With very little fanfare the Red Sox have won 8 of their last 11 games. Could this finally be the streak we have been waiting for? Encouraging is the fact that they are 2-2 in one-run games during the recent stretch (7-13 before)including last night’s 5-4 ninth-inning victory.
Orlando Cabrera’s RBI double in the bottom of the ninth was the game-winner last night, scoring Johnny Damon from first base. The ball took a divine bounce off the top of the scoreboard, and to no one’s surprise, Johnny got the wave from Dale Svuem as he approached third. With hearts in mouths, Red Sox Nation watched as the throw went wide and Damon slid in safely. Cabrera, who was the last batter for two of the Sox recent losses, finally came through. “Unbelievable,” Cabrera said. “I have done it in Montreal, but it’s not 35,000 people. They deserve it.”
Another bright spot in the game was Jason Varitek’s confidence-shattering homerun off Ted Lilly in the 4th. It may have been the longest homerun hit at Fenway by someone other than the 2004 Bash Brothers, who incidentally were a combined 0-5 in the game but were each hit by a pitch. Another unlikely hero, Ricky Gutierrez, added an RBI single in the 4th after Mueller walked and Kapler singled.
Pedro Martinez pitched OK for seven innings striking out 6 and walking no one in a no decision. Toronto made him pay for mistakes when Wells and Hinske homered on pitches left over the plate. Timlin and Myers combined for the 8th, Foulke pitched the 9th and got the win.
The dramatics from Monday spilled over in the seventh when Ortiz was hit on the hand by Lilly pitch. Ortiz glared out and Lilly immediately walked in towards him. The benches cleared but it went no further than words. Wakefield goes tonight to finish out the homestand. Wake’s been knocked around in his last two starts and needs a good start to get some confidence and continue the streak.
