Behindhand
| Game 119: August 11, 2008 | |||
 Red Sox |
5 | W: Josh Beckett (11-8) | 68-51, 1 game winning streak |
| White Sox | 1 | L: John Danks (9-5) | 66-52, 1 game losing streak |
| Highlights: The White Sox are trying, badly, to imitate the eccentric facial hair and hairstyles of the 2004 Red Sox. Danks looks as if he has a paintbrush affixed to his chin, Nick Swisher has Don Johnson-life stubble sprinkled on his mug, Juan Uribe has blond-colored moss limning his jaw, and A.J. Pierzynski has bleached his hair platinum. | |||
The questionable style tactics seem to have some positive effect last night.
Nick Swisher and Juan Uribe smacked back-to-back singles to begin the third. Swisher advanced on Orlando Cabrera’s fly ball to center and A.J. Pierzynski sacrificed to Coco Crisp to put the first run on the board.
John Danks was throwing smoke and on course for a perfect game until Kevin Youkilis muscled a single into shallow center with one out in the seventh inning. He then walked Mike Lowell on five pitches and briefly regained his prior dominance by striking out Jason Bay.
J.D. Drew, whose 2008 splits against lefties show very little difference from his performance against right-handed hurlers, took a fastball that got too much of the outer edge of the plate to the opposite field for a two-RBI double. As quickly as the perfect game was over so was the Pale Hose’s lead over their crimson counterparts. Scoring came late for the visitors, but this was a key win for Boston as the Yankees continued their descent and the Rays were dealt blows to their lineup.
Jonathan Papelbon was robbed of a save opportunity in the top of the ninth. Jed Lowrie erased the memory of Julio Lugo’s many fruitless at bats with his bases-clearing double to left. Two of the three runners on base scored; Drew was out at home only because of a perfect relay from Carlos Quentin to Cabrera.
Lowrie aggressively tagged up on Jason Varitek’s fly ball to center. Ken Griffey, Jr., surely didn’t appreciate the upstart testing his arm, but blame Ozzie Guillen for allowing the old-timer to attempt to relive his old glory in the most challenging outfield position.
The rookie tag team of Lowrie and Jacoby Ellsbury teamed up for their team’s final run in a manner reminiscent of the best team in the American League, the Angels. Josh Beckett played the role of John Lackey, staff ace and shutdown arm, with an eight inning showing with a line of no walks and eight strikeouts.
This is the way Boston will have to play to supplant the Rays, who were dealt major blows with Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria being placed on the 15-day disabled list on consecutive days. At least the Red Sox are adding players, even though it is Paul Byrd, and not losing them.
