Umperors 3, Tigers 0

They had Mike Aviles struck out.

Two out, Ryan Sweeney on second, game tied at one, Fister's pitch was in the dirt. Aviles swung and Gerald Laird caught the ball. Inning over, right?

The Red Sox appealed, Jeff Nelson pointed to Bill Welke at first, who said foul ball. Replays from two angles clearly showed Laird catching the third strike. But the ball wasn't taken out of play, as is the custom when it touches the ground.

The Tigers argued. Skipper Leyland, his catcher, and his coaches managed to not get tossed. Play continued, and Aviles singled in Sweeney. The Sox scored two more after three outs, and led 4-1.

Leyland and Lamont did get thrown out, which was the least they could have done. Lamont for "scolding" the umps, amd Leyland reportedly for imploring Danny Worth (.182 entering play) to get a hit leading off the next half inning. Welke, whose hearing must be way better that his eyesight, thumbed the skipper for something he thought he heard from the third base dugout.

Final: Red Sox 7, Tigers 4. If the third strike call is correct, they're tied after nine, and who knows what would have happened?

Leyland had his say, both on the field and after the game. Everyone in the game is accountable, he told the writers, and that includes the umps. "There should not have been a rally in that inning. Have the nerve to write what you saw and say it — because I'm not going to sit here and rip the umpires. Write it and say something once in a while. Have the nerve to say something."

See something, say something. Or, in this case, write something. Your Baseball Blogger's unofficial credo.

Welke, without actually admitting he missed the call, indicated it was wrong. "I have to make a determination in a split second if he (Laird) caught it clean, and it appeared he did not," said the ump. "But the replays showed he did."

Still I don't think there'll be apologies and hugs at home plate during tomorrow night's exchange of lineup cards.

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In an effort to kick-start him, The Resident Managerial Genius hit Rugburn second, and three time he stood there like the house by the side of the road and watched strike three go by.

So the short leash might finally become the long leash (Toledo) or off-the-leash (designated for assignment).