That’s not exactly the way I wanted to go into a three game series against our most hated rivals, but with Lenny DiNardo pitching I couldn’t expect much more. What did surprise me was Abe Alvarez’s aversion to keeping the game close. Every time the Sox got the game closer, he would give up at least that run back. As a Sox fan, the most important pitching line of the day may be this:

5 IP, 4 H, 2ER, 1 BB, 3 K

No, that’s not DiNardo or Alvarez’s line (if it was, we might have had a chance today). That would be David Wells’ line against the Scranton Red Barons (AAA). Much, much more impressive than his last AAA rehab start of 5 IP, 6 H, 7ER, 3 BB, 1 K. Maybe now his pitching can keep up with his mouth.