sox blowout. Sox again put up crooked numbers against the Jays and this time get an ace performance out of Lester. The runs came from, well... everyone. Gonzalez, Pedroia, Ortiz, and Youkilis all had home runs. Ellsbury extended his streak getting 2 hits and Saltalamacchia had 3 hits. Drew was the only starter without a hit and looked hopeless at the plate with 4 Ks. Who knows how many runs would have scored without that black hole in the lineup.

Lester was fantastic today working with efficiency. Eight innings, 2 hits, 1 BB, and 8 Ks on 102 pitches. The only run came off of a solo shot by Bautista, your MLB HR leader. The Sox did a good job of containing Bautista during the series and without him, the Jays lack very much punch.

A great series overall; you're almost disappointed to be having a day off tomorrow. But that they do. Next up are the Rays in Tampa. Should be a tough series but we're coming in hot.

Game 64: Sox 16 Bluebirds 4

Oh-wee, Sox keep hammering away! Sow win another series putting up crooked numbers in the 3rd, 5th, and 8th. Those numbers were brought to you by Pedroia, Varitek, and Ortiz. The latter two each hit a three-run home run in the 5th inning and went 2-3 on the game. Pedroia was 3-5 with 3 RBI too. Scutaro had a 4-hit night and apparently has a hitting streak going back to before he went on the DL. It hasn't seemed like he's been that consistent since coming back but that just goes to show what I know. Lowrie was the only starter to not get a hit (but no errors today either, playing 3rd base). Everyone got an RBI though.

Lackey pitched well enough to win going 6 innings with 4 ER, 6 Hs, 2 BBs, and 8 Ks. The Ks were good but the runs aren't great. Without an offensive explosion Lackey could have ended the day with an L. With the laugher on, Sox sent Wheeler, Hottovey, and Bowden out to finish the game. The Jays apparently ran out of pitchers (which was surprising to me) sending 5 relievers out after their starter was chased in the 5th. So shortstop Mike McCoy pitched a clean ninth featuring a 76 mph fastball and a 60 mph curve ball. Crawford, Scutaro, and Drew looked silly but that's probably because they're not use to waiting for the pitch so long.

Sox go for the sweep in tomorrow's day game sending Lester to the mound. Bring out your brooms.

Game 63: Sox 5 Bluebirds 1

Sox win again! Buchholz made quick work of the Jays going 7 innings giving up only 1 run on 3 hits, 2 walks, and 6 Ks. No sign of back pain too which was the best news. Bard pitched the 8th and Papelbon had a perfect 9th in the non-save situation.

In the field, Lowrie had a difficult night getting 2 errors playing SS; he know has 10 on the year. He didn't make up for it at the plate today either going 0-5 including 0-2 with RISP. He's a difficult guy to play because his SS defense is atrocious but he doesn't seem to have the bat to stick at third. With Pedroia at 2nd, where do you play him?

At the plate, the Sox continue to be led by white-hot Ellsbury. Jacoby had three hits today. Pedroia also went 3-5 and Gonzalez took advantage going 2-4 with 2 RBI. Sox didn't get any big hits but just hammered away at the Jays' starter getting 8 hits and 2 walks in 6 1/3 innings. It was a very balanced attack that's conducive to 7-game win streaks.

Lackey goes for 8 tomorrow.

Game 62: Sox 8 Yanks 3

What a weird game. The start was delayed 3.5 hrs by rain, then the Sox look like they're gonna lose a heartbreaker 2-0 before exploding in the 7th for 7 runs. Local time was nearly 2am by the time the game finally finished (all of the games in the series took about 3.5 hrs to play out). By the end of the game they were showing fans literally asleep in the crowd (which is ironic for the city that never sleeps, right?). The New Yankee Stadium doesn't have much personality and the fans seem separated from the game but this game was ridiculous. They might as well as have played to an empty stadium.

Beckett looks fantastic per his usual this season giving up 2 runs over 7 innings. His only blemish was a 2-run homer to Granderson in the first. Albers and Wheeler finished them off with Wheeler running into a little trouble in the 9th, giving up a run.

At the plate, Gonzalez looked particularly lost against Sabathia but woke up once he exited. Ortiz didn't seem to have much trouble facing the lefty going 2-4 with 2 RBIs. Ellsbury was another lefty who hit Sabathia well, although he's been en fuego recently. As expected with a 7-run inning, everyone got a hit today, although Scutaro (starting at 2nd to give Pedroia's knee a rest) didn't get his until the 9th.

Sox really exposed the Yankee starters in the sweep getting 18 runs in 14 innings. Sox are now 2 games up on the Yankees for the AL East lead, have the best record in the American League, and are only 1 game back of St. Louis for the best record in MLB. Let the good times roll!

Game 61: Sox 11 Yanks 6

Slugfest! Well, not the slugfest everyone was expecting. After hitting two batters yesterday, Ortiz doing a twirl, and just pummeling the Yankees in general, many expected this game to come to blows. Instead we played a clean game with a ton of runs.

Wakefield did enough to get the win giving up 5 runs in 5 1/3 innings. The knuckleball was really dancing except for a period in the 5th inning when the Yankees gathered 3 runs. Aceves pitched the remainder of the game earning the rare 11 out save. It certainly seems like having the two of them team up on games is better for the Sox than having Matsuzaka go every fifth day.

Ortiz hit another dinger in this one, a two-run shot in the first. Ellsbury's absolutely been on fire lately and gathered another three hits today. He and Scutaro both got stolen bases as well as we may have finally found a catcher worse at throwing out runners than the Sox in Cervelli. Crawford and Drew also had home runs today in the ninth inning to keep the game out of Papelbon's hands.

Sox going for the sweep tomorrow. Beckett again finds himself squared off against an ace, this time it's Sabathia. I'd be perfectly happy going to the Bronx and getting 2 out of 3 from the Yankees but continuing our dominance this year would be awfully nice too. Sox are 7-1 against them so far this year. Let's make it 8-1.

Game 60: Sox 6 Yanks 4

This was a fun game. Sox beat up on Garcia early and maintained a relatively comfortable lead over the Yankees all game. Ellsbury lead the charge with a leadoff home run (his 7th thus far). Pedroia followed with a walk and was sent home by Gonzalez with a triple. Youk scored Gonzalez on a sac fly to get the Sox to an early 3 run lead. Sox would add a run in the 2nd and a 2-run bomb in the 5th from Big Papi (his 14th). Papi added a little twirl for showmanship but it seemed a bit uncalled for especially with Lester's lack of command early in the game.

Lester was struggling to control his cut fastball hitting Teixeira and Martin in the 1st inning. He was lucky to get out of the inning giving up only one run on 33 pitches. He ended up getting the QS, giving up 3 runs on 6 IP, 8 hits, 5 Ks, and 1 BB but he's really struggled to put together a dominant start in awhile.

Jenks only pitched to one batter in the 7th before needing to leave with back spasms. Hopefully not anything to serious. Albers pitched the 7th, Bard the 8th, and Papelbon the 9th for the save. Papelbon gave up a run but looked pretty dominant actually.

Sox are now tied with the Yanks for the AL East lead and are actually only 0.5 a game behind the Indians for the top record in the American League. Let the good times roll!

Game 59: A's 3 Sox 6

Lackey's first game back and he gets the W. This looks more like the Lackey I was expecting giving up 3 runs in 5 and 2/3 innings, doing just enough to get the win. Bullpen pitches 3 1/3 of 2 hit, 1 walk ball to preserve the win and Bard gets the save.

At the plate, the Sox had a lot more success against Anderson than they did last time. He didn't have that devastating curve in this game. Crawford hit a three run bomb into the bullpen in the 2nd to get the scoring started and Gonzalez contributed with his 12th home run in the 4th, a 2 run shot over the Monster. Ortiz was absolutely on fire getting three hits and really doing a great job going the other way with the ball.

Great to get the sweep after the last series. Sox have the day off tomorrow and start a three game set against the Yanks in the Bronx next. This series will be important as the teams are only 1 game apart for the AL East lead. Go Sox!

Game 58: A's 8 Sox 9

What a crazy ninth inning! Beckett starts the game strong and leaves in the 7th with a 5-2 lead thanks in part to a Gonzalez home run, his 11th. With 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th, Papelbon is already warm so he comes in to protect a 4 run lead in the ninth. No problem right? Here's what transpired:

- Single, walk, swinging K gets two on with 1 out. Papelbon feels like he's being squeezed but the K-Zone thing NESN uses shows that the umpire is getting the calls right.

- Tailor-made double play ball is hit right at Pedroia who muffs it. 1 run scores, runners at 1st and third.

- Double by Pennigton scores a run and Varitek is thrown out as he immediately starts screaming at the umpire for the perceived injustice.

- Single scores two more runs, tie ball game.

- Papelbon throws a strike to the next batter and makes an exasperated expression trying to understand why that was a strike and the others weren't. Umpire starts yelling at him and he blows up getting tossed from the game as well.

- Jenks comes in a gives up a single before striking out two to get out of the inning.

I have no problem with Vartiek getting tossed; if you don't like the calls, pitch better and don't commit errors in the field. Papelbon getting tossed rubbed me the wrong way as I felt the homeplate umpire initiated the argument by jawing off at Papelbon instead of just letting him be frustrated. The umpire's supposed to be the grown up in that situation.

It looked like the Sox were going to lose the game in the 11th as Aceves gives up a walk, a double and a sac fly to start the inning off. But he gets the next batter to ground the ball right to a drawn in Lowrie who throws the ball home for the tag out. (by the way Saltalamacchia did a great job of applying the tag without putting himself in a position to get hurt like Buster Posey did earlier this year). Aceves gets out of the inning giving up only the one run. Lowrie and Drew strike out to start the bottom half of the inning but on the first pitch he sees, Saltalamacchia scrapes the wall for a double and Ellsbury doubles him home to tie the game.

In the bottom of the 14th, with two outs, Crawford hits a double for his 4th hit of the game. Lowrie is intentionally walked to get to Drew who rewards the Nation with a game winning single. Phew! Glad to eek by with that one in a game we should have won handily in regulation.

Game 57: A's 6 Sox 8

Not Buchholz's best day today but the Sox come back for the win. Buchholz had an ugly first inning giving up 4 runs on 5 singles and a fielder's choice. But the Sox claw back with 2 in the 1st, 1 in the 2nd, and 2 in the 3rd, chasing A's starter Outman. Buchholz gives the lead back up with 1 in the 4th and 1 in the 5th before getting the hook.

Sox load the bases in the 7th with only one out but it felt like they were going to squander the opportunity when Lowrie flied out too shallow for the sacrifice. But Crawford worked his clutch magic against Fuentes and got the two run single to give the Sox the lead back. Saltalamacchia hit a deep homer in the 8th for insurance and Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth for the save.

Glad they won that game as losing 5 in a row especially with Oakland just getting in town after being swept by the Yanks would have been heartbreaking. Word on the street is that Buchholz had a cranky back that's accounted for his recent struggles. Francona may try to give him a few extra days of rest to get back on track.

Game 56: Pale 7 Carmine 4

What a terrible game. Red Sox get swept by the lowly White Sox who came in to town scuffling while the Red Sox were, well... red hot. And in the process, Rich Hill injures his elbow in the 7th inning, grabbing his elbow in obvious pain and leaving the field immediately. Terrific.

The game started well enough with the hometown team getting off to a quick 3-0 lead in the 2nd inning. But the White Sox added a run in the 4th and then took advantage of some miscues in the field to tie the game in the 5th. Here's the blow by blow:

- Wakefield's unable to find the strike zone, even with his slowball, and walks Castro the catcher

- Beckham hits a bloop down the 1st base line that Pedroia gets to but drops it out of his glove (no error for some reason)

- Juan Pierre hits a ground ball at Lowrie who tries to start the double play getting Beckham at 2nd but Pedroia throws the ball wide and Pierre reaches as Gonzalez can't handle the throw

- With Ramirez at the plate, the Sox pitchout and catch Pierre trying to steal. During the rundown though Pedroia swipes at Pierre and pretty clearly got him (I thought) but the ump calls him safe at second (BS)

- Ramirez grounds out to deep short, scoring Castro when we should be out of the inning unscathed

- Quentin doubles, scoring Ramirez, tie game

- Konerko flies out to end the inning

In the 6th, the White Sox took the lead on a home run by Lillibridge. I point this out only because his previous at bats screamed that he was going to take the knuckleball yard. I remember in 2003 watching Boone hit several foul ball home runs down the left field line against Wakefield in Game 4 of the ALCS before finally straightening one out to win game 7. Some guys jsut seem to be able to pull the knuckleball really well. Lillibridge is one of those guys; he had the same at bats leading up to the 6th inning. Foul ball home run to left before striking out in the 2nd, double off the very tippy-top of the Monster in the 4th, and a monster shot to left in the 6th. Saw that coming from a mile away.

Ortiz knots the game back up at 4 in the home half of the 6th but Albers gives the lead right back up in the 7th. Bard pitches well but Papelbon gives up a huge 2-run homer to Konerko in the non-save situation in the 9th. Sox batters never really even made it interesting after the 6th inning.

Sox are now 2 games back of the Yankees and have an off day tomorrow before hosting the A's. Maybe some rest will help as it's been a long stretch of games. Also, word has it Matsuzaka is going under the knife for Tommy John surgery. The perfect ending to a crappy day and a crappy signing.

Game 55: White 10 Red 7

That was disappointing. Lady Luck finally left Aceves' side as he gives up 8 runs (6 earned) on 8 hits and 3 BBs over 5 innings. Lowrie didn't help the cause by booting a ball in the 4-run 2nd inning to extend the inning. Atchison coughed up two more runs in the 6th. Jenks was activated off the DL list and wiggled his way out of the 8th inning. Wheeler pitched the 9th and has actually looked pretty good since he's come off the DL (4 2/3 inning, 0 runs, 3 hits, 4 Ks, and 2 BBs).

Sox batters made Philip Humber look like a Cy Young award winner eeking out only 1 run over 7 innings on 6 hits and 1 walk. The replacements came in after the 6th and finally put some runs on the board. Reddick and Sutton were key to the 6 runs the Sox scored in the 8th and 9th. Also key was Big Papi's 12th home run of the year, a 3-run shot in the 8th. Gonzalez had a tough day with three Ks including one to end the game with the tying run on deck.

Can't win them all but the White Sox are a team we should be beating. Hopefully Wakefield can right the boat.