Texas vs Boston

When I tuned in last night the score was Boston 10, Texas 2. The Sox added 2 more in the 3rd to make it 12-2. My only thoughts at the time were about whether or not Zink could go 7 innings and let the bullpen rest. Three hours later, Texas had the lead. In all my life, I never remember the Red Sox blowing a 10 run lead. According to Sports Illustrated's web page, the Red Sox were beating the Blue Jays 10-0 after 6 when I was 4 years old in 1989 and lost the game 13-11. I guess that's the only other time a Red Sox team has blown that big a lead.

There were a lot of crazy plays that went Texas way. Coco Crisp had a fly ball land inside his glove and then fall out. Crisp argued it was on the tranfer, but the umpire ruled it wasn't a catch. The official score keeper ruled it a double, not an error. That, along with 8 Ranger runs, pretty much sums up the fifth. Oh yeah...and it took Lopez and Aardsma to get out of the it in a game I was hoping the starter would go at least 7.

In the bottom of the fifth, Ortiz appeared to hit a homer, but an umpire ruled a fan reached out and interfeared with the ball. They decided it would have hit the top of the centerfield wall and gave Ortiz a double. Myself and all of Baltimore is currently wondering where this umpiring crew was during the 1996 ALCS. Aside from fantasy numbers, it didn't matter much, as Youkilis homered the very next at bat.

In the sixth with one out and a runner on third, a ground ball was hit that deflected off Youkilis. Pedroia picked it up and had plenty of time to toss to first to get the sure out, and even looked that way. Instead, he decided to throw home. Kevin Cash made a great play just to catch the horrible throw. The first thing you learn in little league is to take the sure out. Pedroia must have been sick that day. Than man who reached on the Youk error/Pedroia fielder's choice eventually scored on a sacrifice fly. Had Pedrioa just gone to first and gotten the sure out, the inning's over on that fly ball. Stupidity.

In the seventh, Okajima came on with a runner on first and 1 out. It was ugly how he did it, but after loading the bases he got out of the inning without allowing any runs. I mention this only cause it's the first time I've seen Okajima not allow an inherited runner to score this year. Hopefully he's gotten better at that in my time away. It's impossible for him to be any worse.

Anyway, in a game the Red Sox lead 10-0 and 12-2, they came up to bat trailing 16-15 in the eight. Thankfully, they scored 4 runs capped by a three run Youkilis homer to take a 19-16 lead into the 9th. The Rangers got 1 off Papelbon, but the Red Sox escaped with a 19-17 win.

Also, Tampa Bay lost and New York beat Minnesota. Sickening as it sounds, it's actually good the Yankees won. It helps cause Minnesota's in second behind Boston for the wildcard.

Lastly, at the risk of comprimising what little respect and integrity I have left, I'm keeping the faith that Tampa Bay will never finish above .500. Right now they have 71 wins with 44 games to play. In order to finish above .500, the Rays need only to go 11-33. 10-34 or worse may seem impossible. However, I've been watching them for 10 years play their role as the most worthless team in professional sports history. I'm confident if any team can pull it off, they can.