The Feed: In Battle Of Sox, Always Bet On White

Thome

The Red Sox took the field last night secure in the knowledge that they could regain a game of their lead on the Yankees with a win. Knowledge may be power but it didn't do diddley squat to help them actually regain that game and they fell for the third straight night to an AL Central also-ran. A.J. Pierzynski had three RBI and each runner he drove in was on base as a result of walks from Daisuke Matsuzaka. He walked six overall in the 4-2 loss and the hitters couldn't capitalize on 11 hits making it the kind of loss that won't do much to salve the troubled souls of Red Sox Nation.

C.C. Sabathia had another shaky start but luckily it was Kameron Loe opposing him in Texas. If it had been Cameron Poe or Cameron Frye perhaps he wouldn't have secured his 13th win of the season but it was Loe and the result was a 7-5 win for the Sons of Geronimo. The bulky lefty gave up four runs, nine hits and made an error but Grady Sizemore, Trot Nixon and Ben Francisco drove in two runs each to pick him up.
Chris Young is to offensive baseball what Tom Green is to filmmaking. Five of Young's starts for the Padres this season have ended in a 1-0 score, including last night against the Phillies. Happily for the Friars all five have ended in wins and Young's ERA is a miniscule 1.85 after last night's seven scoreless innings. Cole Hamels was the hard-luck loser but it's no big deal. Whenever he passes go he collects $400.
That sound you heard yesterday wasn't another manhole explosion nor was it Andrea Peyser's shriek of dismay that the New York Times reviewed Harry Potter's new book before it was on sale. No, that noise was the official end of the St. Louis Cardinals' title defense. Chris Carpenter is having Tommy John surgery and won't be back on the hill anytime soon. Enjoy Kip Wells and tip your waitress. By the way, the Braves crushed the Cardinals and Mike Maroth 10-1.
Ruben Gotay went 3-for-4 to raise his average to .354 and Marlon Anderson, just rescued from the scrap heap, drove in two runs against the team that cut him in June and the Mets outlasted the Dodgers 13-9. Jose Valentin, you are no longer needed and your parking will not be validated.