Bummer

Would you rather watch your pennant racing team lose by A) Spotting its opponent a big lead then chipping away the rest of the game but never actually catching up, or B) Keeping it close all game and taking the lead late so the closer can blow it?

If you watch the SoxandPhils, you didn't have to choose tonight.

In a game that was pretty close to a must-win to stay 1.5 games behind the Mets, starter Kyle Kendrick and reliever J.A. Happ combined to give up 10 runs in the first five innings. The Phils' bats made a go of it, scoring eight, but that wasn't enough to overcome the early deficit.

The offense is finally clicking, but who cares? Maybe the pressure of the race is getting to me, but time's running out. If they don't pull this division out, 2007 will lose a lot of its significance to me.

Red Sox: They don't have to worry about last year's legacy, but this one stung. I said yesterday I was expecting them to split the last two games against the Rays, and I had thought this would be the loss. But I didn't expect Jonathan Papelbon to blow it. Even Christine's upset about it. (OK, she's just worried about our fantasy team that's in the playoffs now.)

With first place on the line, and a chance to set the record for wins in a season by a Japanese pitcher, Daisuke Matsuzaka had one of his hallmark five-inning stints. The score was stuck on 3-2 Rays until the bottom of the 8th when Jason Bay hit a two-run homer. It was the type of moment that seemed destined to be the final blow for the Rays' hope of winning the East.

You'd think that Papelbon, who still harbors resentment toward the Rays for this season's brawl, would jump at the chance to shut them down and out of first. Alas, a solo homer and a couple of doubles gave the Rays the win, 5-4, and a 1.5 game lead.

Josh Beckett will get them tomorrow.