There's nothing like a four-game Boston-New York series to get the blood flowing in a Red Sox fan, and that's especially true this year when the World Series champion Sox are hardly playing like repeat contenders. It's not even a given that they'll make the playoffs this year. Many, many pundits have all sorts of reasons why the team has so disastrously collapsed, so this retired old man won't offer any theories of his own (cough, relief pitching, cough) and leave that to others.
But this retired old man always has an eye out for low-cost entertainment - something, anything, to fill the days and pass the nights without spending money. Twelve to 15 basic-cable hours of the intense rivalry between Boston and New York more than fits the bill.
The series was nothing short of a triumph for Boston. No, they didn't sweep all four games, but they did win the first three games and win those games decisively. Here's a quick rundown/victory lap:
July 25: Boston 19, New York 3
Probably the best win of them all: the first of four games, the biggest margin of victory in the series, the most runs Boston has ever scored against the Yankees in any game in their long history, and it all happened on my birthday. Thanks, guys.
July 26: Boston 10, New York 5
Andrew Cashner pitched 6.2 innings, scored 6 strike-outs, and earned only 3 runs.
July 27: Boston 9, New York 5
One less run than the night before (ten less than two nights before), but still more than enough to beat the Yankees.
July 28: New York 9, Boston 6
Nobody realistically expected a sweep, except possibly a sweep in the other direction like the debacle earlier this year in London. But the Sox still played well and scored 6 runs in a losing effort. Three out of four ain't bad, and a huge improvement to the outlook for the rest of the Red Sox' season. Maybe they'll make the playoffs after all.
That was a nice way to end last week, gave the Sports Desk something to do for four consecutive days, and kept the ROM of the streets and let him save his money. One day at a time. There's always something.
Next?
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