Over their last 6 starts (5 of which were victories) Sox starting pitchers have allowed a combined 8 earned runs in 44 innings of work. That means starters have averaged 7 1/3 innings per start to the tune of team ERA of 1.64 over the hot stretch. Not maintainable but certainly something to be proud of. This is what all the pundits were predicting during spring training, that the Sox starting staff would limit the other teams' offenses while their reputed "defense first" offense would score enough runs to win.
Defense has indisputably played a role in this winning streak as well. Pedroia, even when he was mired in his 3-for-infinity slump, was still playing Gold Glovey 2nd, and Beltre has been the defender we all thought we were getting, shining particularly during Daisuke's attempt at a no-hitter against the Phillies. Scutaro, despite letting a ball drop that ended Daisuke's big day, has seen improvement at short and Youk has been his same old brilliant self at 1st.
I'm not going to mope about the early season woes and join the growing number of Sox fans who claim the season is over and the division is out of reach. History tells us otherwise. The Yankees are hurting and the Rays can't possibly get any better. If the Sox can take another one in Tampa and then roll over the Royals in their four game series to close out the month, they could find themselves only a few games out of 1st with a much easier schedule in June. Of course, the schedule looked to be a lot easier in April too and that didn't prove beneficial.
Mike Cameron is due back tonight, Lester is on the mound, and even though Victor may be out with a bruised big toe, the Red Sox appear to determined to scrabble out of 4th place in the AL East.
You said Scrabble Out! Bingo!
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