Sports Redux: Dem Apples

Wednesday's day game at Camden Yards seemed to suggest that the alternate reality into which Red Sox Nation had fallen on Tuesday night had yet to unleash its grip. First Josh Beckett gave up his first walk in eons. Then he gave up a home run, then another. Next thing you knew, the Sox were staring down a 5-1 deficit at the top of the ninth --

And that's when things clicked back to normal. After an embarrassing loss at Camden on Tuesday, the Sox were all about Boston comebacks on Wednesday. A four-run ninth inning propelled the team into extra innings; the momentum helped the Sox pick up a 6-5 win after 11 innings and pushed Jonathan Papelbon into the history books with his team-record-setting save.

A big part of the win? Beckett. Despite his shaky start, Beckett went deep into the game, giving the bullpen the chance it needed to figure itself out and get a little rest. And, strange as it is to say, a huge hand goes to Julio Lugo, who hit the crucial 11th inning single that drove in the winning run. That's called coming through when you get your one chance.

On the Celtics front, Danny Ainge has his eye on Rasheed Wallace; the center can expect to be wined and dined by our Green Machine. On the ice, start practicing this now: Steve Begin is not the enemy. Steve Begin is not an evil person. Steve Begin's mama is a perfectly lovely individual.