Sports Redux: So That's What Offense Looks Like

There's an old saying in baseball...well, there are a lot, like "Take two and hit to right", or "Don't bunt to break up a no-hitter", but there's an old theory that when you get lots of men on base, it's in your best interest to drive them in. A little crazy, to be sure, but it's a piece of wisdom that the Red Sox have been ignoring for some time.

Not last night. The Sox finished off their series with Texas by getting some timely, clutch hitting in a 7-3 victory for young Kason Gabbard.

The Hometowners jumped out to a 4-0 lead, which we've seen before this week. Dustin Pedroia hit a 2-run double in the third, then Manny brought him home with a double of his own. Then, in the fourth, Jacoby Ellsbury stole second and then scrambled home on a doozy of a wild pitch by Ranger reliever Willie "Please Don't Call Me Jane" Eyre. A manufactured run! We'll take that any time.

This 4-0 lead looked like as much trouble as the 4-0 lead Beckett blew the other day. Kason Gabbard had sailed through the first three innings, but walked Marlon Byrd, gave up a single to Gerald Laird (there goes the no-hitter), then a 3-run shot to Brad Wilkerson (there goes the shutout and another peptic ulcer). Uh oh.

Enter Eric Hinske. The Sox loaded the bases for Eric, who was told just before gametime that he'd be the starting first baseman (Youkilis was nursing some soreness). He justified Tito's love, launching a bases-clearing triple that bounced just out of reach of Kenny Lofton. RBIs!! Timlin, Lopez, Snyder and Okajima slammed the door shut, and the Sox are happy to get out of the series with a split.

One fan in attendance at last night's game was new Celtic Ray Allen, in town to collect his jersey (#20), meet the press, and tell us all that his feet feel great and he's happy to be a Celtic. One Allen note we should mention is that he was the subject of a a glowing profile in the Onion a few years ago while playing for Milwaukee. (Peter May has a more relevant look in today's Globe).

Rookies Gabe Pruitt and "Big Baby" Davis were also in town; Davis told the press "You think about immortality, all the championships, being a part of this organization is a blessing." Now that kind of talk from a rookie makes us all warm and fuzzy. Even if it does sound like a cop with one day left till retirement talking about the boat he's going to buy.