It doesn't take long, does it? All the Sox needed were three chances to whup the Mariners, and the bitter taste of the sweep in Anaheim is gone. True, the Sox did clock a little overtime yesterday, but the end result was a satisfying 6-3, 12 inning win. The Sox loaded the bases in the top of the twelfth on an Ellsbury single, a JD Drew walk, and an error. Mike Lowell brought two home......

We'll have to wait another week to see him whaling on Yankees pitching, but fans in Pawtucket will probably vouch that David Ortiz looks ready. Playing the first game of his seven-game trip through the minors, Papi homered to lead an offensive barrage as the PawSox crushed the Mud Hens 15-6. The buzz in Pawtucket was definitely centered on the big guy, but Sox fans had to like what they saw all around. Jeff......

We always look for someone to blame, don't we? You look at the Red Sox' 2-1 loss in New York yesterday, and immediately start preparing to blame an anemic offense, or timely bad pitching, or something. Well, it doesn't work today; the fact is, the Yankees climbed on the backs of two old war horses and came away with a win that (sigh) they deserved. Warhorse #1 was Mike Mussina, who looked ready for the......

We guess if they'd come into the league as just the Rays (no Devil), they'd probably be working on their sixth pennant this year. But better late then never for Tampa Bay, who extended their AL East lead by dispatching the Red Sox, 5-4, in front of probably the largest assemblage of Rays fans ever. Things started off badly for Justin Masterson and the Sox, as B.J. Upton hit a leadoff home run. The Sox......

It's time for Bostonist Sports Where Are They Now? Tonight's subject is Jason Varitek, the captain, catcher, and heart and soul of the Red Sox' 2004 and 2007 championship teams! Where is he now? Admit it. You've wondered at some point over the last few weeks what happened to 'Tek. He was still doing his yeoman's work behind the plate, catching wonderfully and integrating the 435 new pitchers he's had to meet for the first......

If you were with us all last night, you know what an intense game it was. The Celtics struggled at first, then spent the middle two quarters blowing LA off the floor, before getting silly and sloppy and watching LA take a 24-point lead down to two before Pierce and Posey iced it, 108-102, from the free throw line. We could talk about all that. But we'd rather talk about Leon Powe. The guy who......

A June battle with Tampa Bay for first place? Is that what we've got tonight? Really? Well...yeah. And the Sox had to scramble yesterday to put first on the line tonight. Down 4-3 in the sixth (three runs on homers by Lowell and Drew), the Sox hit the Rays for four game-winning runs. The Sox loaded the bases unconventionally (HBP, error, walk), then got an RBI single from Varitek and a 2-run double from the......

Kinda feels like we stole one, doesn't it? The Celtics were supposed to be drained, physically and emotionally, from two long series and an emotional, close Game Seven win over Cleveland. The Pistons - bloodless, businesslike, and used to this - were well-rested after dispatching Orlando back in late February (seems like it anyway). Instead, the Pistons played like a rusty old team with a banged-up superstar, and the C's dispatched them 88-79. Or maybe......

Justin Masterson deserved better than this. Plucked from AA Portland to fill in for the plague-ridded Red Sox, Masterson sparkled in his big league debut, giving up just two hits and a run in six innings. He should have been sent home with a bag of souvenirs, a "see you in August" promise, and most importantly, a W. Well....not so fast. The Sox' 3-1 lead got turned over to the bullpen. When the bullpen's good,......