Timebomb

Games 55 through 57 - Red Sox

Rangers 5, Red Sox 1

Red Sox 8, Rangers 1

Rangers 6, Red Sox 3

Record: 33-24

Celebrating my favorite Texas musicians, headline-style, on the day after the Rangers won their first series against the Sox since 1997. Not first series in Fenway, first series anywhere. Guess we'll file this one in the 'Can't Win 'em All' folder and move on.

Jon Lester was the bright spot, whiffing 11 in a complete-game win on Saturday. That's 23 K's, 2 ER and 5 hits in the last 15 innings for the young lefty, who's finally showing why any number of observers expected him to challenge for the Cy Young this season. Lester toyed with the second no-hitter of his career, holding the Rangers hitless into the 7th inning.

Daisuke Matsuzaka, on the other hand, has done the impossible. The vexing righty is now officially harder to watch than Tim Wakefield, rendering 40% of the Sox' rotation Must-Cover-Your-Eyes TV. Matsuzaka played against type yesterday, not allowing a single walk in his 5 2/3 innings. Instead, he gave up 10 hits to account for the 5 earned runs he gave the Rangers. Kudos on the creativity, Daisuke-san. Maybe next outing we can keep both the hits and the walks down. Just don't ask me to follow along.

Three in the Bronx this week with first place in the AL East at stake. That sound you hear is the hype machine's early-warning test siren. I suppose it's too much to ask for the Sox to continue to be perfect against the Yankees in 2009. Although I do have a birthday happening one of these days.