Wow, I really did not see that coming out of Dice-K - no-hitter into the 7th, and several magician-like escape acts that kept the Rays from getting on the board all game? Good stuff. In three starts against the Devil Rays during the regular season, Dice-K lasted exactly five innings each start and gave up a combined five earned runs and 11 walks to go along with 17 Ks; good, but not great. Tonight, on a night when the Sox could only muster two runs on a Lowrie sac fly and a Youkilis RBI-double, Dice-K's 7 innings, 0 ER, 4 BB and 9 K were nothing less than great. Whoever manned up and threw down some green on the underdog Sox made out well tonight... Other observations:

• Ellsbury's 0-for-5 didn't hurt tonight, but they need him to get on base in this series (obviously). Both teams are capable of manufacturing runs in many different ways (small ball, long ball, etc.), but the Sox' options are much more limited without their leadoff man on base (although the same could be said for most other ball clubs, as well).
• Dusty's getting on base twice tonight (one hit, one walk) is a good sign that things are moving in the right direction after a brutal Division Series showing (1-for-17, 2 BB, 2 K).
• The Sox left 18 men on base tonight with spots five-through-nine accounting for 16 of those. We don't need guys like Kotsay and Tek driving in three-plus per game, but you're not gonna win many games leaving that many men on base. In all honesty, we're pretty lucky Tampa left 17 men on base, as well.
• The bullpen looked great as Masterson, Okie and Pap combined to pitch two perfectly clean frames. Let's just hope the starters keep going 7 innings so Timlin doesn't end up seeing time...
• Tampa's Game 2 starter Scott Kazmir absolutely sucked against the Sox in the regular season (4 starts, 18 IP, 1-2, 18 ER, 14 BB, 14 K). As such, the Buzz is calling for back-to-back Sox wins as Beckett takes Game 2 tomorrow night.

The Hands-Down Highlight of the Night: Craig "I know my suits are usually wild, but I decided to raid Don Cherry's closet for my postseason wardrobe" Sager asking Youk if he's getting comfortable playing third base, only to have the natural third baseman reply "I've been playing there my whole life." Understated, matter-of-fact, yet still clearly begging the question, "Do you know anything about this sport and those of us still playing it at this point in the season?" Hilarious. Well played, Youk.