Frank Castillo: Where did that come from? Not that Frank hasn't been pitching well, but six shutout innings? Hey I'll take it, I just won't come to expect it, that's all. With the exception of some control problems Castillo got what he needed, when he needed it. Any time you leave a game and your RATIO is 1.00 you know you did your end of the job.

Shea Hillenbrand: Just when I had put a topic up on the message board about how he's been slipping a little lately and has been leaving allot of runners on base, look what happens. Heck maybe I jinxed it, jinxed in a good way. Obviously the biggest hit if the night was the two-out bases loaded situation in the ninth. Without those two runs, things get very sticky in the ninth.

Two-out RBI: Can't forget that Dante Bichette also had a clutch two-out RBI early in the game (1st inning I believe). He may have the 13 game hitting streak going, but I though it was better to see him come up with a clutch at bat instead.

Jimy's Decisions: I realize he was a defensive replacement at the time, but in a close game like that (and O'leary on the bench for the D) should Darren Lewis have been allowed to bat in the ninth? Tough call, especially since it worked out anyway, but I would have like to see someone else in there at that point.

Derek Lowe: Can this guy catch a break? Well I guess he did on that hot shot up the middle that he snagged for the third out of the inning, but two of the three hits he gave up leading to the third out were so cheezy. As good as Offy was at the bag last night, he needs to make that play on the one that zipped under his glove when he lunged for it towards 2B. Then the next batter hits a very soft flair that makes it thru the middle, ARGH! It only figures that the sharpest hit ball was the one that was fielded. Eh, I'll take it.

Tim Wakefield makes his first start of the season tonight. If he can be half as good starting as he's been out of the pen, I feel real good about this game.

paul@redsox2000.com