These are the kinds of games that championship teams win in championship years. Close, well-played contests against quality opponents that end well.Tonight Jacoby Ellsbury legitimized the MVP chants with his second straight walk-off—this time a 9th inning home run to straightaway center. With two outs and nobody on no less. Sox win 4-3.
As Hall of Famer Peter Gammons rightly observes, the Red Sox will likely have three or four players in the top ten of the MVP voting at the end of the year—and Jacoby will be one of them. He is, by far, the best lead-off guy in the AL. He hits in the clutch—and now he hits with raw power. He plays a Gold Glove-level center field.
Unfortunately, Tim Wakefield did not get his 200th win the day after his 45th birthday. But for the second straight outing he pitched well enough to do it.