A lot can happen in under 5 pitches. 2 pitches and Manny and Ortiz restore the lead, boom-boom. 4 pitches and Troy Percival gets the save. And just like that, the phrase “5 in the loss column” starts to resonate. As Eddie Floyd and Amii Stewart sang, better knock… on wood. (Cue horn section.)
I like this Manny in #3, Big Papi in #4 lineup. And the bullpen usage was impeccable. Francona-bashing fading…fading…fading…RISING…fading…fading…gone…