See the title to this post?  That’s pretty much the takeaway from last night’s game.  The Red Sox sported some obvious holes in their lineup (most notably, Adrian Gonzalez ceded first base to Mauro Gomez last night – word is that he still doesn’t feel well) but pulled through for a strong win out of the All-Star break gate.  The Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1, bringing them (wait for it… wait for it…) one game over .500, and putting them a game ahead of Toronto in the AL East standings.

Welcome back, Jacoby Ellsbury – we missed you. (Keith Allison, c/o flickr.com)

The marquee line on this game was that Jacoby Ellsbury finally made his long-awaited return off the DL, playing in his first game since partially dislocating his shoulder back on April 13.  He flew out to left in his first leadoff at-bat, but finally got on base when he dribbled a seeing-eye ground ball past second base in the seventh inning.  It’s good to have Ellsbury back – even if he doesn’t do much for a while, the simple fact that all Boston’s injured players are starting to make their reappearances will inject some life into this team, and into this fanbase.

Oh, on that note – yesterday team owner Larry Lucchino sent a letter to season ticket holders commiserating with them over the team’s lackluster first half and asking for them to keep the faith for the second haul.  The local news covered the letter this morning, and interviewed some Sox fans.  One of them actually said “it’s always been hard being a Sox fan… they do this to us every year.”  Excuse me?  It’s true that the Red Sox have had more down seasons than up seasons over the course of the last lifetime, but I think that guy missed the point.

The reason this season is excruciating as compared to other seasons, is because this season (and last season, for that matter), the Sox were supposed to be stacked.  Crawford, Gonzalez, Lackey, etc.  The Sox print money these days, and it’s an odd mixture of frustration and, I think, embarassment at continued high-priced free-agent failure that drives this melancholy.  The Red Sox are turning, if they haven’t already, into the early 2000-era Yankees – high paychecks, clubhouse discord, and an inability to back it up on the field.  That embarrasses a lot of Red Sox fans who have constructed a lot of their fan identity on, well, being the martyrs on the white horses, the anti-Yankees.  Must be tough to swallow that they’re quickly becoming them.

Anyway.  David Ortiz and Pedro Ciriaco, whose been playing out of his mind lately (3 for 3, sacrifice, stolen base last night, and 10 for 16 in his last four games) handled all the scoring for the Sox last night.  Papi launched a ball into the right field seats in the first inning to get things started, and then Ciriaco scored Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ryan Sweeney on a bases-loaded single in the second inning.  From there, Franklin Morales held the Rays scoreless through five, allowing only two hits before giving the ball to Scott Atchison.  Atchison let the Rays score off a Sean Rodriguez double, but that was all the scoring the six total Red Sox pitchers would allow.  My new persona non grata Vicente Padilla picked up his 20th hold (maybe baseball’s too easy for him, and he should pick up a tougher sport that women play, like, oh, roller derby, or my “recreational” Sunday flag football league, which, yikes), and Alfredo Aceves picked up his 20th save.

So, that’s not a bad start to the second half.  Here’s a link to the box score, courtesy of the Red Sox.  Boston takes the field again in Tampa Bay tonight, when Clay Buchholz (8-2, 5.53 ERA) comes off the disabled list from his scary gastrointestinal bleed to face David Price 11-4, 2.82 ERA).

After all that – the offseason drama, the dirty laundry, the vows to do better, the stacked lineup – the Red Sox are officially a mediocre team.  They’re back at .500 heading into the All-Star break after losing to the New York Yankees again last night, 7-3.  With the loss, the Sox dropped three of four to New York, and head into the furlough at 43-43.

Last night, Jon Lester took yet another tough loss, dropping his record to 5-6 on the season.  He allowed two runs in the first inning, via a Mark Teixeira double that scored Derek Jeter, and a double-play ball gone wrong to Sox third baseman Mauro Gomez.  For the fourth time in four games, the Red Sox let the Yankees take an early lead in the first inning.

The Sox scored in the bottom of the first, when upstart and most popular man in Boston Pedro Ciriaco singled, stole second (the throw was on time, but Jeter missed the tag), and scored when Jeter dropped a popup.  PS – Jeter was off last night.  The muffed Ciriaco steal, the dropped pop fly, a few muffed plays at short – I don’t think he’s hurt, but it was just weird to see him off his game like that.

» Continue reading “Red Sox Limp Into Break After Dropping Finale To Yankees”

So, here’s a thought experiment for you: when your starting pitcher, your number two pitcher – let’s call him, say, Josh Beckett – gives up five runs to the Yankees in the top of the first inning what are the chances of then witnessing any kind of close, fun, enjoyable baseball game?

Josh Beckett (Amanda Laws)

Turns out, if you’re talking about a Red Sox-Yankees game, the chances are pretty good.  The Red Sox stormed back against an equally ineffective Hiroki Kuroda in the bottom of the first, and tied the game at five.  A wild first inning kicked off the last series before the All-Star break: Beckett gave up two singles and then hit Alex Rodriguez to load the bases, before walking Derek Jeter home on a Robinson Cano walk, allowing a two-run single to Mark Teixeira, and giving up sacrifice fly balls to Nick Swisher and Eric Chavez.

Phew.  Exhausting!  Good thing Kuroda had a similarly tough time getting outs in the first inning.  He gave up a leadoff double to Daniel Nava, moved him on a wild pitch, and let him score on a Ryan Kalish sacrifice fly.  A David Ortiz single, a Yankee throwing error, and an Adrian Gonzalez double brought the score to 5-2, before Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit his 17th home run of the year to right field, tying the game and marking a new career high.

The first inning took almost 45 minutes, which, well, let’s just say visions of a seven-hour game were running through my head.  This was a Red Sox-Yankees game, after all.

» Continue reading “Red Sox Drop A Wild One, And, The Teixeira-Padilla Chronicles”

I hate West Coast games. I was sound asleep before the first pitch was even tossed.

Apparently, I missed one hell of a pitchers’ duel. One that the Red Sox unfortunately ended up losing. Bummer. And here I thought this West Coast swing was going to be a breeze… I need to stop thinking this way. It only gets me into trouble.

Franklin Morales, in his third official start for the Red Sox, proved once again he might kinda like this role. He pitched seven innings of shut out ball, scattering just three hits and striking out seven. Pretty good, right? I thought so.

Turns out Seattle’s pitcher, Felix Hernandez, was out to one-up Morales last night. Hernandez pitched a complete game shut-out, holding the normally pretty good Red Sox offense to just five hits. He struck out 13 — including multiple Ks of some of Boston’s best. It was a tough night, I’m almost glad I missed it.

The lone run of the game came in the bottom of the ninth. Scott Atchison, who is usually lights out, had a shaky outing. He gave up a one out double to Casper Wells and then intentionally walked Justin Smoak. With runners on first and second, John Jaso singled to right field. With Cody Ross charging the ball, Wells rounded third in attempt to score. Ross threw a perfect one-hopper to Jarod Saltalamacchia who had plenty of time to get Wells. If he had hung on the the ball that is. Salty talked about the play after the game.

“It was a good throw, low, on line,” Saltalamacchia said. “I was just trying to stay low with it. As the ball was coming closer, I tried to block the plate, to make sure he doesn’t get it. And I think as I was doing it, I was swiping in, and I think it just rattled around in my glove.”

Tough drop for Salty. Tough luck for Morales. Tough loss for the Sox.

Click here for the tough to see box score, courtesy of the Red Sox. The two teams are back at it tonight. Another late game. Maybe if I play my cards right, I can fall asleep on the couch and wake about just about the time the game starts. Aaron Cook gets the start tonight.

Am I the only one who is SO tired of talking about last place?

Daisuke Matsuzaka, in search of his first win of 2012, pitched a beauty last night giving up just one run in 5.2 innings and struck out five. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the W, but the team did. The bullpen posted yet another brilliant performance keeping the Jays scoreless for the remaining 3.1 innings with a combination of Scott Atchison, Andrew Miller, Vicente Padilla and Alfredo Aceves. Despite his strong outing, Dice K told reporters after the game the has more work to do.

“We ended up winning the game, so I’m really happy about that,” Matsuzaka said through a translator. “I do have to give credit to myself to holding them to one run in the first inning. Other than that, I need to go deeper into the game to be more satisfied with my pitching. … I’m not satisfied with the way I pitched today.”

Padilla struck out two batters in the eighth inning. Honestly, I’m surprised anyone even steps into the batter’s box against this guy. He scares me. And not just because he has a reputation for beaning guys. He just looks mean. Like if I get a hit, he’s going to pull a machete out of his sock and hack me to death on first base. I’ll just take the K, thankyouverymuch. *shivers* Glad he’s on my team.

Jays’ pitcher, Aaron Laffey, really shut down the Red Sox line up allowing them only three hits over six innings. Obviously, they were elated to see him not come back out for the seventh inning and promptly welcomed his three replacements that inning by putting up a three spot on the scoreboard. Jarrod Saltalamacchia got the scoring started with a two-out, solo home run. Pinch hitter Ryan Kalish then doubled, PH Daniel Nava was hit by a pitch and Mike Aviles walked to load the bases for Dustin Pedroia. Pedroia didn’t let me down, shooting a ground ball up the middle for a base hit scoring Kalish and Nava but Aviles was caught in a rundown for the final out.

After Padilla showed the Jays who was boss in the top of the eighth, the Sox decided to tack on a couple more. David Ortiz doubled, Cody Ross singled and Adrian Gonzalez smashed a wall-ball double to center to score Ortiz. Will Middlebrooks, who had a rough night at third, finished off the scoring with a sac fly to score Ross.

Aceves pitched a one-two-three ninth. Game over. Sox win. Bye-bye last place once again.

Clicky here for all the good stuff box score, courtesy of the Red Sox. They finish off their three-game set with the Jays this afternoon with Jon Lester (4-5, 4.48) taking on Ricky Romero (8-1, 4.34). This is an interesting match-up — they have nearly identical stats but their records are worlds apart.

Injury Update: Clay Buchholz has been diagnosed with esophagitis which is an inflammation of the esophagus. Ouch. However, Clay is suffering from an erosion of his esophagus which is what caused his internal bleeding. Double ouch. I’m wondering if the 15-day DL is going to be enough to come back from this. In other news, Jacoby “Fra-geeee-lay” Ellsbury is starting a rehab assignment in Fort Meyers this week as the DH. Really? REALLY? Whatever happen to the initial “oh, he’ll be out probably 4-6 weeks report”? Did they really mean 4-6 months? Tape a friggin’ asprin to your stupid sublexed shoulder and get your ass back to Boston. I’m going to start calling him JD Ellsbury.

The Boston Red Sox evened up their series at Wrigley Field last night, beating the Chicago Cubs 4-3 in interleague play.

Jon Lester (Keith Allison, c/o flickr.com)

Jon Lester pitched a gem, holding the Cubs to three runs, all of which scored on one mistake pitch that Luis Valbuena slammed into left field for a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning.  Prior to that, Lester had allowed a double to Jeff Baker and a walk to the next hitter.  Valentine saw enough, and brought in Scott Atchison to end the seventh inning.  If we’re being honest, I fell asleep after that, so I didn’t watch Vicente Padilla and Alfredo Aceves clean up the last two frames for Boston – but apparently they did, since no more runs scored.  Exciting Saturday night, folks.

Lester was just what the Red Sox needed him to be – strong, effective, unemotional, and confident.  By the time Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija had thrown seventy-something pitches, Lester had thrown 29.  That’s insane.

Offensively, the Red Sox scored enough runs to win, but they made some baserunning mistakes along the way.  In the first inning, David Ortiz walked.  Jarrod Saltalamacchia (who hit cleanup and earned it, mashing a two-run home run that gave the Sox the lead in the fourth inning) hit a double to deep right field.  You could tell that Ortiz thought he’d only get to second base on the hit, or *maybe* to third – he was kind of loping around second base when you could just see this lightbulb go off in his head.  He “sped up” (I use the term loosely since Ortiz doesn’t really have any speed to speak of), galloped around third, and was promptly thrown out at the plate by a mile.  Then, in the sixth inning, Saltalamacchia got into a baserunning jam of his own, and got caught between second and third to end a would-be rally against a tiring Samardzija.

Saltalamacchia also had a great day behind the plate.  He threw out Starlin Castro at second base. I think Joe Buck and Tim McCarver said that Castro had only been thrown out on 7 out of 43 stealing attempts – so this was good.  Will Middlebrooks, meanwhile, didn’t have the best day in the field.  The reason Starlin Castro was on first base to try to steal second was due to a Middlebrooks throwing error.  And, the sixth inning won’t exactly have a place in Middlebrooks’s highlight reel: he made a late throw on Darwin Barney, and then missed what should have been a routine ground ball to let Castro onto first base again.

Luckily for the Red Sox, Alfonso Soriano hit a ground ball to third and then, instead of, you know, running down to first base, Soriano watched Middlebrooks bobble the ball twice before starting a half-hearted trot.  Middlebrooks threw Soriano out, but had Sori run, he would have had a shot at getting on.  The Cubs fans at Wrigley didn’t take this too well, and booed Soriano lustily.

Here’s the box score, courtesy of the Red Sox.  The Cubs and the Sox finish up their interleague matchup today.  Josh Beckett got sent to the 15-day disabled list to deal with his inflamed shoulder, so Franklin Morales will get the start for Boston.

Dice K (c/o Keith Allison, Flickr.com)

I’d bet ten bucks Mr. Theo Epstein has quite a big smile on his face after his Cubs blanked the Red Sox this afternoon 3-0 at Wrigley Field. Actually, if I were more of a gambler, I’d probably bet a thousand, but I’m cheap. Going into this series, I’ll admit I was maybe a bit too confident. Coming off a two-game win streak, I thought maybe…just maybe…they could continue with the strong pitching and hot bats. I was wrong.

Daisuke Matsuzaka made his second start of the season and things were looking bad when he walked the bases loaded in the first. He then gave up a two-run double and that’s really all the Cubbies needed. Overall, Dice K pitched a pretty ok game after the first. He went six innings and gave up three runs on four hits (and three walks — those walks’ll kill ya.)

The problem was that Cubs’ pitcher Ryan Dempster was outstanding, blanking the Sox on just four singles. Scott Podsednik was really the only batter who had any success getting two of those four hits. And Dempster helped himself at the plate going 2 for 2 with a triple and a run scored.

The highlight of the game for me was a great play in the seventh inning when Scott Atchison came in to relieve Dice K. Tony Campana attempted a bunt for a base hit and while David Ortiz charged to field the ball, Scott Atchison sprinted to first base. Ortiz led him perfectly to the bag with a perfect toss. He just beat the head first slide of Campana. But yeah, other than that, the highlights were pretty nonexistent.

On another note: on the latest episode of “As the Injuries Turn,” Josh Beckett has been scratched from Sunday’s start with shoulder inflamation. Are we sure it’s not head inflamation from thinking so highly of himself? Whatever is inflamed, Franklin Morales has been slated to take Beckett’s start. After his scoreless 4.1 inning performance in early June in relief of Daniel Bard, I have great confidence in his ability too give us some quality innings.

Click here for the pretty uninspiring box score, courtesy of the Red Sox. Jon Lester takes the hill tomorrow night for a prime time, nationally televised game. Really? Two last place teams?

Oh well… go Sox.

Red Sox could use some of their heart.

The Red Sox lost 8-6 to the (tied for) first place Baltimore Orioles last night and once again claimed sole possession of the AL East basement. Since last September, this team has done nothing but fill my head with the “F” word. In my opinion it comes down to this: they got no heart, no grit, no balls. Maybe they should be watching the Celtics game in the dugout, learn what grit and balls is all about. Maybe Kevin Garnett needs to come give this team a little chest thumping pep talk.

I honestly thought their short stint out of last place would give them a fire in their bellies. It’s not that they’re not hitting, they just can’t seem to string those hits together to make something happen. They left 10 men on base last night and were 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position. *gags* Most days, if your pitching is spot on, six runs will get you the W. Last night was not one of those days.

Jon Lester got the start and allowed eight hits, four runs (just two of them earned) and struck out five on 99 pitches. Bobby V. lifted him with after giving up a lead-off single in the top of the seventh, bringing in Scott Atchison, who has been the best pitcher in the bullpen this season. Lights out. A miniscule ERA. Nineteen plus scoreless innings. Welp, that all ended last night. Atchison had a case of the yips — not as sharp as he’s known to be. He faced four batters in a third of an inning, gave up two hits, two runs, walked one and allowed an inherited runner to score. O’s take a 6-4 lead. He spoke about his outing after the game.

“It’s been a good run,” said Atchison. “You kind of notice it after awhile that it’s been awhile, but it’s over now. Get back out there tomorrow and try to start another one. That’s kind of the best way I think to do it, and that’s what I plan to do.”

Matt Albers pitched a scoreless 1.2 innings and Alfredo Aceves came in for the ninth to try and give the Sox a chance to get back in the game in the bottom of the inning. He set down the O’s 1-2-3. *phew*

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who is fast becoming one of my favs, came up in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and Ortiz on base. He smashed a 96 mph Jim Johnson fastball off the top of the Green Monster for a two-run home run. There was a question on whether or not it actually cleared the line but after review, the play stood. Game tied 6-6. More late inning heroics for Salty!

Aceves returned to the mound in the top of the 10th and walked the lead off batter. Never a good thing. This guy gives me a heart attack every time he takes the mound and last night was no exception. I won’t get into specifics because, well, it makes me want to stab someone, but the wheels fell of the bus, the O’s scored two and the Sox went down quietly in the bottom of the inning for the loss and yet another day in last place.

If you can stomach it, click on over here for the box, courtesy of the Red Sox. Tonight, Josh Beckett (4-5, 4.26) attempts to stop the bleeding.

Big Papi still on fire (Photo by Keith Allison c/o Flickr.com)

It’s been a long time since the Red Sox have seen the plus side of .500. Actually, they haven’t been over .500 since last season. That’s just scary. But last night, they beat the Detroit Tigers and the best pitcher in baseball, Justin Verlander, 6-3 to get to this point. MV-what? Despite routinely throwing pitches in the high 90′s, Verlander didn’t look much like the best pitcher in baseball. Or maybe the Red Sox hitters are just that good?

The Sox line up jumped on Verlander early scoring one in the second when David Ortiz doubled to left field. After Kevin Youkilis struck out, Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled to left moving Ortiz to third. Mike Aviles grounded to second base in what surely would be a double play but Aviles’ hustle down the line paid off. He beat the throw to first and Ortiz scored the game’s first run.

In the fourth inning, the Red Sox loaded the bases on singles by Kevin Youkilis, Mike Aviles and Scott Podsednik. With two outs, rookie Daniel Nava came to the plate. Verlander pummeled Nava with fastballs hitting 98, 99 mph. Nava managed to work the count full and then fought off a 100 mph fastball and punched it into left field. With the runners already on the move, Nava cleared the bases with a double and put the Sox up for good 4-0.

After the game, Nava told reporters what he did in order to have success hitting against Verlander.

“The first at-bat I had I was really trying to pick the ball up, was having a hard time picking the ball up, so from that point — I had that 3-1 pitch that I swung through — and I needed to shorten my swing up,” said Nava, who’s trying out as the Sox’s leadoff hitter. “Fortunately, I got a pitch to do that with and I had guys on base. Just keep it simple. I think I got out of my approach a little on 3-1 because it was a hitter’s count. I just tried to calm myself down and keep it simple.”

But they weren’t done scoring yet. David Ortiz had an RBI double in the fifth and a solo home run in the seventh, his 11th of the season, to cap off his night going 3 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Daniel Bard was solid in his outing. He went 5.1 innings, scattering four hits and giving up two earned runs – both solo home runs – while striking out four. Rich Hill, Scott Atchison, Andrew Miller and Vicente Padilla handled the next 2.2 innings giving up just one more run. Alfredo Aceves (why does typing his name always make me hungry?) came in for his 12th save in the ninth. After blowing a save last week, it was nice to see him come in and get #12.

Click here for the box score that put the Red Sox one game over .500 and just 3.5 back of first place!! The Sox and Tigers go again tonight with Jon Lester (3-4, 4.72 ERA) looking to get back on the winning track against youngster Drew Smyly (2-1, 3.14 ERA). First pitch is at 7:10pm.

Deja vu all over again, right?  The Red Sox ended Memorial Day weekend by gutting out a 7-4 win over the Detroit Tigers to get back to .500… for the sixth time this season.  Felix Doubront – who, surprisingly, is quickly becoming Boston’s most reliable starter – picked up the win with a four-hit, two-run lockdown over six innings.  Alfredo Aceves (why was he in the game in a non-save situation?) gave up a two-run home run to Jhonny Peralta with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but quickly struck out the next batter to secure the Red Sox win.

“Every outing I’m learning more how to approach the hitters, and today, I think I was more focused on throwing the ball for strikes and getting the hitters out quickly,” Doubront told reporters. “I was throwing the ball where I wanted and my offspeed pitch was working pretty good.”

Scott Atchison, meanwhile, quietly put together two scoreless innings between Doubront and Aceves.  He’s thrown 29 innings this year, and only allowed three runs for a miniscule 0.93 ERA.  He’s only allowed one home run and six walks.  Where would the Red Sox bullpen be without him?  He’s the only middle reliever that I’m confident can get the outs when he gets the call.

The Red Sox also had a good day offensively.  Ryan Sweeney announced his return from the disabled list with three hits.  Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit another home run.  And, Mike Aviles had two hits, one of them a controversial one.  In the bottom of the second, and with Sweeney on second base, it looked to everyone in the stands and to everyone watching on television like Aviles struck out when Detroit catcher Gerald Laird snagged a foul tip.  But, first base umpire Tim Welke ruled that Laird had dropped the ball.  Aviles, with new life, responded by hitting an RBI single to center, scoring Sweeney and extending the inning.  Daniel Nava scored Aviles on a double, and Dustin Pedroia got lucky on an infield single that bounced off Prince Fielder’s glove and scored Nava.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland and third base coach Gene Lamont both told the umpiring crew what they thought of the foul tip call after the second inning ended, and both were ejected from the game for their efforts.

Pedroia, by the way, appears to have jammed his thumb.  He left the game after making a diving stop in the fifth inning.  Because of the Memorial Day holiday, he wasn’t able to get an MRI yesterday, but is expected to get one today.

Here’s a link to the box score, care of the Red Sox.

The Red Sox continue their homestand tonight, when Daniel Bard (4-5, 4.69 ERA) takes on Justin Verlander (5-2, 2.15 ERA) for a 7:10 start.  I’ll be at Fenway and I have to work tomorrow, so let’s hope that the threatened humidity-breaking thunderstorms stay away until later tonight.