Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
And while it might not have been the best baseball — or at least the best pitching performance — the Sox did manage to take a 10-8 win over the Yankees in the Bronx, as they work to salvage something in the final week of the season.
To some, what they’re looking to accomplish is not to play spoiler, it’s to do something for themselves.
“I don’t think spoiler is what we’re looking at,’’ said Bill Hall, who contributed with a three-run homer. “We want to sweep the series and go to Chicago and sweep there, too. We’re looking to win out.’’
Globe | Spoiling for a fight
It was shaping up to be the worst loss of the year as a 10-1 lead jumped to 10-7 in the blink of an eye, but the Sox held on. Josh Beckett gave up four homers, and said after the game that he deserved to lose, but got the win.
As I tweeted at the time, at this point I just feel bad for Beckett. I'm a Beckett guy, which is probably the only thing keeping me from hating him. It's just been tough to watch this year. He'd throw a curveball that would drop two feet and be outside, and Lance Berkman would pull it to the warning track. Then he'd freeze Granderson on a fastball down the middle. Things don't seem to be making sense.
Jed Lowrie boringly went 4-for-4, while playing a boring shortstop and playing checkers, eating saltines, and watching Two and a Half Men after the game. Bill Hall homered, giving him 18 for the year. It's not a Jose Bautista-level surprise, but I'd still call it unexpected.
We should probably give credit to A-Rod for passing Sammy Sosa on the all-time home run list. He's at 610 for the career, 20 back of Ken Griffey, Jr. (remarkable that Griff got that far considering how much of his prime he missed), and 50 back of Willie Mays. Just start mentally preparing yourself for A-Rod to reach that level of company in the history books.
On page 2, Mike Lowell takes one to the face.
“I’ve never seen a bounce like that in my life,” Lowell said. “It almost had like topspin and came back and up. When I hit the floor I was like, ‘Am I still there?’ I didn’t see stars. I felt like the ball was still lodged in my head, but I never lost consciousness and I didn’t get dizzy. Maybe I was down longer than I thought. It probably takes Tito forever, and he got there kind of quick.”
The Red Sox removed Lowell an inning later for precautionary reasons.
“I would have stayed in the game, but it was 10-1 at the time,” he said. “My eye started twitching a little, and I didn’t really want to hit like that. I had enough excitement for a day. But I feel fine. I feel good.”
Herald | Retiring Lowell has eye for the ball
It's really only fitting that this would happen. Lowell's year has been crazy, and the baseball Gods seem intent on telling him to get out of the game. Good to see that it doesn't look like there should be any lasting effects, though even if there were, it obviously wouldn't affect his career, as he doesn't have many games left in his career.
Make sure you check out Joe Mac's piece in ESPNBoston (in the links below) about Lowell. Never gets old to read about him.
In related injury news, Jarrod Saltalamacchia is done for the year. Why not.
Globe | Spoiling for a fight | Lowrie turns on the heat | Red Sox rookies continue costume tradition | Herald | Retiring Lowell has eye for ball | Winning's still the thing | Bronx hardly burning with drama | Recap: Red Sox 10, Yankees 8 | ESPNBoston | McDonald: Lowell reflects | Lester will get a shot at 20 wins
