Sports Redux: Everything But the Win

The stage was set perfectly. Curt Schilling was making his comeback, adding the final link to the Sox' solid rotation. He pitched very well, had good stamina, gave fans confidence...but didn't win the game. Oops.

Schill went six-plus, and kept the Anaheim bats in check for the most part. Casey Kotchman singled in two runs in the fourth, which could have been avoided if Curt had been quicker on the draw to cover a double-play ball. So that tied the game (a Youkilis 2-run homer gave the Sox the lead).

The seventh inning was Schilling's undoing. Macier Iztruris led off with a home run, and Jeff Mathis' double (he later scored) ended the big guy's night. Bummer. Tim Wakefield against Joe Saunders tonight.

Up the coast, Barry Bonds went hitless, and thus homerless, in a 3-2 win over Washington. John Lannan, who is 22 years old and started the season in A-ball, got Barry to pop up, strike out, and hit into a double play (and walked him once). Remember that old Far Side cartoon that went something like, "After 22 years working in the reptile house, Ernie has a cumulative attack of the willies"? We imagine Lannan felt something like that after the ballgame was over.

The Patriots are gearing up for their Friday night preseason debut in Tampa. The Globe has copious notes from yesterday's practices, highlighting the work done by Tom Brady and Donte' Stallworth to get acquainted and familiar. Still no return by Randy Moss.

The Celtics are adding another veteran to the Good Ship Playoff Run. Scot Pollard, who inhabits the grey area between "serviceable big man" and "stiff", will come in to help out with defense and rebounding. Pollard played with Paul Pierce at Kansas.