The game began with the red-hot Daubach getting a single to center. However, we all now one man does not make a team, Carl and Nomar followed with a pair of outs. Ohka got the first two outs of the inning before a Vaughn double and an rbi single by McGriff before getting Bobby Smith to line out.
After the first, Ohka and Bryan Rekar matched innings. The second inning went three up - three down on both sides. When the third inning came, Rekar made a few mistakes. The first was the first pitch of the inning to Varitek. With the bases empty of course, Varitek knocked a homer over the wall in left center. The second mistake was credited to the patience of the still hot Daubach when he added a solo shot to right.
Ohka set down the D-rays one-two-three in the third
2-1 Sox after three innings and the pitching battle would continue. Rekar and Ohka would match donuts for 3 more innings. Things got a wild when Ohka got ahead of Cox 0-2 in the 6th, then hit him. Later Mcgriff walked in the inning but got by unscathed. In the 7th Tomo gave up a pair of hits and run before the itchy trigger finger came to mound and relieved the Red Sox pitcher of his duties. At this point the rest of the game belonged to Pichardo and Lowe in the ninth. Or so I thought.
Pichardo came on and finished out the inning without more damage. Hippo's ninth wasn't so lucky. Two strikouts and walk later, three straight hits led to three very important runs. This whole time Bryan Rekar was was getting the job done. Although we had a runner on base in every inning but the second, he was getting the outs needed to pitch 8 strong innings. That and the fact we don't hit too well with runners on base.
Some of those frustration things I mentioned earlier. Well frustration really doesn't set in until stupid things happen or nothing happens repeatedly. Hatteberg, what the hell are you thinking. Round the base when you watch the Huff make the difficult play, he throws it across the diamond (this is when you get back to second base) and McGriff throws you out at second. OK OK mistakes, don't let it happen again. You're in the lineup because you deserve to be there, don't take yourself out.
All season long "Wave 'em in" Wendall has been testing the arms of the outfielders, a practice I personally like. In the seventh Varitek had two out single (no one was on base) and Nixon who unfortunately hasn't been playing much, doubled down the right field line. I personally don't know where the ball was when Kim held Varitek at third, it might have been a good play, then again Varitek wanted to score and was upset with the decision to hold him.
Tonight the Sox have the second of three in Tampa Bay. With the Yankees and Jays winning again the sox are losing ground in the east Also with Cleveland and Oakland winning we no longer hold the top seat in the wild card standings. We are 5 out of the east and tied one-half game out of the wild card with Oakland. Pedro is on the mound tonight and let's hope he pitches more like Ohka or Arrojo's last start than his own. His competition is righty Cory Lidle (1-5, 6.18) who has only started 7 of his 24 appearances this year. Game time is 7:15 ET.