“To The Wire”
It’s a basic proposition: Six games remaining with a two-game lead. At stake is not simply a division title (which would be a “nice” achievement) but more importantly an opportunity to gain home-field advantage throughout the post season. The Sox can spin it anyway they choose, but to blow a 14½ game lead to the Yanks would be a huge letdown heading into the ALDS.

Oakland came to town for a brief two-game stop as they play out the string. This is the first year in quite some time that the A’s have not been in the thick of the playoff hunt. They were decimated by injuries the entire year and never went on their patented midsummer tear. Oakland always shows up, ready to play but it’s hard to compete when their best players are watching the action and unavailable (seven players currently on the 60-day DL).

Manny made his first appearance since suffering a muscle strain last month in New York and was put in the two-hole in the lineup. Youkilis is expected to return to the lineup on Wednesday while Okajima is due back on Thursday from a “tired arm”.

In the opener (Game 157, 9/25/07) Schilling (8-8, 3.97) got the call, and the last time he faced the A’s on June 7th, he came within one out of a no-hitter. He doesn’t need to go the distance tonight, but a quality start would do just fine.

Stewart grounded out to short leading off, then prospect deluxe Daric Barton hit an absolute bomb to right, beyond the bullpens into the area in right that separates the grandstand from the bleachers, wow! Swisher grounded out to first and Cust whiffed to end the A’s first.

Chad Gaudin (11-12, 4.52) started for Oakland and he’s really struggled of late, going 3-9 since the All-Star break. After Pedroia flied out to right leading off, Manny stepped to the plate and was met with a thunderous ovation. He lined a base hit to right to the delight of the crowd. Ortiz followed with a walk, then Lowell lined a double off the wall bringing in Manny with the tying run. With two outs, Varitek walked to load the bases prompting a visit to the mound by the pitching coach.

Ortiz led off the third by pulling one that had a chance before dying on the warning track. With two outs, Drew lined an inside-out double off the centerfield wall, but Varitek (first pitch swinging) grounded out to second. After three, score tied at one. At St. Pete: Yankees 1, Tampa Bay 0 in the second on an RBI double by (sigh) Jeter.

Cust led off the fourth with a line-drive single, then Schilling struck out the side. That’s 6 K’s through four…A-Fraud hit a grand slam in the third to put the Yanks up 5-0. All Boston has to do is win and New York could win 55-0, it matters for naught.

With one out in the fifth, Kurt Suzuki reached on an infield hit that Lugo tried to barehand. Shannon Stewart hit into a 5-4-3 twin killing to end the inning. That Pedroia kid can really turn the pivot on double-play balls.

Manny walked leading off the bottom of the fifth and was replaced by Brandon Moss. No complaints there, as he got his toes wet, got a hit, a walk and scored a run. Ortiz then walked, and so did Lowell. Then, Drew walked on four pitches that were all “just a bit outside”. Moss came in with the go-ahead run and the manager came out with the hook for Gaudin. In his place came Lenny “DiNada” DiNardo, who is finally getting an opportunity for steady work after having been claimed off waivers from the Red Sox (where he made so many trips to and from Pawtucket that he could find his way blindfolded). He struck out Varitek for the first out. Ellsbury hit a long sacrifice fly to right and Big Papí trotted in with Boston’s third run. Youkilis came on to pinch hit for Hinske with the lefthander pitching. Between his elbow pads and shin guard, Youk has more armor plating than a tank, but seeing as he gets drilled routinely what other options are there for a guy who crowds the plate? He popped out to end the inning, so that was a nice job by DiNardo of snuffing out a potentially ruinous inning for the A’s.

With one out in the sixth, Swisher whacked a long double that bounced off the wall in center just above Ellsbury’s leaping stab. Swisher moved to third on Cust’s ground out to Youkilis, but never moved after Ellis popped out to second.

Lugo led off the bottom of the inning with a ground ball base hit up the middle, but was erased on Pedroia’s 5-4 force (nice takeout slide. Lugo!). Kielty came on as a pinch-hitter for Moss and he grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.

Delcarmen came on in the seventh in relief of Schilling, who gave the team a big lift tonight (6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER 0 BB, 6 K). Harrahan walked with two outs, as Delcarmen suddenly lost touch with the strike zone, but just as quickly it reappeared and he whiffed Suzuki.

DiNardo easily retired the first two hitters in the bottom of the seventh, before Drew singled, Varitek walked and Ellsbury hit an opposite-field looping liner into left field. Drew came in standing up and it was 4-1 Boston. After a pitching change, Youkilis lined out to second to end the inning.

Gagné entered in the eighth as everyone held their breath...Stewart lined a base hit down the line in third leading off. “Bambino” Barton next stepped to the plate (as the scoreboard flashes that Tampa Bay has pulled ahead of the Yankees 6-5 and everyone cheers—sit down and STFU!). Watching Gagné pitch is similar to having root canal work. He is painfully slow, takes batters to full counts and causes blood pressure rates to rise precipitously. Barton flied out to right with a full count. Swisher flied out to left-center where Ellsbury and Kielty nearly collided. Cust followed and Gagné threw a pitch in the dirt on 1-2 before Cust ended up walking on a check swing. That was all for Gagné; as the manager then signaled for The Stoppah. It seemed as if Gagné threw close to 50 pitches…it only took one pitch from Papelbon to get out of the jam.

Les Frêres Lugo hooked up in the bottom of the eighth for the first time in their careers, and older brother Julio got the better of the bargain by walking. Pedroia followed by reaching out and looping a double over the first baseman’s head. Kielty then hit a long sacrifice fly to left and Lugo came in to make it 5-1. After a pitching change, Big Papí turned on an inside fastball way, way out of the ball yard and the Sox were up 7-1. With two outs, Drew singled and Varitek walked.

Corey entered in the top of the ninth and promptly allowed the first two hitters to reach on singles. Hannahan doubled off the wall and it was a 7-2 game, as bodies scurried about in the Boston bullpen. Another run scored on a sacrifice fly to right, then Pedroia caught a soft liner to right and doubled off the runner caught in no-man’s land. It wasn’t pretty, but everyone got the job done. Sox win 7-3. The Hoss came up with another big outing in crunch time.

In the series finale (Game 158, 9/26/07), Jon Lester and Joe Blanton hooked up in an unusual 5:00 start. Lester was impressive in the early going, striking out five batters over the first two innings. Blanton is the horse of the A’s staff, and is pretty tough to deal with.

Drew continued his hot hand, leading off the second with a ringing base hit past the second baseman. Youkilis followed by lining a bullet to left. The Sox then went down 1-2-3, killing a golden opportunity.

The A’s took an early lead in the third when Murphy singled with one out. Stewart hit a comebacker to the mound. Lester tried to turn two but he made a bad throw that Lugo couldn’t handle, then Barton walked to load the bases. Swisher sacrifice fly to center scored Murphy. Runners on first and second with two outs and Mike Piazza due up.

The Sox hung a crooked number in the bottom of the inning. Pedroia walked leading off and Manny hit another single. Ortiz then walked. Lowell smacked a base hit to right that brought in Pedroia and Manny. In the process, Lowell set a new Sox record for most RBI’s by a third baseman at 113. Drew’s sacrifice fly to left scored Big Papí to put the Sox ahead 3-1.

The lead didn’t last long. With two outs in the fourth Suzuki walked and Hannahan singled. Donnie Murphy followed with a three-run bomb that landed on Lansdowne Street and the A’s were up 4-3. With one out in the bottom of the inning, the Sox went ahead again. Pedroia doubled and Manny drove him in with the tying run. Ortiz singled, putting runners on the corners, then Lowell’s infield hit scored Manny.

Back and forth we go: In the fifth, the A’s pulled even on Piazza’s one-out solo shot. After Cust walked, Snyder relieved Lester. It was a strange night for Lester, as he struck out nine batters but couldn’t make it through five.

With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Varitek doubled down the line in right. Ellsbury looped a single to center and Varitek moved to third. But Lugo grounded into a 5-4-3 double play and that ended that.

Murphy walked to lead off the sixth then Stewart swung at curve ball that appeared well out of the zone. Not a bad outing by Snyder, as he gave way to Javier “Three Run Homer” Lopez, who promptly walked Barton before Swisher lined out to center. Ellsbury made a nice running catch on the play. The manager sent for Timlin to face Piazza, who fouled out to third.

Blanton was done after five, having been replaced by Blevins. Pedroia led off the bottom of the sixth with his patented “Little Man’s Uppercut” that ended up in the first row of Monster Seats to put Boston back ahead by one. Manny walked and was pinch-run for by Moss. Ortiz banged a double off the scoreboard in left center. Lowell followed with a hard line drive high off the wall in left, scoring Moss and Ortiz. Drew followed with a high fly ball heading into the triangle. The ball caught in the swirling winds and Swisher reached up and completely missed it! Blevins departed on that sour note and Ruddy Lugo came on in relief to face Youkilis, who walked to load the bases. Varitek whiffed, but Ellsbury bounced out 1-3 and Lowell came in to make it 9-5. Lugo v. Lugo Round 2: This time, little brother won the duel as Julio hit a long fly to center on which Swisher made a nice over-the-shoulder catch to end the inning. With one out in the seventh, Ellis walked, but Timlin struck out Hannahan and escaped unscathed.

Pedroia led off the bottom of the seventh by reaching out and tapping a bloop double to right. Moss followed with a base hit up the middle that scored Pedroia with the Sox’ 10th run. It was Moss’ first big league RBI. Ortiz then banged another double off the scoreboard. Royce Clayton came on as a pinch runner for Big Papi. With one out, Drew was intentionally walked. Hinske struck out, but Suzuki was charged with a passed ball that scored Moss with Boston’s 11th run. Hinske was automatically out because first base was occupado…

“Is it safe?” Gagné’s on for the eighth. Moss made a nice leaping stab of Murphy’s liner to left. Stewart singled on Gagné’s eighth pitch, then Barton blooped a single to short center putting runners on the corners. Gagné then struck out Swisher and Piazza to clean up that self-created mess. Julian Tavarez came on for the ninth, and allowed a run on two singles, and the Sox won going away. The Yanks also won, so the Sox lead is three with four games to play.