So once again for about the 3rd time in the six weeks the Boston Red Sox were featured on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.  The Sox did not fail to disappoint either as they took care of business in front of the national audience.

  Tim Wakefield got the spot start last night, in what could be his very last big stage.  Wakie went 6 2/3 innings last night, and he was brilliant throughout.  Wake’s knuckleball had the Cubbies guessing for most of the night.  Wakefield had an unreal pitch count for most of the game, and even departed after throwing only 75 pitches.  Wake’s line for  the night was 4 hits, one run, no walks or strikouts.  Not bad for a guy that is pushing 45 years old.  The bullpen followed Wake’s lead, allowing only two base runners from the 7th inning on.  Daniel Bard who has been super shakey as of late, look strong last night going 1 1/3 innings last night.  The Red Sox were forced to use 2 spot startes over the weekend, both pitchers combined to pitch 11 2/3 innings, giving up two total runs, all in all not a bad performance.

The offense had another strong night against the make-shift pitchers of the Cubs last night, with Adrian Gonzalez in particular having a great night.  For the 2nd time this year Gonzalez recorded a 4 hit night, for the series versus the Cubs, Gonzalez was an amazing 10 for 15.  The heart of the Sox line up had a great night, as Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz also contributed with 3 RBI’s.  The Sox went old school in the 4th inning, scoring two runs via the sac fly.   All in all the offense had a pretty solid night, hell even the catcher got involved in the offense, adding a solo homerun in the 5th inning.  The Sox start today only a 1/2 game out of first place, and it is really bad news for the AL East if the Sox’s catcher’s start to get involved in the offense.

  The Sox now head to Cleveland for a three game series that will feature the top of the rotation for both teams.  The Sox were swept away by Cleveland in early April, so they look to get back on track versus the AL Central divison leaders.  The Sox will play seven games versus the AL Central this week, 3 vs the Indians and finishing up in Detroit with a 4 game series vs the Tigers.

The Sox finally got the used tire last night they had been searching for since the off-season….Kevin Millwood.  Millwood just opted out of his deal with the Yankees, and with the recent injuries to Dice K and John Lackey…Millwood looks to have a real shot to pitch some innings for the Sox soon.  The deal is a minor league contract.

Hello/Goodbye- The Sox said good bye again to Hideki Okijima and Micheal Bowden.  Okijima was DFA, so chances are he has played his last game in a Sox uniform.  Bowden has been optioned back to Pawtucket.  Dan Wheeler has finished his Pawtucket rehab, so he will be rejoining the Sox this weekend.  Hopefully he left his 10.95 ERA in Pawtucket.

Relief- The Sox consumated a trade last night with the Rockies for LHP Franklin Morales.  Morales is young….but has been in the majors for 4 seasons.  This year he has 14 appearances with a 3.85 ERA.

 The Sox continued thier roll last night with a dramatic walk off win versus the Detroit Tigers.  The game was as good as advertised, with the only blemish coming in the 8th inning.  Both starting pitchers were great, however Josh Beckett was better.

Beckett was strong last night going six innings, giving up only one run on five hits and 3 walks.  Beckett was able to scatter the hitters over his six frames.  Beckett was forced to leave the game with a stiff neck, which was detemined to be due to the cold spring night.  The Sox got 2 strong innings of bullpen help last night and one lousy inning.  Matt Albers and Jonathan Papelbon kept a lid on thier innings, the same could not be said for the sad sack of shit that is Daniel Bard.  Bard for the second time this week looked like a lost kid on the mound.  Bard was touched this time for back-to-back homeruns, blowing the game for Beckett, leaving him with another no decision.

  Offense of course was at a premium due to the strong pitching of Justin Verlander, but between David Ortiz, J.D. Drew and Carl Crawford the Sox had just enough to get by.  For the 4th time this year the Sox walked off with a win.  More impressive was Carl Crawford’s third walk off this month…ole Crawford doesn’t have many hits or RBI’s…but the ones he has certainly count!

So the Red Sox are looking for those ever increasing sweeps.  Over the weekend the Sox swept the Yanks…Monday they swept the Orioles in thier rain shortened series…and tonight they go for two in a row versus the Tigers.  The task won’t be easy as the Sox face Justin Verlander.  The good news is this cat just threw a no-no….so the odds of that shiz happening again is slim and none….the better news is the Sox counter with one of thier aces Josh Beckett.

Here are tonights line-ups

Here are the lineups:

RED SOX (22-20)
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Youkilis 3B
Ortiz DH
Drew RF
Lowrie SS
Crawford LF
Varitek C

Pitching: RHP Josh Beckett (3-1, 1.75).

TIGERS (22-20)
Jackson CF
Sizemore 2B
Boesch RF
Cabrera 1B
Martinez DH
Dirks LF
Peralta SS
Avila C
Inge 3B

Pitching: RHP Justin Verlander (4-3, 2.91).

Game time: 7:10 p.m.