September 5 vs Athletics
Won 10-3

  • Boston Herald: Manny is the man of the moment
  • Boston Herald: Schourek shines
  • Boston Globe: Sox slam dunk A's
  • Hartford Courant: No hard feelings as Stanley returns

  • Wow! Alot of weird stuff happened last-night, and I was lucky enough to witness it in person at the ballpark. Lets go over the list shall we?

    1. The Red Sox score seven in the first inning.
    2. Every run in the first was with 2-outs.
    3. Manny Alexander hits a Grand Slam.
    4. The Sox pound Kevin Appier.
    5. Pete Schourek gets run support.
    6. Pete Schourek pitches well.
    7. The Sox score in multiple innings.
    8. The Sox get into double digits in runs scored.

    I could probably go on but i'd rather talk about the game instead.

    Actually what can I really say? From top to bottom the Sox were awesome last night. The only real blurb was when Hipolito Pichardo had to leave the game with a sore arm. Hopefully it's not something that will keep him out for an extended period of time, but you knew something was wrong when he walked two straight batters on eight pitches.

    As you read the list of good things that happened last night it's easy to see who the star of the game was. Of all people in the world, I think i'd pick Manny Alexander last, to hit a Grand Salami. What was even more funny about it, was that after he hit it, you knew it was gone, no question. Heck even Manny knew he tagged it as he went into his trot as soon as he made contact. When you give up a tall-jack to this guy you know you're having a bad night, but when that jack is a Salami, go home and forget you ever woke up that day.

    What was even more encouraging about the game last night was who the Sox knocked around, Kevin Appier. He may be 12-11, but everyone knows he's no slouch, usually pitches well against Boston, and i'm sure that not manny of us had alot of run scoring confidence going into that game.

    I love it when i'm wrong!

    Nomar Garciaparra also had himself a big game, going 2-5 with his 43rd double of the season and three RBIs. Hopefully this is Nomar breaking out of his slump and jump-starting this offense. To have any hopes of winning this thing, Nomar needs to get hot, now.

    But after the offensive heroics, the story of the night has to be Pete Schourek, who came out of no-where and threw 5 1/3 innings of two hit ball. He allowed three earned runs, but two of those we let in by the pen, and he only walked one. That's five straight very good to great pitching performances from our rotation. If these guys can stay consistant, and we can score some runs, there's nothing stopping us. JUST WIN DAMN IT!

    Rolando Arrojo takes the hill tonight on the heels of a absolute gem his last time out. Hopefully he can follow it up with and other one, and give the Sox another lift before we start the next four games with the Yankers. Game time 7:05pm EST.

    Ramblings

  • Dante Bichette may not have contributed a whole lot as far as numbers goes so far, but I do think he's making a silent contrubution, he's playing with the opposing pitchers heads. Think about it. As much as I complained that Dante isn't the answer and that we have another huge contract to pay next year, he's still a legit threat at the plate, and the opposition knows it. No more do they just have to get past Nomar and it's clear sailing (though O'Leary has held his own in the 2nd half), to the bottom of the order. Now they have to think out the situation, maybe think it out too much. Just a thought, but I bet it does have some merit.

  • Another thing i'd like to point out about last night's game, somthing you couldn't see if you were watching on TV, was the hustle of Donnie Sadler. Now i'm sure you saw him leg out that double he hit in the third inning, that was great hustle all in itself, but there was more. Later in the inning when Trot Nixon doubled him in from second, there was somewhat of a close play at second to get Trot. Sadler taking nothing for granted, sprinted all the way to home plate, making sure he got there before any play could be made on Trot and prevent the run. Now I know this is the kind of stuff that players should be doing anyway, but we all know that's usually not the case. Kudos to Sadler for the extra effort, it did not go unnoticed.