Sports Redux: Not Quite a Comeback

It was a scenario we've experienced so many times before that Sox fans couldn't help but smile in anticipation.

Bottom of the ninth at Fenway Park. The tying and go-ahead run already on base. One out. David Ortiz striding to the plate to tip the balance on a 6-5 deficit.

We're supposed to win those games, right? Despite the fact that the Red Sox had given up its lead to the Toronto Blue Jays, even though Boston's pitching failed to step up in its starting and relief roles. Sox fans know that it's a lot of pressure on Big Papi, but that he has demonstrated time and time again that he can handle it and deliver.

Yet sometimes even Ortiz can't make the comeback happen. Or Manny Ramirez, whose fly ball ended the game. While we'll keep our spirits high, it was a tough loss at the park last on Friday night.

Where did it go wrong? Pitching.

Julian Tavarez had a rough, four-inning night, throwing a Dice-K quantity of pitches (101) to a Blue Jay lineup incapable of NOT reaching base. The Sox bats were able to battle back from a third-inning 4-2 deficit, but then Kyle Snyder gave up a couple of runs in the sixth (including back-to-back doubles) and the game was pretty much over.

Good news? Home run action for our relatively stagnant left-fielder. Ramirez hit his 12th home run in the first and Mike Timlin looked surprisingly sharp during his two-plus innings on the mound.

-- Curt Schilling pitched a side session on Friday, testing out his arm on 55 pitches that, he said, felt pretty good. We've rarely been so thrilled about a 55-inning performance.

-- Is anyone else really starting to get bored by Asante Samuel?

-- Finally, since we know that many are disappointed over the aforementioned Sox loss, we remind you of one thing: Yanks lost last night. With Clemens on the mound. To the Devil Rays. Isn't it crazy, the way that just brings a grin to the face?

Photo from flickr user eurodana