Bronson Arroyo shook off some of his Fenway jitters and pitched a whale of a ballgame last night for the Sox. His knee-buckling breaking ball was this particular night’s special but the well-placed heater was also a dependable item. He really got into trouble just once - in the sixth - and was able to get out of it with a devastating, 3-2 breaking ball that made MVP-candidate Carlos Guillen look silly.

There were a couple of encouraging signs on the managerial front. First, Terry Francona did not push his luck with Arroyo. He pulled him for Mike Timlin with one out in the eighth inning after the artist formerly known as Bobbby Higginson doubled. Timlin has become the bullpen flavor du jour for the Sox, now more confident than I have him seen all season with his fastball. He is getting it up there 93-94 MPH and with some serious action on it too. The other hopeful sign last night was that Francona penciled Mark Bellhorn back into the number 2 slot in the batting order. Bellhorn respnded finally aftyer three consecutive strikeouts with a double and a single, the latter plating an important eighth inning insurance run.

Seemingly back to pitching like he is capable, Keith Foulke dusted off the Tigers in the ninth, preserving a 4-1 lead and picking up a worry-free save in the process.