Yes, there are 69 games still to play. And yes, the Boston Red Sox have but a game-and-a-half lead over the second-place New York Yankees. But last night’s 1-0, 16-inning win over the Tampa Bay Rays is the kind of game that energizes an entire season – and since the Sox already have the best record in the American League, this can mean only one thing: an Eastern Division championship and the top seed in postseason play. (OK, two things, then.)
Consider that the club is on pace for 99 wins even despite its horrific 0-6 start, the loss of three-fifths of its original starting rotation to injury (Matsuzaka, Lester, and Buchholz), and the general ineffectiveness of a fourth (Lackey). Losing yesterday’s contest wouldn’t have signaled the end of the Sox’s chances; far from it. But winning it on the strength of a bullpen that also has seen its share of loss (Hill, Jenks) is tangible evidence that this is a team with heart – and I’ll take that over raw skill any day of the week.
Especially yesterday.
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