The Commander Shines Again

I thought it was going to be another one of those nights last night.

The Red Sox put runners everywhere in Anaheim last night, and left an entire army on the basepaths (15 stranded in 11 innings). Josh Beckett was superb last night, and didn't allow a hit until the 6th inning. Vintage Josh was on display again last night, and came away with a no-decision for all his trouble, going eight innings and allowing just two runs.

Kevin Youkilis left the game in the second after fouling a ball off his shin. Fortunately, x-rays proved negative and he's day-to-day. (Boy, seeing him leave early brought back nasty flashbacks of last season.)

Jacoby Ellsbury drove in the first Red Sox runs in the 6th with a bloop single to right, but Torii Hunter's two-run blast tied it in the 7th. The Red Sox had the bases loaded in the 8th with one out and came away with nothing. (Jason Varitek is now 1 for 23 at the plate, and was in position to drive in runs on more than one occasion last night. Ouch.) The Red Sox were an astounding 2 for 18 with runners in scoring position last night. I thought for sure they were going to lose this one.

My scepticism was proven totally wrong in the 11th, when Adrian Gonzalez doubled in a run and Jed Lowrie added a sac fly to give the Red Sox a 4-2 victory and five wins in their last six games.