you hear that? it's the sound of my dreams dying.

how about living through some live-action hell with me tonight...

first inning
top: two walks for the Sox. two stranded base runners. ::sigh:: so this is how it's going to be tonight, huh, boys? spectacular.
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bottom:this is my first time really getting to see Buchholz pitch. i am wow-ed, which takes a lot these days. he has a good arsenal, and he's using it effectively. of course, this is also the first time these guys from Toronto are seeing him, so we'll see what happens as they come around a second time.

second inning
top: Sox down in order. ho-hum.
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bottom: i'm ok with walking Thomas as long as we get the guys after him out. which The Kid did.

third inning
top: Sox. down in order. again.
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bottom: The Kid seems to show a lot of confidence for a rookie. Jays down in order too. Wells ends the inning as we start the second trip through Toronto's line up. i am still in shock by the play made by Lugo to get that out. too bad he doesn't play like that consistently. =P
(ugh. made the mistake of looking at the Yankees score. they're up 1-0.)

fourth inning
we come back from break to Remy's promo... and DonO giggling. and then we see why.

i'm going to miss these two jokesters when the regular season ends. it's always a long off season without them.
top: Pedroia & Papi down quickly. Lowell hits on to deep left... and it's caught. sheesh. could we hit the ball tonight or something?
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bottom: freaking Thomas will *not* go away. he singles. but he's stranded. two more strike outs for The Kid!! not too bad this second time through. so far.

fifth inning
top: DREW! home run! please oh please let him find his stuff. this would be perfect timing for it all to come together. the last five-and-a-half months of angst & frustration would be forgiven if he gets it done from now through the post season. (everything except that number seven on his jersey, that is.) 1-0 Sox.
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bottom: uh oh. i had to open my big mouth. bottom of the order is being pesky. a double & a single with no outs. let's see how The Kid does with some pressure on him... and the verdict is? a run scores, still no outs. =( and then the panic sets in. a bad decision to throw to Lowell on a ball hit back to Buchholz goes *over* Lowell & another run scores. but Lowell! heads up on the runner who moved to third base & before the ball was called dead, Adams picks up his foot & He Who Needs To Be Given a New Contract tags him out!! after walking Wells & ringing up Stairs for the third time tonight, The Kid is done. i would be lying if i said MDC coming in with two on & Rios at the plate doesn't scare me just a bit... whew. first pitch results in a fly out right into Kielty's glove to get out of it. i don't care to live through another inning like that. 2-1 Jays. the stupid tides turn so quickly...
(damn! the Yankees are still winning, 2-0 now... come *on* Orioles...)

sixth inning
top: back to being retired in order. this has *got* to stop. we need to win tonight... down by a run now means we need to step up. why can't the Sox figure this out??
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bottom: MDC back in. ::deep breaths:: OMG. he just Kd Frank Thomas. (a nine-pitch a bat which i realized mid-way through, i was rocking like Tito. this cannot be a good sign.) Remy & DonO talking about hair color and Remy says: "We've got a ballgame going on here don't we." ::shakes head::

seventh inning
top: i wish we could get to Litsch like we did last time... but apparently we can only get to him to the tune of bases loaded, and then we leave them that way. JFL who didn't run hard down the line because he assumed he was out on a routine ground ball. what he did was *assure* he was out when with his speed he could have been safe on a badly fielded ball. he sure makes a point of proving me right when i keep saying that he negates every good play he makes by blundering somewhere else in the game. we're running out of chances tonight, boys...
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bottom: i keep waiting for Bryan Corey to fall apart. residual from last season, i suppose. but that's unfair. he walks Wells with two outs & on one pitch another face from 2006, Javier Lopez, gets the last out. with Jeemer shut down for the duration of September with a tired arm, we're going to have to get used to these guys. at least they are better than last year.

eighth inning
top: twilight hours here, boys. and you're not getting any help from the Orioles. time to swing some lumber. ok, gift call gets Ellsbury on base. we need to do something with this. and of course, we don't. of course.
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bottom: Timlin drills Rios. and Thomas is coming up. just shoot me now. fast forward. bases loaded, one out. bringing in Jon... and here we go. ::jaw hits floor:: a grand slam. anyone think Gagne is the only one to blame for sucking lately? because Jon hasn't looked so great either. so let's get this straight. the Sox load 'em up in the seventh & come up empty handed. we bring in our stopper with loaded bases in the eighth & the Jays get a grand slam. i don't even know what to say.

ninth inning
top: Sox retired in order to end the bloodbath. like Remy stated: "The Sox checked their bats at customs when they came up here. Hopefully they get them back before they play Tampa."
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no need for the bottom of the inning. the Sox blew it. lost four straight. and the Yankees loom large a game and a half out of first place. as the other AL post-season contenders gain momentum, the Sox are rolling backward down a hill with the car in neutral.

the wheels on the bus come off, off, off...