Game 17: Red Sox 7, Twins 6

On the other end of this pitch....someone is getting plunked.

I believe I know now how I will someday die. A heart attack due to stressing over if Alfredo Sauce can close out a game.

Oh, and can we call Justin Thomas what he is? A Triple-A pitcher.

The Red Sox seemed to be smooth sailing to a clean sweep of the beloved, by all fans of "Little Big League", Minnesota Twins. Clay Buchholz seemed to be rolling along just fine. The cutter and curveball he had in his infamous first ever start no hitter, was back, baby. And back with vengeance.

Then the 6th inning came along, and suddenly I was in October of 2003 again. (Okay not really, and if I was to go back in time that's one place I would never go.)

Bobby Valentine takes Clay out with the bases juiced, and brings in Scott Atchison First off, let em go by saying Bobby Valentine has got that down. Atch should be the first one called upon if the starter is struggling in the early innings. But, what I dont understand pulling him after a ground ball single to make it 7-2 with the bases load still in favor of....

Justin Thomas.

WITH THE BASES LOADED.

I am a stats guy, by nature. But even the stats dont work in favor of a career Double-a pitcher against the best hitter in the Twins Organization by far. And of course, Bobby can walk away okay with it, since he got out of it by the skin of his teeth with a score of 7-6.

Fortunately, it was a much nicer ending, although to be honest, I do not think Alfredo Aceves is fit to close a game, by any means.

I will commend Padilla and Morales for their bridge work in the 7th and 8th innings. But that wont extend to Alfredo Aceves, who is literally trying to kill me...one HBP at a time.

In the end, I cant complain much. The Red Sox won and I think every single guy in the clubhouse tried their butts off to get this sweep. They grinded and got to bullpen early on offense, and had semi-good work out of our bullpen. Great way to start off the Road Trip.

Phill Humber, the 21st pitcher to pitch a perfect game just last Saturday, is next.

Go Red Sox!