Updating the backlog - from May 27:

I finally managed to wrest myself away from the office long enough for a baseball game, just in time to see the Boston Red Sox in their last game in Arlington this season (barring a miracle on the part of the last-place Rangers, at any rate). Fortunately, baseball is one of the few sports where, on a given day, you can match up the best team in the league against the worst and still have an interesting, competitive game, as was the case with Boston's 6-5 win over Texas today. That's probably most true when you're watching a duel of the #5 starters. Of course, Julian Tavarez is ostensibly not even the true fifth starter for Boston but is filling a spot left open by Matt Clement's prolonged stint on the disabled list.

The disparity in the two teams' starting pitching is rather large, otherwise. The Rangers rotation has the worst ERA for starters of any team in recorded history, while Boston can boast MVPs of two World Series and the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

When the Sox went up 3-0 in the top of the fourth, it looked like my father might be a baseball genius. Before the first pitch was thrown, he had set the over-under on Texas starter Kameron Loe at 3 1/3 innings. After starting the fourth with two consecutive singles to J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell, followed by a home run to Jason Varitek, Loe received a visit on the mound. Loe stayed in the game, however, and even outlasted Tavarez (by one out). He allowed only one more single (in the fourth) and retired the Sox in order in the next two innings before Joaquin Benoit relieved him in the seventh.

Tavarez, on the other hand, surrendered the lead in an ugly sixth inning. Kenny Lofton drew a lead-off walk, making him the Rangers' third baserunner since he led off the first with a single to left field. The other two had reached after being hit by a pitch and a fielding error. Tavarez followed up Lofton's walk with a single to Michael Young and a home run to Mark Teixeira, nearly copying the Red Sox pattern of three-runs in, no outs from earlier. Tavarez did not have quite the same luck ending the inning as Loe had and, after Sammy Sosa grounded out, allowed three consecutive base hits that drove in the go-ahead run for Texas. J.C. Romero was brought in to get the final out.

 With a one-run lead in the eighth inning, Ron Washington brought in his set-up man Akinori Otsuka. Prior to today's game, Otsuka had only allowed two earned runs this season. He doubled that total, however, blowing the save and getting tagged with the eventual loss. Kevin Youkilis led off the inning with a single, and despite striking out Manny Ramirez, Otsuka gave up two more hits to Drew and Lowell, surrendering the lead. During the inning, David Ortiz, who had been resting a sore hamstring, could be seen up in the dug out, talking to Terry Francona (even from club-level seats near the right-field foul pole, Papi has a distinctive presence) and picking up a bat. Youkilis was batting in his usual third spot in the lineup that day, but he appeared ready to pinch hit if necessary.

 Joel Pineiro, who had relieved Romero in the seventh, retired the Rangers in order in the bottom of the eighth, recording his third strikeout in 1 2/3 innings of work. When Eric Gagne took the mound in the ninth inning, I had slightly mixed feelings. I had been clamoring for the opportunity to see Gagne up close (relatively speaking) since the Rangers had signed him in December, and I was eager to see what progress he was making in returning to his once-great form. However, I didn't really want to see him pitching to one of my favorite teams.

Gagne encountered a battle with the first batter he faced. With a 2-2 count, Dustin Pedroia continued to foul off another eight pitches (without taking another ball) before sending a homer beyond the Southwest airlines banner in left field and tarnishing Gagne's ERA with his first earned run of the season. Julio Lugo and Coco Crisp sent two more shots way deep into the outfield but not far enough before Youk struck out to end the inning.

The insurance run proved valuable to the Red Sox as Hideki Okajima gave up a pair of hits, including an RBI single to Mark Teixeira with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Sosa flew out to end the game, however, and Boston came away with the win, sweeping the three-game series.

 And, oh yeah- Lasorda for Commissioner.