The Saints Are Coming

Games 14 & 15 - Red Sox

Red Sox 10, Twins 1 (7)

Red Sox 7, Twins 3

Record: 9-6

New birth, rebirth, indeed. The green-trimmed togs and kelly caps donned by the Sox last night were ostensibly worn to celebrate Earth Day, but they may as well as been symbols of the Olde Towne Team's own renewal. Not much more than a week after being composted by the A's and Angels, the Sox find themselves riding a 7-game winning streak, bolstered by suddenly scorching sticks and the continued sterling performances of Tim Wakefield and the bullpen. And the loamy, fertile soil of Fenway Park. (Stretching it a bit there, perhaps?)

Wake became the oldest pitcher since Charlie Hough in the early 90s to hurl consecutive complete games, and even though yesterday's was of the 7-inning variety, it once again paid massive dividends later. The bullpen, completely rested in the first game, turned in 3 innings of hitless work in the nightcap, backing Brad Penny's good-enough 6 frames. Knock (green, healthy, living, carbon dioxide filtering) wood, but Ramon Ramirez, Takashi Saito/Hideki Okajima, and Jonathan Papelbon sure look like game shorteners.

The bats stayed alive during yesterday's twinbill, as well, going long 4 times (Kevin Youkilis, Nick Green (!), Mike Lowell, and Jeff Bailey) and knocking both Minnesota starters out of the game short of the 5-inning mark. Papi ripped a pair of doubles on the day, continuing his own personal return from dormancy.

It's all enough to make a fellow breathe deep the clean, fresh air and feel alright with world.

Of course, the Yankees are coming to town tomorrow, a hypetacular pollutant that this correspondent doesn't need. And so I'm ignoring it.

Okay, that's not entirely true. Half of Team MLC is winging to New Orleans tomorrow to check out the Zephyrs and maybe catch some of JazzFest 2009. I may catch a Sox/Yanks score here or there, but it'll be coincidental, I assure you. Back next week with some largely unreadable, sleep-deprived ramblings.