Sports Redux: Second Opinion: Sox Lose

Well, Red Sox fans - it's OK to hate instant replay now.

For the first time since it was hurriedly instituted late last season, the umps went to the tape last night at Fenway, reviewing what was called a double by Omir Santos, realizing that it hit the angstrom unit between the top of the wall and a ledge, and called it a home run. A game-winning, pefect-Jonathan-Papelbon-season-spoiling home run. 3-2 Mets. Papelbon on instant replay: "No. Not a fan of it."

But let's not kid ourselves that that was the only reason the Sox lost. They wasted a great effort by Josh Beckett (we've been saying "great effort" a lot this week about the starting pitching, and we're fine with that), managing only a two-run single by Kevin Youkilis in the first before going down repeatedly against NYM starter Mike Pelfrey. Beckett's only blemish was an unearned run in the second (his own error), but otherwise sailed through eight innings. The Sox will try to avoid the sweep today with Tim Wakefield again playing stopper.

In struggling-Sox news, the Globe reveals that Jason Varitek is finally taking his recommended daily dosage of batting practice, and the Herald adds to the shortstop panic by profiling the most recent chapter in "Why Did We Sign This Guy Again?", starring Julio Lugo. "I’m not going anywhere," says Lugo, which will surely be the money line in the trailer.

If the Celtics and Bruins' playoff runs and the Sox' drama over the past few weeks made you forget about the Revolution, (a) you're not the only one, and (b) maybe it's for the best. The Revs extended their winless streak to six with a 3-1 loss in Toronto.