Well, not really. Even though you like to say you live and die with the Red Sox, that’s not really the case, is it?

But I’m not going to lie, when Will Middlebrooks left the game in the 2nd inning with what is being called “a tight left hamstring”, I sort of had a minor heart attack. Seems he’s the only bright spot in the line up these days. Also seems he’s a bit of a wuss. Throw some Ben-Gay on that thing and get your butt back out there. Looks like it’s not too serious and he’s hoping to be back in the line up tonight.

So the Red Sox lost to the Royals 6-4. When I fell asleep it was 4-3 Sox and I was furious when I awoke to my ESPN alert telling me they lost. WTF? They’ve now lost seven of their last nine games. Luckily both Baltimore and Tampa Bay lost so the deficit is still 6.5 games. Still, it’s going to be a pretty steep climb trying to chase down the rest of what is turning out to be an extremely good AL East this year.

I can’t be bothered to talk about the offense because there really wasn’t any. The Red Sox scattered four runs on nine hits in a lackluster performance. Dustin Pedroia had two RBI and Adrian Gonzalez had two hits. *yawn* Boring. I almost wish I had been watching Josh Hamilton put on a freaking clinic against the Orioles last night – WOW! He only went 5 for 5 with four home runs, eight RBI and 18 total bases.

Daniel Bard was just ok. I’m tired of using those two letters to describe this pitching staff but really, that’s the best any of them have been so far this season. Just ok. Despite his complete meltdown in the 2nd inning where he had two balks (one of which was responsible for KC’s first run) and a wild pitch, he pitched pretty efficiently. Going into the top of the 8th inning, Bard had thrown just 86 pitches.

I’m sure Bobby Valentine was thinking his bullpen is getting some much-needed rest, right? Wrong. Bard started the 8th and walked the first two batters, obviously tiring late in the game. Matt Albers came in with two runners on and promptly gave up a three-run home run to Billy Butler. Game over. Bard takes the loss.

After the game, Bard told the Boston Globe:

“There is a fatigue that sets in. It’s about learning how to pitch with that little bit of fatigue,” Bard said. “It’s not my arm; my arm felt great. It’s your whole body, your legs, your lower back, everything.

“You’ve got to learn how to pitch in those conditions. That’s kind of where I’m at right now, trying to learn how to finish games and get through that 100, 110 pitches strong all the way through the end.”

*sigh* Am I the only one that thinks this pitching staff lacks heart? There’s no drive, no spark, no competitiveness we’ve seen in past seasons. Are they all pissed there’s no more beer and chicken in the clubhouse? If that’s the case, get over it and do your job!

Here’s the link to the box score, courtesy of the Red Sox. It’s a quick read. Tonight, the Red Sox will try to take the rubber game behind Jon Lester. First pitch is at 8:10 EST.

Fenway, July 27, 2011 (credit: yours truly)

I was at Fenway for last night’s game, so consider this eyewitness testimony: when David Ortiz crushed the baseball with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, the crowd did more than just go through the motions of standing up, craning its collective neck to watch the ball dunk into the seats behind the visitor’s bullpen in right field, and then cheer as Ortiz rounded the bases.  The crowd did more than that, because Ortiz did more than that.  What might otherwise have been a routine home run with the Red Sox already up against a mediocre team turned into something much more memorable.

A grand slam – Ortiz’s career 10th – that also marked the 20th home run of his season, and the 1,000th RBI of his Red Sox career.  Only five other Sox players have hit that 1,000 RBI mark – Carl Yastrzemski, Ted Williams, Jim Rice, Dwight Evans, and Bobby Doerr.  As Ortiz said after the game, “When your name gets in the mix with guys that played here their whole career, it’s a compliment.  It’s something that you don’t think about it right now while you’re playing. You kind of sit down [later] and say, ‘Well, I did OK while I was there.’”

Um, yeah, he did OK while he was here.

The Sox blew the Royals away again last night, starting with back-to-back home runs from Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia to lead off the first inning.  The Sox hitters stuck to the plan, and wore Royals starter Bruce Chen down by forcing him to throw 114 pitches while walking three and giving up ten hits over four innings.  Meanwhile, the John Lackey experiment continued.  Lackey wasn’t at all dominant, allowing four runs and 11 hits in 5.2 innings while striking out three; but it was good enough to log his fourth win in a row.  KC’s Billy Butler, by the way, hit the most ridiculously sure-thing home run I’ve ever seen at Fenway in the fifth inning.  It went over the Monster, and I doubt it’s landed yet.

Also, we won some Red Sox swag, care of the Red Sox’ “tweet your seat” Twitter contest!  Marvel in our riches: a Red Sox hat (sadly, adjustable, not fitted); some dirt from Fenway (this, I love); and a John Lackey autographed baseball (if he wins two more starts in a row, I will think this is cooler than I do right now).

Our winnings (credit: yours truly)

Big day in the nation today – an afternoon matinee to finish the Kansas City series, plus whispers that Clay Buchholz may not be healthy yet, with the trading deadline barreling closer.  Stay tuned!