Indians 4
Red Sox 3

Typically, when you hear the common baseball lament “the umpire cost us the game”, it is not meant in the physical sense.  Unfortunately for the Red Sox, umpire Gerry Davis decided to transcend the phrase last night.  What should have been a 2-run double off the bat of Jeff Bailey became an awkward inning-ending force out at third base after Davis failed to elude the bouncing ball.  He froze.  Hey, it happens to lots of people (deer, usually).

I am unfairly picking on Davis here, because the Red Sox managed to leave a total of 12 men on base (only two of which can be attributed to the immobility of the third base umpire) against Zach “Action” Jackson, a pitcher who just oozes AAAA-ness from every orifice.  Jed Lowrie and Mark Kotsay continue to run their own “How To Struggle At The Plate” clinic, as they left more men on the board than an aborted Risk game.

And before I forget: isn’t Kotsay supposed to be…oh, what’s the word…gritty?  Full of heart?  Inclined to sully his uniform with dirt?  Not diving for a ball which lands 3 feet from your cleats would seem to contradict such descriptions.

Alright, enough bile spewing from me this morning.  I’m just more than a little disappointed that the clinch did not happen last night, because the odds are not in favor of it happening tonight either.  The Red Sox face the guy who will be taking home this year’s Cy Young Award and Comeback Player of the Year Award, and they will counter with someone who did not escape the third inning in his last start.

While the champagne should still be kept at a cool temperature in an accessible location, perhaps a crate of Peptol Bismol should be positioned within reach for tonight’s game.