Sports Redux: Facing Mariners Losing Its Fun

The Sox are home, everyone's pumped for the Fourth of July, the weather is finally something not to be suicidal about...everything's great. Except that the Sox can't seem to beat Seattle.

The home team dropped their second straight, squandering Jason Varitek's 2-run homer (his 12th, and if you predicted him hitting 12 all year after last season,claim your prize), and watching that 2-run lead slip away over the next two hours. Russell Branyan drove in single runs in the third and fifth, then the Mariners took advantage of a Takasho Saito Walkapalooza; with the bases loaded (cue Harry Doyle: "Ball eight! Ball twelve!") and the infield in, Chris Woodward dropped a popup behind Dustin Pedroia for the go-ahead run. David Aardsma, whose transition from Red Sox bullpen hump to qualified Seattle closer, finished the Sox off in the ninth.

There was nothing to complain about from Boston starter Brad Penny; his numbers - 6 IP, 6 K, 6 hits, 2 runs - would be plenty for a W if the offense could have scratched anything else up against the M's' Garrett Olson and company. Jon Lester will try to avert the sweep today.

Rosters for the All-Star Game will be announced today. Kevin Youkilis and Jason Bay lead their respective positions in voting, and Dustin Pedroia was a whisker behind Texas' Ian Kinsler at last reporting. Not subject to vote are pitchers, and in the Globe today, Amelie Benjamin makes an impassioned case for Tim Wakefield. Also probably not on the All-Star roster will be LA's Manny Ramirez. Even though he hit his first HR since his suspension yesterday. Luckily, the Globe has Dan Shaughnessy out on the West Coast to cluck at him and remind everyone what a bad man he is. Manny, that is.

For all the opponents we mock and jeer, there are some that you have to truly respect as competitors with heart and talent. The NFL lost one of those yesterday; longtime Tennessee Titans QB Steve McNair was shot and killed in his Nashville home. There's all sorts of confusion as to why. Floyd Reese, who is currently a Patriots advisor but was Tennessee's GM back in the day, said, "He was a player who I admired a great deal... a tremendous leader and an absolute warrior." Really sad.

Photo by Winslow Townson/Associated Press.