For about the last twenty years or so, nothing’s cured what ails the Red Sox like a series against the O’s at Fenway. Friday night, at first glance, might look like an aberration but it was really a case of the Sox running into a quality pitcher. “But’s he’s 7-5 with an ERA over 5” you say, in a voice that’s a bit too whinney for my liking. True, my statistically-aware friend, but the numbers are misleading. Burres is 0-5 with an ERA over 7 when pitching on his normal four days rest. With an extra day (or more), as was the case Friday, Burres is 7-0 with an ERA around 3. The guy just needs his rest.
So we tuck that loss quietly away and look at brighter things, like last night’s shellacking of the orange birds. The good times were a-plenty. Drew and Manny going back-to-back, both in opposite-field style. And by the by, Manny hit that thing flat-footed with no more effort than if he was swatting at a fly. Youk, whacking his first career grand slam (oh, how we could have used that in the 9th on Friday) and plating 6 RBI. T-Wake, continuing his assault on anyone stepping in the box against him – another 7-inning start, two hits, one run. And finally, The Mayor, for the second night in a row almost hitting one out of the park. Casey won’t be mistaken for Jacoby Ellsbury any time soon, but what would you say best describes his attempt at a double?
Lumbering towards second…
Running in quicksand…
Chugging around first…
Carrying a piano…
He’s no gazelle, let’s leave it at that.
In other news, Big Papi may be back in the line-up on July 25th. And Julio Lugo will not, so we’ve got that going for us…which is nice.
