Sports Redux: Chock Full O' Goodness

It was a busy Friday in Boston sports - two Red Sox games, one Patriots exhibition game, baby news from someone other than Tom Brady...whew! We're just going to dive right in and give you the quick and dirty version of the Redux. Ready? Here goes:

-- We've heard that Sox fans who attended the first game of the Friday Fenway doubleheader made sure to carefully tuck their ticket stubs away. We imagine that the vendors selling official programs also saw a spike in sales. Why? Clay Buchholz, the wunderkind being billed as the second coming of Roger Clemens, made his MLB debut and delivered the goods to get his first win, 8-4 over the Angels. The 23-year-old had a little trouble spotting his fastball, but unleashed some downright nasty off-speed pitches on the visiting lineup. Buchholz left the game after six innings (four runs, eight hits, three walks, five strikeouts) and was then promptly sent back down to the minors with a pat on the back.

The offense picked up to get the newbie a cushion during the first inning of the game. A six-run first featured a two-run homer from David Ortiz - by the fifth inning, every Sox on the lineup had a hit. It was a good, strong effort that led the Sox into the second game...

-- ...which was going great, featuring an eighth-inning Sox rally that included absolute gems of hits from Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, until Terry Francona gave the ball to Eric Gagne.

And then Gagne blew the game by giving up a walk and three hits. Trailing in the bottom of the ninth, the Sox were unable to come back, no matter how hard or how loudly (Kevin Youkilis and Francona both argued an umpire call and were bounced from the game as a result) they tried. The Angels took the game 7-5.

Listen, we know that there's little worse for a pitcher than blowing a save. We've listened to Curt Schilling discuss on WEEI the frustration and doubt that such a situation prompts. Knowing that this is the norm, not the exception, for Gagne in his short Boston tenure, we imagine that the guy has got to be going crazy with frustration (it was telling that he didn't speak to the media last night).

But this guy is supposedly a pro and he's not getting the job done. We just finally were able to unburden ourselves of an ineffective player (Wily Mo Pena is off to the Nationals and we're happily waving goodbye!) and now here we are stuck with this. The fans do not have confidence in Gagne as a Red Sox. The team is keeping mum about their faith in him.

We're starting to believe that Major League Baseball should institute a Lemon Law - and we want our money back.

-- Doug Mirabelli's on the DL after straining his right calf during the first game. Kevin Cash will be coming up from Pawtucket to serve as the number two catcher in the meantime.

-- The Titans were at the Razor last night to take on the Patriots and Mother Nature made her presence known, unleashing the rains to make it a sloppy, soaked night of football. The defense showed their worth, but things were iffy for Tom Brady and the offense, as Brady got knocked around a bit by the mouthy Tennessee team and, well, the team lost 27-24. For those who are looking forward to keeping track of the stats during the regular season, start practicing now: Brady went 10 of 19 for 145 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a TD.

-- Finally, we're hearing that congratulations may be in order for a Boston sports heartthrob. The Boston Globe reports today that Theo Epstein and his wife, Marie, are expecting a baby. Congratulations, Epsteins!

Doubleheader image by flickr user pooryorick