Kevin Youkilis (Keith Allison, c/o flickr.com)

Except this. The Boston Red Sox have not won four straight games since early August, 2011. Could this is the beginning of this team pulling themselves up by their bootstraps and playing some ball? Even the pitching was… not scary last night. I’m trying to be a glass-half-full kind of gal this morning, bear with me.

Once again, offense was the story in the Red Sox 10-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox last night, spoiling Philip Humber’s chance to pitch a second straight perfect game. *giggles* In the past four games, the Sox have scored 34 runs on 52 hits, and last night, Kevin Youkilis finally made himself heard by going 3 for 4 with a grand slam and 4 RBI leading the team to the win. Did someone tell Kevin that Will Middlebrooks has hit 9 home runs so far this season in Pawtucket? Was that the motivating factor? Whatever it was, it needs to keep happening. We really need Youk to not suck this year.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia also continues to tear it up hitting two four-baggers last night. He ended the night 2 for 4 with three RBI and has managed to raise his average to .261. Remember what Becca said yesterday about last Friday’s game? He was hitting under .100 before that game. This makes me happy because I like this kid (maybe it’s because his hair is very Boober Fraggle-ish. I loved that show when I was a kid!)

The third inning proved to be the biggest of the night when Ryan Sweeney lead off the inning with yet another double. Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez both drew walks, loading up the bases. Youkilis smacked it over the right field fence for the second grand slam of his career. Salty followed up with his first homer of the night.

Felix Doubront got the win last night scattering five hits and three runs over six innings. Junichi Tazawa relieved Doubront and pitched a scoreless 7-8-9 for the save. After some of the bullpen meltdowns we’ve seen over the last couple of weeks, I find it hard to believe that this same ‘pen has a 0.80 ERA over the last four games.

Here’s the box, courtesy of the Red Sox. Tonight Daniel Bard (1-2, 4.38) takes the hill against John Danks (2-2, 5.11). Bard might be another one feeling someone breathing down his neck. Pawtucket’s Aaron Cook is 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA in his four starts. It’s only a matter of time before the Sox start seriously considering moving this kid up. Bard needs to kick it up a notch.

On another note: the Carl Crawford news is not good. He has “been diagnosed with an ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his left elbow and will be shut down from baseball activity, the Red Sox announced Thursday.” Word on the street is that he could be out for at least three months. Now is this bad news? Really? It is for the Red Sox front office who gave this guy a ridiculous contract and now seem to be hemorrhaging money every day he’s not in the line up. But for fans, it’s probably good news with the offense doing just fine without him.