History Repeats Itself

The Red Sox won again on another walk-off base hit, this time by our captain Veritek. This was our 8th game where we have won on our last at bat. The stress of these close games and people being called out at the plate only minutes later to have another base hit to win it is surely taking the years off my life expectancy. I have always said that on my death certificate, it will say, "Cause of Death - Boston Red Sox". I can feel my blood pressure rise and sometimes it hard to catch my breath during those last minutes of these tied games in the ninth. Before 2004, it seemed we always lost these type of games, but no more. We are the Cardiac Kids. I should probably relax more, I mean these aren't playoff games, but as we all know, it could very easily come down to just one win to get us into the playoffs, and we need each one. My wife says that if I ever have a heart attack during the Sox game, she is not allowing me to watch anymore, so I should probably learn to sit and relax rather than stand and pace, bang the sofa with my hands and yell out, "Manny" in unison with the fans at Fenway.

We beat Toronto on a base hit by Tek in the bottom of the ninth again to win 2-1. Papi got on with a base hit, Manny walked, then Lowrie came in to pinch run for Ortiz. It was like reading the same book all over again, it was like a script where we all know the ending. We knew the pinch runner would score off of a Moss base hit. Sure enough, Moss gets a base hit up the middle, I jump into the air in celebration, then before I hit the ground, Lowrie was called out at the plate. So I went from jubilation back to my high blood pressure medication and started fanning my face hoping that Tek could score Manny from second. Within a minute, Manny hit one up the middle, almost the exact hit from a minute before, but this time Manny came home safely and we had won! Manny tossed his helmet to the ground and the celebration was on its way.

After I had settled down from the stress of the walk off win, I flipped over to YES and watched the Yankees lose to the Tigers. It was a perfect bed time story - listening to them talk about another loss, how Arod and Posada are on the DL and how horrible their young pitchers are. I went to bed with a smile.

DiceK pitched well (7 innings, 2 hits and 0 runs) and Papelbon came in the ninth and got the win. Okajima allowed an inherited runner to score in the 8th and got the Blown Save, but I don't really blame him. He pitched well. It was actually Manny Delcarmen's run.

Our pitching is really looking good now, but our bats are as cold as ice. I think we are just running into some really good pitching by the opposition lately. One more with the Jays then three with the Rays over the weekend. Back in first place by ourselves, Yanks are in 4th place 3 back. Times are good.