A Giant Orgy of Runs...Relatively Speaking

In stark contrast to the past two nights where the Sox and Indians traded one run outings over 18 innings, last night’s 14-to-9 affair was an absolute slugfest that saw the Sox come out on top for the third time in the series and taking 3-of-4 from the Tribe in their mid-week showdown. Manny blasted two home runs (16,17) last night, including a 481 foot bomb that was 3^rd longest in Jacob’s Field history (not a long one) and the Sox gained their game back the Yankee’s took from them the night before, now resting a little more comfortably on top of the American League East by seven and a half games.

When I was watching the game last night, the Indian’s broadcasters had nailed down an interesting stat about Manny. Over the span of his entire career, he’s only batting sub .300 in one American League ballpark which happens to be the Rodgers Center, the home of the Toronto Blue Jays where he’s hitting .293, I think. I know batting average can be an overrated statistic, but pretty significant none the less. This reminded me how much I miss the “Did You Know?” segment on SportsCenter. Or do they still do it? I guess I don’t watch much of that show anymore since it kind of sucks. I usually just watch ESPN News.

More on Manny, last night was his 49^th multi home run game of his career tying him with Eddie Matthews and Mel Ott for 12^th on the all time list.

In a game the Sox were looking for, Wily Mo Pena went 3-for-4 at the dish with a three run homer and four RBI’s. There have been less than inconspicuous reports out of the Sox front office that General Manager Theo Epstein is looking to shop Pena in order to bolster the bullpen a little bit. Pena was never really a good fit for Boston in the first place and I was skeptical when they brought him on in 2006. At this point in his career he needs to be an everyday player to get better, rather than a backup for the outfielders in Boston.

Kason Gabbard is doing his best to stay in the Boston starting rotation picking up his fifth win on the season last night. One thing (or several) hurt his chances last night, and that was letting the Indian’s back in after the Sox lineup spotted him nine runs in the first five innings. The bottom of the same inning saw Josh Barfield double deep on a hard shot to center. Grady Sizemore brought him in on a single. Sizemore eventually moved up to third after Gabbard walked Casey Blake and Victor Martinez. Then, Gabbard hit Travis Hafner with a pitch, scoring Sizemore. Luckily, newly christened reliever Julian Tavarez came in and saved the day. Now, that’s why the Sox picked him up, not to start, but to come in and get out of jams. Sox reliever and Pawtucket call up Javier Lopez had been the go to guy for tough spots so far in '07, but didn’t really have the experience to convert consistently or the juice to stay in past the inning he’d pitch, so this is where Tavarez will come in handy. Finally. Tavarez would stay on until the seventh where he gave up a three run homer to Ryan Garko in the bottom of said inning. Old habits die hard I guess.

Anyway, the key for the Sox success all year has been getting to the eighth inning with a lead so the setup and closers can go to work and bring home a win. All Star Hideki Okajima came in and pitched yet another stellar 8^th, setting up Lopez to come in and close out the game in a non-save situation.

Meanwhile, in the city in which I reside, the Kansas City Royals finally stepped up and beat the Yankees, stopping their six game winning streak. Did the Royals stop the Yanks? Or did they just finally run out gas? All I can say is this about the Royals. Billy Butler is going to be a stud. After his brief stint after a call up in May, and his second call up after regular DH/1B/Team Captain Mike’s Weeny went down with an injury, he’s been on fire for the most part. He’s batting .311 with 27 RBI’s in 135 at bats. Team leader Mark Teahen has 44 RBI’s in 375 at bats. Then again, being the smart kid in a dumb class isn’t the best way to get into Harvard, either. I’m going to start calling him “Billy Beltran” or “Johnny Butler” or “Billy Dye” or, or, or…

The Sox travel down to Tampa Bay today to face off against the now hapless Devil Rays. Remember when they weren’t in last place in May? I think I’m about the only one. Tim Wakefield will take the mound at Tropicana Field at 6:05 central.