If you even think about letting up, the Red Sox’ll get you every time. If we’re maintaining a lead in the late innings, we’ll extend it. Big time. Yesterday, the Sox carried a four-run lead into the eighth inning, only to add five more runs. We thoroughly trounced the Mariners, 11-3, out-hitting them 13-7 and making one error.
The error was made by Youkilis. I know. I couldn’t believe it either. He missed a catch. Kevin Youkilis missed a catch. I forgot that was even possible. I didn’t even know he knew how to miss a catch. It was his first error after 233 consecutive errorless games. Couldn’t believe it.
And Wakefield. He’s given some riveting performances on the mound, so this one wasn’t as hard to believe. The knuckleballer is now 4-4 on the season with a 4.33 ERA, which as of late is a pretty good statistic for him. He allowed two runs on five hits yesterday, walking two and striking out six. His seven innings of work also featured a sequence of 12 consecutive batters retired. And here’s an interesting fact: R.A. Dickey, Seattle’s first reliever in yesterday’s game, is a knuckleballer. I had no idea there was another knuckleballer in the Major Leagues. The ability to pitch a knuckleball is a dying art, and players who use it as their main pitch are very hard to come by. But here’s another one. He pitched just over two innings and allowed one run on two hits, walked none, and struck out two with a 2.88 ERA. Who would’ve thought.
Crisp stole second, Manny returned to the lineup for a home run, and Drew hit one deep from the No. 3 spot. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I can’t get over the kind of player Drew is turning out to be. You give him any spot in the lineup, and he’ll maintain his level of offense, which right now is wonderfully high.
Ellsbury pinch-ran for Ramirez, with his wrist guard plainly in view, but it was good to see him on the field. Maybe we’ll have to do without his bat and his glove for the time being, but we’ve still got his legs. He’s as fast as ever, and his presence on the field showed that the injury isn’t that serious. And Dice-K is moving steadily toward a return to the rotation. He’s progressed beyond his strengthening regimen on Friday and threw on flat ground yesterday.
As for the Youk-Manny dugout dispute, it started because Manny complained that Youk throws things after having a bad at-bat. But both players acknowledged that the exchange was history. Regarding the rest of our fighters, Sean Casey and Jon Lester will have to join Coco in serving suspensions, Casey for three games and Lester for five. Red Sox Nation can certainly take pride in its team’s brawling ability, though. This latest fight with Tampa Bay was just one of a few instances where, if a brawl is required, the Sox’s ability doesn’t disappoint. Point being, when the Red Sox have to step up, they do with skill. Hey, if you’re going to fight, you may as well fight well. I refer you to the Varitek-A-Rod display. The band Freakin’ A said it best when they addressed A-Rod in one of their songs: “We all know you’re choking on your lunch. Try a knuckle sandwich and the Varitek punch.”
