Fortunately, there was some joy, as Mike Lowell homered on the first pitch he saw since June 22. It was a glorious moment in Fenway Park, and the two runs scored on the hit proved to be enough to win the game, but it might be overly optimistic to count on Lowell to be an everyday contributor on the club through September.
That's where the waiver wire comes into play. Though the Sox weren't overly busy before the non-waiver trading deadline, they still have the option of adding an impact player through waivers.
It was headline news on Tuesday that Adam Dunn was placed on waivers, but the chances of a team not claiming him before it is the Red Sox' turn are slim to none.
Many (or even most) players are placed on waivers in August, even if teams don't intend to trade them. That is sometimes done to help a player sneak through waivers, so that teams are free to deal those players to any team they want. If a player from Team A is claimed by Team B, then Team A can only deal the player to Team B.
Despite the difficulty in landing an impact player, it's still possible. So let the speculation begin.
ESPN.com put together a list of nine big-name candidates who could find a new home before the month's end. Among them are a pair of familiar faces in Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon.
The thought of bringing either of the former Red Sox back to Boston is enough to make Red Sox fans cringe. Then again, so are some of the lineups that Terry Francona's been forced to put together. The ESPN story said that it's a "long shot" that Ramirez will be traded and that the Tigers would have to be all but eliminated for Damon to be on the move, so don't dust off those Manny and Damon jerseys just yet.
The other names mentioned in the story: reliever Brian Fuentes, veteran outfielder Jim Edmonds, catcher Ryan Doumit and infielder Chone Figgins, among others. Essentially, there are many opportunities out there, it's just a matter of whether Theo Epstein can get something done.
It may cost a bit of money or even a top prospect, but in the ultra-competitive AL East, it may be the difference in making the playoffs or watching from home?
So what are your hopes for the waiver period? Will the Red Sox go all-in or hope the return of their injured players is enough to make it through August and September?
Share your thoughts below.The best comments will be read on NESN’s Red Sox GameDay Live or Red Sox Final.
Aug. 3: Will Mike Lowell get another opportunity with Red Sox?
