Here I sit in the “Commons” at my church watching the Sox and Rays battle in extra innings. There is something calming about this place – to my left nine people are gathered around a four-top and are entrenched in a bible study. There are kids running around and playing games on the internet, basically being kids.
We are in the top of the 12th and Kevin Youkilis just drew a walk, bringing to the plate last night’s aborted hero, Jason Bay. Aborted because Papelbon denied him (yes, I am still bitter). No way the Rays are even close tonight, if Paps does his job. Bay strikes against a lefty, but I am quite calm. I should watch every game here. That brings to the plate, Alex Cora, an automatic out. Sure enough, he hits the ball well but right at someone, on to the 13th. I am on record with this prediction – the winner of the game tonight will win the AL East.
My gut tells me the Rays scrap out a run this inning and the Sox will have Kotsay, Lowrie and David Ross against Percival in the bottom. Ball game, if that happens. Sure enough – lead-off double. You really have to give the Rays credit – three outs away from watching their seemingly insurmountable lead vanish, facing one of the top closers in the game and they found a way to win. Now they are two productive outs away from wrapping up the division.
There are two very non-productive outs, in the form of a double play. The Sox have life, but Narravo (he of the blown kiss to Papelbon, which I love you – should rub it in when you beat one of [th[e best) the hero last night is up needing only an infield single to wrap up the division. Nice it is starting to rain and the satellite is gonzo – do people in Seattle have DirecTV? How do they see a minute of TV? I will have to get updates from my phone – I am looking for the key words “MID 13TH”. Yes, “Navvaro grounded out to first”.
My daughter is out of her class and we are off to listen to the XM broadcast of the “BOT 13TH”. By the way, I never miss a pitch – between Extra Innings, XM and the internet and yes, I am this way about every game from opening to the final pitch of game 4 of the 2008 World Series.
OK, so it is still raining and I cannot find my daughter, but the game is back on and it is at commercial – what a 3 minute inning. Maybe the Sox found a way to win this thing. No such luck – on the 14TH. They must have seen a total of three pitches.
Timlin is warming – oh no, he is coming in – ball game! Fortunately, the Sox having “Automatic Out” (Ellsbury), Pedroia and Ortiz coming to the plate. I am sad that I cannot see Ellsbury end another inning with runners in scoring position.
Timlin somehow records an out before giving up 5 runs. Two outs. That little turd, Aki Iwamura, gets on with a single. And here we go, one out from Timlin is just about the best anyone can expect. Back to back hits and the Rays have the winning run in scoring position. At this point, if they allow Timlin to continue, I am just hoping he keeps that at one run. We still have a chance down only one. Oh my, they are letting him face Carlos Pena – 50/50 that this is a 4-1 game. Gone! I promise you that I predicted that. Good night! Good Bye division! Hoepfully, they can hang on in the wildcard race.
