Maxbialystock

Manaea is no-hitting the Sox, and he came into this game with an ERA under 2 and averaging 7 innings per start. Tonight he looks pretty darn good to me.

He's thrown some hittable pitches, but he has got everyone off balance. He got a K against one guy (JD?) with two 92 mph fastballs near the center of the zone. That changeup he throws is a killer, and he's pretty good at keeping the ball low. I think the Sox had a couple of hard hit outs, but that's what it takes for most no-hitters. I hope there is a rally in the 9th, but will understand if there isn't.

Most of us recognize that a) we have a pretty darn good team; and that Manaea is pitching one heckuva game. I see just one person wanting to throw the team and the manager under the bus.

You mean, do I like to rant with inane suggestions like bench everyone and pull the starter? No.

This is the third time and the Sox remain hitless and scoreless. Are you watching the same game?

What the hell is the point in that? Manaea is going to shut us out with maybe a no-no.

He's a lefty who doesn't really have a good changeup.

Well stated.

Great throw.

When they are patient, they K.

I don't disagree with that call. Could have gone either way maybe, but he sure looked outside the basepath.

Looks better second time thru.

And Sale ain’t got it tonight.

He is definitely doing that. No hitter thru three innings.

Really going out on a limb saying you don't think the Sox can win 13 in a row after winning 9 in a row.

Lineup Betts. Beni HanRam JD Nunez Devers Leon JBJ Lin

Well done. I missed it but saw the replay.

Yup. I kind of lost track.

Hmm. Some of DD's comments sound exactly like those stats you presented maybe a month ago--saying several Sox were sure to hit better this year.

Highest WAR on the team in 2013. I'm a huge Pedey fan and know he will contribute if he can recover from the injury (injuries). Plus, as others have noted, he is at every game and knows what's going on with the 2018 version of the Sox. 18 months ago he had the 20th best WAR in MLB (and the 2d best on the Sox behind Betts. The only foreseeable dilemma is him not recovering.

Thanks for the reminder. Another long, meandering OP. If you read my in-game comments last night, I am definitely among the faint of heart. You guys have the mojo, thank goodness.

9:05 pm start time, two lefties pitching well, Sale vs. Manaea Manaea about equally tough vs. righties and lefties. Sox faced him twice last year: he went 5 and gave up 2 first time, got killed the second time. He's 1" shorter than Sale and about 65 pounds heavier. After 4 starts and 27.2 innings, he has an ERA of 1.63. 17-2 is not the impossible dream, but is nevertheless astounding. A combo of great pitching, now even better hitting--especially compared to last year--and a manager who seems really tuned into this team and vice versa. Last night I ranted and raved against Pom, who was awful in the 1st and tried to be in the 2d, but Cora himself went out to the mound briefly. Pomeranz got the 3d out with no runs scored, was terrific in the 3d, and seemed to stumble in the 4th. So Cora goes right back out there and calls for Velazquez, who then pitched 3 scoreless. Nice. These guys are in a groove. jacksonianmarch loves to remind us they are bottom feeders beating the likes of Tampa, Miami, and Baltimore. But the Sox just took 4 straight by an aggregate margin of 34-6 against the Angels (who had been very hot themselves) and now Oakland, who won 4 straight before the Sox and Pom showed up. And took 2 of 3 from the Yankees. Note to moonslav: you were/are probably more right about Pom than I. He recovered nicely last night.

You remembered.

Not me. I thought we were done after the 1st and was astounded when JBJ tied it, even more when Pom sort of settled down. Great move by Cora to bring in Velazquez at just the right time. Fell asleep right after that. 17-2 is beyond words. When you see them, however, you understand why those numbers. Just as you say. Sox are 9-0 in games won by 4 or more runs—kimmi’s criterion for a really good team.

Miracle of miracles, Pom throws a changeup in the 3d. Out of the strike zone, fouled off.