Just like old times: Manny, Papi carry Sox to victory

Sox 5, Texas 3
WP: Lopez (1-0)
LP: Benoit (1-1)
SV: Papelbon (6)
HRs: BOS-Manny (6); TEX-Hamilton (4)

SUMMARY:
The comeback kings struck again as Boston rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the 8th, tying the game on a single by David Ortiz and then winning it on a 2-run homer by Manny Ramirez. It was Boston's 4th come-from-behind victory this week.

Superstar: Manny 1-2, 2R, 2BI, 1BB, HR
ManRam is absolutely tearing the cover off the ball right now. He smashed his 5th homer in his last 7 games, his second game winner this week and the second moon blast in his last three games at Fenway.

He currently leads or is tied for the lead in the majors in homers and RBI (20) and is batting .461 over the last 7 games.

The Biggest Loser: Joaquin Benoit 1IP, 3H, 3ER, K, HR, BS, L
The 7-year vet had more blown saves (7) than actual saves (6) last year; nice to see he is following that tradition again this season (1-0)

RECAP:
Another game, another comeback victory for the cardiac kids.

The difference between this one and the other comebacks this season is that David Ortiz, who has mainly been an innocent bystander as Boston has won 9 of its last 12 games, was a key contributor to the festivities tonight.

But for the first few innings it looked like Boston was going to get blown out, let alone have a chance to stage another comeback.

That's because starter Jon Lester (6IP, 10H, 3ER, 2BB, 5K, HR) continued to be shaky and unassertive with his command and delivery in his 5th start of the season. But following the rough start to the game the young lefty settled in to keep the Rangers hitters at bay, giving the Boston batters a chance to work their late-inning mojo again.

Lester surrendered a run in the first on a Monster shot by Josh Hamilton, who should win Comeback Player of the Year every year for his rise from the depths of drug-addled hell, and after Boston grabbed the lead right back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning on a pair of doubles, a walk and a double play, Lester let Texas tie it right back up when Adam Melhuese doubled in old friend David Murphy in the top of the 2nd.

The third inning was no better for Lester as Hamilton (2-5, 2R, BI) and Hank Blalock hit back-to-back singles with one out, and reserve outfielder Jason Botts doubled in Hamilton to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead.

Back and forth for three innings with texas scoring in each frame did not look good for Boston, and you got the feeling at that point that Lester wouldn't be long for this game. It was just a question of what the score would be when he exited.

Especially since Texas starter Jason Jennings (6IP, 3H, 2ER, 2BB, 1K) was pitching well, limiting the potent Boston lineup to just a few scattered hits and a pair of runs in his six innings of work.

But surprisingly Lester settled down form there when he usually gets weaker as the game goes on, and the game remained 3-2 Texas until both starters had exited the game.

And the metamorphosis from hard-luck losers to walk-off winners took place (okay, it wasn't a walk-off win, but it might as well have been.)

The 8th started innocently enough as Texas reliever Joaquin Benoit got Jacoby Ellsbury to pop out to shortstop, and Boston was down to its last 4 outs to complete their comeback.

No problem as Dustin Pedroia got the rally started when he doubled off Benoit 2 pitches later, and Ortiz (1-4, R, BI) chased him home with an infield bleeder that tied the score at 3 and sent the Faithful into a frenzy.

But the raucous cheering was just getting started as Manny stepped to the plate with a chance to single-handedly end a game for the third time this week.

And boy did he ever end it in style.

After looking at strike one from Benoit, Manny unleashed his wicked bat on the next offering and crushed the pitch over the Monster, over the billboard atop the Monster, and probably over Lansdowne for a towering 2-run homer that capped the comeback and sent the fans home happy again.

After all, what's not to be happy about. Manny is being the Manny we all love, the team is winning with regularity, and now Big Papi is finally getting into the act with key contributions at the right time.

Seems like old times at the old ballyard.

Pennant-winning times.

Championship-winning times.

RECORD: 12-7
STREAK: W3
LST 10: 8-2
AL EAST: Up 1/2 gm
UP NEXT: Sun vs. TEX, 135PM Millwood vs. Wakefield