Oh, It Was a Good One!

Manny's back! Varitek's back! Nixon's back! What are the chances they'd all come back on the same day? Pretty good, I guess.. Ortiz could be back tonight! Papelbon's MRI has been moved to this morning, and Schilling is still sore. Oh, and the Sox have signed Daniel Bard, a pitcher from UNC and their second first-round selection this year.

Julian Tavarez started again, and he struck out the side in the first inning. At one point, he had retired ten in a row. He had a really impressive outing, I must say. Where has that Julian been all year?

Here we are, the at bats of the returning players:
Manny: 1st-double; 2nd-lined out to the pitcher; 3rd-IBB; 4th-walked
Trot: 1st-HBP (boo!); 2nd-fly out; 3rd-RBI single!; 4th-grounded out
Tek: 1st-pop out; 2nd-ground out; 3rd-ground out; 4th-IBB

Quick question: Why does it seem like Hinske always GIDP?

In the 7th, after Nixon's RBI, Tavarez gave up a solo HR. He then allowed a double and was relieved by Manny Delcarmen. JT got a standing ovation from the fans at Fenway, and I clapped for him too. I have to again question where that kind of pitching has been all season. How many games did he blow? And now he has started twice, and both of the starts were great? I am so confused.

Delcarmen needs to shave that beard thing off, ASAP.

He pitched well, despite the thing on his face. I'm usually cool with the hair styles of the various Red Sox, but that thing Has To Go.

Bottom of the 9th, down by one. Manny walked. Nixon went from an 0-2 count to a 3-2 count but grounded out (Manny to 2nd). Mike Lowell hit Double #40 to tie the game! Varitek was walked and the Gonz grounded out, so to the 10th they went. Timlin came in and had a 1-2-3 inning (wow, what fantastic pitching all around!), then CARLOS PENA hit a walkoff home run! I totally called it, too. Okay, so it went something like, "I want Loretta to hit a home run. No wait, I want Pena to hit it to end the game quicker so I don't get nervous." See, I called it. Anyway, the man was so happy, he seriously could not stop smiling. His first HR as a member of the Sox, too. The thing is, he wouldn't have even been in the game if Youkilis hadn't gotten hit by a pitch earlier. Karma!

QotD:
Carlos Pena! "It's amazing, I don't know what to say...It's a happy time for the Pena family!"

Bronson will not be pitching on my birthday (Wednesday). Stupid Reds pitching order.