Beckett roughed up (again) as Sox lose (again)

Boston manages to avoid shutout but lead Jays by 2 games in race for 3rd place

Josh Beckett (14-11) lost for the 5th time in his last 6 decisions and allowed his league-leading 33rd HR as Boston dropped another game behind the Stanks.
On a dreary and drizzly day in the Hub, thanks to Tropical Storm Ernesto, Boston batters were held in check most of the day once the game finally got under way after a 1+ hour rain delay. Imposing lefty Gustavo Chacin (7-3) held the depleted lineup to 2 hits over 6 innings, but the Sox managed to scrape a run together in the 9th to avoid being shut out for the 3rd time in the past 10 games. This despite the fact that they got Alex Gonzalez and Willy Mo back in the lineup; they expect Tek & Trot back tomorrow, Papi Tuesday.
And Toronto didn't even play two of their top hitters, 3B Troy Glaus and 1B Lyle Overbay. Pehaps they were trying to stoop to the Sox' level.

But the only race they're fighting to stay in right now is for 3rd in the East, where Boston holds a slim 2 game advantage over Toronto; both teams have 25 games left to play.

On the bright side nobody got hurt today, so the Sox are considering the day a success.

The World Champion White Sox come to Fenway for a 3 game set starting on Labor Day. A few weeks ago this loomed as an important series as far as playoffs implications. But with Boston now trailing Chicago by 6 1/2 games in the WC, even a sweep would only bring false hope. But hey, if there's anything a Bosox fan will grab onto and ride to the end, it's false hope.