Saving Face in the Seventh

Sox: 6 Ms: 7
Sox: 2 Ms: 3
Sox: 8 Ms: 4

Going into the seventh inning of yesterday's game, the Sox were in danger of *gulp* being swept by the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park. Yes, you heard that right: SWEPT BY THE MARINERS AT FENWAY! It was a frustrating series for the Sox, who, until the last three innings of the finale, could not get the big hit they needed to put them over the top.

Though they managed a few runs off of "King" Felix on Friday night and then added some more off the Mariners' pen, it wasn't enough to trump the seven runs allowed by Sox pitching (Wake with five and RamRam with two). The game went into extras with the Sox losing when Ramirez gave up a two-run single (or was it a double?) in the top of the eleventh.

Saturday, Penny did his part to keep the Sox in the game, but the bats and Takashi Saito fell short. This was a game I could not see due to the absurd FOX rules that block out-of-market fans from seeing their teams' Saturday day games, even if FOX is not showing those games on TV. It was one that would have been frustrating to watch, had I been able to see it.

Sunday's game looked as if it were a repeat of Saturday's offensive shortfall until the Sox got the best of the Seattle bullpen in the seventh. They had managed three solo dingers off of starter Brandon Morrow (Pedey's third of the year, Papi's ninth two batters later, and Jacoby's fifth homer in the sixth inning), but they went to town on Miguel Batista and Mark Lowe, the latter of whom was doing his best Saito impression from Saturday's game. Papi tied the game with a bases-loaded RBI single. Jacoby walked in the winning run. Pedey knocked in two more and then scored on a passed ball. The Sox held on to that lead and won 8-4

Tonight, Nomar, or as they say his name in Boston, Nomaaaaah, returns to Fenway for the first time since he was traded five years ago. Smoltzy makes his Fenway debut. Aaron Bates, called up today to replace the injured Jeff Bailey, makes his major league debut, playing first and batting ninth. Looks to be an exciting game.

Congrats to the six Red Sox All-Stars: Bay and Pedey, who got in via Fan Vote, Beckett and Pap, via Player Vote, and Youk and Wake, who were picked by AL manager Joe Maddon. Props to Maddon for selecting Wake. He certainly deserved it, both for what he has done so far this year and what he has done for Red Sox and, arguably for baseball as a whole. He is the ultimate team player and an athlete who carries himself with professionalism and dignity on and off the field. He represents his sport well in an era where there is a lot of cynicism toward baseball players and pro athletes in general. As a Red Sox fan and as a baseball fan, I couldn't he prouder that he's representing the team at the All-Star Game.

LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!!