Oakland 3, Sox 0
WP: Duchscherer (4-3)
LP: Beckett (5-4)
SV: Street (10)
HR: OAK- R. Sweeney (2)
SUMMARY:
Underwhelming Oakland starter Justin Dechscherer held the potent Boston offense hitless for 6 1/3 innings and settled for a 1-hitter as Oakland won for the second straight night.
SUPERSTAR: Duchscherer 8IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 4K, 101P
Is it just a coincidence that his name is pronounced "douche-er"? I think not.
THE BIGGEST LOSER: Manny Delcarmen 1IP, 2H, 1ER, 1BB, 0K, 22P
It's gotten to the point that the thought of this clown ever becoming a closer in the league is downright laughable. Closers don't allow baserunners and runs every time they enter the game, unless their names are Joe Borowski or Eric Gagme.
RECAP:
Boston nearly got a taste of its own no-hit medicine tonight, and let me be the first to say it had the distinct flavor of NyQuil.
Somehow scrub hurler Justin Dechscherer managed to hold the best offensive team in baseball hitless for nearly seven innings, and if it weren't for a slap single by David Ortiz in the 7th we would've been subjected to a barrage of "Sox get no hit in the same week Lester tosses a no hitter" headlines for the foreseeable future, especially since Lester is making his first start since his no-no tomorrow afternoon.
The worst part about Boston's second straight loss after its season high seven game winning streak was the fact that Josh Beckett had probably his best outing of the year, allowing just a pair of runs and 7 hits while fanning nine in seven innings of work.
The best part was while all this no hit nonsense was going on the majority of the nation had the Celtics game on the main screen and the Sox on the PIP, so we could concentrate on the Cs spanking the Pistons to go up 2-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals and not the fact that a veteran of 11 career starts with a 24-19 lifetime record was making the Boston batters look like Little Leaguers.
When Oakland scratched out a single run in the second inning on a double by Mike Sweeney, a sac bunt by Ryan Sweeney and an RBI groundout by Emil Brown, nobody in their right mind thought that would be the game winning run for the A's.
But as they say, that's why you play the game.
Inning after inning Duchscherer held the Sox at bay by using a variety of pitches to stay ahead of hitters and induce more fly balls outs than Mariano Rivera has gotten in his entire career, and before you knew it he hadn't allowed a baserunner until Jason Varitek was hit by a pitch to lead off the sixth inning.
Turns out that little break didn't matter as Duchscherer retired the next three Sox in order, and suddenly when you looked at the scoreboard the 30-year-old righty had a no hitter going into the seventh inning and the thoughts of the Sox getting no hit less than a week after tossing a no hitter started creeping into everyone's head.
But then you thought "this offense, getting no hit? No effing way!"
Ortiz made sure the embarrassment of that ironic situation didn't come to be as he sliced a solid single to right field with one out in the seventh, and after Duchscherer muttered an expletive and shrugged his shoulders towards his bench (who says guys don't realize they have no hitters going?) he set down Youk and Mike Lowell on (what else?) fly outs to escape the 'jam'.
Oakland produced an unnecessary insurance run in the bottom of the inning when Ryan Sweeney led off the seventh with a deep homer to right center off Beckett, and then they tacked on another off the pinata that is Manny Delcarmen in the eighth on a pair of singles, a steal and a walk to make the score an insurmountable 3-0 Oakland.
With the no-no bid lost the A's turned to closer Huston Street to pitch the 9th and he set the Sox down in order for his 10th save, and now the Sox are staring at another losing streak on the heels of a confidence-boosting winning streak.
Not to mention that with the Rays win over Baltimore Boston's AL East lead has shrunk to a minuscule 1/2 game again.
Nothing kills the confidence more than nearly being no-hit, though, so it will be interesting to see how Boston responds when the man who actually did toss a no-no this week takes the mound tomorrow.
Is it too much to ask for Lester to go all Johnny Van Der Meer for us?
NOTES:
-Manny Ramirez was given the day off by Tito, and although he was available to pinch hit, with a 3-run deficit he did not get the opportunity
-the game was played in a crisp, NL-like 2 hours and 17 minutes, Boston's quickest game of the season
RECORD: 31-21
AL EAST: Up 1/2 gm
STREAK: L2
LAST 10: 7-3
UP NEXT: Sun @ Oakland 4:05 Lester vs Blanton
5.24.2008
Oakland hurler handcuffs Sox on 1-hit
5.23.2008
Wake roughed up again as Boston's winning streak ends at 7
Oakland 8, Sox 3
WP: Harden (3-3)
LP: Wakefield (3-0)
SV: None
HRs: BOS-Pedroia (3); OAK-Thomas (7), Ellis (4)
SUMMARY:
Tim Wakefield continued his recent ineffective streak as the A's pounded him for 8 runs and 8 hits in 5 innings, and Frank Thomas and Rich Harden picked right up where they left off earlier this season in propelling Oakland to the win.
SUPERSTAR: Thomas 3-4, 2R, 2BI, HR
His 3rd homer this year off Boston, which gave Oakland a 3-0 lead in the first inning, set the tone for the night.
Doesn't matter what uniform he's wearing, the Big Hurt puts a big hurtin' on the Sox.
THE BIGGEST LOSER: Wakefield 5IP, 8H, 8ER, 4BB, 4K, 2HR
Over his last three starts Wake has allowed 23 hits, 17 earned runs and 5 homers in 13 innings for an ERA of 11.77 and a WHIP 2.38.
That knucklin' luck has to run out eventually, right?
RECAP:
We knew the winning streak had had to end sometime, but did it have to be so soon?
As I hinted at in my preview post Oakland's best chance to grab a win in this series had to be tonight. Rich Harden, Oakland's ace (when healthy), who had pitched well earlier this season against the Sox, was on the hill for the A's while Tim Wakefield, who had not been pitching well of late, was on the mound for Boston.
Sure enough form held and just like that seven games of joy and a week's worth of celebrating went down the tubes in front of 29,000 at the Oakland Mausoleum.
The only good thing about the loss was that it was pretty much guaranteed early on, as Oakland put up three runs in the first inning and then four more in the third to take a 7-0 lead, enabling the viewers on the East Coast to tend to other matters such as watch a movie, engage in carnal activities or both.
Since it was such a shitty game and it is so late here I'm gonna do a quick recap and then hit the sack and try to forget all about this one.
Don't worry, it won't take long. Like I said, it was over quick.
After Harden (6IP, 4H, 2ER, 3BB, 8K, HR) pitched a 1-2-3 first inning including two strikeouts, Oakland got right to work in the bottom of the inning. With one out Bobby Crosby doubled to the left field corner, Jack Cust singled him home two pitches later, and on the very next pitch Wake threw Thomas launched a drive to deep left for a confidence-crushing two run homer that gave the A's a 3-0 lead before most people had even settled into their easy chairs.
Two more 1-2-3 frames by Harden left the Sox struggling to catch up, a feat that would prove impossible after Wake allowed four runs in the bottom of the third to all but seal the loss.
Crosby flied out to start the inning before Cust walked, the first of two bases on balls to he had to add to his league leading total of 39 coming in. Thomas followed with a single to left and after a wild pitch moved Cust to third Ryan Sweeney singled to drive in Cust to make the score 4-0 Oakland.
Wakefield did manage to get A's leading RBI man Emil Brown (0-4, 2K) to strike out, but then second baseman Mark Ellis, who had missed 9 games with a hammy problem, deposited a 1-0 pitch from Wake into the left field seats and right then the winning streak was over and the rest of the game was reduced to garbage time.
Boston did have a chance to get back in it, scoring its first run on its first hit of the game, a solo shot by Dustin Pedroia in the top of the 4th and then plating another in the 5th when Jacoby Ellsbury (2-4, 2BI) drove in JD Drew, who had doubled to lead off the inning, to cut the A's lead to 7-2.
But the game was basically decided in the following inning when Boston got men on 2nd and 3rd with one out but couldn't get a run home as Youk fouled out and JD Drew struck out to end the threat.
In the bottom of the inning the A's scored again on a walk, double and a sac fly, and even though David Aardsma and Mike Timlin combined for 3 innings of no hit relief, the offense couldn't muster enough steam to overcome the large early deficit.
More misery came for Boston as bench coach Dave Magadan was ejected for arguing with the ump about how much pine tar Drew had on his bat, and Ellsbury was cut down stealing for the second time in his career (and this week) when he overslid the bag in the 7th after he had singled in Julio Lugo for the Sox third run.
It was that kind of night in Oaktown.
Now it's time to move on and hope Beckett bounces back from his 4-homer debacle to right the ship tomorrow.
No need to start another losing streak here, fellas.
RECORD: 31-20
AL EAST: Up 1.5 gms
STREAK: L1
LAST 10: 7-3
UP NEXT: Sat @ OAK 905 Beckett vs. Duchscherer
Series preview: Sox @ Oakland
Oakland A's (25-23)
Sox lead series, 3-1
AL WEST: 2.5GB
STREAK: W1
LAST 10: 3-7
AVG: .250 (10th in AL)
RS: 411 (6th)
HRs: 32 (11)
ERA: 3.37 (1)
RA: 178 (12)
SV: 11 (10)
3 Game series @ Network Assoc. Coliseum
Game 1 Friday 10:05
Wakefield (3-2, 4.33; 9-5, 4.03 vs. OAK) vs. Harden (2-0, 2.91; 1-1, 7.71 vs. BOS)
Game 2 Saturday 9:05
Beckett (5-3, 4.67; 2-2, 5.55) vs. Duchscherer (3-3, 2.67; 1-0, 2.66)
Game 3 Sunday 4:05
Lester (3-2, 3.41; 1-1, 4.05) vs. Blanton (2-6, 3.87; 2-2, 3.65)
KEY A's:
- LF Jack Cust .254/7HR/17BI/37BB/44K/.426OBP The all or nothing swinger might not have many hits this season (33), but he leads the As in homers and he's 1st in the AL in walks and 2nd in on base percentage
- RF Emil Brown .260/5HR/35BI/8 2B/26R surprising that on a team with mashers like Cust and Frank Thomas the unassuming Brown would be leading the A's in ribbies; more surprising, his total is good for 5th in the league
-Frank Thomas .282/3HR/14BI/.394OBP since the teams last met Thomas has switched from the Jays to the A's. Not a good thing for Boston, because he clubbed 2 homers, a double and had 8 RBIs against the Sox for Toronto earlier this season
Ex-Sox:
-Keith Foulke 0-0, 1SV, 4H, 3.18ERA in 11.1IP the burger king is still kicking around the league, and after a stint on the DL he has actually pitched pretty effectively (2H, 0R in 3.1IP) in his last 3 appearances
-Lenny DiNardo 1-1, 10.57ERA, 2.61WHIP the affable, dependable member of the 04 championship team was just recalled from the minors Wednesday, and with his bloated numbers you can see why he was sent down
-Alan Embree 1-2, 4.22ERA, 8H, 1.07WHIP Timlin's former running mate must have a bet with him on who can last longer in the league before their arm falls off
PREVIEW:
It's deja vu all over again as the Sox return to the park where they played thier first game of the season on American soil to play the opponenet they opened the year with over in Japan.
Only instead of dealing with jet lag and language barriers the boys from Boston are toting a seven game winning streak into the Mauseleum for their second meeting of the season with the slumping As.
When the teams last met Boston split the first two games of the openeing set in Japan, then after flying to Cali and playing a pair of exhibition games against the Dodgers, the Sox won the final two American games of the series by a combined score of 7-1.
As they meet again tonight Boston is officially the best team in baseball, sporting a .620 winning percentage to go along with its longest winning streak since June/July of 2006, while the A's, after a surprising start to the season have started to fall back to Earth, losing 7 of their last 9 games before bludgeoning the Rays 9-1 on Wednesday.
As we in the Nation know Boston has a long and storied relationship with Oakland. From the playoff series of the late 80, when Dave Stew always got the best of Roidger, to last season's near no-no by Curt Schilling and this season's goodwill trip to the Far East, these clubs are no strangers to playing series against each other both meaningful and meaningless.
That's why the Sox can't afford to think they will come out to this place and take these three games, despite the fact that their offesne is rolling and Oakland is stumbling.
One reason being that Oakland's strength is its pitching, as evidenced by its league-leading ERA.
Led by the surprsing Dana Eveland, whose 2.90 ERA is 7th in the league, and a slew of quality relievers, the amazing thing about this staff is that no regualr has an ERA over 4.50. In this day and age that is a truly amazing stat.
In the opener of this series Boston will face the oft-injured, enigmatic young righty Rich Harden. Although he did pick up Oakland's only win of the season-opening series when he allowed 3 hits and a run in 6 innings of work, he immediatley went on the DL shortly thereafter and spent a month there before returning two weeks ago.
Since his return Harden has had one horrible outing (8H, 5ER in 3.2IP) and one decent one, allowing just 4 hits and a run in 7 innings in a win against Atlanta last weekend.
If Oakland hopes to have any chance of winning this series, it needs Harden to pitch like that tonight.
Boston will counter with Tim Wakefield in the opener, and as usual with the knuckleballer, you never know what you're gonna get.
In his last 2 starts Wake has been awful, surrendering 13 hits and 9 earned runs in 8 innings of work, so you would have to say the pitching advantage definitely rests with Oakland tonight.
No matter how it goes it should be an interesting series out there. Plenty of old faces on the field, plenty of Red Sox Nation memberes representing in the stands, and hopefully a continuaation of the Sox winning ways will be on the menu for these late night affairs.
If not it could be a long trip for a team that's a lot happier tasting home cooking.
5.22.2008
Sox sweep Royals in grand style
Sox 11, Royals 8
WP: Matsuzaka (8-0)
LP: Bannister (4-6)
SV: Papelbon (14)
HRs: BOS-Drew (4), Lowell (6); KC-Guillen (6), Olivo (6)
SUMMARY:
The Red Sox had a lot to celebrate this afternoon - grand slams by JD Drew and Mike Lowell, Daisuke Matsuzaka picking up his AL-leading 8th victory, extending their winning streak to a season-high 7 games - but nearly as many things to lament, such as another shoddy job by the bully and 6 more walks from Dice-K.
Still a win is a win is a win, and now the Sox will head West as owners of the best record in baseball.
SUPERSTAR(s): Drew & Lowell 5-8, 5R, 2B, 2GS, 8BI
Talk about a 1-2 punch.
THE BIGGEST LOSER: Brian Bannister 5.1IP, 12H, 7ER, 1BB, 4K, 1HR
So much for that day/night differential.
(Dis)Honarable mention: Boston bullpen 3.1IP, 7H, 5ER, 2BB, 3K, 2HR
Yet another uninspiring performance from the weakest link on an awesome team
RECAP:
This afternoon's victory over the reeling Royals wasn't pretty, it wasn't easy, and it sure as hell wasn't impressive, at least not pitching-wise.
But in the major leagues the end result is all that matters, and the end result of this one means the Sox now own the best record in baseball, the longest team winning streak in two years, the starter with the most wins in the American League, and an offense that appears to be as unstoppable as any assembled in recent memory.
And it's a good thing that offense is so potent, because the team needed every ounce of its power this afternoon.
Because despite ringing up 11 runs and 14 hits including two grand slams Boston nearly blew this game thanks to what has become the Achilles heel of this club, the unreliable bullpen.
Daisuke Matsuzaka (5.2IP, 6H, 3ER, 6BB, 7K, 118P) had another mezza mezza game en route to his 8th victory, and he continues to be the team's most puzzling piece; is he the decisive #1 starter who has the best winning percentage and 2nd lowest ERA in the AL? Or is he an implosion waiting to happen, as evidence by his league-leading walk total and inordinately high number of pitches thrown per start?
Right now the answer appears to be a little bit of both.
He keeps walking batters at an alarming rate (6 more today, 42 in 65 1/3 inn on the year) and has yet to pitch into the 8th inning so far this season, mainly because he throws a minimum of 100 pitches each time out. (He threw a season-high 118 today)
But he still hasn't lost this season and has been the backbone of a staff that has been riddled with injuries and inconsistencies at times.
Go figure.
Today he was not on top of his game from the get-go, as he allowed a run in the first inning on a walk, wild pitch and RBI single by Jose Guillen (4-5, 3R, 3BI, 2B, HR), and after issuing another walk he finally got Miguel Olivo to strike out to end the frame.
But not before he tossed an ungodly 34 pitches, with a 50/50 split of balls and strikes.
Yikes.
Good thing for him his offense was on top of its game, and it didn't take long for the Boston batters to penetrate the unbeatable daytime version of Brian Bannister, who had been 4-0 with a sub-1.00 ERA in afternoon starts this season.
After retiring the Sox in order in the first inning, Bannister collapsed in the second as Boston loaded the bases with no outs on an infield single by Manny Ramirez, a bleeder through the shortstop hole by Lowell and a seeing eye single by Youk.
Then JD Drew, who missed yesterday's game with a sore knee, worked the count to 2-2 before sending a pitch high to the opposite field for a Monster grand slam, his first home run since April 11th against the Stanks and a blast that reminded everyone of his monumental granny in Game 6 of the ALCS last year.
Staked to a 4-1 lead Dice still appeared as if he was going to cough it up at any time, with baserunners reaching in every inning against him, so it was nice when Youk (2-4, R, BI) singled in Lowell, who had doubled, in the 3rd to give Boston a 5-1 lead.
But Matsuzaka finally fell off the tightrope in the 5th when KC scored a pair of runs on a walk to Alex Gordon and back-to-back doubles by Guillen and Olivo (3-5, R, 5BI), and suddenly what seemed like a potential Boston blow out had turned into a nail biter.
Well at least for an inning.
The Sox chased Bannister in the 6th when Drew led off with a single, Kevin Cash, getting a rare non-Wakefield start, followed with a single and Julio Lugo drove Drew home with a sac fly to make the score 6-3 Boston.
Jimmy Gobble entered the game and promptly walked Jacoby Ellsbury, surrendered a deep double to left by Dustin Pedroia that scored Cash, and after David Ortiz popped out for the second out of the inning, KC manager Trey Hillman elected to walk the ice cold Manny Ramirez to load the bases for Lowell.
Not only that, but Hillman chose to leave the lefthander Gobble in to pitch to the righthanded Lowell.
Both moves backfired like a 76 'Nova when Lowell crushed a 1-0 pitch into the Monster seasts for the Sox second grand slam of the game, the first time Boston had accomplished that feat since Billy Mueller did it himself in Texas in 2003, and what had quickly turned into a close game just as quickly turned into a rout at 11-3 Boston.
Or so we thought.
With Matsuzaka having been replaced by Javier Lopez to get the final out of the 6th, Francona called on Craig Hansen to work the 7th. Evidently the Nova was still parked on the concourse because Hansen was horrid, allowing a leadoff homer to Guillen, a walk to Mark Teahen and then a booming double to Olivo to slice the Sox lead to 11-5.
As bad as Hansen was (his ERA is now a robust 7.56), David Aardsma was worse. Although two of the hits he allowed in the 8th were of the infield variety, the homer he gave up to Olivo was anything but cheap as it cleared the Wall with room to spare, and now the lead was back to a minuscule three runs, 11-8.
Gulp.
Even Tito's safety net, closer Jonathan Papelbon, nearly fell victim to the shitty bullpen flu as he allowed two hits after recording the first two outs in the 9th.
But sanity prevailed as Paps got Gordon to fly out harmlessly to left to end the wild affair, and the Sox had the longest winning streak since the summer of 2006 just as they head out to the West Coast for yet another 10 game road trip.
While the homestand was impressive, as the Sox won all seven games and improved to an ML-best 21-5 in the cozy confines of their home park, the real test will come when they take their sub-.500 record to Oakland, Seattle and Baltimore.
If they can come close to duplicating the magic the offense and starting pitching provided during this streak, they'll be in great shape.
You think 10 consecutive complete games would be too much to ask for?
RECORD: 31-19
AL EAST: Up 2.5 gms
STREAK: W7
LAST 10: 7-3
UP NEXT: Fri @ OAK 10:05 Wakefield vs. Harden
Game Preview: Royals at Sox GM4
Bannister (4-5, 4.29) vs. Matsuzaka (7-0, 2.15)
Game 4 of 4 1:35 @ Fenway Park
How can a team top a no hitter, a terrific performance by a Double A pitcher for his first major league victory, and a reclamation project earning his first win in nearly a year?
By having its top pitcher earn his American League-leading 8th win by lowering his ERA to and American League-leading sub-2.00, and extending the team's winning streak to a season high 7 games before the club heads out on another grueling 10-game West Coast/Baltimore road trip.
That's how.
Daisuke Matsuzaka will be in the position to do all of the above when he takes the mound this afternoon in a getaway day matinee at Fenway against the Royals, vying to become the AL's first 8 game winner against the team his made his major league debut against last April.
If he were to defeat the Royals again, as his did in that game, he would give Boston its longest winning streak since the summer of 2006, move the team to a season high 12 games over .500, and provide another 1/2 game cushion to their AL East lead, as the 2nd place Rays have the day off today.
Other than that there's not much to play for this afternoon.
If the Sox are going to do all of the above they will have to beat the Royals' resident day tripper, Brain Bannister.
In what has to be the oddest day/night disparity since the age of Count Dracula, the 27-year-old righty has been unbeatable in day games (4-0, 0.62) but he can't buy a victory at night (0-5, 8.13)
Hopefully the blazing Boston offense will be able to put an end to his daylight dominance, and you have to think for a club that has only scored fewer than 3 runs twice in the last three weeks that shouldn't be a problem.
It's day baseball time at Fenway, so it's time to flip on NESN HD, crank up the surround sound, grab a few keg cans and watch another spectacular performance by a Boston starting pitcher.
Fingers crossed, of course.
5.21.2008
Welcome to the party, Bart! Sox defeat KC again
Sox 6, Roylas 3
WP: Colon (1-0)
LP: Tomko (2-5)
SV: None
HRs: BOS-Ellsbury (4), Tek (7), KC-None
RECAP:
The Red Sox keep right on rolling, even with a reclamation project on the mound as Bartolo Colon won his first start for Boston thanks to a 12-hit attack that included home runs from Jacoby Ellsbury to lead off the game and Jason Varitek to tie it before Boston broke the game open.
SUPERSTAR: Colon 5IP, 6H, 2ER, 2BB, 4K, 74P
From the scrap heap to a spot in a World series caliber rotation. Colon may have resurrected his career tonight and in the process provided Boston with another veteran arm to bolster its staff for a potential long postseason run.
THE BIGGEST LOSER: Mark Grudzielanek 0-4
Grudz came into this series leading the league in hitting, but after his latest 0-fer he has no hits in 10 at bats in the three games and his average has dropped 24 points (.331-.307)
RECAP:
Another night, another win for the Red Sox express.
With the third straight impressive performance by an unlikely Boston starter it doesn't seem to matter whose driving the train as long as it stays pointed in the right direction.
And that direction is atop the AL East standings.
With the win tonight coupled with Tampa Bay's loss earlier today in Oakland the Sox now own a 2 game advantage over the Rays in the standings and a huge psychological edge over the entire league thanks to its recent run of outstanding pitching.
First Jon Lester shocked the Nation with his no hitter Monday. Then Justin Masterson's terrific performance earned him his first career victory last night. And tonight it was Bartolo Colon's turn to get a piece of the action as he made his first start for Boston, and first anywhere since last September 29th with Anaheim.
Next thing you know Roidger's gonna wanna come back and get in on the fun.
Bart, who suffered elbow and shoulder injuries the past two seasons, was not the same fire balling ace who won the Cy Young award in 2005, but he was effective enough to limit the free-swinging Royals to six measly singles, most of them of the blooper variety and including one bunt base hit.
He quickly learned how valuable his offense is as well because he very easily could've taken a loss or ND tonight if not for the relentless determination of the Boston batters.
After working his way out of a two-on, two out situation in the top of the first, Jacoby Ellsbury staked Colon to a quick 1-0 lead when he led off the bottom of the inning with his 4th home run against KC starter Brett Tomko (4.1IP, 7H, 5ER, 1BB, 2K, 2HR).
The Royals would strike back for a run in the third on a single by Joey Gathright (2-2, 3R, 2BB), a walk to Alex Gordon and a broken bat single to left by Jose Guillen, his first hit of the series, and then KC used a bunt and two bloops to take a 2-1 lead in the fifth.
But just when it looked as if the big fella wouldn't walk off the Fenway mound a winner in his debut, on comes Captain Varitek to save the day.
Following a pop out by Youk, Tek (2-3, R, BI, BB) fell behind 0-2 before he drove a 1-2 pitch from Tomko into the Sox bullpen for his 7th homer of the year and 3rd in the last six games, and suddenly the game was tied and Colon was off the hook for the 'L'.
And it just got better from there as Boston broke the game open as Coco Crisp doubled to left center, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Julio Lugo's sharp single up the middle to make it 3-2 Boston.
Not content to stop there Ellsbury (3-4, 3R, BI, BB, SB) drove Tomko from the game with a single to left, and after Dustin Pedroia singled to load the bases off ex-Sox reliever Ron Mahay, another pair of runs came home on a sac fly by David Ortiz and wild pitch of his own by Mahay.
When the dust settled it was 5-2 Boston, Colon's night was done and it was up to the Boston pen to make sure he got the win he earned.
In other words hold your breath time, Bartolo.
But lo and behold the bully held up, and it was a trio of recently unreliable relievers that (finally) got the job done.
First Craig Hansen tossed a 1-2-3 sixth, then Javier Lopez worked his way out of a leadoff walk to Gathright in the seventh, and wouldn'tcha know even Manny Delcarmen came up with a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth for his contribution to the cause.
Geez, you know things are really going well for the club when that happens.
By the time Tired Arm Timlin surrendered a meaningless two out run in the 9th the champagne (or beer, most likely) was being uncorked in the clubhouse, and when Ellsbury squeezed the final out of the night the Colon comeback was complete, and the Sox brass look like geniuses for making a move that no one else dared to make.
And it paid off.
Again.
Tomorrow Daisuke Matsuzaka goes for the sweep, the AL wins lead and 8-0.
Wonder who his biggest cheerleader will be?
I would venture to guess the new kid on the block, an old veteran who's just happy to be along for the ride.
NOTES:
-Drew out again: JD Drew got the night off after fouling a ball off his knee last night. Ellsbury started in right with Coco getting the call in center
-Manny's woes continue: With an 0-3 night tonight including a strikeout and double play Manny is in the midst of a 3-22 slump that has dropped his average to .292. As Remy mused yesterday, it appears as if the quest for home run #500 is really wearing on him (he sits at 498 and has only homered twice in his last 66 at bats).
-Rhymin' & stealin': His 7th inning theft gave Ellsbury 19 on the season, 2nd only to Ichiro's 21 in the AL, and he has stolen 3 straight since being caught for the first time in his career Sunday against the Brewers. Also, his 3 hits raised his average to .290 and his OBP to .390
-Speaking of OBP: before he was finally retired by Javier Lopez in the 7th inning Alex Gordon had reached base in 7 consecutive plate appearances dating back to last night's game (2 doubles, 2 singles and 3 walks)
RECORD: 30-19
AL EAST: Up 2 gms
STREAK: W6
LAST 10: 6-4
UP NEXT: Thu vs. KC 135 Bannister vs. Matsuzaka
Game Preview: Royals at Sox GM3
Tomko (2-4, 5.32) vs. Colon (NR)
Game 3 of 4 705 @ Fenway Park
If two kids can pitch brilliantly in back-to-back games against the sliding Royals, why can't a former Cy Young winner keep the streak going?
That's the question the entire Nation wants the answer to as Bartolo Colon, the 2005 Cy winner while pitching for the LA/Anaheim/California Angels, makes his Red Sox debut tonight against KC.
The travails of the hefty Colon have been well documented since he slipped from one of the game's elite pitchers to an embarrassment to his profession in such a short period of time. But just in case you haven't heard the tale, let me recount it here.
Coming up with Cleveland in 1997 Colon became one of the games top hurlers, compiling a 75-45 record, including an 18-5 campaign in 1999, in 5 1/2 seasons with the Tribe before he was shipped to the Expos (remember them?) at the trading deadline in 2002.
Ironically two of the players he was traded for - Grady Sizemore and Cliff Lee - have become fixtures of the Indians organization.
After bouncing from Montreal to the White Sox to Anaheim, Colon settled in in Orange County and produced the finest season of his career in 2005, when he went 21-8 with a 3.48 ERA, struck out 157 batters while walking only 43 in leading the Angels to the ALCS, where they lost to eventual World Series champion Chicago.
But since that magical season it has been all downhill for the rotund one as injuries, ineffectiveness and innumerable trips to In and Out Burger derailed his career and made him the laughingstock of baseball.
In 2006 & 2007 Colon went 7-13 while making just 28 starts and pitching 155 2/3 innings while battling shoulder woes that began late in his Cy season. By comparison in 2005 he started 33 games and pitched 222 2/3 innings, so to say the drop off was immense would be an epic understatement.
Long story short the Sox picked him up in the offseason for a mere mil (pending his making the big club) and quickly set about getting him in shape for a potential return to glory. After a lengthy rehab/condition program this spring, he posted a 2-0 record with an 0.64 ERA in three starts for the PawSox, and here we are.
No one is expecting miracles from the guy. But if he turns out to be anywhere near his previous form and can contribute solid innings and keep the opposition under 4 runs per game, the pickup will have proven to be another coup for Theo and the boys.
If not they cut ties and forget it ever happened.
Win/win, I say.
NOTES:
-Hello again Julie, hello: Julian Tavarez, who was not claimed off waivers nor traded to the Rockies as had been rumored, cleared waivers and accepted his reassignment to Pawtucket. Not sure if he'll ever be back with the Bosox, but Francona thinks he will pitch again in the majors.
5.20.2008
This time Masterson gets the win
Sox 2, Kansas City 1
WP: Masterson (1-0)
LP: Meche (3-6)
SV: Papelbon (13)
HRs: None
SUMMARY:
It was almost a case of deja vu for Justin Masterson when the bullpen nearly blew his brilliant performance tonight. But Jonathan Papelbon came on to get the last four outs of the game, including the final out of the 8th with the bases loaded, to secure the kid's first major league victory.
SUPERSTAR: Masterson 6.1IP, 3H, 1ER, 3BB, 5K, 91P
I know he's only made two starts, but the numbers he's put up so far - plus the composure and maturity he's displayed - have got Sox fans salivating over the thought of him, Lester and Buchholz anchoring the Boston rotation for years to come.
THE BIGGEST LOSER: Jose Guillen 0-4, 3K
One day after Lester stopped his 10 game hitting streak, Masterson further doused Guillen's hot bat by striking him out twice looking, and in the 8th Hideki Okajima fanned the AL Player of the Week with the tying run on third base.
RECAP:
The suspense of whether Justin Masterson would toss a no hitter was dispatched with quickly when the third batter of the game, Alex Gordon, blooped a double just inside the left field foul line for Kansas City's first hit in 9 2/3 innings.
The only question left after that was 'would the lanky kid from Jamaica earn his first major league victory?'
Despite a few queasy moments after he was lifted from the game and a nerve-wracking 8th inning that saw Hideki Okajima load the bases, the answer, thankfully, turned out to be 'yes'.
For the second time in less than a month Masterson got the call to come down from Portland and fill in for a Sox starter, and for the second time he did so brilliantly, limiting another major league ballclub to a few hits and what should have been no runs (thanks, Delcarmen), prompting GMs around the league to turn off their cell phones to avoid the calls from angry owners screaming "why the fuck can't we cultivate young hurlers like that?!"
Yes, this means you, Cashman.
The way the Boston batters had been crushing the ball lately no one even thought this game would be close enough for a reliever to blow.
But the Sox could barely dent the impenetrable force that is Gil Meche (7IP, 5H, 2ER, 2BB, 8K) tonight, managing just a pair of runs off the expensive Royals starter even though the 2007 free agent signee had allowed 12 hits and 8 earned runs in his last 12 innings pitched.
All the runs for Boston came in the second inning as Meche loaded the bases with one out on consecutive singles by Youk and JD Drew and a walk to Jason Varitek. A sac fly by Julio Lugo scored Youk, and a ground rule double by Coco Crisp plated only Drew, and the Sox had to settle for two when Pedroia flied out to end the inning.
Luckily for Boston Masterson was just as impressive as he was when he started against the Angels on April 24th. In that game he gave up just two hits and one run in 6 innings, but didn't get the win as the trio of Javier Lopez, Manny Delcarmen and Hideki Okajima combined to blow a 3-1 lead en route to a 7-5 LA win.
Like I said earlier, it was almost deja vu all over again for the kid tonight.
He wasn't quite dominant in this one, as the Royals had men on base in 6 of the 7 innings he started, but he did work his way out of potential jams, sometimes with a little help from his fielders.
In the third inning he allowed a two out walk to Mark Grudzielanek and then a single to center to Alex Gordon (3-4), but Gordon inexplicably got greedy and tried to stretch it into a double. He quickly jammed on the brakes and tried to get back to first, but a perfect relay from Coco to Pedroia to Youk nailed Gordon as he slid past the bag.
By the 7th Masterson had made the 2-0 lead hold up, but when he walked Mark Teahan to lead off the inning, who then moved to second on a groundout, Tito pulled the youngster before things got out of hand.
And just like last time, the same trio of relievers almost destroyed the game again.
Lopez did manage to retire the one man he was brought in to face, striking out Ross Gload looking, but then in came Manny D., and there went the shutout and nearly the game.
Delcarmen, who officially makes the Nation cringe every time he enters a game now, has allowed at least one baserunner in 16 of his 20 appearances so far this season and is sporting a god awful (for a reliever) 1.56 WHIP, immediately allowed a single to John 'don't call me Joe' Buck to slice the lead in half, 2-1, and it was only by the grace of the baseball gods that he got the immortal Alberto Collaspo to strike out to end the inning.
Unfortunately Francona's choice for the 8th inning didn't fare much better.
Okajima, who hadn't pitched in six days due to a wrist injury, worked his way into a bases loaded jam in the 8th thanks to a double and a pair of walks (in all fairness to him he should have had a couple of those balls called strikes, but hey, what can you do), and it was only his striking out of Jose Guillen that saved the game from swinging in the Royals favor.
After walking Teahan to load the bases with two out, Francona had seen enough and brought in his horse Papelbon to put an end to this nonsense and hopefully preserve the win for the kid.
Four outs (and three strikeouts) later Paps had done just that, and for the second straight night a young Sox hurler walked off the mound at Fenway with a huge confidence-boosting win under his belt and the promise of a long, bright future as a big league pitcher ahead of him.
Oh, and for his efforts Masterson was sent down to Pawtucket after the game.
Welcome to the Show, kid.
RECORD: 29-19
AL EAST: Up 1.5gms
STREAK: W5
LAST 10: 6-4
UP NEXT: Wed vs. KC 705 Tomko vs. Colon
Game Preview: Royals at Sox GM2
Meche (3-5, 5.98) vs. Masterson (0-0, 1.50)
Game 2 of 4 705 @ Fenway Park
So how does a team top a no hitter thrown the night before?
How about two in a row?!
That might be a lot to ask from young righthander Justin Masterson, who will make just his second career major league start tonight against the Roayls, but maybe not. After all the kid did pitch a 2-hit, 1-run 6 inning gem versus the Angels in his major league debut a month ago.
But I think it's safe to say that the back-to-back no-no feat will not be duplicated tonight. Instead we in the Nation will settle for another strong performance by the lanky 23-year old Jamaican-born Masterson, and another impressive showing by the sizzling Boston offense.
The team has been averaging over 6 runs per game in May and has a five game and currently a four game winning streak to show for it. Never mind the mini slump when it lost 5 of 6 in Minny and Baltimore, because this offense is clicking on all cylinders right now and shows no signs of slowing down, especially against tonight's Royals starter, mediocre Gil Meche.
You remember Meche don't you? No.
He's the former Seattle Mariner starter who parlayed a 55-44 career record into a 5 year, $55 million contract from KC before the 2007 season, a deal that had baseball experts shaking their heads and middling pitching prospects salivating at the thought of getting paid big bucks for accomplishing basically nothing in the major leagues.
A year and change later Meche is 12-18 for Kansas City with a 4.12 ERA and he has as many victories this year as rookie Luke Hochevar and reliever Leo Nunez.
Nice investment, KC.
Here's to the Sox batters pummelling the ish out of Meche, and Masterson duplicating the feats of fellow phenoms Buchhoz and Lester.
Sox Drawer: Revisiting Leter's No No
A day later the magnitude of what Jon Lester accomplished last night is just starting to sink in.
It's not the fact that the kid threw a no-hitter; let's face it, some truly scrub pitchers have been lucky enough to get through a full game without allowing a hit - Bud Smith, Jose Jimenez, Wilson Alvarez, Juan Nieves and Joe Cowley, just to name a few recent ones.
The impressive part of the whole story is the back story that sounds like it's straight out of a Disney movie.
Cue the sappy music and deep-voiced narrator:
Left handed pitching prospect gets drafted in 2002 by storied franchise the Boston Red Sox, works his way through the minor leagues and finally gets called up to the bigs in June of 2006.
Three months later the 23-year-old is involved in a minor car accident on the way to Fenway Park and suffers a back injury that forces him to be placed on the disabled list. Only further testing shows that the pain is not due to the crash actually lymphoma, a treatable yet deadly form of cancer that could have gotten worse had it not been diagnosed at the time.
After months of treatment and rehab Lester is declared cancer-free, and after many minor league starts and small setbacks, he returned to a major league mound on July 23, 2007 in Cleveland. He pitched a strong six innings at Jacobs Field and picked up the win to the delight of his teammates, fans, and parents, who were in attendance to witness their son's magnificent return to the majors.
His perseverance and determination was an inspiration to a world full of cancer patients and spoke volumes about the character and will this young man has.
End credits...
What, it doesn't end there? Oh yeah, there's more.
After that triumphant return Lester posted a 4-0 record with a 4.57 ERA in 11 starts in 07, and then he became a true baseball hero when he started and won the clinching Game 4 of the 2007 World series, completing his return as not only a cancer-free human being, but a top notch starting pitcher in the major leagues as well.
Entering 2008, with the health concerns behind him, the Sox were expecting big things from Lester and fellow phenom Clay Buchholz, who himself tossed a no hitter in his second career start at Fenway in September. The two kids were named the 4th and 5th starters on a championship contender, and the weight of the Nation was on their shoulders.
So what happens? Three weeks after he threw an 8 inning 1-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays Lester pitched a no hitter against the Kansas City Royals in Fenway, matching his counterpart's performance statistically speaking, but surpassing Buchholz' feat on a much more philosophical level.
Where as Buchholz effort was more a result of luck and September callups, Lester's was a direct result of hard work, determination and the will to succeed.
What this man has accomplished is really nothing short of remarkable. He is an inspiration not only to cancer patients but to young ballplayers and people in general. It would have been so easy for him to give up. To beat cancer and then kick back and enjoy the simple things in life.
Instead Jon Lester decided to pursue his dream of becoming a quality major league pitcher on a championship team.
Mission accomplished, and then some.
No No Notes:
-First no hitter thrown by a Sox lefty since Mel Parnell in 1956
-He and Buchholz efforts enabled the Sox to become first team to toss consecutive no nos in MLB since Nolan Ryan did it for the Angels in 1974 and 75
-Only the 2nd time Royals have been no hit (ironically the other time was Ryan's in 74)
-Boston has 18 no hitters in its history, 2nd only to the Dodgers 20
-The Sox have thrown 4 no nos since 2001: Hideo Nomo (01), Derek Lowe (02), Buchholz (07) and now Lester.
-Jason Varitek has been behind the plate for all 4 of those, a new MLB record
5.19.2008
Lester makes history, no hits Kansas City
Sox 7, Royals 0
WP: Lester (3-2)
LP: Hochevar (3-3)
SV: None
HRs: BOS-Tek (5)
SUMMARY:
Jon Lester became the 16th member of the Boston Red Sox franchise to toss a no-hitter when he mesmerized the Kansas City Royals hitters with a variety of well-placed fastballs and crisp breaking balls tonight at Fenway.
The only base runners he allowed were on a pair of walks and a fielder's choice; he struck out 9 batters, including the immortal Alberto Callaspo to end the game, after which Lester was mobbed by teammates, cheered by fans and serenaded by "Tessie" in one of the gretest moments of the 24-year-old's life.
SUPERSTAR: Lester (duh!) 9IP, 0H, 2BB, 9K, 130P
Welcome to an exclusive club, Jon. You earned it and you deserve it.
THE BIGGEST LOSER: Callaspo 0-1, K
The young infielder entered the game as a 9th inning defensive replacement and had a chance to thwart history. Instead he became a footnote in the annals of baseball, forever immortalized as 'the man who made the last out in a no hitter'.
RECAP:
One day after Boston fans were treated to one of the most exciting playoff basketball games in NBA history we were blessed by another monumental sporting event that makes us all realize why we love the games so much.
Because after watching Jon Lester, a man who didn't know if he would even live to pitch again never mind throw a no hitter at Fenway Park, complete his no-no against the Royals tonight, if you weren't overcome with emotions you must either be a serial killer or a Stankees fan.
Just a year and a half removed from the cancer scare that could have cost him his career Lester stands at the top of his profession, first having been on the mound for a World Series clinching game last October and now by joining the list of baseball greats who have thrown no hitters.
He became the first lefty to toss a no hitter for Boston since Mel Parnell in 1956 and by throwing the first one of 2008 he, along with teammate Clay Buchholz, who tossed his last September, also accomplished another rare feat: they became the first pitchers from the same team to toss consecutive no-nos since Nolan Ryan did it himself twice for the Angels in 1974 and 75.
It was truly an amazing night at Fenway and of course as is the case with all no hitters there was plenty of drama, close calls and one great defensive play that made history possible.
The game actually started off on a bad note for Lester after he pitched a 1-2-3 first inning. He walked Billy Butler with one out in the second, and after a fielder's choice by Miguel Olivo cut Butler down at 2nd base, Lester threw an errant pickoff to first that let Olivo scoot down to 2nd with two outs.
But Lester got Michael Teahan to tap back to the mound to end the inning, and little did we know that with that harmless dribbler the Royals only threat of the night had gone by the wayside.
Boston would score all the runs it would need and then some in the 3rd inning off rookie righthander Luke Hochevar (6IP, 5H, 7R, 4ER, 6BB, 2K, HR). The only run Lester would need came home on an RBI double play grounder by Julio Lugo, which plated JD Drew, who had led off the inning with a single.
But Boston went on to tack on three more runs in the inning, thanks to some shoddy defense and shaky pitching.
Jacoby Ellsbury tripled after Lugo's groundout, and Hochevar walked Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and then Manny Ramirez with the bases loaded to force home the second run of the game.
The game got out of hand after that when Hochevar got Mike Lowell to pop up harmlessly to the infield for the apparent third out of the inning. But a blustery wind at Fenway played havoc with the attempted catch by second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, and by the time the ball glanced off his glove and landed on the dirt, Pedroia and Papi had raced around to score, Manny was on third and the lead was 4-0 Sox.
A booming ground rule double to deep center field by Kevin Youkilis pushed the margin to 5-0, and by that time it was all about Lester and would the kid be able to make the lead hold up.
In hindsight the thought seems foolish, but the youngster had allowed at least 3 earned runs in six of his 11 starts this year, so a comeback wasn't completely out of the realm of possibility at that point, even for the Royals, especially if they could get to the bumbling Boston bullpen.
Except Lester made sure they wouldn't have that chance.
And in the next inning, Ellsbury made the play that ensured the no hitter remained intact.
By the 4th inning Lester is starting to get in the zone, having retired six straight batters since the Olivo fiasco, but he nearly lost his bid at history when hot hitting Jose Guillen came to bat with two outs in the inning.
The temperamental DH had just been named the player of the week and carried a 10-game hitting streak in which he was batting an even .500 (19-38) into the game, so you know he was confident as he dug in the box.
So when he sliced a hard, sinking line drive to left center field, everyone assumed it would fall in for another hit.
Except Ellsbury, who raced to the spot where he thought the ball would drop, dove parallel to the ground and snagged the ball just before it hit the top of the grass for an inning ending, no-hit saving catch that will surely earn the rookie a nice dinner at the Oyster House at the very least.
The innings went on and the outs kept piling up, and by the time Jason Varitek hit a two run homer in the 6th to make it 7-0 which all but ensured the Sox would win the game, all the attention soon focused on what the Sox pitcher was in the process of doing.
Or not doing.
The great thing about this game is that Lester seemed to be just as strong in the later innings as he was early in the game. He was throwing darts to every corner of the strike zone, and was ahead of the KC hitters all night, as evidenced by his first pitch strikes thrown to 20 of the 28 batters he faced.
In the 7th he needed 16 pitches to dispatch Grudz, Alex Gordon and Guillen, and in the 8th he fanned Butler and Olivo to start the frame before getting Teahan to fly out harmlessly to center, setting the stage for a raucous scene in the 9th.
As my son and I sat motionless, praying for the Sox to be retired quickly in the bottom of the 8th, Lester looked as calm as a con man in the dugout, his face obviously belying his turbulent intestines.
After the Boston batters obliged with a 1-2-3 8th, Lester took the mound to a roar from the Faithful and went about his business, then proceeded to walk leadoff hitter Esteban German on five pitches to open the inning.
Gulp.
With hearts in throats and fingernails throughout the Nation bitten to the quick, Lester got Tony Pena to ground out to Lowell on a high chopper, retired David DeJesus on a roller to Youk at first and then fanned defensive replacement Alberto Callaspo to complete the masterpiece, and then it was time to rock the party in the old ballyard again. .jpg)
As "Dirty Water" rang through the speakers Lester was mobbed by his teammates, first Varitek, who held him up and then handed him the game ball, and then each member of the team individually hugged the outstanding man who had been through so much in his young life, persevered through it all and now stood on top of the baseball world.
Congratulations, Jon.
We'll be waiting for the Disney version.
RECORD: 28-19
AL EAST: Up 1.5 GMS
STREAK: W4
LAST 10: 6-4
UP NEXT: Tues vs. KC 705 Meche vs. Masterson
Series Preview: Royals at Red Sox
Kansas City Royals (21-22) 
STREAK: W1
LAST 10: 6-4
BA: .264 (5th in AL)
RS: 165 (14)
HRS: 23 (14)
ERA: 4.27 (9)
RA: 185 (8)
SV: 12 (6)
4 game series at Fenway Park
Game 1 Monday 705
Hochevar (3-2, 3.94) vs. Lester (2-2, 3.95)
Game 2 Tuesday 705
Meche (3-5, 5.98) vs. Masterson (0-0, 1.50)
Game 3 Wednesday 705
Tomko (2-4, 5.32) vs. Colon (NR)
Game 4 Thursday 135
Bannister (4-5, 4.29) vs. Matsuzaka (7-0)
Key Royals:
-2B Mark Grudzielanek .331/20R/10 2B/.387 OBP The man known as the human eye chart has people opening their eyes to the fact that the scrappy second sacker is leading the AL in batting. He's also 8th in OBP and has been the sparkplug for the resurgent Royals offense
-OF Jose Guillen .245/18R/16 2B/5HR/30BI The mercurial outfielder is leading the league in doubles and is 7th in RBI and has been on a tear of late, batting .500 (19-38) with 8 doubles, 2 homers and 15 ribbies during a current 10 game hitting streak
-3B Alex Gordon .286/24R/10 2B/5HR/20RBI The former phenom has started to settle into his role as the next George Brett, not putting too much pressure on himself now that his sure fire rookie of the year season is over. He didn't win it, by the way, as Sox fans well know.
-RP Joakim Soria 11SV/1.04 ERA/0.40WHIP/2BB/20K The flame throwing closer just inked a multi-year deal that could keep the lanky righty in Royals blue for the next 6 seasons. Good move, KC, cause this kid's stuff is filthy, electric, nasty and every other outdated adjective for flat out awesome you can think of.
PREVIEW:
Coming on the heels of the Sox sweep of the Brewers Boston will have to face a team that has become a recent nemesis to them, the pesky Kansas City Royals.
Boston has dropped 8 of its last 12 contests with KC and that includes a disastrous 4game set last July at Fenway when the Sox shutout the royals 4-0 in the opener and then dropped the next three by a combined score of 19-10.
That kind of humiliation alone should be enough motivation for the team to come out strong in this series, as if hanging on to first place isn't enough of a motivator, but something tells me it won't be easy to win a series against what has been the most surprising team of the AL Central this year.
Kansas City comes to town having won 6 of its last 7 games including a sweep of the lowly Tigers that helped vault the club into a tie for third place in the division, just two games back of the surging Chisox, and they'd love nothing more than to add another series win against the Sox to their resume to help boost credibility with their long suffering fans and within their own clubhouse.
A major part of the Royals resurgence has been the solid play of Mark Grudzielanek, who leads the league in hitting, and the recent hot streak of Jose Guillen, who was just named the AL player of the week for last week.
Combine those factors with the reality that Boston will start a pair of unproven commodities in games 2 & 3, rookie Justin Masterson and rehabbing Bartolo Colon, and any outcome would not be surprising in this series.
Best case scenario is the Sox pitchers out-pitch the shaky Royals starters, because if the starters should falter the middle relief situation, with Hideki Okajima nursing a slight wrist injury and Delcarmen and Hansen nursing bruised egos, things could get dicey.
And hopefully Boston will have a lead late because 9th inning comebacks are not the norm against fantastic KC closer Joakim Soria.
Basically the Nation won't settle for anything less than winning 3 out of 4 and knocking these giant killers down a few pegs, just to make sure they know who the big boys in the AL really are.
Good luck with .500, KC. The Bosox have bigger plans.
Sox Drawer: Masterson & Colon set to start in KC series
Not to get too far ahead of myself but the Sox will send two potential rotation saviors to the hill against the Royals this week.
Don't you feel better knowing this guy ^ is going to start for Boston on Wednesday?And who better to take the ball than phenom-in-training Justin Masterson, who pitched brilliantly in his MLB debut against the Angels a few weeks ago, and the once laughable offseason acquisition Bartolo Colon, who could be the pickup of the year if he pitches anywhere close to his Cy Young form.
According to the Globe Masterson will start Tuesday, taking Buchholz spot on the rotation, and Colon will make his 08 debut Wednesday night, thus preventing Boston from having to use one of its regular starters on short rest.
Like I said I know it's tough to get too amped up about a 23-year-old kid with six innings of major league experience under his belt, and an aging, overweight former ace who may pitch his last game in the majors should he shit the bed on Wednesday.
But the thing makes me excited is despite the early woes that have plagued the majority of the pitching staff the team has option available, cheap ones at that, to plug in until the other problems get straightened out.
With Colon it's a low risk/high reward situation that could pay huge dividends. Do I believe that the hefty righty is going to dominate lineups and become a top of the rotation stater again? Not quite. But if he can be a serviceable #4-5 with his experience and veteran leadership, that will certainly be an improvement over Julian Tavarez and the unstable Buchholz.
And if he doesn't pan out Boston will cut him loose quicker than Mariah did Nick (what, that didn't happen yet? bullshit!) and will only have wasted about a million on the chance that a former Cy winner could contribute anything to a pennant contending team.
As for Masterson he could be this year's Buchholz (especially since it appears Buchholz won't be) if he parlays these spot starts into a September callup, where he could have the chance to toss a gem in a pennant race, a la Clay's no-no last September.
If he doesn't he's back in the minors till next year, with the tantalizing taste of the MLB experience enough motivation to drive him to make it back.
Bottom line is not matter how bad things have looked for the rotation (except Matsuzaka) and the bully (ditto Paps), it's nice to know that reinforcements are on the horizon to shore up the leaks until the ship is ready to sail smoothly again.
And to think I didn't even mention the inevitable return of Mr. Bloody Sock. Read More......
5.18.2008
Sox complete sweep in HR derby finale at Fenway
Sox 11, Milwaukee 7
WP: Beckett (5-3)
LP: Villanueva (2-5)
SV: None
HRs: BOS-Ortiz, 2 (10), Pedroia (2), Youk (9); MIL-Braun, 2 (13), Hardy (2), Fielder (6)
SUMMARY:
The Sox winning ways continued in another sloppy contest as the teams combined to blast 8 home runs, the most longballs hit in a game at Fenway in six years. Josh Beckett, who gave up four dingers, got the win, and coupled with a Rays loss Boston reclaimed sole possession of first place in the East.
SUPERSTAR(S): Papi, Pedroia & Youk 9-14, 7R, 8BI, 2B, 4HRs
We always talk about the dynamic duo of Manny & Papi, but how about the eye-popping stats from this terrific trio. The threesome single handedly had as many runs and hits as the entire Brewer's team, and every time Boston needed a big hit one of these guys provided it.
THE BIGGEST LOSER: Beckett 7IP, 6H, 6ER, 1BB, 9K, 4HRs
I know he got the win and fanned nine batters, but he also allowed four homers to a slumping Milwaukee club and raised his ERA by nearly a half a run. As a result the Nation is still waiting for the 2007 version of Beckett to emerge.
RECAP:
It wasn't easy, it wasn't pretty and it wasn't a game you'd want to use as a primer for a pitching clinic.
Today's series finale with the Brewers at Fenway was entertaining, exciting, and ultimately fulfilling, mainly because the Sox hung on for the win and jumped back into first place in the AL East for the first time in about a week.
But with bad weather looming on the horizon, the Celtics Game 7 with the Cavaliers getting ready to start across town, and baseballs flying out of the park at an average rate of about 1 per inning, it's safe to say everyone was just happy to close this series out and get this friggin game over with.
No one on the Red Sox was probably more glad to see this one end than starter Josh Beckett, who had a forgettable performance on a day where all the signs pointed to a potential vintage Beckett outing, despite his shaky (0-2/9.53) career record vs. Milwaukee.
It was vintage Beckett alright. Unfortunately the vintage was mid-2006.
Things began badly for Beckett and Boston when he allowed a pair of runs to score in the first inning on a 1-0 out double by Mike Cameron followed by a 2-run Monster shot by Ryan Braun five pitches later.
It was the first time in five games Boston failed to score at least the first three runs of the game, although they did extend their streak of scoring in the first inning to six straight games.
After Dustin Pedroia (3-4, 3R, 2BI) drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the first off Milwaukee starter Carlos Villanueva (4IP, 5H, 6R, 5ER, 3BB, 3K, 2HRs), Ortiz sliced a double to deep right center field to score Pedroia all the way from first -thanks to Francona having the hit and run on - and the Brewers lead was cut in half, 2-1.
Beckett faced the minimum six batters over the next two innings before the blazing Boston bats struck for two quick runs with two outs in the bottom of the third when Pedroia and Papi went back to back off Villanueva to give Boston and Beckett a 3-2 lead.
Time for Beckett to plow through this Brewers lineup like Brett Michaels through groupies and bring this baby home in time to catch the second half of the Cs game, right?
Uh, not quite.
No sooner did Boston retake the lead then Beckett gave it right back when he surrendered a two-run bomb to JJ Hardy with two outs in the 4th, and just as we were about to put this one on the PIP the Brews had to make sure no one in the Nation could afford to switch this one off.
Like an MLB version of pong, Boston grabbed the lead right back in the bottom of the 4th when the Brewers fell apart in the field and on the mound.
Portly Prince Fielder started the Sox rally when he dropped a simple throw on a routine grounder by Mike Lowell to lead off the inning, and Villanueva collapsed from there. He allowed a single to Youk, a walk to Tek to load the bases, and after Coco Crisp struck out in a 10-pitch at bat, he walked Julio Lugo to tie the game at four and then surrendered a two-run single by Jacoby Ellsbury that gave Boston a 6-4lead.
The inning did end on a sour note, though, as Lugo was picked off second on Ellsbury's hit and then stolen bases streak Jacoby had compiled came to a screeching halt when Milwaukee pitched out and catcher Jason Kendall caught the rookie red handed, ending the run at 25 straight thefts.
Boston appeared to put the game away when Ortiz homered again to right field off 31-year-old Milwaukee rookie Mark DeFelice, who was making his major league debut and had the misfortune of doing so against the likes of this lineup, and the Boston lead was now a healthy four, 8-4.
Okay, so now it was time for Beckett to take it to the house, right?
Well, ummm, ahhh, not exactly.
In the 6th the Brew crew evoked unpleasant memories of Harvey's Wallbangers when Braun and Fielder went back-to-back with one out in the inning, and suddenly the lead was 8-6 and no one in the building nor the national TBS audience quite knew what to make of this awkward Sunday afternoon contest.
Was the focus of the game the sheer relentless determination of the potent Boston offense, or the grave inability for Beckett to close an inferior team out when his teammates gave him plenty of chances to do so?
Granted a couple of the homers were off breaking balls, so it wasn't quite like '06 when he was throwing strictly fastballs and daring batters to hit them out, which they did, 36 times. But he has allowed 8 homers in his last 37.2 innings, so something ain't quite kosher there.
The point became moot when Boston tacked on three more runs in the next two innings, the final two coming on a Monster shot by Youk (3-5, 2R, 2BI) that made the score 11-6, and after Manny Delcarmen gave up a run (as usual) to keep the game somewhat close, Francona went straight for his horse, Jonathan Papelbon, to put this game to rest with a scoreless 9th.
So a sweep is a sweep is a sweep, even if these games were ugly enough make baseball purists gag on their sacred stats, and now the team is back where it belongs, in first place, with a four game series with the Royals on tap before they head out on another 10 game road trip on Friday.
Maybe that series will be a little more aesthetically pleasing for the purists.
RECORD: 27-19
AL EAST: Up 1gm
STREAK: W3
LAST 10: 5-5
UP NEXT: Mon vs. Royals 705 Hochevar vs. Lester
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