Will Middlebrooks hit his first triple A home run yesterday and it was a grand slam (Photo courtesy of Kelly O'Connor and used with permission)
So Friday night the Red Sox get their hats handed to them in a 10-0 loss and folks were worried this was going to be what it looks like if the Rangers and Red Sox meet in the playoffs. Yesterday afternoon the Red Sox hammer the Rangers for 12 runs of their own (including a 4-4 day for Josh Reddick, a grand slam for Carl Crawford and let’s not forget the three runs in six innings off of Érik Bédard). In a game where they left 10 men on base, the Sox still scored 12 times. So this morning things aren’t looking so glum for the hometown team, are they?
It wasn’t fun to watch them lose a series to the Yankees and Friday night’s shut out was a bit miserable but, on the whole, few can deny that this team has been an awful lot of fun to watch this season. Â They’re a half a game out of first place. Â Every game they play has implications for the division which makes every game a must see. Â I don’t care about pre-season football or what’s going on with the NHL or NBA right now. Â We’re in the most exciting month of the season and my focus is definitely on the games that matter.
In other playoff news, last night the PawSox clinched the International League North Division title thanks, in part, to a Will Middlebrooks grand slam early in the game. Â They lost the lead but came back after being behind in the 8th inning, 7-5. Â The Yankees triple A team finished third in the standings, getting eliminated from playoff contention. Â It’s the first time since 2008 that the PawSox have been in the playoffs. Â I wish them a lot of luck and hope their getting the division title is a good omen for the Major League team.