Sox Notes: Top 10 First Half Games

As the first half fades away and we're set to start the all-important second half of the 2007 season (you know, cause none of the games in the first half mean anything according to the 'experts'), I want to take one last post to put a wrap on First Half '07.

Without any further adieu, here are the Top 10 Games of the First Half for our Sox.

As usual if you have any discrepancies, feel free to comment.

10) Boston defeats Texas in a surreal game in Arlington 5/25
In perhaps the oddest contest of the first half, Daisuke Matsuzaka battled a stomach virus, wild mushrooms growing in the outfield due to monsoon-like rains and the Texas Rangers batting for the cycle in the fourth inning to hang on for a 10-6 win. Throw in a bunch of bad hops, tricky bounces and Manny getting tagged out on both sides of 2nd base, and you have a game straight out of a Twilight Zone episode.

9) Sox shut down Barry, beat Giants 1-0 on Manny HR 6/16
This game was a real gem to watch, as the rookie phenom Matsuzaka battled the legendary slugger Bonds on a picturesque Saturday afternoon at Fenway in front of a national TV audience. Boston won the pitcher's duel 1-0 on a 4th inning homer by Manny, and Dice and countryman Okajima got Barry out in key situations to preserve the win. Unfortunately I didn't get to see it because I was in new York. But still, I imagine it was great.

8) Beckett bests Peavy in battle of ML top teams, pitchers 6/24
In a game that should have been a preview of the starting pitchers for the All Star game (damn you Leyland!), Josh Beckett out-dueled NL starter Jake Peavy in an epic battle of the titans from each league. Boston won the game 4-2 behind a triple and a homer by Tek, and the Sox ripped Peavy a new one en route to Beckett's 8th straight victory.

7) King Felix dominates Sox in 1-hit gem 4/11
I know I shouldn't include a loss on this list, but this early season game was filled with so much hype & drama that it was hard to ignore. It was the second game of the season at Fenway, the home debut of Dice-K, and he was squaring off against former Japan League adversary Ichiro for the first time. Zillions of people all over the world tuned in, but what they saw was a near no-hitter that put that King Felix on the map instead.

6) Sox tally 13 runs in first three innings, trounce Rays 15-4 7/5
Gotta include a good old-fashioned ass-kicking on this list, and who better to play the victim than the hapless Rays. In the throes of a 10-game losing streak, Tampa Bay starter J.P. Howell allowed six runs in the first, including a mammoth grand slam by Coco, and Boston would jump to a 13-2 lead after three innings and cruise to its fourth win in a row courtesy of the wretched Rays.

5) Sox comeback vs. Stanks in the 8th 4/20
Down 6-2 to the hated Stanks heading into the 8th inning in the first game of their first series of the season, Boston rallied for five runs in the eighth inning, including a miraculous triple by Coco Crisp off Mariano Rivera to tie the game at six, and when Alex Cora followed with an RBI single, the Sox had an incredible come-from-behind win and would go on to sweep the series.

4) Trot returns, Youk hits inside-the park HR on Memorial Day 5/28
In an emotional return to his old stomping grounds, Trot Nixon was welcomed back with open arms and endless ovations by the always-appreciative Fenway faithful, but it was the new version of the original Dirt Dog who stole the show; Kevin Youkilis' memorable inside-the-park home run highlighted an exciting and spirited 5-3 Sox win over Cleveland.

3) Schill comes within two outs of history in 1-0 win over OAK 6/7
Arguably the biggest game of the first half since the Sox were staggering with four consecutive losses to begin a tough West Coast swing. But the ace came up aces with a masterpiece of a game, making Papi's 1st inning homer hold up by tossing eight no-hit innings; the only blemish came on a one out, ninth inning single by Shannon Stewart (dam you Shannon!) Just a couple of weeks later Schill would go on the DL.

2) Sox score six in the 9th to beat O's on Mother's Day 5/13
In another classic contest that I, and probably many nation members, didn't get to see due to the day it fell on, Boston overcame a 5-0 9th inning deficit when it plated six runs in the final frame, the last two runs coming home when Baltimore closer Chris Ray dropped a toss at first base that would have been the final out of the game. Instead Tek and Hinske raced home with the tying and winning runs, and the Sox delivered the best Mother's Day present to all the RSN moms out there.

1) Boston goes back-to-back-to-back-to-back vs. NY 4/22
On ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball against the Stanks in the finale of a three game series at Fenway, Boston batters Manny Ramirez , J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek made history by becoming just the fifth set of teammates to homer consecutively, and after trailing 5-4 the Sox scored three in the 8th and hung on to defeat the Stanks, 7-6, and sweep their hated rival at Fenway for the first time since 1990.

Best the best part of all was that I was watching the game with my son, who jumped in my arms and said "Dad, I'll never forget I got to see history with you" after witnessing the magical, rare baseball occurrence. Good times.

That's my list. I know I left out some other good ones, like Drew's impressive power display (2HRs, 7RBI) in Arizona and the other Sox seventh inning comeback vs. New York on June 2nd, but it's my list and I can include what I want.

Okay, enough of the first half recaps. Let the pennant race officially begin!