Red Sox Missing Post Season

Today the Yankees and Redsox played the last game of their series at Yankee Stadium. Andy Pettite pitched a gym allowing only 5 hits and no runs in seven innings. He gave the ball up to Phil Coke in the eighth after only facing one trouble spot in the fourth, leaving the bases loaded when Johnny Damon snared a line drive from Jason Varitek. The Sox had been shut out for 31 straight innings by the Yanks, and were once again looking almost laughable. Until the Sox newest big name addition Victor Martinez ripped a two run shot over the left field wall. That snapped the Sox 31 inning scoreless streak, and put the Sox ahead 2-1. After hitting into two quick outs in the ninth the yankees' Johnny Damon hit his 21st home run of the year to tie the game at 2-2. The next batter Mark Texiera followed that up with a towering shot to the second deck of the porch in right, his 29th of the year, to take the lead in both the game and the Home Run race in the American League. The Yankees then had two more players reach after a walk then a double. Nick Swisher came to the plate and hit a single scoring both runners and putting the Yankees up 5-2, and putting Mariano Rivera in line for the save in the ninth. So with that the Yanks swept their long time rivals and brought the season series to 4 and 8 with the Sox having the better overall. 

This game was significant for both teams. It showed some glaring flaws in the Red Sox offensive production, and showed some gleaming pitching performances for the Yankees. I said about two weeks ago, after seeing the Red Sox lose seven of ten that I think they have a serious chance of missing the playoffs this year. Now that they have lost their last six, and are slumping beyond Red Sox Nation belief, I think my prediction is likely to come true. The Texas Rangers are having a playoff like season, and have been slowly creeping up on the Sox and are now tied for the lead in the wild card. It is almost inevitable that the Red Sox will lose the pennant to the Yankees, and are desperately clinging onto their Wild Card chances. Tampa Bay is only 1.5 games out of the Wild Card, and the quiet but surprising Mariners are keeping their playoff hopes alive after beating the Rays 2 of the last 3 and up to 4.5 back of the Wild Card. The competition in their division and the rest of the league is going to make it hard for the Red Sox, and has me thinking that they just don't have the energy to keep themselves in it for the rest of the year. After winning the World Series two years ago, and being one of the favorites at the beginning of the season, I have the Sox missing the playoffs for only the second time in seven years.