G81 | No sweeping in Beantown today...

M's 4 | Red Sox 8
At the start of play today, the M's had never swept the Red Sox in Fenway - at the end of play today, the stat still stands.

Doesn't it just figure....
Brandon is finally able to put together a quality performance - allowing only 3 runs (all solo shots) and 2 walks (which for him, is great) in 6 full innings - with his last pitch clocked at 98mph (a strikeout of Varitek). And then, the thus far stellar pen implodes. Hopefully, it was just a bad day and not a sign that they are starting to wear down. A bit worried about Sean though - he's struggled mightily in his last 3 outings.

The bottom of the order...
Continues to produce. Only one extra-base hit today, from none than Ronnie - a bases loaded, bases clearing triple to take the lead.

Nice defense today...
one DP and some really nice catches in the outfield. Franklin continues to impress and Ryan seems to be handling LF well. Will be interesting to see how he does in his Safeco Field debut.

AP Photo/Winslow Townson

5-4 on what many thought would be the "road trip from hell" ~ 9 games against the 3 best teams in baseball ~ I'll take it!!!

Home to take on the O's for three and the Rangers for four before the break.
I don't attend many weekday games, but I might try to go tomorrow (providing I make some serious progress on stripping wallpaper in my den ;-)