The Sox bats were silenced by the Seattle Mariners Friday night loosing 8-0, but Saturday was a different ball game. The Sox bats were alive with a vengeance overpowering the Mariners 11-3.

The offense was impressive from the first inning when JD Drew on a 2-0 count pounded a shot to left center where Ichiro Suziki bobbled the ball. Drew should have been limited to a double but with his incredible base running dug out a triple. With Fenway in a frenzy Manny Ramirez stepped up to the plate driving the ball over the Green Monster, over Landowns Street and into the next parking lot giving the Sox an early 2-0 lead.

Wakefield had a nasty knuckleball Saturday undoubtedly helped by the hot, humid weather, earning him 6 strikeouts and in 7 innings. The Mariners were hitting scoring 2 runs against him but in fairness to Wakefield the runs were the result of errors. In the 1st inning confusion between Cash and Wakefield over a little hit caused Ichiro to be safe to what should of been an easy out. In the third similar errors by the Sox caused the loss of an out and the man on base to score resulting in 2 runs to tie the game.

A bobbled ball by Youkilis at third converted what should of been an out to a base hit. Youkilis was moved to 1st when Lowell entered the game in the eighth inning dropping a little underhand toss from Alex Cora who fielded a ground ball to second in the ninth inning, tragically ending a 238 game series with NO errors. Youkillis deserves credit for a incredible streak of perfection but his recent errors exemplify the Sox problems defensively. In this writer's opinion, the Bosox are depending on a superior offense when they clearly have the talent and skill to play and equally good defensive game. Yet they just seem plagued by errors and a stronger defense, so obvious last year, eludes them.

Wakefield left the mound after after seven innings and 99 pitches. Going into the eighth, Hansen had plenty of run support thanks to Youkillis and Lowell both of whom hit RBI's. Then in bottom of the eighth with 1 out, J.D. Drew smacks a hit to right field scoring Cora and advancing Lugo to third. Both runners would eventually score due to the efforts of Youkilis and Lowel to give the Sox an 11-2 lead in what would become and 11-3 win. Hansen pitched only 1 inning but looked strong before Papelbon closed the game in style.

The Sox need to play as aggressive defensively as they do offensively if they are going to see another world series this year.

By: Nicholas Langevin

About the writer
Nicholas is a teen sports writer hailing from Northwest Connecticut. He has been an avid baseball fan since he was a boy and he travels the country to review ball games.