Papelbon Thwarts Comeback, Beat Rays

Tuesday night’s contest between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays had all the makings of a blowout through the first 7 innings. John Lackey pitched extremely well and held the struggling Rays offense to just 1 run on 8 hits while the Sox powerful offense dropped an 8-spot on the Rays staff. With a 7-run lead entering the 8th inning, I almost turned the game off, but thought better of it. For my own health and stress-level, I should have turned it off when I had the chance, because the game only went downhill from there.

Hideki Okajima was the first to enter out of the bullpen and proceeded to walk a batter and give up a 2-run jack to Willy Aybar. The Sox still held a 5-run lead, so although concerned, they were still well in command of the ballgame when Daniel Bard came in for the final out of the 8th. Then in the top of the 9th, Scott Atchison walked John Jaso and gave up a single to Carl Crawford before getting the first out of the inning on a strikeout to Evan Longoria.

Dustin Richardson came in to put out the fire and only made the situation worse after striking out Carlos Pena. Richardson gave up a 2-run single to shrink the Sox lead to 3, forcing the services of the closer, Jonathan Papelbon. Given his recent struggles, the normal calm I feel when Tito gives him the ball was not there, but Pap came through and struck out Willy Aybar to end the game. There was a huge sigh of relief across Red Sox Nation when Aybar swung and missed.

What made the victory even sweeter, is that it expanded the Sox lead over 3rd place in the AL East and thanks to some impressive pitching by Cliff Lee (4th CG this month) against the Yankees, brought the Sox within 0.5 games of the AL East lead, now 2 games ahead of the slumping Rays. It was the absolute best possible outcome for the Sox and if they can take care of business and win at least one more from the Rays, they would be guaranteed a stand-alone spot in 2nd place for a few more days.

Much has been said and written about the seemingly endless list of injuries to the Sox this season and what has impressed me the most, is the team’s continued confidence and will to win. With the playoffs potentially within reach, the team is playing hard every night and has different players step-up in each game to get a big hit or a get a big out on the mound. Many of the current players on the roster will likely not be around if the Sox are lucky enough to make the post-season and because of that, they are playing like each day is their last (and it may be).

If heart and determination won championships, this season would already be over and the Sox would be carrying their new trophy all around Boston. Instead, the Sox are pulling out victories and grinding out ballgames, even when blowouts become nail-biters or vica versa. Everyone is contributing and playing hard and although the team continues to commit errors with scary frequency, they are overcoming mistakes and putting W’s on the board, which ultimately is all that matters.

Let’s hope the gutsy play continues and along the way the Sox can get back some of their stars. When they are healthy (or healthier), this team will show the world what a true power they are and how strong they can be in October. We expected greatness in the Spring and that expectation has not changed, regardless of personnel. Not making the post-season is not an option in Boston, regardless of the multitude of excuses the team could pull out. The name of the game is to stay within reach, because, to quote Kevin Garnett, ‘Anything is possibllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllle.’