Last night's game was nothing short of spectacular.  We have been the kings of the rally for quite some time and have come through in some amazing late inning heroics the past two games.  The momentum has been started by the same man the past two games and that man's name is Manny Ramirez.  Monday night's game he came through in the eighth inning to hit an RBI single then came through again last night amidst the "MANNY!  MANNY!" chants and sent a bomb into the Green Monster seats tying the ballgame.   The 8th inning is something I would like to discuss first because the excitement and adrenaline that it brought out is just sticking out in my mind.  We started off the bottom of the 8th being down 5-2.  Ells would start it off shooting a line into LF giving himself a double.  The panicking Twins would then bring in a righty to face the red-hot Dustin Pedroia.  Peds would then hit a blooper to center advancing Ells to third.  JD stepped up to the plate and ground out to first bringing Ellsbury across the plate closing in the Twins short-lived lead.  Manny stepped up to the plate in a purely clutch situation with the Fenway Faithful chanting his name  hoping to see the "Manny being Manny" magic we've seen for so long.  He blasted Guerrier's first pitch into the Green Monster tying the game 5-5.   Mikey would then strike out then Youk hit a double toward center then would end up advancing to third on a wild pitch.   Brandon Moss was another hero of last night's game.  The always smiling rookie came on in the 8th and smashed a single to center scoring Youk and giving us our well-deserved lead. 

Despite our famed late-inning heroics, our most consistent pitcher didn't have his best game last night.  He gave up nine hits and five runs over 7 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out six.   Nick Blackburn did well for the Twins, holding our boys to six hits and two runs over 6 2/3 innings.   Aardsma got the win last night and our closer got the save.  But that didn't come easy.  Nick Punto worked a 12-pitch at-bat which ended on a double to center.  Coco attempted a great diving catch which didn't exactly go to plan turning his single into a double.  Span advanced Punto to third on a sacrifice bunt giving the Twins the tying run just 90 feet away and with only one out in the inning.   Paps struck out pinch hitter Jason Kubel for the second out then recorded the save after a grounder to second for the force-out at first.  Paps did not buckle under the pressure and stayed focused in the ninth.  He pitched his way out of his own mess and showed us that Paps we all know and love.   Just so it is known, last night was our 22nd comeback win of the year.

It took awhile for our bats to wake up last night.  Youk hit a one-out triple in the 7th and Moss had a sacrifice fly as well.  Seeing the emotion on Moss' face last night was great.  When he hit in that game-leading run he was pumped at first, then (as usual) all smiles after that.   Tonight Josh Beckett (8-5) will take on Livan Hernandez (9-5).  I read that Hernandez has been better with his location lately.  So that means that we need to be very timely with our bats while maintaining aggression at the plate.  It may even end up being a pitcher's duel right down to the bitter end. 

So let's cheer on our boy Country as he goes to battle tonight.  I'm sure you're all feeling as I am right now with the adrenaline and excitement of last night still flowing through your veins.  Let's channel this energy into cheering Beckett on tonight!