Sox 16 Rangers 5

So here’s the scene: the Sox lead 7-2 in the late innings of their game against the Rangers. After posting a crooked number in their half of the inning, Tito pulls his starter and goes to the pen, hoping to shut the door for another Sox victory. Then, disaster strikes. The Rangers match the Sox output of earlier in the inning and draw within one hit of tying the game at 7.

Now riddle me this, dear reader: is this the story of tonight’s game we’re talking about? Or last night’s? The rest of the story tells the tale: in their half of the 8th inning, after allowing the Rangers to pull within 2 runs, the sizzling Sox erupted for 9—yes NINE—runs and dispatched the boys from Texas for the third straight night, winning by a whopping 16-5 margin.

On the occasion of The Gambler’s return to active duty after a 13-game (knocked down from 20 by an arbitrator on Tuesday) layoff, the Sox lineup laid into the lefty to the tune of 5 runs on 7 hits, including one mammoth 3-run blast by AL homer (32) and RBI (107) leader Manny Ramirez. Brandon Arroyo-yo pitched a solid 7 innings before running in to trouble in the top of the 8th, but some delayed fireman work by Chad Bradford and the Sox explosion in the bottom of the inning assured the young righty of his 10th win of the season.

Clearly, with as much offensive firepower as the Sox displayed, to single out any performers would do a disservice to the team as a whole...but this kind of offensive explosion can hardly go uncelebrated, so here’s a breakdown of the full team effort (with one noticeable omission) that led to this season-best nine run outburst:

Gabey doubled. Johnny Rockstar looped a single over shortstop sending Gabe to third. Offeria singled softly in the 3rd base hole, scoring Gabe and sending Johnny to 3rd. Papi hit a long sac fly to center scoring Johnny (1 out). Man-Ram was hit by a pitch, sending Papi (“I don't want [Manny] to hit doubles when I'm on because I have to run my ass off") to 2rd. After Tekkie was intentionally walked, loading the bases, Kevin Millah the Rally Killah popped to second (2 outs). TonyG then doubled to right, scoring Edgah and Manny and sending Tek to 3rd and Billy Mueller loaded the bases again by drawing a walk. Gabe, in his second plate appearance of the inning, was hit on the jersey by the pitch, and then Johnny, also up for the second time in the inning drew a bases loaded walk, each plating a run. Edgah then laced a ball to deep center that CF Gary Matthews Jr. couldn’t make a play on, resulting in a bases clearing error (shoulda been scored a hit, dammit) to wrap up the scoring.

In all, the inning produced 9 runs, 5 hits, 3 walks, 2 HBPs, 2 errors, 13 men coming to the plate, 4 Rangers pitchers to get 3 outs, and one sweet series sweep for the first place Sox, who are off until Friday when the face the first place ChiSox at Fenway.

Record: 66-47
Streak: W4
Standing: 1st in the AL East, 5.5 games ahead of MFY
Next Game: Friday 8.12.05 @ 7:05pm ET vs. Chicago
BOS – David Wells (9-5, 4.45) vs. CWS – Mark Buehrle (13-4, 2.79)