Solid pitching? Check.

Late-inning rally? Check.

Bullpen actually protecting a lead? Check.

Stealing bases? Check.

Stellar plays in the outfield? Check.

Taking the extra base? Check.

Defying even this admittedly pessimistic writer’s expectations, the Sox played some of their best baseball of the year yesterday. Twice, in fact, and against what is arguably the best team in baseball.

So where was all this skill and flair for the dramatic during the other 98 games this season? Was Scotty Pods really a superstar all along? Is Toby Hall going to be okay? Why is Javier Vazquez suddenly a premier pitcher? Are Josh Fields, Jerry Owens and Ehren Wassermann the wave of the future?

Too many questions for one loudmouth to answer, but as one of my favorite Sox players of my youth put it, “That’s why they play the games.” Hopefully the Good Guys can at least make the rest of the season interesting. . . by which I mean turn the remaining 62 games into one long spitefest and keep as many teams out of the playoffs as possible. And by as many teams, I mean either Cleveland or Detroit.

Keep hope alive, Sox fans. The league’s year is ours to ruin.