For five games now the Red Sox offense had to rely almost exclusively on Big Papi and Manny. And for 170 games they had to live without a number 5 hitter, also known as Nancy Drew. Well, JD may have earned his first two names back with one swing. Bottom of the 1st, bases loaded, no outs and neither Manny nor Lowell can get a run home. Then on a 3-1 pitch Drew drives the ball deep to center and out for a grand slam home run. I didn’t know whether to exhale or cheer like a madman. I did both. The rest of the offense did their part, with Peroia and Youks starting to look like their old selves, and Jacoby Ellsbury actually getting some production out of the CF spot and by the end of the 3rd inning the Sox had 10 runs.

Schlling didn’t look fantastic, but unlike in game 2 he got the job done. Seven innings, 2 ER is more than admirable for a guy who clearly didn’t have his good stuff. He couldn’t paint the corners and he couldn’t overpower hitters. He pretty much had to throw a fastball on the first pitch for a strike in hopes of throwing splitters for the rest of the AB to get batters out. But seven innings also meant that only Lopez and (gasp) Gagne had to pitch, so we’ve got a fully rested pen for tomorrow.

I also can’t tell you what a treat it was to watch the international broadcast of the game. True, it’s no fun to have to get up at 8AM to watch the game from Shangahi, but instead of the ear drum splitting Tim McCarver I was treated to the Red Sox’s own Dave O’Brien and Rick Sutcliff. Sut is no TV color mastermind, but he’s no McCarver either. And as much as I like Joe Buck, I’d take “Obie” (as Sutcliff calls him) over Buck any day of the week.

Speaking of which, here’s the playoff beard Shanghai edition:

After being down 3-1, the Sox live to play game 7 tomorrow at Fenway. Feel free to use whatever cheesy cliché you want, but Dice-K needs to step up and so does the offense. Letting Westbrook pitch 7+ with 2 ER again means the Sox will be golfing on Wednesday, not playing in the World Series. I think it goes without saying, but we need all the mojo we can muster: go Sox!