Game Preview: Sox @ Philly GM3

Masterson (3-1, 2.90) vs. Kendrick (6-2, 4.54)
Game 3 of 3 1:05 @ Citizens Bank Park

In my exuberance over the Celtics winning title #17 last night I failed to touch on a significant piece of injury news that rippled through the nation yesterday:

Bartolo Colon was placed on the DL due to a back injury he incurred swinging the bat against Cole Hammels the other night.

The irony here is that the Sportscenter goons were cracking on Colon's less-than-glorious swings against the hard-throwing Phillies southpaw. Little did we know one of those ugly hacks would render Colon unable to perform, although anyone watching could've guessed something wasn't right.

I mean when was the last time you saw someone corkscrew their batting helmet off trying to hit a breaking ball?

The Sox recalled righthander Chris Smith to take Colon's place on the roster, and the good news is that Daisuke Matsuzaka should be able to start Saturday against the Cards at Fenway after completing his rehab Monday night at Pawtucket.

So the injury merry-go-round continues for Boston, but as usual the team will keep plugging away and hope to win its third straight road series with a victory this afternoon in the rubber match with the Phils.

Justin Masterson will make his second straight road start against young Phillies righty Kyle Kendrick in what could be a battle of future staff aces.

After winning his first three decisions Masterson took his first major league loss last Friday in Cincy despite notching a career high 9 strikeouts and only letting up three runs in 6 2/3 innings against the Reds.

Kendrick, meanwhile, has been a pleasant surprise for Philadelphia, winning five games in a row since late April and proving to be a capable backup to aces like Hammles, Moyer and the disappointing Brett The Animal Myers.

If Boston is going to take this series Masterson will have to do what teammate Jon Lester did last night - shut down the powerful trio of Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and pat Burrell. Those three boppers went 0-12 with 8 Ks last night, and if you have any hopes of defeating this team you've gotta keep this potent Philly offense in check.

As long as Mike Timlin doesn't enter the game we should be alright.

Or Oki.

Just pitch another Masterpiece, Justin, and then we won't have to worry about the pen men.

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Phillies give Sox a taste of own medicine

Phillies 8, Sox 2
WP: Hammels (7-4)
LP: Colon (4-2)
SV: None
HRs: BOS-Pedroia (6), Drew (12); PHI-Howard, 2 (19), Rollins (6)

SUMMARY:
Coming off a series in which Boston hit six homers and scored 16 runs the Phillies turned the tables on them tonight, slamming a double, two triples and three home runs among their 12 hits in routing Bartolo Colon and the Sox.

#1 STUNNER(s): Ryan Howard & Jimmy Rollins 6-10, 4R, 7BI, 3B, 3HR
Philly's leadoff hitter and super slugger tag-teamed the Sox right from the get-go as Rollins hit a homer to lead off the game, Ryan followed with a two-run blast minutes later and both of them did damage later in the game as well.

THE BIGGEST LOSER: Mike Timlin 2/3IP, 4H, 4ER, 2BB, 0K, 22P
Why Tito brought Tired Arm into a game that was still winnable (4-2) in the 6th inning when David Aardsma was ready and willing to enter the game is a question the Nation will ponder for days to come.

This latest awful outing pushed the ancient reliever's ERA over 7.00. Please, for the love of God, either make him retire or DFA this fossil NOW.

RECAP:
I, like most of RSN, had a bad feeling about this series, and this opening game in particular, before it even started.

It didn't take long for Philly to prove us cynics right.

The Red Sox got chewed up and spit out by the offensive juggernaut that is the first place Philadelphia Phillies tonight at Citizens Bank Park, and they wasted little time in flexing the muscle that has allowed them to score 20 runs not once but twice this season.

Philly scored three runs before they had two outs on a pair of first inning homers, and things got so bad for Boston that 260-lb Ryan Howard and cement-footed Pat Burrell both legged out triples before the night was through.

How good is this offense?

Put it this way - their second baseman, Chase Utley, is leading the majors in homers and is second in the NL in RBI and he went 0-5 tonight (with an RBI) and they still scored 8 runs.

That's how good they are.

Tonight's starting pitcher, Cole Hammels, went 1-3 with a single to raise his average to .316 (12-38).

That's how good they are.

With his four ribbies this evening Howard tied teammate Utley for the NL RBI lead with 62, despite the fact that he's only hitting .225.

That's how...well you get the point.

It was apparent right from the start that Colon did not have the same kind of stuff he had in his four previous starts this season when his first pitch to Rollins missed outside badly, and when he put the next one over the plate the reigning NL MVP crushed a fastball off the facade of the upper deck in right for a quick 1-0 Philly lead.

Two pitches later Shane Victorino (2-4, 2B, BB, R) roped a double to deep right center and after Colon got Utley to strike out, Howard hit a 1-0 offering from Bart just over the wall and into the first row of seats in left to give Philly a 3-0 lead before everyone's seats were even warm.

Hammels (7IP, 7H, 2ER, 2BB, 5K, 2HR, 110P), meanwhile, kept the Boston batters at bay, escaping jams in the first when he struck out Drew and Manny after Pedroia had doubled with one out, and in the second when he whiffed Colon after Sean Casey (2-4)doubled and Julio Lugo walked with two out.

Colon escaped a two on, two out jam of his own in the bottom of the second when he got Utley to pop out to Casey at first, but he got burned by Howard again in the third when the beefy first baseman hit a 2-1 pitch to the opposite field again, this time making it as far as the third row of bleachers for his second longball of the game and 19th of the season.

He now trails teammate Utley by just three for the league lead in that department.

That's how good...alright, enough of that.

Trailing 4-zip Boston finally cracked the Hammels puzzle when Pedroia (3-4, R, BI, 2B, HR) and Drew hit back-to-back jacks with one out in the fifth, Drew's eighth of the month and sixth in the last nine games and Pedroia's second in two days, and with the lead sliced in half at 4-2 it looked like the Sox could possibly mount a comeback if they could get Hammels out of the game.

Instead it was Colon who exited the game after tossing a 1-2-3 inning in the fourth, reportedly due to a back issue, and that's when things got away from the comeback kings.

After Javier Lopez worked around a two out triple to Burrell (2-2, 2BB) to notch a scoreless fifth, Tito inexplicably brought in Timlin to pitch the sixth with the game up for grabs and Aardsma ready in the pen.

Talk about a move that came back to bite someone in the nads.

Timlin went out and tossed his BP fastball to the salivating Philly hitters, and they hammered him like soldiers home on shore leave. Here's a transcript of the destruction of a comeback chance:

-Pedro Feliz walks on 4 pitches
-Carlos Ruiz (who!?) singles to left on 2-1 count
-Hammels sacrifices both runners over
-Rollins hits 2-RBI single to right center, 6-2 Philly
-Victorino singles, Rollins to third
-Utley grounds into fielder's choice, Rollins scores, 7-2 Philly
(here's where Tito might have wanted to remove Tired Arm, preferably with deadly force, if necessary. But no...)
-Howard triples to deep right center on first pitch, Utley scores, 8-2 Philly, game over, Timlin's career officially over as well.

Okay I made that last part up, but one can dream, right?

Things got so bad for Boston that Francona brought in fellow frazzled reliever Hideki Okajima to pitch the 8th inning of an 8-2 ballgame, hoping he'll work out his kinks in a laugher instead of a save situation.

Good news is he pitched a clean inning and even struck out Howard to cap it off.

Bad news is our top setup man and one of the best in the league last year is pitching meaningless innings in blowouts to get his confidence back because lately he has sucked worse than Speed Racer.

Tomorrow night Boston will get a chance to put this ugly loss behind them and even the series at one with Jon Lester on the mound.

Sure the kid will be opposed by 237 game winner Jamie Moyer.

But he's only batting .167.

RECORD: 44-29
AL EAST: Up 2 gms
STREAK: L1
LAST 10: 6-4
UP NEXT: Tue vs. PHI 7:05 Lester vs. Moyer

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Sox bounce back but nearly blow win vs. O's

Sox 6, Orioles 3
WP: Colon (4-1)
LP: Olson (5-2)
SV: Papelbon (19)
HRs: BOS- Tek (7), Lowell (9); BAL-Scott (10)

SUMMARY:
The Red Sox pounced on Baltimore starter Garrett Olson for five runs in the first inning and Bartolo Colon made it stand up as he bounced back from his only loss of the season. But the Boston bully made us sweat it out as the tying run came to the plate in the ninth inning before Papelbon closed it down.

#1 STUNNER: Colon 6IP, 5H, 1ER, 1BB, 7K, HR, 93P
After the debacle of his last start, in which he gave up six runs and made a pair of costly errors in an 8-0 loss, it was nice to see the big fella rebound with a solid performance like this.

THE BIGGEST LOSER: Olson 5.1IP, 7H, 6ER, 3BB, 0K, 2HR, 98P
The surprise ace of the O's staff got his team off to a horrible start with that putrid first inning, and even though he settled down after that the damage was too much for his club to overcome.

RECAP:
See, I knew if the game didn't start at 6:00 the results would be better.

Boston readjusted nicely to the regular starting time by pounding O's starter Garret Olson for five runs on three hits, two walks a stolen base and an error in the first inning and they never looked back despite some nail biting moments in the 9th when Mike Timlin turned a comfy 6-1 into a shaky 6-3 margin with the tying run at the plate.

But when you have one of the best closers in the game at the ready it was almost anti climatic when Paps came on and calmly got the final out, as if he was saying "sorry, Mike, you had your chance and blew it, now let the big dog take this one home."

Notice Hideki Okajima wasn't anywhere near the field in this one.

With last night's and tomorrow's games starting an hour earlier presumably to accommodate Celtics fans the Sox took full advantage of the usual seven o' clock start after Bartolo Colon tossed a 1-2-3 top of the first.

Jacoby Ellsbury wasted no time starting things off when he singled to center on Olson's third pitch of the game, and after Dustin Pedroia popped out quicker than you can say "watch him go" Ellsy was on third base when Olson's errant pickoff throw on his steal attempt wound up in rightfield.

That miscue meant an easy RBI situation for the league's hottest hitter in June, J.D. Drew, and the rightfielder didn't disappoint as he roped a double down the rightfield line to score Ellsbury with ease for the first run of the game.

Manny Ramirez, the next hottest hitter on the team, managed to move Drew (1-3, R, BI, BB) to third with a groundout, and the extra base proved beneficial when Olson threw a wild pitch on ball four to Mike Lowell and Drew scampered home for a 2-0 lead.

Olson lost it from there as he surrendered another walk, this time to Kevin Youkilis after he had Youk 0-2, and then Captain Tek (1-4, R, 3BI) made him pay for his sloppiness when he blasted a towering shot over the Monster and out of the park for a back-breaking three-run homer that apparently landed on the windshield of a car in the parking lot across the street, according to the NESN cameras.

Staked to a 5-0 lead Colon went about his business, allowing a base hit here and there but never seeming worried or out of sorts like he was in his last start.

A single and a double were negated by a double play in the second inning, and although Sox killer (it's official now) Luke Scott (2-4, R, BI, 2B, HR) touched him for a solo shot to lead off the fourth, Colon responded by retiring six of the last eight batters he faced before exiting the game after six quality innings.

Despite the early success off Olson Boston could only muster one more run against the rookie southpaw, a solo shot by Lowell (1-2, 2R, BI, 2BB) to lead off the sixth, and so it was up to the bullpen to hold the five-run lead.

(gulp)

David Aardsma was first out of the pen and the hard-throwing righty, who's only pitched twice so far this month, fared pretty well, surrendering a two-out double to Adam Jones (1-4) before getting Freddie Bynum to strike out to end the inning.

After Boston blew a great chance to pad the lead when they loaded the bases on three walks in the bottom of the inning, it was Javier Lopez' turn to stifle the comeback-prone Oriole's bats in the eighth.

The lefty, who has allowed just one run in his last 12 appearances, allowed a one-out walk to fellow Sox killer Nick Markakis (1-3, BB), but a 6-4-3 double play by Melvin Mora quickly squelched that potential threat.

And then came the ninth.

With Okajima all but banished from pitching against Baltimore and the game not in a save situation, Francona called upon Tired Arm Timlin to get the last three outs and nail down the win.

Timlin's pitched less than Aardsma this month, ever since he allowed a hit and two walks in the 12th inning of Boston's 5-2 win on May 30th at Camden. So this was a chance at a little redemption for the old timer.

Instead he did his best Oki v. Baltimore imitation and had to leave the game with egg on his face.

The first batter of the ninth, last night's hero Audrey Huff, belted a double to deep right, and suddenly everyone watching had a sick feeling of where this one was heading.

Two pitches later Baltimore's Sox Killer #3, Kevin Millar, scraped a double off the wall to score Huff and the Sox sizable lead was sliced to 6-2 with a runner in scoring position and nobody out.

(GULP!)

Timlin did manage to retire Scott, who is now batting .455 against the Sox in '08, as Millar moved to third, and then a lineout by Ramon Hernandez seemed to get Timlin off the hook.

But Pedroia put his pitcher right back on the hook when for the second time in two games he booted an easy out in the ninth inning on a grounder by Jones, and as Millar crossed the plate the score was cow 6-3 Boston and everyone in the Nation was reaching for the antacids in anticipation of what was gonna happen next.

What happened next was recent callup Oscar Salazar, a former member of the Detoit Tigers who's spent the better part of the last six years in the Mexican league, slapped a single into left, and with the tying run coming to the plate Timlin could've walked off the mound right then, knowing it was time for the close to save the day.

It took five pitches for Paps to get Brian Roberts (0-5) to ground out weakly to Youk, and just like that another crisis was averted and Boston finally had a win against Baltimore after dropping the last two decisions to them by a combined score of 16-9.

The good news is the Rays lost this afternoon so the Sox gained a game in the standings and now lead the east by two games.

The bad news?

Tomorrow's starting time is six o' clock.

NOTES:
-Manny's on a roll: even though he didn't hit a homer, something he's done in four of his last five games against the O's, Manny did manage to extend his hitting streak to 15 games with his infield single in the third inning. It's the longest streak by a Bosox batter so far this season

-Colon 150: the win was career victory #150 for Bartolo Colon, who appeared to be on a fast track to 200+ wins before injuries derailed his promising career. The Sox got a scare when Colon was briefly injured when a liner by Markakis caromed off his wrist in the top of the fourth, but he shook it off and remained in the game, and pitched very well at that.

RECORD: 41-27
AL EAST: Up 2 gms
STREAK: W1
LAST 10: 7-3
UP NEXT: Thu vs. BAL 6:05 Guthrie vs. Lester

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Seattle shuts out Sox, ends home win streak at 13

Mariners 8, Sox 0
WP: Hernandez (4-5)
LP: Colon (3-1)
SV: None
HRs: None

SUMMARY:
Felix Hernandez pitched well at Fenway again and got plenty of support from his offense, Bartolo Colon was horrible, from his pitching to his defense, and the Sox were shut out for the first time since...Seattle blanked them 1-0 on May 28th.

#1 STUNNER: Hernandez 6IP, 6H, 0ER, 3BB, 5K, 106P
King Felix continued his reign over the Red Sox as the former phenom racked up his second straight shutout at Fenway dating back to last April's 1-hitter.

According to the wire services his 15 consecutive scoreless innings at Fenway are the longest by an opposing pitcher since 1956. Yikes.

THE BIGGEST LOSER: Colon 5IP, 8H, 6R, 3ER, 1BB, 2K, 2E, 79P
Not only did the hefty righty have his worst performance for Boston pitching-wise, but his two inexcusable errors throwing the ball to second base led to three key unearned runs and helped seal the Sox fate. Ugh.

RECAP:
We knew the good times had to end sometime, for Boston and Bartolo Colon, and I don't think anyone was surprised that it all came crashing down tonight.

One night after playing in an exhausting, brawl-filled ballgame that saw three Sox leave the field prematurely and on the same day that three players received suspensions for their actions, Boston's 13 game home winning streak came to a crashing halt at the hands of the slumping Mariners.

On the heels of all that drama the Sox lineup resembled a B squad scrimmage at City of Palms park with Manny Ramirez, Jacoby Ellsbury and of course Big Papi all riding the pine in this one due to injury.

So is it any wonder that the man who nearly pitched a no hitter here last year came to town and shut down the emotionally drained and psychologically stained Sox?

Well yeah, kinda, because after all this Mariner team was in shambles coming in here, losers of four in a row and 12 of 15 and possessors of the worst record in baseball.

So even though a Boston letdown was almost inevitable with all the turmoil swirling around the club, for the measly M's to shut out one of the best offensive teams in the league for the second time in 10 days was a bit surprising.

But I guess we gotta look on the bright side: at least no punches were thrown.

The game was basically over in the first four innings as Seattle jumped out to a 5-0 lead and Boston could do nothing right, including capitalize on an early bases loaded opportunity that could have changed the complexion of the game.

In the top of the first Jose Lopez hit a one-out single to center and Colon responded with a four pitch walk to Raul Ibanez (2-3, 3R, 2BB.) The inning should have ended, though, when the next batter, Adrian Beltre, grounded back to the mound for what looked like a tailor made double play.

Except Colon made the first of many mental blunders on the evening, tossing the ball between Pedroia and Lugo, who were splitting the bag, and the ball sailed into center field as Lopez scored the first run and Ibanez moved to third.

Jose Vidro then hit the next pitch from Colon for an RBI groundout and Seattle had a quick 2-0 lead.

After Colon retired the side in order in the second Boston had a chance to get right back in the game when they loaded the bases off King Felix on a single by Mayor Casey (3-4), a bunt single by Captain Tek and a two-out walk to Lugo.

But in a twisted taste of karma Cock-o Crisp came to the plate with the sacks full and a chance to do some damage with something other than his mouth or fists, and all the sleazy centerfielder could do was strike out.

Granted it was a check swing strike three, and it didn't look like he went around, but what did he think he was going to get a favorable call from the umps after the debacles of the past two nights?

Like Earl always says karma's a bitch.

After dodging that bullet Seattle would tack on another run in third when sloppy plays by Boston led to a gift Seattle score.

Ichiro (1-5, R, 2BI) reached on an error by Mike Lowell to lead off the inning, a call that should have gone to Crazy Kevin Youkilis but the hometown scorer obviously wanted to keep the first baseman's errorrless streak intact.

Lopez followed with a single to set up runners at second and third with no outs, but after Colon got Ibanez to pop out he foolishly tried to pick Ichiro off second, and once again the ball sailed into center field and both runners moved into scoring position.

Two pitches later Beltre blasted a ball to center to easily score Ichiro, and although the score was only 3-0 it strangely felt like 10-0.

Boston squandered a two on, one out opportunity in the bottom of the inning when a single by Drew (2-3, BB) and a walk to Lowell were wasted when Youk flied out and Casey struck out, and then Seattle would put the game away in the fourth with a pair of earned runs (for a change.)

A single by Richie Sexon (3-4, R, 2BI) and a ground rule double by Yunieski 'All Name Team' Betancourt put runners at second and third with one out, and then Ichiro slapped a single to left that scored both runners, although a great throw by Brandon Moss nearly nabbed Yuni at the plate.

That made the score 5- and it was time to go outside and water the lawn, do some yardwork and hang out with the fam as this one was all but over.

Evidently Seattle scored another run when a ball glanced off Colon's glove (talk about losing it all in one game), and for good measure David Aardsma (1IP, 2H, 2ER, 2BB, 1K) surrendered a pair of runs in the seventh to reach the final score of 8-0.

By that time I, along with many in the Nation and in the Sox dugout, had checked out of this one, wishing there was a Celts game on to divert our attention from the messy massacre that was taking place on the field.

But hey, at least there were no punches thrown, right?

RECORD: 38-26
AL EAST: Up 1/2 gm
STREAK: L1
LAST 10: 6-4
UP NEXT: Sat vs. SEA 3:55 FOX Batista vs. Wakefield

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Manny homers again as Colon goes to 3-0

Sox 9, Orioles 4
WP: Colon (3-0)
LP: Burres (4-5)
SV: None
HRs: BOS-Ramirez (11), Lowell (7), Drew (5); BAL-Scott (7)

SUMMARY:
The Red Sox hit three homers for the second straight game, including #501 by Manny Ramirez, and Bartolo Colon picked up another win as Boston beat Baltimore for the third straight game.

SUPERSTAR: Ramirez 3-5, 2R, 3BI, 2B, HR
How do you follow a milestone game? By slamming three hits and three ribs and taking the first step towards the next historic homer, that's how.

THE BIGGEST LOSER: Burres 4IP, 12H, 7ER, 1BB, 2K, 2HR
The Sox batters treated Burres like their own personal pinata, notching a dozen hits off the slumping starter in just four innings. Yikes.

RECAP:
No Papi? No problem.

The Boston batters more than made up for the loss of their leading slugger, who missed the game with a hand injury suffered in the 9th inning of last night's win, by clubbing 16 base hits, five for extra bases, and suddenly the team that couldn't win on the road has won three straight away from Fenway.

So far in the series Boston has scored 20 runs and rapped 35 hits including 6 homers and stole 10 bases in taking all three games, a decided difference from the start of the trip in which the Sox lost five of six games in Oakland and Seattle by averaging just over 2 runs and 5 hits per game.

And don't look now but the man behind the resurgence is none other than ManRam, who added to his historic home run total today and is batting .333 (11-33) with 6 runs, 3 homers and 10 RBI on the trip so far.

With production like that who needs Ortiz, right?

Kidding, kidding.

But the best part of this offensive resurgence is that it hasn't been a one Man show - so far in B'More everyone has been getting into the act.

Like Jacoby Ellsbury, who came into this series in a 1-16 skid but has gone 7-15 with two doubles, a triple, two runs scored and seven stolen bases in three games here.

Or Jason Varitek, who came in with no hits in his previous 18 at bats but has four base knocks in his last 9 ABs in the Nation-friendly confines of Camden Yards.

And maybe that's part of the explanation - there's so many Red Sox jerseys and hats dotting the stands and such loud cheering for the "road" team every time the Sox do something good in this series that maybe the guys feel like they're playing in Fenway.

If that's the case let me say thanks Orioles fans, for being such front-running dickwads that you've turned what was once one of the best home fields in the majors into a virtual vacation destination for Red Sox Nation.

The Sox jumped out to an early lead in this one when Mike Lowell led off the second inning with a double, Tek singled him over to third, and JD Drew, who missed the last two games with vertigo (seriously, what ailment has this guy not had?) skied a sac fly to left to put Boston up 1-0.

Baltimore got the run right back in the bottom of the inning on a leadoff double by Luke Scott, a sacrifice and RBI single by Adam Jones off Bartolo Colon (6IP, 7H, 4ER, 2BB, 5K, HR), but Boston wasted no time bouncing back when they roughed up Brian Burres in the third.

Dustin Pedroia started the uprising with a leadoff single to center and after Youk (2-5, 2R) followed with a single that sent Pedroia to third, Manny sliced a double to left to score the Little Big Man and give the Sox a 2-1 lead.

Lowell (2-4, 2R, 2BI, 2B, HR) then launched a sac fly to score Youk and after Tek drilled a liner that Audrey Huff caught at third, Drew dropped a single into right to plate Ramirez for the third run of the inning and a 4-1 Boston advantage.

After Colon retired the side in order in the bottom of the frame, the floodgates opened in the fourth inning, and it was very another extremely memorable occurrence.

Ellsbury (3-5, BI, SB, CS) got the party started with a bunt base hit to open the inning, and then Pedroia, who homered last night, drove a ball to deep center field that Jones snagged at the wall.

But the next two hits would not be caught.

Ramirez, still giddy from the hysteria surrounding his historic homer last night, took a 1-0 pitch from Burres and carved it the opposite way and into the seats for home run #501, and two pitches later Lowell jacked one the other way into the left field seats, giving the Sox back-to-back jacks in consecutive games and if not for Jones' catch we could've had a rare back-to-back-to-back moment to cherish.

Instead we had to settle for the regular B2B version. Oh well.

Staked to a 7-1 lead Colon got a little sloppy when he surrendered a 2-run shot to Scott with no outs in the bottom of the fourth, and after Boston tacked on a couple more runs on a homer by Drew (2-3, R, 3BI) and single by Ellsbury in the 7th he started to tire when he hit Freddie Bynum and walked Brian Roberts to start the bottom of the inning.

On came Javier Lopez, who ruined the recent impressive string by the bullpen when he
surrendered an RBI single to original idiot Kevin Millah, but by then the game was all but over and it was time to start thinking about wrapping up the roadie tomorrow and heading back home to play the first place Rays in the old ballpark on Yawkey Way on Tuesday.

Then again with a home-away-from-home field advantage like the Sox enjoy here, who needs to go home?

RECORD: 35-24
AL EAST: 1GB
STREAK: W3
LAST 10: 5-5
UP NEXT: Mon @ BAL 7:05 Wakefield vs. Guthrie

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Game Preview: Sox @ Orioles GM3

Colon (2-0, 2.25) vs. Burres (4-4, 4.15)
Game 3 of 4 1:35 @ Camden Yards

Just as the excitement of Manny Ramirez joining the 500 home run club starts to subside the Sox are hit with more depressing injury news as David Ortiz will miss today's game and possibly more due to a wrist injury he incurred while swinging the bat in the 9th inning last night.

An X-ray after the game proved negative but the wrist is sore and Papi says he will need to have an MRI to determine the extent of the injury.

So we can add his name to those of Daisuke Matsuzaka and Clay Buchholz as key members of the club who are currently injured.

On the bright side Boston goes for its third win in a row today when Bart Colon goes for his third consecutive win since being called up a couple of weeks ago from Pawtucket.

In his first two starts with the Sox he has gone from decent (5IP, 6H, 2ER, 2BB, 4K) in his first start to superb in his last one (7IP, 5H, 1ER, 1BB, 4K), flashing a 95 mph fastball while hitting his spots and limiting any potential damaging innings.

Which means he's about due for a letdown.

His mound opponent on the afternoon is the struggling lefthander Brian Burres. In his last outing Burres was tagged for 8 runs and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings against the Stanks in a game Baltimore came back to win, 10-9 in extra innings.

Before that start Burres had been pitching well, allowing 3 runs and 10 hits over 14 1/3 innings in his previous two starts, and in 8 appearances against Boston he has surrendered 14 hits and 5 runs with 9 walks and 9 Ks in 14 2/3 innings.

Hopefully the euphoria over Ramirez' milestone will carry over to today's contest and the Sox can overcome the loss of Ortiz and the probable letdown of Colon to take Game 3 of this series.

Maybe they'll steal six more bases and Baltimore will make six more errors.

NOTES:
-Bailey to start: with Ortiz sitting out and Manny most likely spent from celebrating #500 last night Jeff Bailey will get the nod and make his first ML start since last July this afternoon. Bailey will play left while Manny slides to DH

-Tito out again: Terry Francona will miss another game as he attends his daughter's high school graduation today. Brad Mills will take the helm for the third time against the O's and 5th time this season.

-Bradford bitter about 500: Baltimore reliever Chad Bradford wasn't too concerned with his historic homer he allowed to Ramirez, basically blowing it off as another bad pitch that got hit out of the park and not something that will consume him. Yeah, right. Not until he hears "the man who surrendered Manny Ramirez' 500th homer" for about the 5,000th time

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Pitching and defense highlights solid win for Sox

Sox 5, Mariners 3
WP: Colon (2-0)
LP: Hernandez (2-5)
HRs: BOS-Ortiz (12); SEA-None

SUMMARY:
The Red Sox got back on the winning track in a game that featured numerous terrific defensive plays and stellar starting pitching. Boston broke open a 1-1 tie in the 8th when it plated 4 runs off Felix Hernandez, and Jonathan Papelbon closed out the game after a tumultuous 9th inning.

SUPERSTAR: Bartolo Colon 7IP, 5H, 1ER, 1BB, 4K, 84P
As good as the former Cy Young winner was in his debut last week, tonight he was even better as Colon was hitting his spots all night and worked his way out of several jams thanks to his composure and defense.

THE BIGGEST LOSER: Hernandez 7IP, 7H, 5ER, 5BB, 5K, HR, 112P
Hard to believe this was the same guy who tossed a one-hit masterpiece against the Sox last year in Fenway. This time he was just okay, at least for seven innings, until Boston broke it open in the 8th off the tiring former phenom.

RECAP:
"Did you see that catch by Ichiro? "

Be prepared to hear that a lot because the Mariner centerfielder's incredible, Mays-esque wall-crashing catch to rob Jason Varitek of extra bases in the 5th inning will be replayed on highlight reels and between innings for years to come.

Fortunately for the Sox this game was more than a great catch as Boston got a few nice defensive plays of its own and a quality start from Bartolo Colon to snap its three game losing streak and send Seattle to its 7th straight defeat.

But man was that catch awesome or what?!

See we in the Nation can appreciate it now that our team got the win. But at the time it occurred it was one of those "oh my god, they're gonna use that great grab as a springboard to break the skid they're on and win this game" type of moments.

After all the score was just 1-0 Boston, courtesy of a David Ortiz moonshot off Hernandez in the 4th inning, and Colon had got himself into a couple of mini-jams the two innings prior to "The Catch", giving the Mariners hope that they could mount a comeback and win the game.

But alas Colon, who did allow the game tying run in the 6th inning, buckled down and kept the Ms in check, and the slumbering Boston offense did the rest as they finally awoke in the 8th inning to put this game - and the Nation - to bed.

But not before some tense moments supplied by closer Jonathan Papelbon, who apparently has definitely been hanging with the rest of the bullpen crew too much.

The game started out as a pitcher's duel right from the get-go, with both Colon and Hernandez setting the sides down in order through the first 2 1/2 innings before Bartolo ran into his first spot of trouble in the bottom of the third.

Kenji Johjima started the rally with a one-out double down the left field line and Yunieski Betancourt moved him to third when he followed that hit with a solid single to right. The only thing that kept Johjima from scoring was the threat of Drew's strong arm, a play that would prove fortunate for the Sox.

Colon got Ichiro (2-5, R, BI) to fly out to shallow center to hold the runner at third, and then Dustin Pedroia turned in the game's first defensive gem when he snagged a skidding grounder by Jose Lopez that seemed headed to right field, did one of his patented bounce-ups, and threw to Sean Casey at first to get the final out of the inning.

Ortiz made the M's immediately regret the missed opportunity when he turned on a Hernandez fastball and drove it approximately 420 feet to deep, straightaway center field for his 12th homer of the season and second in two days, and Boston had a tenuous 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the 4th the Mariners staged another mini-threat when after a leadoff walk to Jose Vidro, Colon's only free pass of the night, JD Drew made a nice running catch of a ball that appeared headed for the corner to rob Jeremy Reed of a possible game-tying extra base hit.

The Sox missed a chance to add to their lead when JD Drew singled with one out in the 5th, but that's when Ichiro pulled his wall-crashing stunt that electrified the crowd and crushed the Sox chance to put another run on the board.

Seattle finally broke through Colon's armor in the 6th when Ichiro led off with a single, Lopez was hit by a pitch, and after Vidro sacrificed both runners over Raul Ibanez grounded out to Pedroia to plate Ichiro with the game tying run.

Both starters escaped trouble in the 7th, Hernandez sandwiching a pair of walks between a double play by Lowell and Colon working around a pair of singles to retire Inchiro on a fly out, and then Boston broke it open as King Feliz tired in the 8th.

Hernandez hasn't been the same pitcher since that game at Fenway last April when he took a no hitter into the 8th before Drew spoiled his bid at history, and after bursting onto the scene in that game he has spent a lot of time on the DL and trying to find his lost mojo.

In the 8th his mojo took another beating as Boston batted around, scoring 4 runs on 5 hits and a walk, and why Mariners manager John McLaren left his tiring starter in there to absorb the beating is a question that I'm sure will be debated in the Pacific Northwest for the next 24 hours.
Sean Casey, playing for Youk, started the rally with a sharp single to right, but Julio Lugo's sac bunt attempt failed miserably as Richie Sexson pounced on the ball and nailed Casey at second.

When Jacoby Ellsbury (1-4, BB) grounded out to second it looked like the rally was dead before it started, although it did move Lugo over to scoring position.

But Dustin Pedroia launched the next pitch from Hernandez to deep left center for a ground rule double that broke the tie, and after McLaren decided to intentionally walk Ortiz (1-4, 2R, BI, BB, 2K), Manny Ramirez made him pay with a booming single to deep right that scored Pedroia and set up runners at second and third for Mike Lowell.

Only a sterling defensive play by third baseman Adrian Beltre prevented the inning from becoming a catastrophe as Beltre snared Lowell's hot shot down the line to keep the ball in the infield as Papi scored Boston's fourth run, but an infield single by Drew (2-3, BB) and a bases loaded walk to Tek sealed the fate of Hernandez and the Ms.

Staked to a 5-1 lead Okajima did his job in the 8th before handing the game over to Papelbon in the 9th, but the closer made the game a lot closer than it should have been as he nearly broke down on the mound.

Paps allowed 2 runs on 2 hits and a throwing error of his own before finally getting Vidro to ground out to end the game, and with that the losing skid was snapped and Boston climbed back to 1/2 game out of first place behind the surging Rays.

All in all it was an excellent effort after the debacle in Oakland, one that was filled with many positives for Boston, not the least of which is the apparent addition of another quality starter to the rotation in the form of the rejuvenated Colon.

But did you see that catch by Ichiro?

RECORD: 32-22
AL EAST: 1/2 GB
STREAK: W1
LAST 10: 7-3
UP NEXT: Tue @ SEA 10:10 Matsuzaka vs. Bautista

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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

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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.

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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?

Due to the rain out Friday night and Clay Buchholz nursing a fingernail injury on the DL, Boston is in need of a couple of starters this week.

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.

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