The Best Offense is a Good Defense

Boston sports may have been on the verge of slipping into a little funk. A five game losing streak for the Red Sox, player’s passing around the flu, annoying injuries to an already injured roster - coupled with the C’s getting slapped a few times in Atlanta – and you could see it coming.

There were no sightings of Positive Force, but someone “de-funked” Boston sports last night.

Lester’s mound presence has been replaced with something that can only be described as mini-Beckett-esque. There is suddenly a chip on this guy’s shoulder and he is fearlessly going right at batters. There is much less dancing around the strike zone, and more pounding it. Peter Gammons sings Lester’s praises – it may be time I stop thinking he has lost it.

The “Holy Cr@p Award” of the night goes to Pedroia and his play on a missile hit straight back at the mound during the 9th inning. I’m pretty clueless how he got to the ball, but he ended up single-handedly saving the losing streak from reaching six games.

The night was capped off by a Youk bloop, game winning, RBI to center - followed by a raging verbal assault hand delivered to Vernon Wells by Halladay himself.

Game two of the series tonight as Matsuzaka goes for win #5.

Side note: The Celtics look to restore order to the East tonight.