Red Sox fans got everything they were looking for and more from Dice-K last night. The former 18 game winner held the Angles scoreless over 6 innings letting up 3 hits with 3 walks and 5 Ks. His location was the best it has been all season. He didn't leave too many balls up, and there was just this feeling last night that he could get himself out of any situation he was in. Overall I was very impressed, and this could mean big things for the Sox down the stretch.
Meanwhile the Sox offense, that was playing without Youk (back spasms) and V-Mart (personal matter), were not great, but they finally got to Lackey in the 6th. Gonzalez scored on a Lackey throwing error, and then Ortiz had an RBI single scoring Ellsbury. Boston kept the pressure on in the 8th when Bay hit an RBI single, followed by a solo shot from Big Papi. The Angles were able to get a run off Papelbon, but that didn't change anything and Dice-K got the win.
For Sox fans they have to be happy with the way things turned out. If Dice-K can be the 3rd pitcher behind Lester and Beckett, then the Sox will have a sick rotation for the playoffs of Lester, Beckett, Dice-K, Buchholz.
My one concern was with Dice-K's velocity. I keep hearing it is in his range, but it just didn't seem like it had the same "pop". I don't have a lot to back that up, but that is the only caution I would throw out there.
Boston has now won 6 games in a row, and are 5 1/2 games up in the race for the Wild Card.
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