Sports Redux: Chicago Blues

We've got one pitcher down, and one pitcher out. Not a great day for the Red Sox in Chicago yesterday.

Out is Tim Wakefield, who has a soreness in his back or shoulder, depending on who you ask; it's the same nagging injury that made him miss the World Series last year. Wake was scheduled to start on Tuesday, so now obviously Tito has to make other arrangements.

Down is Clay Buchholz, who just sinks farther and farther into mediocrity. Mike Lowell's 3-run 1st-inning homer staked Clay to a nice comfy lead. Which he coughed up in due time, giving up homers to Dye, Quentin and Thome. And this was one of those games the Red Sox weren't going to make a furious comeback, so it ended 6-5, White Sox. And Clay is now 0-6 with an 8.19 ERA in his last seven starts. This is no way to run a pennant race.

If that's what it still is. Tampa Bay won again, setting a franchise record with their 71st win and extending their AL East lead to 4 1/2. Josh Beckett, as usual, will try to stop the 1-game losing streak tonight in the series finale.