The Good Kind of Drama

Admit it. Even after all the recent playoff comebacks and mysterious good karma since 2004, you didn't think the Sox had yet another 8th or 9th inning comeback in them last night. Well, they did.


For the second straight game, Boston took advantage of Texas' woeful bullpen, victimizing the Rangers for four runs in the bottom of the 8th en route to a dramatic 5-4 victory, a win which is not only the team's third straight, but also sets the stage for a Clay Buchholz performance on marathon morning that could give the team a clean sweep of the Rangers.

It didn't look like it was going to happen. Despite an effective and typically efficient eight innings from Tim Wakefield, it looked like the knuckleballer was headed for another loss. Of course, that's before all the slap hitting clicked in, with Dustin Pedroia and Jed Lowrie - who has now officially put Julio Lugo on the hot seat - setting the table for a Big Papi infield hit - bet you didn't think you'd see that - some intentional walks and, eventually, a walk to Sean Casey that forced in the leading run.

And, of course, if you thought the Boston batters were the only ones having a good day, you should have taken a glance at the bullpen. Not only did everyone get a day off except Papelbon, who converted his seventh save is as many attempts this year, Manny Delcarmen got the best news he's heard all year: the Blue Jays released his personal nemesis Frank Thomas. Now, as long as the Yankees don't sign him just to hit against Delcarmen ...

STARTING PITCHING: √
Based on runs allowed and overall performance, this was probably more of a √- for Wakefield. Still, the fact that Timmy finished a full eight innings - the longest outing for a starter so far in '08 - and showed marked improvement in weather conditions taht were at least slightly below optimal, he gets the nod for a little upgrade. Admit it, we all want to give it to him anyway, so why hold back?

MIDDLE RELIEF: N/A
David Aardsma says "Thanks Mr. Wakefield!"

SET-UP RELIEF: N/A
Mike Timlin says "Thanks Son!"

CLOSER: √+
Another day, another sign that Papelbon is back in control and his scuffles while still converting saves across the first couple weeks of the season are a thing of the past. And that, friends, may be the team's most encouraging news of all.

LINEUP: √-
It took long enough, but eventually the bats got in order when allowed to feast on one of the big league's worst bullpens. While another improved outing from David Ortiz was encouraging, so was the patience shown by he and the rest of his teammates, not least of all Sean Casey, whose bases-loaded walk was as clutch a BB as you can earn.

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