Series Recap: BOS @ MIN

Sox win series, 2 games to 1

GM 1: BOS, 2-0
GM 2: MIN, 2-1
GM 3: BOS, 4-3

STATS: BOS/MIN:
HITS: 24/18
RUNS: 7/5
AVG: .240/.194
HRs: 1/0

This one had to be considered another successful series for the Sox. Minnesota was the best hitting team in the majors coming in, but the stellar Boston pitching staff held the depleted Twins offense in check and the bats did just enough to earn a couple of wins, although many players left the Twin Cities with averages considerably lower than when they arrived.

And who woulda thunk that Dustin Pedroia would be the hitting hero of the series? The put-upon young second baseman carried a .180 BA like an albatross around his neck into the weekend, but with the backing of his manager he shed that weight and turned in a sparkling series.

Let's take a look at the composite box for the batters, but beware, some of these figures are not pretty:

• Lugo: 0-10, 2K- his .221 avg. got him Sunday off
• Youk: 2-12, R, RBI, 2K- what, no walks?
• Papi: 1-10, R, RBI, HR, 4BB, 3K- dipped under .300
• Manny: 3-8, 2-2B, BB, K- raised avg 57 pts in a week
• Drew: 2-10, 2B, R, 2BI, 2BB, 2K- .266 and falling fast
• Lowell: 0-11, BB, K- talk about a no-show at the plate
• Coco: 2-9, RBI, 2K- he was heating up
• Cora: 5-8, 3B, 2R- scorching no matter where he plays
• 'Tek: 2-5, RBI, BB, K- has a modest 4-gm hit streak
• Pedroia: 5-6, 3-2B, R, RBI- raised avg 59 pts in 2 games
• WMP: 1-4, R, 2K, E-
• Hinske: 0-4, 2K

As you see by those bleak stats it wasn't exactly a hitting clinic being conducted at the Metrodome.

Not that the Twins batters fared much better. Torii Hunter was the only member of the Minnesota lineup to have a decent series (5-10, extended hitting streak to 20 games), but MVP Justin Morneau (2-9) and batting champ Joe Mauer (1-3 before heading to the DL w/ a quad injury) were no-shows. Combine that with Michael Cuddyer being unavailable for the last few games and it added up to very little offense over the three games.

On the flip side the batters will tell you that the poor stats are a reflection of quality pitching. Either way, let's shine some light on the performances by the pitchers, where low numbers are good numbers:

• Schilling: 6.2IP, 8H, 3ER, 2BB, 7K, W- the ace is looking solid at 4-1
• Tavarez: 6IP, 4H, 2ER, 3BB, 7K, L- he's pitched better than 1-3 indicates
• Wake: 7IP, 3H, 0R, 3BB, 2K, W- he's like the Energizer Bunny; ERA: 2.11
• Papelbon: 2IP, K, 2SV- what shoulder problem?
• Okajima: 1.1IP, 2H- finally allowed a run to score, but still
• Donnelly: 1/3, nothing allowed
• Romero: 2/3, H, K
• Pineiro: 2IP, nothing allowed

Yep, if there's one thing this series reiterated to everyone it's that the pitching staff still rules the roost for Boston. But as long as these guys to continue to pitch like they have, it doesn't matter if the high-priced shortstop is batting .220 and the high-priced right fielder's average has plummeted 109 points in 2 1/2 weeks.

Nope, the Sox are sitting pretty in first place by 5 1/2 games, owners of the second-best record in baseball, and oblivious to all the hubbub going on in the Bronx.

After all, when you've got an explosive staff like this, who needs to add any rocket fuel to it?