The Sox winning streak went to 11 on Monday evening. And this time they had to grind one out of a pitchers duel. And the hero again was Jason Bay, who hit a ninth inning three-run homer off Cleveland closer Kerry Wood, who was working in a non-save situation. Bay turned on a 99 mph fastball and dropped it over the leftfield wall to give the Sox a 3-0 lead. His blast broke up a scoreless affair in which Boston's Tim Wakefield and Cleveland's Cliff Lee were spectacular. Jonathan Papelbon came on get the save despite giving up a lone run and ending the game with the winning run at the plate.
WHAT WE LIKED:
* Bay has been spectacular this season. His homer was his fifth of the season and raised his rbi total to 19. He's now batting .344 on the season.
* Tim Wakefield tossed seven innings of one-hit shutout baseball. He didn't get the win, but is now the proud owner of a 1.86 era.
* Cliff Lee. CLIFF LEE? Yeah, he was the opposition, but you just have to enjoy a well pitched game. Lee went eight scoreless innings allowing just five hits. He is now locked in and looking like the Cy Young winner he was a year ago.
* Manny Delcarmen got the win with a perfect eight inning. Delcarmen has yet to allow an earned run this season. He's looking more and more confident on the mound and could be heading to a big year. Fingers crossed on that one.
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE:
* Got a whole lotta nothin' again. Well played game on both sides.
The Sox are now 13-6 on the season and tied for first with Toronto, who lost to Kansas City.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
THAT WAS SWEEP!
Let's see. Well, that's a sweep of the Yankees and the Red Sox 10th win in a row. Ah, life is good in the Nation. In a Sunday night game that featured young Justin Masterson filling in with another solid performance as a spot starter and a steal of home by Jacoby Ellsbury the Sox notched a 4-1 victory sending the Yankees out of town wondering what hit them this weekend. As it stands right now the Red Sox are on fire while the Yankees are struggling to stay above .500.
WHAT WE LIKED:
* Masterson was really solid in 5.1 innings of work. The kid is still on a pitch count as he fills in Dice-K. He tossed 96 pitches allowing one run on six hits and he struck out 4. He's now 2-0 as a starter.
* Masterson left with runners at first and second with one-out. It looked like trouble, but Hunter Jones came on to introduce himself to the Fenway Faithful by getting a strikeout and a fly ball to end the threat.
* He's still not hitting home runs, but Big Papi is at least driving in runs now. His two-run double in the fifth gave the Sox a 3-1 lead. Ortiz tied the game in the third with sac fly.
* Ellsbury almost stumbled into an out, but he managed to keep his balance long enough to touch the plate ahead of the tag on a straight steal of home plate. That made the score 4-1 and completely knocked the Yankees on their heels.
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE:
* Sorry, I'm just to happy now to complain!
The Sox head out for a nine-game roadie beginning tomorrow in Cleveland. Boston takes on Cleveland in three before heading to Tampa Bay for a four-game set folowed by two in the Bronx.
WHAT WE LIKED:
* Masterson was really solid in 5.1 innings of work. The kid is still on a pitch count as he fills in Dice-K. He tossed 96 pitches allowing one run on six hits and he struck out 4. He's now 2-0 as a starter.
* Masterson left with runners at first and second with one-out. It looked like trouble, but Hunter Jones came on to introduce himself to the Fenway Faithful by getting a strikeout and a fly ball to end the threat.
* He's still not hitting home runs, but Big Papi is at least driving in runs now. His two-run double in the fifth gave the Sox a 3-1 lead. Ortiz tied the game in the third with sac fly.
* Ellsbury almost stumbled into an out, but he managed to keep his balance long enough to touch the plate ahead of the tag on a straight steal of home plate. That made the score 4-1 and completely knocked the Yankees on their heels.
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE:
* Sorry, I'm just to happy now to complain!
The Sox head out for a nine-game roadie beginning tomorrow in Cleveland. Boston takes on Cleveland in three before heading to Tampa Bay for a four-game set folowed by two in the Bronx.
Friday, April 24, 2009
UN-BAY-LIEVABLE!
You've got to be kidding me! Just when you thought this uber rivalry between the Sox and the Yanks was being overhyped Boston's Jason Bay steps to the plate and writes another thrilling chapter. Bay's two-out, two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth inning of Mariano Rivera tied the score and Kevin Youkilis knocked another one out of the park in the 11th inning to give the Sox a 5-4 victory. With the win the Sox have now won 8 in a row and have moved into second place in the division after a 2-6 start to the season.
WHAT WE LIKED:
* Manny who? I'm still wondering how the Red Sox got a player like Bay with Manny basically forcing the Red Sox into a no-win situation at last year's trade deadline. Bay's fourth homer of the season is easily the biggest hit of the year so far. He crushed a Rivera offering way out of the park in centerfield.
* If you haven't noticed already, Yoooouk is the toughest out in baseball.
* Paps got Tex with high cheese with the go-ahead run in scoring position.
* Somehow, someway Nick Green is actually making the loss of Jed Lowrie to the DL a non-issue. Green drove in another run and now has seven on the year from the bottom of the order. Not too shabby!
* Ramon Ramirez hasn't allowed a run in 10.1 innings pitched this season and picked up the mound victory with a scoreless 11th inning.
* Oh, and Joba isn't anything special as a starter!!
WHAT WE DIDN"T LIKE:
* Big Papi struck out four times on the evening.
* Okajima just isn't his old self. And it's becoming a real problem. He now has a 6.43 era.
Get ready sports fans. There's 17 more of these games yet to be played between these two teams during the regular season.
WHAT WE LIKED:
* Manny who? I'm still wondering how the Red Sox got a player like Bay with Manny basically forcing the Red Sox into a no-win situation at last year's trade deadline. Bay's fourth homer of the season is easily the biggest hit of the year so far. He crushed a Rivera offering way out of the park in centerfield.
* If you haven't noticed already, Yoooouk is the toughest out in baseball.
* Paps got Tex with high cheese with the go-ahead run in scoring position.
* Somehow, someway Nick Green is actually making the loss of Jed Lowrie to the DL a non-issue. Green drove in another run and now has seven on the year from the bottom of the order. Not too shabby!
* Ramon Ramirez hasn't allowed a run in 10.1 innings pitched this season and picked up the mound victory with a scoreless 11th inning.
* Oh, and Joba isn't anything special as a starter!!
WHAT WE DIDN"T LIKE:
* Big Papi struck out four times on the evening.
* Okajima just isn't his old self. And it's becoming a real problem. He now has a 6.43 era.
Get ready sports fans. There's 17 more of these games yet to be played between these two teams during the regular season.
Monday, April 20, 2009
THE SLEEPING GIANTS AWAKE
It's safe to say that Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz were not happy with how their season has started with a bat in their hands. Both players have struggled and at times have looked lost However, the annual early Patriots Day start seemed to wake up both players as they led the charge in a 12-1 victory over Baltimore capping a four-game sweep and sending the Red Sox to their fifth straight victory.
Pedroia went 4 for 6 at the plate with three run scoring singles. The 2008 American league MVP also scored three runs in the victory. Ortiz went 2 for 4 with a double and a triple and drove in a pair of runs. Ortiz came into the game hitting a mere .170, but finally looked comfortable swinging a bat.
All told the Red Sox banged out 15 hits to give spot starting relief pitcher Justim Masterson his first win of the season.
WHAT WE LIKED:
* In addition to Pedroia and Ortiz the Sox got multiple hit games from Jacoby Ellsbury (3 for 6, 3 runs, 1 rbi), Mike Lowell (2 for 5, 2 rbi) and Jason Varitek (2 for 5, 1 HR).
* Masterson went 5.1 innings allowing one run on four hits and struck out three. He threw 84 pitches in his first start of the season in place of Dice-K. Masterson could have a second start later in the week against the Yankees.
* The pen again was impressive. Four pitchers combined for 3.2 innings of no run one-hit baseball to close things out.
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE:
* Rocco Baldelli left the game in the fourth with a mild stain of a hamstring. I don't think anyone wants to hear about any injury to this guy. It just makes you cringe. Hopefully it's nothing that will linger.
The Minnesota Twins come to town tomorrow for a quick two-game set before the Yankees arrive on the weekend.
Pedroia went 4 for 6 at the plate with three run scoring singles. The 2008 American league MVP also scored three runs in the victory. Ortiz went 2 for 4 with a double and a triple and drove in a pair of runs. Ortiz came into the game hitting a mere .170, but finally looked comfortable swinging a bat.
All told the Red Sox banged out 15 hits to give spot starting relief pitcher Justim Masterson his first win of the season.
WHAT WE LIKED:
* In addition to Pedroia and Ortiz the Sox got multiple hit games from Jacoby Ellsbury (3 for 6, 3 runs, 1 rbi), Mike Lowell (2 for 5, 2 rbi) and Jason Varitek (2 for 5, 1 HR).
* Masterson went 5.1 innings allowing one run on four hits and struck out three. He threw 84 pitches in his first start of the season in place of Dice-K. Masterson could have a second start later in the week against the Yankees.
* The pen again was impressive. Four pitchers combined for 3.2 innings of no run one-hit baseball to close things out.
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE:
* Rocco Baldelli left the game in the fourth with a mild stain of a hamstring. I don't think anyone wants to hear about any injury to this guy. It just makes you cringe. Hopefully it's nothing that will linger.
The Minnesota Twins come to town tomorrow for a quick two-game set before the Yankees arrive on the weekend.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
ACE EFFORT
The Red Sox needed an ace effort from a starting pitcher and they got one. Jon Lester cruised through seven innings of four-hit shutout baseball leading Boston to a 2-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. That makes it four in a row for the Sox who are now back at .500 and await the annual Patriots Day game tomorrow morning.
WHAT WE LIKED:
* Lester was incredible in his seven inning effort. He struck out nine batters and looked much more agressive in his approach. Of the 26 batters he faced only four were able to get the ball into the air. Lester did not allow an extra-base hit.
*Mike Lowell continues to drive in runs. Lowell got the Sox on the board first with a two-out rbi single that fell in-between three Orioles driving in Kevin Youkilis. It was rbi no.11 for Lowell.
* Ramon Ramirez is simply going to be a horse for this team in several roles in the pen. Today he set up Takashi Saito for the save with a 1-2-3 eight inning. Ramirez got three ground balls. He hasn't allowed a run in 8.1 innings pitched.
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE:
* Saito made it interesting in the ninth by allowing the first two batters to reach base on hits. One batter scored on a groundout, but he steadied himself to retire the last two batters to earn his first save as a Red Sox. No more high wire acts Mr. Saito.
* "I'll take 'Washed Up Major Leaguers' Alex".
"This current light hitting clean-up hitter was once considered 'The Greatest Clutch Hitter in Red Sox History'."
DING! "Who is David Ortiz!"
WHAT WE LIKED:
* Lester was incredible in his seven inning effort. He struck out nine batters and looked much more agressive in his approach. Of the 26 batters he faced only four were able to get the ball into the air. Lester did not allow an extra-base hit.
*Mike Lowell continues to drive in runs. Lowell got the Sox on the board first with a two-out rbi single that fell in-between three Orioles driving in Kevin Youkilis. It was rbi no.11 for Lowell.
* Ramon Ramirez is simply going to be a horse for this team in several roles in the pen. Today he set up Takashi Saito for the save with a 1-2-3 eight inning. Ramirez got three ground balls. He hasn't allowed a run in 8.1 innings pitched.
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE:
* Saito made it interesting in the ninth by allowing the first two batters to reach base on hits. One batter scored on a groundout, but he steadied himself to retire the last two batters to earn his first save as a Red Sox. No more high wire acts Mr. Saito.
* "I'll take 'Washed Up Major Leaguers' Alex".
"This current light hitting clean-up hitter was once considered 'The Greatest Clutch Hitter in Red Sox History'."
DING! "Who is David Ortiz!"
Saturday, April 18, 2009
WHEW!
It looked like a laugher after four innings. But the reality of nine innings set in quickly. However, the Red Sox didn't cough up their early lead. No, they hung on just when it looked like a heartbreaking defeat was inevitable. And that 6-4 victory over Baltimore on Saturday evening means the Red Sox have now won three straight games for their first winning streak of the season.
WHAT WE LIKED:
* The "Youk-ah" was sensational at the plate. Youkilis went 4 for 5 including a three-run homer to highlight a four-run outburst in the third inning sending the Sox out to a 4-0 lead. Youk then helped pad that lead to 6-0 in the fourth with a run scoring single. He fell a triple shy of hitting for the cycle and is now hitting .467 on the young season. AND he has eight multi-hit games in 11.
* Mike Lowell is looking more and more comfortable. He drove in his 10th run of the season in the third inning and had a pair of hits to raise his season average to .262.
* How many more times can we talk about the Boston pen? AGAIN they come up big. One night after an all hands on deck effort Hideki Okajima and Takashi Saito built a scoreless bridge to Paps, who earned his fourth save of the season.
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE:
* Josh Beckett earned the mound victory with six inings of work. However, Beckett needed to step up and give the pen a break. He did not. Beckett left Baltimore back in the game in the fifth allowing four runs on three hits. He rallied for a 1-2-3 sixth preventing the pen from being stretched at the seams, but the Sox need Beckett to step up and pitch like a staff ace in situations like these.
* Jed Lowrie went on the 15-day DL and is probably headed for the cutting board for his wrist. He's going for a second opinion, but the kid is likely out for an extended period of time no matter the situation. Will Starvin Marvin Lugo make us fell better?
Jon Lester takes the mound today. Can we please see our best pitcher from the 08 season turn in a more familiar effort to lead the Sox back to .500?
WHAT WE LIKED:
* The "Youk-ah" was sensational at the plate. Youkilis went 4 for 5 including a three-run homer to highlight a four-run outburst in the third inning sending the Sox out to a 4-0 lead. Youk then helped pad that lead to 6-0 in the fourth with a run scoring single. He fell a triple shy of hitting for the cycle and is now hitting .467 on the young season. AND he has eight multi-hit games in 11.
* Mike Lowell is looking more and more comfortable. He drove in his 10th run of the season in the third inning and had a pair of hits to raise his season average to .262.
* How many more times can we talk about the Boston pen? AGAIN they come up big. One night after an all hands on deck effort Hideki Okajima and Takashi Saito built a scoreless bridge to Paps, who earned his fourth save of the season.
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE:
* Josh Beckett earned the mound victory with six inings of work. However, Beckett needed to step up and give the pen a break. He did not. Beckett left Baltimore back in the game in the fifth allowing four runs on three hits. He rallied for a 1-2-3 sixth preventing the pen from being stretched at the seams, but the Sox need Beckett to step up and pitch like a staff ace in situations like these.
* Jed Lowrie went on the 15-day DL and is probably headed for the cutting board for his wrist. He's going for a second opinion, but the kid is likely out for an extended period of time no matter the situation. Will Starvin Marvin Lugo make us fell better?
Jon Lester takes the mound today. Can we please see our best pitcher from the 08 season turn in a more familiar effort to lead the Sox back to .500?
Friday, April 17, 2009
THAT WAS FUN!
The Red Sox recent road trip wasn't fun, to say the least. And the start of a nine-game homestand was not getting off to a good start with Brad Penny giving up seven second inning runs to the Baltimore Orioles. However, some big hits an another outstanding job by the Boston bullpen allowed the Red Sox to rally for a 10-8 victory.
Jason Bay and J.D. Drew homered to lead the offensive charge back. Bay's sacrifice fly in the eight gave the Red Sox the lead. Nick Green tied the game at 8-8 with a two-out, two-run double in the fifth. Ramon Ramirez picked up the mound win as five Boston relievers held the Orioles to one run in six innings of work.
WHAT WE LIKED:
* How do you like that Boston pen? Again they simply held the opposition down in extended duty.
* Bay drives in three runs.
* Drew had two hits and scored three runs in addition to his third homer of the season.
* Dustin Pedroia finally showed some life with a three-hit perfomance
* The lineup drew seven walks to keep the scoring opportunities coming.
WHAT WE DID NOT LIKE:
*Penny Was awful in three innings of work. Eight earned runs in three innings???
* Papi left five men on base and is now batting .158. What's wrong with him? His decline can't be this quick can it?
Now, is it too much to ask for back-toback wins?
Jason Bay and J.D. Drew homered to lead the offensive charge back. Bay's sacrifice fly in the eight gave the Red Sox the lead. Nick Green tied the game at 8-8 with a two-out, two-run double in the fifth. Ramon Ramirez picked up the mound win as five Boston relievers held the Orioles to one run in six innings of work.
WHAT WE LIKED:
* How do you like that Boston pen? Again they simply held the opposition down in extended duty.
* Bay drives in three runs.
* Drew had two hits and scored three runs in addition to his third homer of the season.
* Dustin Pedroia finally showed some life with a three-hit perfomance
* The lineup drew seven walks to keep the scoring opportunities coming.
WHAT WE DID NOT LIKE:
*Penny Was awful in three innings of work. Eight earned runs in three innings???
* Papi left five men on base and is now batting .158. What's wrong with him? His decline can't be this quick can it?
Now, is it too much to ask for back-toback wins?
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