On a day where we got bad injury news about yet another of the team's stars, a guy who's been all but forgotten this year stepped in and made a statement in his first at-bat of the night. Youk, who aggravated a muscle tear in his hand in yesterday's game was placed on the DL with the possibility of season-ending surgery. This is a big blow to the Red Sox, who are fighting to remain relevant in the playoff race. Youk is their #3/#4 hitter and a gold-glove first baseman. He is a key cog to both the offense and the defense. Overtaking the Yankees and/or Rays is going to be a very tall mountain to climb (think Everest) without him, even when some of the others return.
Speaking of returns, Youk's injury allowed Mike Lowell a way back to the team. Since Lowell has learned to play first base, having his bat in the lineup as opposed to some other replacement will help cushion the blow. Lowell showed the Red Sox and the Fenway Faithful that he still had the bat when he went yard on the first pitch he saw in the game and he still had the glove when he snared a ball coming down the first base line and dove to the bag to record the out. However, he's not going to be able to play every day. Therein lies the rub: Who plays first on days when Lowell rests? If you put V-Mart there, you're forced to put Cash behind the plate and his automatic out of a bat in the lineup. That will not fly in the Bronx. Another option is to alternate first and DH between Papi and Lowell. Papi has experience playing first and while his range is not great, he does a decent job. Or, you can let Lowrie learn on the job how to play first. That sounds rather risky, but I'd much rather have Lowrie's bat in the lineup than Cash's, unless Salty is ready to be called up (has he even played in Pawtucket yet??)
Beckett pitched himself a gem, only allowing 1 run and 3 hits over 8 innings. The run he allowed was a solo shot by Lou Marson, the Tribe's #9 hitter. He had some command issues early on, plunking two batters. The second one stirred up some ill will on the part of the Tribe, resulting in several failed attempts to drill Red Sox hitters. The straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak, came in the 8th, when reliever Jensen Lewis threw behind Beltre. Beltre took a few steps toward the mound, but Lewis's ribs were protected from potential harm by the home plate ump and Marson. Still, it was enough to clear the dugouts and benches and ignite a fracas. Beckett was spitting nails, getting into it with reputed instigator Shelley Duncan, "baseball terms" flying from his mouth and daggers shooting from his eyes (I credit my mom for the dagger metaphor). Tito was also piping mad and going at Indians third base coach (and former Amazing Race contestant) Steve Smith with some baseball terms of his own. Now why can't he go at his OWN third base coach like that after all the runs he has cost the team?
The fracas was resolved and the Sox ended up going quietly in the 8th, no doubt distracted by what had just transpired. Pap came in and had himself a no-drama 1-2-3 save and the Sox won 3-1. The Yanks lost again to Toronto so they fall to second place behind the Rays. Winning tomorrow night and Thursday will be essential going into this weekend's series in the Bronx. Tomorrow they will get a little help putting away the Tribe with the return of Ells. He'll be activated for tomorrow's game and his speed makes the lineup better. Lester, who became a father last Saturday, will face his former teammate Justin Masterson, who stymied the Sox in Cleveland earlier this season. Let's hope that doesn't happen tomorrow.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!
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