Yeah. I dunno. So that sucked. We're so spoiled by the likes of Becks and Paps. Did anyone have any doubt, at all, that after the ball-busting loss that was Wednesday's game in Detroit, that Josh Beckett had a little something for the Tigers to chew on for Thursday? And guess what? He did.

Tonight, we entered the 9th with a one-run lead, and was there a doubt in anyone's mind that only Julio Lugo was capable of preventing Paps from getting his 11th save of the season? And yet, this is what reminds us to enjoy the good times. Paps didn't have it, mentally as well as physically, and the Twins used that combination quite effectively to engineer a walk-off win. I'm not going to get into the specifics. Suffice to say, it was not a good night to be a Sox fan. 

Also, I apologize. I'll take responsibility for a thread not being up tonight, and you can rest assured there will be one ready for tomorrow, though probably once again sans lineups. So, I'll take blame of the game with Paps.

But y'know what? Let's talk positive for a bit. Lowell and Papi are back, ladies and gentlemen. Lowell, in particular, seems intent on proving me wrong that we'll be getting '06 Lowell this season. He wants to repeat last season instead. All right. *shrugs* I'll take it. KY continues to take care of business, ditto Tacoby. 

Tomorrow? Daisuke v. Glen Perkins. Am I being too optimistic when I say that all I'm hoping for is < 8 walks?

via d.yimg.com

Oki did more than his job tonight. Kudos to him, even if it ended up being in a losing effort.

via www.fangraphs.com

Summary:

All right. It wasn't really wasted. But when your up-again, down-again young LHSP puts together his best start in the history of ever, it'd be nice for him to get a W to go along with it. Instead, Paps (who started off the 9th as well as ever, then needed a bit of DP help to avoid damage from a 2-out 2B off the bat of Scott Rolen.) got the win by throwing one scoreless inning in relief.

The offense is still woeful. Only Youks had a positive WPA out of the Sox hitters last night, and losing JD Drew for however long that might be certainly won't help matters. It's a chore watching Coco leadoff, btw, even if it's not as difficult to watch him at the plate in general thusfar in the season. 

Lester, however, went toe-to-toe with CG artist Roy Halladay and emerged the victor no decisioner. Lester was uncommonly efficient, still allowing 4 walks in his 8 innings, but seemed to buckle down after each walk, and was certainly aided by inducing a number of ground ball outs. He also struck out 6, and finished his 8 innings with less than 100 pitches (97). Like Buch, we'll just have to see if some of this carries over to his next couple starts before making any kind of long-term judgments.

Player of the Game: Vernon Wells

via d.yimg.com

Comment of the Game:

At this point, I'll take a 1-0 win as long as it's the home team winning. -DJDP23's

via www.fangraphs.com

Summary:

Jennings v. Lester

Woohoo and whatnot. Jon Lester threw 6 innings. I threw a little party for him last night, on behalf of that. Good work by the 'pen as well, with J-Lo, MDC, Timlin and Paps combining for three scoreless innings after Lester left. Hitting-wise, Dustin, Papi, and especially "Being" threw down the other night. Manny just keeps on hitting for us in big moments, answering the question we all wondered about just what might've happened 2003-2006 if Papi didn't come through every single time.

Millwood v. Wake

First of all, Wake was ridiculously efficient. Averaging about 2.7 pitches per inning, several innings were over before the infielders and outfielders were actually through warming up. The Rangers were jumping on pitches, exhibiting no patience, and actually were fairly successful doing so. They were able to get their 7 hits in bunches, and combined with two of those hits being HRs, scored 5 off of Wake by the 6th inning. If you caught the game thread, you know a lot of us were pretty despondent. In retrospect, I suppose I'm not sure why. I think it's that the runs scored off of HRs, which always seem like more than they really are. Nevertheless.

...so what happened? 2 runs in the 7th, run-scoring singles by Papi and Drew brought us to within 3. We entered the 8th inning, and the magic really began. All with 2 outs: Tacoby 1B, Jed Lowrie 2B (5-3), Papi 1B (5-4), DP PH 2B (5-5), Youks IBB, Drew BB, Casey BB (5-6). Kevin Cash, who made the first out of the inning, also made the third, and Paps came on for the save, though it wasn't the most relaxed save he's ever given us.

Players of the Gamez:

Jennings v. Lester

via d.yimg.com

Who else, really?

Millwood v. Wake

via d.yimg.com

Thank you, Yahoo! Images. This way I don't have to choose. Also, good job Jed Lowrie.

Comment-mania:

GIDP - Now Papi is trying to make Lugo look good. There’s a lot of love going on in this team. :) - MerryGoByeBye

There's no element of surprise. I'm just watching our inexorable march towards yet another amazing win.Tedious is hardly the word. - britsoxfan (Proper context: We were still down 5-2, and there were 2 outs in the 8th inning with only one runner on.)

via www.fangraphs.com

Summary:

Ugh. Just ugh. I mean, you hate to see a team like the Tigers (save for Gary Sheffield himself) go on such an extended losing streak to begin the season. Gary Sheffield needs to find a way to lose all of his games this season, but it's okay with me if the Tigers make the playoffs.

However, if I were the Tigers, I would consider myself still worried. With 9 baserunners over 5 innings, Jeremy Bonderman actually had a higher WHIP than your own Jon Lester with the same while recording one more out. 

The problem for the offense, of course, was extra and wasted outs. Two CSs, and four DPs. Sean "Mayor McSpeed" Casey, Manuel "Being" Ramirez, and Julio "Are you seriously PHing for me after a 2-3 game" Lugo all had two hits apiece. The 1-3 slots in the order went a combined 0-12 with 2 BBs (both Pedroia's). 

On the pitching side, Jon Lester was not in control, of the game or of his pitches. 4 walks is not progress. In the battle for "don't get DFA'd for Mike Timlin", David Aardsma would seem to be in the lead over Bryan Corey. 

On the Tigers' side, Edgar Renteria came back to haunt us, in person, and not even polite enough to do so as a ghost. 3-4, 2 2B, 2 R and 2 RsBI. Carlos Guillen also had a decent day at the plate, scoring 3 and hitting a solo HR off of Javier "No LHHs please" Lopez. 

Player of the Game:

via d.yimg.com

Yeah. Unfortunately it's the guy on the left, Renteria and not Youks.

Comment of the Game:

You wonder if Lester is aware that he doesn't really get hit that hard. It's when he walks someone, and someone else, and someone else, that things start to get bad. -soxaholic

...oh yeah. We F'n lost Mike Lowell, at least for awhile.