GRINDING OUT A VICTORY

It looked bleak at one point, but the Red Sox kept grinding and produced a late rally to get their four-game road trip off to a good start. Scoring five runs in the final three innings, including three in the top of the ninth Boston took a 6-4 decision over Cleveland.

The Red Sox trailed 4-1 entering the seventh inning. but scratched out a run on a Dustin Pedroia infield single to pull to within two runs. In the eighth, Kevin Youkilis hit a solo homer to get the good guys to within a run. In the ninth Pedroia tied the game with a sacrifice fly to score Julio Lugo, who opened the inning with a double off Cleveland closer Joe Borowski. Two batters later, Manny Ramirez launched a two run homer to give the Red Sox the lead. Jacoby Ellsbury scored in front of Ramirez pinch running for David Ortiz, who reached on a blop single to leftfield. Jonathan Papelbon came on to pitch a scoreless ninth for his fifth save of the season.

The Red Sox have a modest three-game winning streak going after taking two straight from the Yankees over the weekend in Boston. There is another game in Cleveland before the club heads to the Bronx for a two-game clash with the Yankees.

GOOD JOB FROM THE PEN

It hasn't been pretty for most Red Sox relief pitchers here in the early going. However, the pen came through in this game. Starter Jon Lester lasted just 4.1 innings allowing four earned runs in five hits and five walks. However, Julian Tavarez came on for 2.2 innings of two-hit ball and struck out four batters. He was relieved by Mike Timlin, who pitched a perfect eighth inning before papelbon came on to close out the victory. It was a major step forward for the Boston relief corps, who are in dire need of someone stepping up outside of Papelbon and Hideki Okajima.

PAPI STILL STRUGGLING, BUT GETS A COUPLE HITS

He had two singles on the evening and ended an 0 for 17 slide with a first inning single. Ortiz still looks uncomfortable at the plate. He looks as if he can't find a balance and seems uncomfortable driving off his back leg. However, two hits has to make him feel better than he has recently. Those two singles moved his batting average over the century mark (.104). It's a baby step for the big man, but one that has to be welcomed by him. Hopefully he can build on that in the next game.

PHANTOM UPDATE

The Phoenixville High School softball team dropped a tough 7-5 decision to Boyertown in Pioneer Athletic Conference action. The Phantoms held a 5-1 advantage after two full innings, but five errors allowed Boyertown to get back in the game and eventually pull out a victory. The Phantoms are now 4-3 in league action (6-3 overall) and play Pottsgrove High school this Wednesday afternoon.

Oh, and practice for the Phoenixville team will be delayed on Tuesday as former President Bill Clinton comes to Phoenixville Tuesday afternoon to campaign for Hillary. Apparently the former President needs a room to clean up in before his speech and the softball coaches were asked to remove their equipment from the locker room to give "Slick Willy" plenty of room to strut his stuff.

More on this tomorrow.