[cknox0723]

We're on another winning streak, this one of five games, but it'll end now that I mentioned it. Well, that, and Esteban Loaiza's pitching, so even if we're facing 31-73 Tampa Bay, we're ultimately doomed. Throw in the fact that both Jorge DePaula and Rick Ankiel are nursing "-cep" injuries, and we'll need a good outing from Loaiza. Ha. Uh, sure. Consider that the 'pen's been absolutely run through the mill recently, and Enrique Wilson, The Relief Ace, is on the bench today for a darned good reason.

But surprisingly enough, Loaiza faces the minimum number of Devil Fishies in the first -- thanks to the golden gun of Jason LaRue, and we set to face the mastery of 5-11 Aaron "Lemon Harang Pie". After eight pitches, it's back to Loaiza, who gives up a single to Luis Matos and then another one-base hit to .320 hitting third sacker Andy Phillips. But light-hitting infielders Deivi Cruz (who, incidentally, is hitting .290 -- but fear not, he's still light-hitting anyway!) and Ramon Santiago both hit ground balls, the latter of which goes for two outs, and Loaiza's out of trouble.

Brad Fullmer doubles to right to start our half of the frame, and two batters later, he scores on a fly ball to left off the bat of Joe Crede. Juan Uribe sucks up two outs to kill the inning (not literally, of course, that would be cruel), but it's 1-0. Don't worry -- it won't stay that way.

Joe Crede makes a lousy throw on what could have been a simple 5-3 ground ball, and after Harang Pie sacrifices, The Woonsocket Rocket makes us pay with a single that plates Toby Hall and ties things up at one. Terrence Long, one of the most hated guys around, raps into a 4-6-3 twin killing, and somehow Loaiza hasn't given up eight runs, so it's OK.

The Mime hits a single back through the proverbial box as we try to grab the lead back, but Loaiza, of course, can't get a bunt down. I'm trying to be nice, Esteban..."Strike three"...I hate you, I hate you, I hate you. Jerk. Julio Lugo draws a walk, and all is well for a moment, if not particularly sensible. D.Y. hits into a ground ball to first that goes for a force at second and then a double play because of some b.s. "interference" nonsense, so the inning's over, and at least things make sense again. But why can't I argue that call?

Heart of the Tampa order in the fourth, but they're about as frightening as Chuckles the Clown, and Loaiza has no trouble. I guess you could say the same for our motley crew, though, as Harang turns the same trick in the bottom of the inning.

And that ratfink Loaiza earns his nickname Scourge of the Earth in the top of the fifth. Ramon Santiago doubles to start the inning, and two batters later, the pitcher Harang, hitting .029, drives him home. Normally, that'd be the precursor to one of those eleven run innings that we're so familiar with, but the much-maligned duo of T-Long and Josh Phelps makes about a dozen more outs, so we get out of the inning trailing by a mere run.

However, that's a tall task today against Lemon Harang Pie, so I think now is the right time to mention his 4.20 ERA and 12-11, 4.13 ledger from last season. Yup, he's a decent pitcher. Really.

However, Loaiza keeps it 2-1 through the seventh, and I realize that it's just the combined ineptitude of our clubs keeping the score so low. It's like this magnetic pull, not allowing the 'R' column to stray too far from zero. There's a gigantic south pole of suck that we just can't venture too far away from, apparently, so I guess this game is just a reminder of that.

We threaten in the bottom of the seventh when Fullmer and Crede both reach base, but Juan Uribe grounds out to third to strand them both and keep us chained down. Break free from your chains, Juan! The chains of oppression!

Loaiza rolls on through the eighth, and even though it's the lowly Devil Rays, I'm still impressed. After Jason LaRue flies out to start the eighth on our end, Loaiza's spot in the order rolls around, and I call on Frank Thomas to pinch-hit. A squeezed-out Harang falls behind 3-0, grooves a meatball, and Thomas stings a single to center. That brings changes left and right, "sweeping changes", if you get what I'm saying. Raul Gonzalez in to run. Blaine Neal in to face Julio Lugo, who, of course, grounds out, 1 to 3. Gonzalez moves to second, and southpaw Ray King comes on. I pinch-hit Brian Buchanan for D.Y., who hasn't been much from the right side this year. Buchs battles out of a two-strike hole and wiggles out a walk, and Buddha's got a chance to snatch this victory away from the jaws of the elephant.

"The one-one pitch from King...fastball, bounced right back to him. He'll toss it over to Phelps, and that'll end the inning with the score still in Tampa's favor, two to one."

Mike Gallo comes on for the ninth, throws a bunch of pitches in getting the first two outs, and then throws a bunch more in walking Deivi Cruz. Ramon Santiago steps in and hits a home run, and Carlton is officially on my ignore list. (Ha ha, just kidding!) Rather predictably, we go down in order in the bottom of the ninth. It's, um...great to be home!

TB 4 CHW 1

WP: A. Harang (6-11) - 7.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R
LP: E. Loaiza (4-13) - 8 IP, 7 H, 2 R

Game Ball Goes To... Did you know our stadium seats over 47,000 people? I didn't, either! At least we'll only get 13,169 calls about how we're ripping off the public in search of the almighty dollar.