A Drop at The Trop

Sox: 4 Those Dang Rays: 5

They came oh-so-close in the 9th, but left the tying run on third. That was one weird inning! First, Mossy skies a ball that would have been a sure fly ball out if not for the catwalk deflecting it to a gap in shallow right, in fair territory. Moss ended up with an RBI double. Then, Tek followed up with a sac fly. Rays closer Troy Percival injured himself trying to make a play at third and had to come out of the game. The Sox had Casey ready to pinch-hit for Lugo, but once lefty J.P. Howell was called upon to replace Percival, the Sox decided to stick with the northpaw Lugo. Lugo, whose numbers aren't too good with RISP, lines out to short to end the game.

Mikey Lowell got himself 3 hits tonight at The Trop and JD homered for the 16th time this season, after thinking he had struck out on a ball that should have been a called third strike. Fortunately for the Sox, the ump didn't see it that way and Drew got another chance, of which he took full advantage. Glad to see JD keep hitting those long balls, even if his overall average has cooled off.

The young pitcher I dubbed the Whiz Kid has been a little less...whizzy of late. He's been struggling with his command, but he's a rookie who started the season in AA and he was bound to start scuffling sooner or later. Chris Smith also scuffled in relief of Masterson, walking the bases loaded in the 7th.

Tomorrow, it's Wake vs. Garza. My fingers are crossed that Wake can reclaim the dominance he once enjoyed at The Trop, but it will be a tall order, with this new, improved, and no longer bedeviled team.

LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!