Sports Redux: Apparently Eight Was Enough

-- Like many a Red Sox fan, Bostonist was feeling cocky at the top of the ninth inning in Tuesday's game hosting Oakland. Why wouldn't we? The Sox had a 4-2 lead and Jonathan Papelbon was heading in to finish out the game. It was ovah.

Until Travis Buck hit that two-run shot to right field. It was a big hit in more ways than one: it brought Oakland back into a game that it would eventually win 5-4 after 10 innings, it broke Papelbon's 8 save streak, blemished his previously pristine 0.00 ERA, ended the Sox's reign as the only team in the majors without a blown save, made Eric Hinske dive into the stands and rendered a strong seven-inning effort from Curt Schilling (seven innings, two runs, eight hits, seven strikeouts and no walks) one really well-pitched no decision.

Not bad for the rookie Buck, who got to see what all of our Papelbon confidence is about.

Paps, for the record, was livid. Seen throwing a water bottle and his glove in the dugout post-ninth, the young arm was frustrated, players said post-game.

Schilling, perhaps sensing that Sox bloggers were going to go nuts, has already posted to his blog a recap full of praise for Papelbon.

"I know how bad it feels to blow a save so you always feel for the guys down there when it happens because you know no one feels worse than they do," Schilling wrote today on 38Pitches.

There were good signs, though. Coco Crisp treated the Fenway crowd to his annual gravity-defying feats, a seventh-inning (web?) gem of a catch that saved the Sox a couple of runs. Those worried about the injury-prone Crisp throwing himself at a ball will breathe easier knowing that he didn't even ice down post game. He was feeling that good.

JD Drew was a last-minute scratch from the lineup due to "viral symptoms." We're hoping he stayed home, because we'd hate to have the plague descend upon our first place team. That said, the viral symptoms would serve as a pretty decent excuse for Pap's performance, as everyone noticed the reduction in speed and sharpness. Just sayin'.

The Sox will attempt to avenge Tuesday's loss tonight, and Josh Beckett will take the mound with the hopes of extending his undefeated record.

-- Although no one has officially heard from Tom Brady about what he thinks of New England's Randy Moss acquisition, Mike Reiss notes the quiet messages that have come from the QB. The Pats needed to clear salary cap space in order to work with the $9.75 million Moss had been scheduled to earn with the Radiers, and Brady agreed to restructure his contract to make it happen. We're again reminded of how rare it is to hear about an athlete doing what he can to make sure his team is as strong as it can be - and we're glad Brady is ours!

-- Pete Sampras is back on the court, as it were. The former tennis champ will be competing in tonight's Champions Cup Boston at Agganis Arena. Sampras refers to it as a "next chapter," but we say it's just another one of those comeback tours - like the Barbara Streisand of tennis or something.

Photo of Paps courtesy of flickr user libdespot