Loretta one get away

The Red Sox ended the 1st half of the season 20 games over .500 because they had the best defense in the league and scored lots of runs. Thursday night they did neither. The bats produced only 3 runs in 9 innings and All-Star 2nd Baseman Mark Loretta made only his 5th error of the season, allowing two runs to score on a ground ball even your Uncle Buck could have stopped, in the 5-4 loss.

Earlier in the day UB was listening to WEEI as one of the hosts mentioned that despite the four shut out innings pitched by Julian Tavarez in the Sox 19 inning loss to the White Sox, he continues to take "one step forward and two back." Thursday night he took his "two back" giving up two runs in the top of the 11th that would decide the game.

With the loss the Sox drop a half game to the idol Yankoffs who were declared dead by ESPN just yesterday morning. Tonight the Sox turn to Josh Beckett who takes on Barry Zito, another lefty who have given the boys fits in the past.