Now that was what I was looking for. Six home runs, a performance from Buck worthy of a 10 run lead, and a good old sodomizing of a last place team back at Fenway. The Sox came home last night to tune up for their weekend visit from the Rays with a quick two gamer against the bottom feeding Orioles. At first glance it had disaster written all over it. Two games against the worst team in the division (how depressed must everybody in the DC/Baltimore area be), coming off a weekend beating from a sub-.500 opponent and needing to win because the Rangers are playing a team of minor leaguers. But led by AL MVP Dusty Pete, at whom I pointed the finger Sunday night, the Sox treated the O’s pitching staff like they had just been caught in the woods, and the Sox were the hillbillies. (If you are wondering about all the Deliverance references, SMC is currently paddling his way down a river in West Virginia).
It was nice to see that the big guys are not missing mistakes, like they have so often this year. Whatever sacrifice the Orioles sent out there last night (I seriously don’t remember his name and I’m pretty sure he prefers it that way), was making enough of them to give up six runs on four hits in 2-2/3 innings. The unfortunate part for him was that all of the hits were home runs, two for Pedroia, his first two homer game, one for Beardzilla, and just for fun, one more for Gonzo (now hitting .289). Of course, it doesn’t help that the guy who came in to relieve him walked Bay and promptly gave up another bomb, Drew’s 20th. Ortiz added a cherry on top later with his 289th as a DH, tying him with Frank Thomas for that position’s all time record. Let’s just say that it was fun.
Lookin good.
While the offense was the most glaring bit of awesomeness about last night’s game, I’m more excited about the performance turned in by Buck, who had previously had his ass handed to him by the Orioles with a big lead a few weeks ago. Seven innings, four hits, no runs and never even a real threat. Now that is the kind of line that you want from your number two starter (yes, I said it, right now Lester and Buck are the top two, at least until the other guy remembers that he is Josh F#$%ing Beckett, the best October pitcher in baseball).
Fist Bumps and Mango Salsa for Everyone.
The Paul Byrd adventure gets another showing tonight, though hopefully he can do to the Orioles what he did to the Jays, and our hitters can continue their streak from last night. All indications are that it will be another night of warm up for the weekend’s quest to completely put the Rays out of the picture. Sweet.
Go Sox.
Done.
