I Like Surprises...

It just goes to show you...

Just when you think you've got it all figured out, the baseball gods through you a gyroball.

Matsuzaka had decent numbers against the Rays and, as we mentioned on Friday, he seems to crank things up a notch when he's pitching in a dome, but who would have guessed, that Dice-K would take a no-hitter into the 7th inning last night?

Not me.

I'm pretty sure most of us expected Matsuzaka to be handing the ball over to Tito by the 6th inning at best, but the Diceman stepped up and locked horns with TBS's new favorite pitcher "Big Game James" for 7+ innings.

In typical Dice-K fashion, this near no-hitter was far from a walk in the park. Matsuzaka loaded the bases in the 1st, causing most of Red Sox Nation to roll their eyes with familiar frustration, but as always, Dice-K pulled yet another Houdini act and got out of the jam unscathed.

After that is was pretty smooth sailing, until the 7th, when Matsuzaka performed his best trick of the night: Carl Crawford broke up the no-no to lead off the inning and Cliff Floyd lined a single into left that put Crawford at third and the go-ahead run at the plate with no outs...

But did Dice-K crumble under the pressure? Nope. He simply willed Navarro to pop out to left, then made Gross look... well, gross... on a strikeout and then left Crawford at third with a puzzled look on his face when Bartlett grounded out to end the inning.

Poof! Rally over. Sorry Tampa... not this time.

This was Dice-K's night, but you can't win without a little offense, right? Enter Kevin Youkilis. Sure, Youk was 0 for his career against Shields, but you think this beard gives a crap about stats? Youk would go 3 for 4 on the night, but it was the RBI off of Howell in the 8th that gave the Sox a 2-0 lead and all but silenced the sound of cowbells in the Trop.

Youk came up huge last night, but some other kudos need to be handed out:

1. Jed Lowrie: Way to stay tough in the 5th and make sure we get at least one run out of that 2 on, nobody out scenario.

2. Mark Kotsay: I told you that half-swing move we've been practicing would pay off! I know it's a little unorthodox and the coaches hate it, but we caught 'em sleeping once and almost got that sneaky Iwamura the next time through...

3. Dustin Pedroia: Way to step up for Jacoby and swipe that bag in the 5th - that was huge! Seriously, Dave Roberts would be proud. Ells was probably just tired from chasing Tavarez around all last week... we really need to hide all the matches.

And last but not least: Paps. I'm pretty sure the Rays are still trying to figure out why they didn't walk off win another win last night... but they obviously forgot that you don't hand out runs in the postseason... just K's and tears.

Bottom Line: Admit it, most of you were hoping for a split at best this weekend, but we've got Game 1 in out pocket and Beckett going tonight... let's hope the boys remember how nice it felt to be up 2-0 against the Halos... at the very least, it will make it a lot easier to watch the Pats on Sunday night, right?