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| Game 140: September 5, 2008 | |||
 Red Sox |
8 | W: Josh Beckett (12-9) | 83-57, 4 game winning streak |
| Rangers | 1 | L: Kevin Millwood (9-8) | 69-73, 1 game losing streak |
| Highlights: Dee el, shmee el. Beckett came back in fine fettle, handling the offensive powerhouse Rangers for five innings while allowing just four hits, walking none, and striking out seven. Mike Lowell picked up where he left off, and perhaps even stronger than the first half of the season because of the rest and recuperation. | |||
The returning third baseman made a 3-for-5 statement that his job, unlike Julio Lugo’s, is not in jeopardy of being taken over by Jed Lowrie. In his first at bat Mike Lowell knocked a homer over the left field fence for his team’s first run.
I just knocked over a stack of knickknacks teetering precariously on a bookshelf and amongst the fragments of memorabilia was a 2004 wallet-sized Red Sox game schedule with Manny Ramirez on the cover, smiling and short-haired. I was briefly wistful, but these days Ramirez’s absence isn’t as saddening. He seems to be happier in Los Angeles (young players like Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier are like sponges soaking up his knowledge and experience) and the Red Sox have been fine without him (despite losing one of the top five right-handed hitters in the league and being hobbled by a spate of injuries).
The Rangers have had key injuries of their own; with Ian Kinsler out, the battle between the two MVP candidate second basemen was left to our own imagination. Only for a Red Sox player would there be MVP chants while on the road for a visiting player. If there were any competing chants for Josh Hamilton, NESN microphones did not pick up on them last night.
Texas is known for their big talkers, so Dustin Pedroia felt right at home. The sophomore infielder didn’t have a multi-hit game, but he doubled and walked to keep the pressure on the Rangers’ pitchers.
Just as essential as Josh Beckett’s successful return was the flawless two innings Manny Delcarmen turned in, replete with three strikeouts. Justin Masterson allowed two walks but kept the shutout intact. Hideki Okajima hasn’t been his 2007 self, and that trend continued in Arlington.
The lefty allowed a one-out walk to German Duran in the bottom of the ninth and then two singles plated the home team’s first and only run. Meanwhile, north of the border the Rays have dropped two consecutive games to the Blue Jays, and Boston goes into tonight’s contest a slim two games behind.
