Batting Practice Night at The Fens

Sox: 19 Rangers: 17

What happens when two of the most potent offenses in the league go head to head in the hitter's park known as Fenway? Answer: Tonight's 4-hour slugfest of a game. Both teams beat the tar out of the ball in a game that looked from the early innings to be a Red Sox blowout. The Sox put up ten, yes TEN runs in the first inning, with Big Papi coming up big twice, with six RBI in two three-run dingers. Just when I was thinking this game was going to be a laugher, the Sox having buried the Rangers in one monstrous inning, the Rangers did the unthinkable. They came back. All the way back. And then some. Poor Charlie Zink had his hands full with this lot. What an offense to have to face in his major league debut. He lasted 4 1/3 innings, giving up 8 earned runs. The bullpens on both sides were mostly (save for Oki and Paps) ineffective in stopping the offensive monsoon wrought by both Boston and Texas bats. In the end, thanks to Youk's second homer onf the night, a three-run shot in the bottom of the 8th, the Sox prevailed. The come-from-behind wins that were so hard to come by before last night have now happened two nights in a row.

Let's talk about Youk and Papi. Two homers apiece for these two begs the question: Manny who? Youk and Papi are the new 3-4 combo in my book. I've said before that Youk's power numbers are up this year and, at 29, he's entering his prime as a hitter. Bay will be a good offensive producer with power as well, but for now, the Papi-Youk combo is looking pretty good. Gotta love how Youk made the Rangers pay for walking Papi in the eighth. It was so good to see Papi getting those two (almost three had it not been for some dumb fan interfering in the fifth) homers, given his struggles of late.

About Mikey Lowell: Boy is he banged up! Unfortunately this time I see a trip to the DL. Who they bring up in his place, I don't know. Hopefully it will be someone who will help the team.

Tomorrow night, Lester gets a chance to try to bring the Rangers' bats back down to earth. Tall order for sure, but with all Lester has done this season, I have confidence that he can put a lasso around the sluggin' Texas crew as the Sox bats face a pitcher with an ERA north of 7.

LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!