In yet another installment of scrubs pitching the games of their lives this week, we bring you Kason Gabbard (W, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K). And considering how Timlin has been pitching recently, I’ll throw him into that category (S(4), 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K). 

What’s more amazing is that Gabbard managed to do this with Trupe still calling the game. Remember back in June, when I kindly asked Trupe to stop jinxing our pitchers? He didn’t either. After Gabbard mowed down the first nine batters, Trupe opens with “He’s been perfect over the first three innings.” First batter of the forth gets a leadoff double. Then in the sixth Tupe says “Gabbard’s working on a one hit shutout.” Two of the next three batters get base hits. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and say it’s not malicious. In which case, he’s like a real life “Flounder” from Animal House. You guys playing cards?

This was one of those “team” wins. The defense turned three double plays behind Gabbard, one with the bases juiced. And in a strange turn of events, Coco got the winning RBI, with two outs. If you’re curious, the last time the Sox won three 1-0 games at Fenway in a season was 1978. (The last time the Sox won three or more 1-0 games in a season was 1992; two at Fenway, two on the road.)

Hell, the Sox even got good news last night. First, it was great to see Big Papi back in the lineup. I’ll take 0-3 with a walk every game if his heart stays healthy. Then we learned that PBR has “a transient subluxation event in the setting of a fatigued shoulder.” If you’re trying to figure out what that means, ask PBR: “I heard, ‘No tear,’ and that’s basically what I was worried about.” Phew.

So, a 1-0 win, Papi returning to the lineup, and no tear for PBR. It’s ok to smile a little.