ROAD WARRIORS

Good week for the Red Sox. About time. The team traveled to Baltimore to kick off a 9 game road trip earlier in the week. The team was coming off a sweep after the Jays rocked the good guys the weekend before.
In Baltimore, the team opened with a 6-3 victory behind a strong pitching performance by Lester and 2 homers by newly acquired OF Jason Bay. The next evening the Sox won again behind Dice-K and homers by Varitek and Youkilis. In the finale, the Sox took an early 4-0 lead and a sweep was set to occur. Unfortunately, the struggling Buchholz blew the lead and the game as the Sox had to settle for a 2-1 series.
With revenge on their minds, the team traveled to Toronto. The Sox came in with a brutal 2-6 mark vs. the lone team north of the border. In the opener, the Sox won 8-4 thanks in part to homers by Varitek and Pedroia and Byrd first win for his new club. But, the next day, the Jays smashed the good guys 11-0 as Lester got rocked. The Sox had a slew of chances early, left 7 men on in the first few innings, but blew them all. The biggest game of the week came today. The Sunday matinee featured a pitchers duel between Burnett and Dice-K. In the end, neither pitched well, and a 5-5 score after 9 innings meant extras. With a big swing and momentum booster on the line, as well as the series, Papelbon pitched 2 scoreless innings and a Lowrie solo shot was enough for the big 6-5 win.
So good week on the road. 4-2 isn't too shabby, especially as the good guys are below .500 on the road and around .500 mark within the division. Plus, Beckett is injured, same goes for Lowell, Wakefield, Lugo, Casey and Drew. Outside of Lugo, all should be healthy enough for the big week ahead, which features a series vs. the pinstripes and then the White Sox.
As far as the division goes, Tampa still is in command. They won't implode. They took 2 of 3 versus the Angels and then the White Sox too this week. Amazing. The lead is 4.5 games.
Lastly, the NE Revs are still in 1st place with the best record in MLS. The Patriots are 0-3 in the preseason but no real concerns here, especially since Brady is resting!