Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox took care of business tonight in Arlington, TX by defeating the Texas Rangers 3-1.

Jon Lester received his first victory in four straight losing starts. Lester was masterful, throwing eight scoreless innings with five strikeouts, only allowing five hits.

Boston came up with timely offense in the sixth and ninth innings. JD Drew, Marco Scuatro, and Bill Hall came away the game with one RBI a piece.

As the game came to a completion, Red Sox rookie pitcher Felix Doubront came away with his first career save.

As of now, Josh Beckett’s ERA stands at 6.51, while his WHIP sits at a career-worst 1.54. After returning from the disabled list, Beckett seemed to settle into a groove, culminating in a spectacular eight-inning performance in which he only allowed one run to the Cleveland Indians.

Since that game, Beckett has thrown 9 2/3 innings while allowing four home runs, 13 earned runs, and 21 hits. Ugly, ugly numbers.

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest stories from yesterday’s games:

American League:

The Boston Red Sox are at a crossroads right now. In the thick of a pennant race, their star closer is melting down before their very eyes.

Jonathan Papelbon is putting up the worst numbers of his career and is no longer one of the most intimidating closers in baseball.

There was a time when Jonathan Papelbon was considered one of the elite closers in baseball, among the likes of Mariano Rivera, Joe Nathan, and Francisco Rodriguez.

Between a mid-90s fastball that could hit 98 MPH, a plus splitter, a solid change-up, and a slider of the same description, Papelbon had a deathly arsenal that he could unleash at will on opposing hitters.

In his first full year in 2006 as the Red Sox closer, Papelbon was brilliant. He threw 68.1 dominant innings, striking out 75 and walking only 13 en route to a 0.92 ERA and an All-Star selection.

Tony Massarotti said on the radio in Boston this week that the baseball season, for all intents and purposes, doesn't begin until August 15. The Boston Red Sox are inclined to believe that logic, given that much of what happened leading up to this month has been relatively forgettable.

A remarkable rash of injuries, silence at the trading deadline, wildly inconsistent performance. And yet, here they stand, just four games out of the Wild Card after taking two of three from the Toronto Blue Jays this week.

As news broke on Aug. 7 that the Boston Red Sox had signed Carlos Delgado to a minor league deal, I thought it was a great move. This is a potentially high rewarding transaction with very low risk.

Delgado could fill some holes as All-Star first basemen, Kevin Youkilis, will miss the remainder of the season with a torn muscle in his thumb. 

Although Delgado is 38 years old, he appears to be healthy and in great shape, and he's hungry to win.

The Boston Red Sox should be glad that they are leaving New York on a high note.  There is nothing more encouraging than being able to steal a tight game from the defending World Champions in Yankee Stadium. 

Today's 2-1 win over the Yankees may have saved the Red Sox' season.  Traveling to New York to play a four game set with the Bronx Bombers, it looked very bleak for the Sox.  The Yankees were ready to send a knockout blow and send the Red Sox ten games back with a sweep.  But the Sox wouldn't have it.