The Boston Red Sox entered their final game in August looking for a 3-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox and to at least stay pace with the Tampa Bay Rays. Neither of those things happened though as the White Sox got the better of the Red Sox and the Rays romped over the Baltimore Orioles, the local nine’s opponent for the next 3 days.
Despite an 18-9 record last month, the Red Sox now sit 5.5 games behind the Rays and are just 2.5 games ahead of the Minnesota Twins in the wild card standings. Every game from here on in is critical to the Red Sox playoff hopes.
Despite all the injuries and now the flu bug that hit the Red Sox this weekend, they still had productive 3 days that produced 2 wins against a contending team. They outscored the White Sox 18-6.
The game of baseball is a funny game. All it took yesterday was Jim Thome hitting a good pitch from Tim Wakefield to change the game. As both pitchers settled in, it was a matter of getting to the bullpens. The White Sox bullpen held off the Red Sox late to save the game.
For the Red Sox, it was a game of missed opportunities that saw them leave 5 runners on base in the first two innings and 11 total in the game. Is there anyone to blame? Not at all, they just ran into a pretty good pitcher in Gavin Floyd. Maybe Ozzie Guillen can steal Daisuke Matsuzaka’s name of Houdini.
Is it really just a man crush?
Speaking of Guillen, he’s developed quite the man crush on Dustin Pedroia. So much so that when they finally retired him after 11 straight plate appearances, Guillen asked for the ball and then made a motion over to Pedroia for him to sign it later.
“I’m a big Pedroia fan. I love the way he plays. If 90 percent of players played the way he plays, I would pay for a ticket to watch baseball. “It’s not all home runs and power pitching,†Guillen continued. “The way he plays, this kid — that’s the way people should be playing every day.
“I admire him because of his size. He’s got a heart bigger than anybody in this league. It’s fun, to watch people play like that. Baseball needs players like that — real baseball players. He’s intense, he’s a hard worker, but he also has fun.
“(Terry) Francona watches him every day, so he might think he’s even better than I do. I’ve watched him for nine games and I think he’s unbelievable.â€
Pedroia also tied a record for most hits by a second basemen in a Red Sox uniform with 183 yesterday.
A stint in the minors was all White Sox reliever Boone Logan needed.
Even if Josh Beckett needs an extra day or two before his next start, the Red Sox have him covered.
Jim Thome’s home run yesterday tied him for 14th all-time with Mickey Mantle.
One year ago today, Clay Buchholz threw a no-hitter for the Boston Red Sox.
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant and Providence Journal websites.
And if the enemy papers are more your style you can check out the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune or the Arlington Daily-Herald websites.
