This is Hell Freezing Over

10.5.2008

HELL FREEZES OVER

Here are a couple things I never thought I would hear or see in my lifetime --

“Red Sox World Series Champion"

"Boston College football ranked #2 in the AP and ESPN polls."

“Randy Moss, New England Patriots, captain.”

“Good alert base running by, Manny.” – Dick Stockton, third inning Game 3 – 2008 ALDS v. Cubs

-- but yet I did hear these words and was taken a back by them.

Wasn’t this the same guy that failed to run out a plethora of infield ground balls during his time in Boston? The same guy who hit a towering fly ball in Game 5 of the 2007 ALCS and wound up standing only on first base because he was caught admiring his long single, thinking it was a homerun?

In the third inning of Game Three of the Cubs-Dodgers ALDS at Chavez Ravine, right fielder Andre Ethier hit a deep fly ball to Jim Edmonds at the base of the warning track in center. Due to Dodger Stadium’s vast, symmetrical outfield, Rafael Furcal easily cruised into third on the sacrifice fly. But wait what was this? Manny Ramirez tagging and going to second on the play? Wow! Now, matched with a Sox World Series victory when I was 18 (2003), that is something I never thought I would see.

Two innings earlier when the Dodgers took the lead in the top of the first, Ramirez followed a Russell Martin one-out, double to left with a single to the same field to set the table for Ethier and James Loney. After the former Sun Devil struck out, Loney lined a double to right and the hustling Manny came all the way around from first to score the second run of the game. As he popped up from his slide into home, Ramirez had child-like expression of excitement written all over his face that I never once saw during his time in Sox uniform.

Not since the day he put on the Red Sox uniform top at his December 20, 2000 press conference after finalizing an eight year $160 million with Boston, did I see even a glimmer of a smile on Manny Ramirez’s face. But in two months in Los Angeles, Ramirez brought a much needed spark to the Dodger line up, excited the clubhouse and granted interview requests to the waiting media. Something in Boston that was the equivalent to pulling teeth for the Boston media. I like to think it would be easier to get Patriots information relating to injuries out of Bill Belichick than to get two words out of Ramirez during his time in Hub.

Ramirez hit some monumental, moon-shot and milestone homeruns, brought two championships to the City of Boston and was elected to the All-Star team every year he wore a Sox uniform. But one thing was clear; Boston was not the place for Manny. Boston is not a city for the mellow and laid-back and getting traded to Los Angeles was the best thing that ever happened to him.

In a city that cares more about what Paris Hilton did now or which celebrity is in trouble with the law, Ramirez can leave his work at the park and hide in relative anonymity. It is something that he was not able to do in Boston due to how engrossed Red Sox Nation is to their team. This is essentially part of why Ramirez why he is 74-for-187 (.396) in a Dodger uniform with 17 homeruns and 53 runs batted in and is now Los Angeles’s leading man in the 2008 post-season.

"When you're in a place that you like, it is easy," Ramirez told TBS field reporter Tom Verducci after the Dodgers swept the Cubs to move on to the NLCS to face either the Phillies or Brewers. (Also point to note he thanked Ned Colletti and Frank McCourt for bringing him to L.A.)

Many baseball commentators and columnists thought Ramirez would never oblige to Joe Torre’s request to cut his five-year-old dreadlocks but Ramirez surprised us again. Ok so it took him two weeks to trim his hair but in the words of our good friend Bob Wiley, “baby steps.” Change takes time and patience but with Ramirez finding a new comfort zone I suspect we will be seeing more things we thought we would never see out of the RBI King.

Tim Wakefield retires 12 consecutive Mariners to lead Sox to the 11-3 victory

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RED SOX BLOW OUT MARINERS 11-3; MOVE TO 39-26
Tim Wakefield retires 12 consecutive Mariners to lead Sox to the 11-3 victory

(June 7, 2008) – On a hazy, hot and humid June day in Boston, the Seattle Mariners had more to deal with than the 92 degree heat. They also had to deal with Tim Wakefield’s fluttering knuckleball that baffled Seattle batters for seven innings. Wakefield provided Red Sox fans with another excellent outing, allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out six to pick up his fourth win of the season in the Sox’s 11-3 win. After the Mariners tied the score in the second, the 41-year-old veteran set down 13 of the next 15 Seattle batters, including retiring 12 in a row before catcher Kenji Johjima blooped a single in front of Coco Crisp in the seventh.

If J.D. Drew keeps hitting the way he is in the number three slot in the order, David Ortiz might have a hard time getting his spot back. Drew continued his red-hot hitting with a two-out rocket just past the outstretched glove of center fielder Ichiro Suzuki. As the ball rolled to the base of the wall, the Sox right fielder kicked it into another gear as he rounded second base and slide into third, safely with a triple. He knocked his seventh homerun just to the right of yellow line on the Green Monster off Seattle reliever, knuckleballer R.A. Dickey in the sixth. In his last eight games, no Red Sox starter has a higher batting average than Drew with a .542 average, three doubles, one triple, three homeruns and eight RBIs.

Manny Ramirez extended his hitting streak to 12 games by hitting his fourth homerun in three games with a monster shot over everything in left. His 14 round-tripper of the season scored Drew from third to give the Sox the early 2-0 lead and the RBI Man’s 46^th and 47^th RBIs of the season.

After Wakefield retired the side in order in, with a ground out to shortstop by Wladimir Balentien sandwiched between strike outs to Richie Sexson and Kenji Johjima, the Mariners came back to tie the game in the third. In the top of the inning, shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt led off the inning with a base hit into left and was followed by a dribbler down the third baseline by Suzuki, for his second hit of the game. Third baseman Adrian Beltre would drive in Betancourt and Suzuki with a ground rule double down the first base line after Jose Lopez advanced the runners with a ground out to third. But the game was not tied for long, as the Red Sox re-took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth.

After Kevin Youkilis grounded out to shortstop to begin the Sox half of the fourth, rookie Brandon Moss walked and motored around from first on Alex Cora’s double to left center. Cora would also come around to score Boston’s fourth run of the game on Coco Crisp’s second hit of the game. Not only did Crisp reach bases twice in the game but he kept the Seattle defense on their toes, stealing his 9^th and 10^th bags of season.

Revenge is sweet, when you are on the giving end of it instead of the receiving end of it. Just as the Mariners blew out the Sox in Friday night’s 8-0 shut out, the Sox returned the favor today after batting around in the bottom of the eighth inning. Cora led of the inning with a base hit into right field. Julio Lugo would advance Cora to second with his only base of the game into right as well. Drew was a double shy of being the first Sox player since John Valentin after he drove in Cora and Lugo with another single to right. Ramirez received the hat trick of the game when he walked for the third time in the eighth inning to move Drew up to second and then was pinch ran for by Jacoby Ellsbury. Coming in as a defensive replacement in top of the inning, Mike Lowell lined a double down the third base line to drive in Drew and send Ellsbury to third. After Lowell’s base hit the game was over for reliever Mark Lowe but his line score was not. Not having an RBI all game, Youkilis did not want to feel left out and lined an RBI double to left to plate Ellsbury and Lowell against Ryan Rowland-Smith, who relieved Lowe. In just a third of an inning, Lowe allowed all five runs on four hits and one walk.

There has been a last minute change of starting pitchers for Seattle in tomorrow afternoon’s series finale against the Red Sox. Instead of right hander Jarrod Washburn getting the start against the 23-year-old Justin Masterson, the Mariners will opt for the left handed Erik Bedard. After an outstanding seven inning performance of two hit ball with eight strikes against Wakefield and the Sox on May, 28, Bedard failed to get out of the fourth inning in his next start against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In just 3.1 innings of work versus the Halos, the left hander allowed five runs – four earned – on seven hits while walking three and striking out one.

Making his 12 career start against Boston, Bedard will be opposed by Masterson, who is making the first start of his career against the Mariners. The former Aztec is 2-0 in his three starts this season with a 2.95 ERA, 14 strike outs, 9 walks, a 1.09 WHIP and a .175 opponent’s batting average. Masterson is coming off a 7-4 victory against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 3 where he went six innings allowing four runs on six hits while striking out five and walking two. Since being recalled for the third time this season on June 3, it marks the first time Masterson has stayed in the big leagues for more than a cup of coffee.

WIN: Tim Wakefield (4-4)

LOSS: Miguel Batista (3-7)

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Game Notes:

Going 0-for-12 on this current home stand, Dustin Pedroia got the day game after the night game off. Today will provide for a good mental health day for the sophomore second baseman.

Jonathan Papelbon came on to pitch the ninth inning to get some work in since he had not pitched since June 3.

Kevin Youkilis 233 consecutive games without an error has come to end when he dropped an easy throw from Alex Cora at second in the top of the ninth on a ground ball by pinch hitter Willie Bloomquist.

The 3 Stars of the Game:

1. Tim Wakefield, BOSTON ---- 7IP, 4H, 2R, 2BB, 6K

2. J.D. Drew, BOSTON ---- 3-5 3B, HR, RBI, 2 Runs-scored

3. Manny Ramirez, BOSTON ---- 1-2 HR, 3 BB, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs-scored

Despite rift with Youkilis, Manny Ramirez drives in 5 of 7 Sox runs as Boston sweeps Tampa Bay

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RED SOX SWEEP RAYS 7-1; MOVE TO 38-25
Despite rift with Youkilis, Manny Ramirez drives in 5 of 7 Sox runs as Boston sweeps Tampa Bay

(June 5, 2008) – A new chapter has been added to the Red Sox-Rays rivalry as the Sox completed the three game sweep against Tampa Bay with a 7-1 win. Coco Crisp wrote the next edition of the eight year rivalry last night when he took out Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura on a stolen base attempt in the bottom of the eighth inning. The play last night had Tampa Bay manager, Joe Maddon, miffed and sparked a cross-field argument between Crisp and Maddon in the top of the ninth.

With Maddon outwardly upset at the Sox centerfielder’s actions in the previous night’s game, it comes as no surprise the Rays would seek revenge against Crisp in the future. But it is intriguing starter James Shields decided to hit Crisp in the side of the left leg with one down the bottom of the first. Instead of walking down to first base, Coco became enraged after being hit and charged the mound with Dioner Navarro charging behind him like Benjamin Watson chasing down Broncos safety Champ Bailey in the 2006 AFC Division Game in Denver.

Navarro took down the Sox center fielder like Mike Vrabel dropping Peyton Manning for a 10-yard loss, but not before Crisp got one swing at Shields. As soon as Crisp was down for the count, designated hitter Jonny Gomes and left fielder Carl Crawford decided to get in on the action with a few sucker punches of their own. Crisp and Shields were ejected from the game immediately following the dugout emptying brawl while Gomes was gone not too long afterward. There will be major suspensions to Crisp, Shields, Gomes and possibly Crawford, handed down by the Commish in days to come.

Down two runs in the second inning, it was not the time for the Rays to go after Crisp and send Shields, one of their best pitchers, to the showers just two innings into the game. Tampa Bay will see the Red Sox later on during the year; they should have been patient in their retaliation efforts against Boston and not struck so quick. When you have the upper hand in a scrum, you want to send the message that you may strike at any time. But tonight just showed the inexperience of the Rays.

After Crisp was ejected from the game, Jacoby Ellsbury moved from left field to center while recent Pawtucket call-up Chris Carter went into left. Getting another opportunity to play at the major league level, Carter finally received his first big league base hit with a single into center field off Grant Balfour, who replaced Shields after he was ejected in the second.

The Sox outfield started the game with Ellsbury, Crisp and J.D. Drew (left to right) but finished with Carter, Drew and Kevin Youkilis. In the top of the fourth, Ellsbury recorded the first out of the inning with a diving catch off the bat of fellow rookie Evan Longoria, whose liner was sure to drop for extra bases. But the rookie would not get up right away. After making the catch, the Oregonian turned his wrist over and was taken out of the game for precautionary reasons. Drew shifted over to center while Youkilis entered the game in right field.

Lost in the game was another outstanding performance by the Sox young left hander, Jon Lester. In 6.1 innings, the lefty allowed just one earned on eight hits while walking no opposing batters –for the first time this year – and striking out five Tampa Bay hitters. Also lost was Manny Ramirez’s 2-for-3 night which included his 13^th homerun of the season in the bottom of the first to put him tied with teammate David Ortiz and Seattle’s Adrian Beltre for third place for the AL lead in homeruns. Ramirez’s 503^rd career homerun drove in Dustin Pedroia, who was hit on the elbow by a Shields’s inside pitch, and Drew, who doubled to left center, sending Pedroia to third.

Ramirez would drive in five of the Red Sox seven runs in the game but it still would not matter to Youkilis who got in the face of the Sox’s eccentric left fielder between the fourth and fifth innings. Is there trouble in paradise for the typically mild-mannered Sox clubhouse or is it just “intra-family issues?” Neither Ramirez nor Youkilis wanted to comment on the situation so speculation welcome from either side. Radio broadcaster Joe Castiglione commented that maybe Youkilis was tweaked because Ramirez was one the last people out of the dugout during the brawl in the second. But why should the Sox hot-tempered first baseman care, because as the day’s designated hitter Ramirez was not due up until sixth that inning (should the Sox go that far) could have been in the clubhouse watching tapes. Note to Youkilis: do not get into a pissing match with the man who produces the majority of the runs for the team!

The Red Sox will take on the Seattle Mariners for a weekend three game series on Friday night with Bartolo Colon (3-0) getting the start against Felix Hernandez (3-5). Colon will be followed by Tim Wakefield (3-4) and Miguel Batista (3-6) on Saturday and Justin Masterson (2-0) and Jarrod Washburn (2-7) on Sunday.

WIN: Jon Lester (4-3)

LOSS: James Shields (4-4)

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Game Notes:

Dustin Pedroia hit a sacrifice fly to center field in the bottom of the second, to drive in Chris Carter – pinch running for Coco Crisp – off reliever Grant Balfour with one out in the inning for the Sox’s fourth run of the game.

J.D. Drew drove in the fifth run of the game for Boston with a bases loaded walk in the fourth before Manny Ramirez drove in his fourth and fifth RBIs of the game with single into left field. After Jason Varitek grounded out to second to begin the inning, Carter and Julio Lugo followed with back-to-back base hits. Relieving Balfour, J.P. Howell got Kevin Youkilis to fly out to center to advance Carter to third before walking Pedroia to load the bases.

The 3 Stars of the Game:

1. Manny Ramirez, BOSTON ---- 2-3, Homerun, 5 RBIs

2. Jon Lester, BOSTON --- 6.1IP, 8H, 1ER, 0BB, 5K

3. Chris Carter, BOSTON --- 2-3 2 Singles, 2 Runs-scored

Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell’s back-to-back homeruns lead Sox to 9-4 win over Baltimore

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RED SOX POWER PAST ORIOLES 9-4; MOVE TO 35-24
Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell’s back-to-back homeruns lead Sox to 9-4 win over Baltimore

(June 1, 2008) – The Boston bats woke up earlier on the first day of June on the back of right fielder J.D. Drew and put a three spot up on the scoreboard in the third and fourth innings, giving the Sox the 9-4 win. Bartolo Colon picked up his third win of the season with the Sox victory.

The Red Sox version of the Game Theory, today’s center fielder, Jacoby Ellsbury started the Sox out on the right foot with a base hit into center in the first inning. After Dustin Pedroia flew out to right field to for the first out of the inning, Ellsbury had the glimmer in his eye that he was going to attempt his 27^th stolen base of the season. The Sox rookie would not wait around long into Kevin Youkilis’s at-bat and took off on the 0-1 pitch but the young outfielder would be thrown out trying to swipe second. For the third time this season, Ellsbury had been thrown out attempting to pad his stats. The only thing that makes it worse is, Orioles catcher Guillermo Quiroz is 3-for-16 in throwing out base runners. The young Ellsbury is starting to get a bit too cocky when he is on the base paths. Now sounds like a good time to quote former Patriots linebacker Rosevelt Colvin “calm down” little guy.

Although Youkilis lined a base hit into left field, the latest member of the 500 homerun club, would fly out to the deep center to end the inning. But Mike Lowell would put the Sox on the board in the top of the second. The third baseman blooped a base hit over Kevin Millar’s head and into right field. Normally a on a bloop hit like Lowell’s, Youkilis or David Ortiz would still be standing at third but the 2007 World Series MVP was hustling out the batter’s box and cruised into second with the double. Lowell advanced to third on catcher Jason Varitek’s single to right field and scored on J.D. Drew’s sacrifice fly to deep left that prompted Oriole left fielder Jay Payton to back up allowing Lowell to score.

The Orioles would come back to tie the game in the bottom of the second when Red Sox killer Luke Scott doubled off the scoreboard in right. Payton would sacrifice Scott to third with a bunt to make way for Adam Jones one-out single to right to plate Scott and tie the game at one. But that would be the last time Baltimore would be in the game.

Pedroia would lead off the fourth inning with his only base hit of the game into center field while Youkilis followed the second baseman’s lead with his second single to left, moving Pedroia to third. After getting the 500 homerun monkey off his back yesterday, Ramirez put a nice fluid swing on the first offering he saw from Brian Burress and lined double to left to drive in Pedroia. But the Sox offense would not go away quietly. Lowell would drive in Youkilis for his 23^rd RBI of the season with a sacrifice fly to deep right, Ramirez also tagged on the play and went to third. After Varitek lined out to Aubrey Huff at third, Drew drove in his second RBI of the game and 24^th of the season with a single to right before Burres retired Lugo two batters later to end the third.

The Sox put up another three spot on back-to-back two out homeruns by Ramirez and Lowell. The day after Ramirez hit his 500^th homerun, he came back to hit his 501^st to the same general location – right field – to give the Sox the 6-1 lead. It is hard to follow a Ramirez home run if you are the next better in the line but Lowell has been doing it for the past two years and this time he drove a line drive into the front row of the bleachers in left field for his seventh homerun and 25^th RBI. Drew also added his fifth homerun of the year in seventh in the form of solo shot with one out.

Tim Wakefield makes his 32^nd career start against Baltimore tomorrow night and will try to complete the four game sweep. It will be the first time since September 20-23, 2002 they have swept the Orioles in a four game series in Maryland. Wakefield is coming of a 1-0 complete game loss to the Seattle Mariners, where the only run of the game came on a third inning homerun to Yuniesky Betancourt. The knuckleballer’s outstanding five hit, eight strike out and no walks performance fell victim to the Sox offense who were “Powerless in Seattle.”

The 41-year-old Sox veteran will be opposed by the Orioles right hander Jeremy Guthrie who is 2-6 on the season with a 3.64 ERA, 48 strike outs, 23 walks and a 1.21 WHIP. He is coming off a 4-2 loss to the New York Yankees where he went seven innings allowing three runs on six hits while striking out four.

WIN: Bartolo Colon (3-0)

LOSS: Brian Burres (4-5)

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The 3 Stars of the Game:

1. J.D. Drew, BOSTON ---- 2-3 Homerun, 3 RBIs

2. Manny Ramirez, BOSTON ---- 3-5 Double, Homerun, 3 RBIs

3. Mike Lowell, BOSTON ---- 2-4 Double, Homerun, 2 RBIs

Manny Ramirez’s 500th career homerun seals the deal as Sox take Game 2 against Baltimore

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RED SOX OVERPOWER ORIOLES 6-3; MOVE TO 34-24
Manny Ramirez’s 500th career homerun seals the deal as Sox take Game 2 against Baltimore

(May 31, 2008) – Friday and Saturday nights in Baltimore during the school year are student nights where college students can get in for a small fee of $5. Well the hundreds of thousands of students who benefit from MICUA* (the Maryland Independent College and University Association) and paid the $5 for last night’s game got to witness history as well as the Red Sox’s 6-3 victory.

In the top of the seventh inning, Manny Ramirez lifted his 500^th career homerun into the bleachers in right center field off former Sox pitcher Chad Bradford. Bradford joins the likes of Melido Perez, Tanyon Sturtze, Dave Eiland, Ramon Ortiz and Gil Meche who allowed all of Ramirez’s milestone homeruns (first, 100^th, 200^th, 300^th and 400^th, respectively).

Ramirez’s homerun in the seventh was the second run of the inning. Before the Sox left fielder stepped to the dish looking for the illustrious 500^th homerun, Boston had already taken the lead for good. Ellsbury led off the inning with a triple into the gap in right center. After Dustin Pedroia grounded out to shortstop – with the infield pulled in – David Ortiz lifted a sacrifice fly ball to left that pushed across the go-ahead and ultimately winning run. It was Ortiz’s second RBI of the game.

The Orioles jumped on the board first with a two-run second on three weak base hits. Millar led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on Hernandez’s base hit into left field. Another former Red Sox, Jay Payton drove in Millar on squibbler down the third base line. Center fielder Adam “I’m not Pac-Man” Jones lined a base hit into center for Baltimore’s second run of the game.

Baltimore’s two-run advantage would only last until the third batter of the third when Ortiz tied up the game with his 13^th homerun of the season on the back end of back-to-back homeruns. Before Ortiz stepped to the plate, Pedroia hit his fourth homerun of the season to cut the Orioles lead in half.

As former Yankee catcher and Hall of Famer, Yogi Berrea once said “it was deja-vu all over again,” when the Red Sox and Orioles took the field on Saturday night. No you were not watching a replay of yesterday’s Sox-O’s game. Once again these two teams could not score more than two runs a piece for the first 4.1 innings. Orioles second baseman and son of a former UNC baseball coach, Brian Roberts broke up the tie game with his fourth homerun of the season in fifth.

After Roberts solo homerun in the fifth, Jon Lester ran into a bit of difficulty. Right fielder Nick Markakis lined a double down the left line past the out stretched arm of Manny Ramirez. It appeared as if Lester was not going to make it through the fifth inning after he walked Kevin Millar (for the second time) and Aubrey Huff back-to-back to load the bases with two outs in the inning. The Sox had right handed reliever David Aardsma warming up in the bullpen to come on for Lester should the left hander struggle. But Lester would make catcher Ramon Hernandez nothing but a figment of the past by striking out the Baltimore catcher for his fourth strike out of the game and third out of the inning.

It would also end up being the last inning for Lester. Meaning the Sox lefty could not get the win but only the loss. But fortunately his cohort and Ramirez were able to take care of things and give the Red Sox their 34^th victory on the season. In five innings, Lester allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking three.

The Sox would tie up the game in the top of the sixth when Mike Lowell was hit by Lance Cormier, who came in at the beginning of the inning in relief of starter Garrett Olson. With Kevin Youkilis at the dish, Cormier stuttered on the mound as he was ready to deliver the second pitch to Youkilis. According to baseball statistical rules, this constitutes a balk and Lowell was able to advance on to second base on the play. Youkilis would advance Lowell to third on a base hit just under shortstop Alex Cintron’s glove.

Sox captain Jason Varitek is known more for his defensive work than for his production at the dish but last night the Sox catcher came through with his second base hit of the night. Varitek’s single to left drove in Lowell to even up the score at three a piece. Center field Coco Crisp would reached on a fielder’s choice –first to short – moving Youkilis up to third. Shortstop Julio Lugo ended the inning with a pop up to Roberts who snow-coned the final out of the inning.

The Sox will deal with another Baltimore left hander on Sunday afternoon at Oriole Park when they face 27-year-old, Oregon native Brian Burres. The Orioles left hander is 4-4 on the season with a 4.15 ERA, 29 strike outs, 18 walks and a 1.35 WHIP and will be opposed by the 2-0 Bartolo Colon, who is making his third start of the season.

Burres is coming off a very poor, 3.2-inning outing against the Yankees where he allowed eight runs on 10 hits including four homeruns. Against the Red Sox, he has pitched in eight games with one start and he is 1-0 with a 3.07 ERA, 9-9 strike out to walk ratio and a 1.56 WHIP. Sox batters are hitting at a .250 clip against the Baltimore left hander as well in 14.2 innings.

After starting the season on the disabled list and pitching in a few rehab games in Pawtucket, Colon is in search of his third win of the season. If he receives the win Sunday’s matinee with the Orioles, he will have reached his third win faster than teammate Jon Lester. Colon is coming of a 5-3 win against the Seattle Mariners up in Washington state, where he pitched seven strong innings allowing one run on five hits while striking out four and walking one. Colon has made 17 starts against the Orioles and has eight wins and six losses to show for it in 113 innings. Along with an 8-6 record, he also has a 3.27 ERA, a 3-2 strike out-to-walk ratio and a 1.38 WHIP against Baltimore. Oriole batters are hitting at a .257 clip against the former Cy Young Award winner as well.

WIN: David Aardsma (2-1)

LOSS: Lance Cormier (0-2)

SAVE: Jonathan Papelbon (16)

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Game Notes:

David Ortiz left the game in the middle of his fifth at-bat in the top of ninth inning. Sean Casey replaced him at the plate with a 3-2 count.

After being put on the 15-day disabled list yesterday, starter Daisuke Matsuzaka has begun his shoulder strengthening program and hopes to return as soon as he is eligible on June 14.

The Red Sox have activated Clay Buchholz from the 15-day disabled list from a broken finger nail on his throwing hand. He will make a few rehab assignments in Pawtucket and probably will remain down their for a while due to the full house of pitchers at the Major League level. But GM Theo Epstein, Terry Francona and John Farrell have and will continue to meet to discuss the young, 23-year-old’s plans for the future.

J.D. Drew sits out another game after experiencing symptoms of vertigo yesterday when he woke up in his Baltimore hotel room. (Although my personal experience is that any Baltimore hotel room can do that to you.)

The 3 Stars of the Game:

1. Manny Ramirez, BOSTON ---- 1-4 Homerun, RBI 500^th Career homerun

2. Jason Varitek, BOSTON ---- 3-4 Double, RBI

3. Nick Markakis, BALTIMORE ---- 2-4 2 Doubles

(* MICUA is the Maryland Independent College and University Association and it provides support and additional services to those independent colleges and universities in the state of Maryland. Click the link in the story to find out more about the organization if you wish.)

Jose Lopez’s ninth inning walk-off single drives home Seattle’s first win in eight games

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RED SOX DROP GAME TWO TO MARINERS 4-3; MOVE TO 32-23
Jose Lopez’s ninth inning walk-off single drives home Seattle’s first win in eight games

(May 27, 2008) – Although Julio Lugo had been ejected three innings prior, his spirit was still on the field in the bottom of the ninth inning. Second baseman Jose Lopez’s two-out single down the third base line, past the diving Mike Lowell, gave the Mariners the 4-3 victory.

Seattle right fielder Wladimir Balentien began the inning with single off the glove of replacement shortstop Alex Cora, against reliever Mike Timlin. First baseman and former Yankee Miguel Cairo laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the right fielder up into scoring position for pinch hitter, Jeremy Reed. Reed, who was pinch hitting for the upset and angry Yuniesky Betancourt, did not do what he wanted to do. He grounded out for the second out of the inning but he made sure it was to the right side of the infield to move the winning run to just 90 feet away with Ichiro Suzuki coming to bat. Suzuki was already 2-for-4 on the night with a single and double, so the Sox played it smart and intentionally walked the Seattle center fielder, to face Lopez. (Well it was a smart play at the time.)

The lowly Mariners jumped out to the early 2-0 lead against Daisuke Matsuzaka in the bottom of the first inning. Coming into the game, Matsuzaka has owned his fellow countryman, Suzuki, but tonight was a different story. Suzuki led of the game for Seattle lining a base hit down the left field line. His incredible speed allowed him to cruise into second with the easy double. Matsuzaka would make a key mistake on Lopez’s ground ball. Instead of throwing to force out Lopez for the sure out, Matsuzaka tried to get the speedy Suzuki, who broke for third on the play. Just like that, the Mariners had runners at the corners with no body out.

I vividly recall telling the children at after school recreation baseball to get the sure out at first base. Maybe Matsuzaka needs to go back to tee-ball to re-learn the basic fundamentals of the game of baseball.

His first inning mistake ended up costing the Sox two runs. Designated hitter, Jose Vidro reached on a fielder’s choice – first to short – forcing out Lopez and in the back door came Suzuki with Seattle’s first run of the game. Left fielder Raul Ibanez hit line drive double just past the outstretched glove of the diving Coco Crisp in left center, to drive in Vidro with the second run. But Matsuzaka was able to “minimize the damage” by striking out third baseman, Adrian Beltre and catcher Kenji Johjima, back-to-back to end the inning.

Seattle would get another run two innings later after Suzuki led off the inning with a base hit into center field. He was able to turn a simple single into a double with his 22^nd stolen base of the season, putting him one steal behind Houston Astros’s center fielder Michael Bourn (23). Suzuki advanced to third on a ground ball to first by Vidro. Sean Casey reverted to his days as a little leaguer and threw the ball wide of Matsuzaka allowing Vidro to reach. With an extra life, Ibanez drove in his second run of the game with a ground ball, fielder’s choice to second.

The Sox bats were stifled for the first five innings by Seattle right hander Miguel Batista but were able to get to him an inning later. After making Crisp just his second strike out victim, shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt bobbled a ground ball by Dustin Pedroia allowing the Sox second baseman to reach and giving Betancourt his seventh error of the season. The error rattled the Mariners pitcher and he gave up a base hit to right by the Sox big man, David Ortiz, giving Manny Ramirez the opportunity to tie up the game with one swing of the bat.

Stuck at 498 homeruns for over two weeks and 0-for-1 on the night, Ramirez lined an opposite field shot over the head of Balentien for his 499^th career homerun – ninth on the season. It is hard not be jealous of Manny’s swing. He has the perfect swing any baseball player – youth or professional – wants to have. There are even some golfers out there that watch in amazement of how still the eccentric left fielder’s head remains as well as the fluid motion of his arms as he swings through the ball.

After tying the game in the sixth, the Sox had their biggest opportunity of the game to take the lead two innings later. Facing Pedroia for the fourth time, Batista walked the Sox second baseman and was quickly pulled by manager John McLaren in favor the left hander Ryan Rowland-Smith. Brought in specifically to face Ortiz, Rowland-Smith failed to do his job, giving up a base hit to right center to the designated hitter and moving Pedroia up to second. That was it for the Seattle lefty as McLaren opted for the right hander Brandon Morrow to face Ramirez.

With no outs, runners on first and second and one of the most dangerous hitters at the plate, it did not spell good news for the Mariners. Two innings ago, Ramirez took an outside pitch over the right field fence to push him one homerun closer to the evasive 500 mark. Everything was in line for an offensive shower of runs, but just as unpredictable as the weather is, so is the Red Sox offense on this 10-game road trip. Morrow retired Ramirez and Lowell on back-to-back strike outs and got J.D. Drew to fly out to right to end the threat.

The Red Sox will send their knuckleball pitcher to the hill to face the former Baltimore Oriole in tomorrow’s late night finale in the hometown of the co-founder of the world’s largest operating system. Tim Wakefield will face Seattle left hander Erik Bedard in the final game of the three game series with the Mariners. Looking for his fourth win of the season, Wakefield is coming off an 8-3 loss to the Oakland Athletics last Friday night. In the lose, the Sox veteran right hander allowed all eight runs on eight hits while walking four and striking out four.

Wakefield has faced Seattle 23 times including 13 starts against Mariners in his 14 year career. In 111.1 innings, he is 3-8 with one shut out, a 4.37 ERA and a 78-to-52 strike out-to-walk ratio. Also in his 13 starts, Wakefield has gone the distance thrice against the Mariners including one shut out.

Before being traded to the Mariners, the native Canadian spent the first five years of his career in the American League East with the Baltimore Orioles, so he has seen a lot of the Red Sox. Against the Sox in his career, Bedard appeared in 11 games and has a 4-4 with a 4.95 ERA, a .222 opponent’s batting average and a 47-to-33 strike out-to-walk ratio. The Seattle lefty is coming of a 13-2 loss against the Yankees in the Bronx where he went just 4.1 innings allowing nine runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out three.

WIN: J.J Putz (2-2)

LOSS: Mike Timlin (2-3)

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Game Notes:

Ichiro Suzuki’s double down the third base line to lead off the game for the Mariners, was only his second MLB hit against his fellow countryman, Daisuke Matsuzaka. With his third inning single, Ichiro is now 3-for-14 against Matsuzaka.

Daisuke Matsuzaka came out of the game before he threw a single pitch in the bottom of the fifth with an apparent right hip injury. More when it becomes available.

Third base umpire, Angel Hernandez ejected Julio Lugo and Terry Francona in the bottom of the fifth for arguing Raul Ibanez’s check swing on a 1-0 pitch. Alex Cora came into the game to replace Lugo at shortstop.

The 3 Stars of the Game:

1. Jose Lopez, SEATTLE ---- 2-4 Double, Game Winning RBI

2. Ichiro Suzuki, SEATTLE ---- 2-4 Double, Stolen Base

3. Manny Ramirez, BOSTON ---- 1-3 Homerun, 3 RBIs, 4^th outfield assist in the sixth on Beltre

Orioles’ Luke Scott’s three-run homerun in the bottom of the third push Baltimore to 5-4 win

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RED SOX DROP GAME 1 of 2 TO ORIOLESS 5-4; MOVE TO 24-18
Orioles’ Luke Scott’s three-run homerun in the bottom of the third push Baltimore to 5-4 win

(May 13, 2008) – The theme of tonight’s game: deceiving. Although, Josh Beckett gave up five runs on 11 hits in 5.2 innings the Red Sox’s 5-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, his stuff was there. He did not miss it was just Oriole batters hit him hard. It was just like Marylanders. They gave us one of the worst vice presidents ever in Spiro Agnew and now their baseball team hands the Red Sox their third consecutive loss.

From the start of the game it looked as if it was going to be a Red Sox romp. The Sox got to Orioles pitcher Jeremy Guthrie in the first inning and hit him hard. Getting the start in center field for the fourth straight game, Coco Crisp led of the game with a base hit into right field. Following a Dustin Pedroia pop out to shortstop, David Ortiz lined a doubled to left field, sending Crisp to third and giving Manny Ramirez a chance to drive in two runs.

Besides Fenway Park and Progressive Field, Camden Yards has seen the third most Ramirez homeruns after Yankee Stadium and the Rogers Centre in Toronto. In Baltimore, Ramirez has 15 career homeruns and could have made it 16 with one in the first inning of tonight’s game. But the RBI Machine settled with an RBI single into center to plate Crisp and send Ortiz to third.

With runners on the corners, in the first inning, and one out, third baseman Mike Lowell reached base on his Baltimore counterpart, Aubrey Huff’s fielding error, allowing Ortiz to saunter in from third. After Kevin Youkilis flew out to center, Orioles first baseman Kevin Millar, did his best Bill Buckner impersonation, letting J.D. Drew’s ground ball go through his legs and into right field, plating Ramirez.

Before Beckett even stepped on the Camden Yards mound, he already had a three run lead to work with but in the bottom of the first he did not need it. Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts became his first strike out victim of the night. Beckett then got shortstop Freddie Bynum and right fielder Nick Markakis to fly out to right and ground out to second, respectively, to quickly end the inning. After one inning everything favored the Red Sox but there is a saying that “things are not always as they appear to be.”

Baltimore got on the board in the bottom of the second when Luke Scott lined a two-out base hit into center field. Adam “I’m not Pacman” Jones would keep the inning alive with single to the right of Alex Cora, who had no play when recovered the ball to bring left fielder Jay Payton to the dish. Jason Varitek’s former college teammate, put the Orioles on the scoreboard with a single up the middle to plate Scott.

In the bottom of the third, the Oriole batters would tee off on Beckett like the Sox did against Guthrie in the first. Roberts led off the inning with a base hit to right and advanced to third on another single by Bynum that would drop just in front of the sliding Drew. Drew would leave the game in the middle of the inning with a sprained wrist and be replaced by the rookie Jacoby Ellsbury. With two men on and no outs, Beckett almost got out of the inning with no damage done, catching Markakis and Huff looking a change up and fastball, respectively.

But again, what was the theme of the night? Ah yes deception. Another former Sox player, Millar would do more damage to his old team with an RBI single to left to plate Roberts. Millar’s single kept the inning alive for Scott to be the hero of the game. On a 1-0 count, Scott lifted the Beckett offering over the score board in right and into the hands of waiting Orioles. Ellsbury knew off the bat the towering fly ball was goner and just watched, in amazement, as the ball floated over the right field fence.

The Sox would try to mount a come back in top of the seventh then again the next inning but they fell one run shy. After Crisp left the game with a stomach bug in the bottom of the sixth, Sean Casey led off the seventh inning with a single into right. Pedroia followed Casey’s lead with a single of his own to right off of Guthrie. Orioles manager Dave Trembley had seen enough of his pitcher and quickly got him out of the game in favor of the left hander Jamie Walker to pitch to the left handed Ortiz. Walker failed to do his job by walking Ortiz to load the bases. Could it be the Sox finally taking back the lead and the game?

Everything was working in their favor: bases loaded, no outs and Ramirez at the plate facing the 0-1 Jim Johnson. But again this is baseball not death and taxes. Nothing’s certain. Ramirez grounded back to Johnson for the very rare 1-2-3 double play and Lowell flew out to Payton in left to end the inning. So the Sox had the bases loaded with no outs and could not push across a run across the plate. Very disappointing for all Sox fans especially those who had to sit next to the loud-mouth Marylanders from Harford and Carroll Counties.

But the Sox would push across a run in the top of the eighth inning when Ellsbury and Varitek walked with one out. Shorstop Alex Cora who was 0-for-3 going into the inning, came through with a base hit to right field. Although Markakis has one of the best arms in the game but it was no match for Ellsbury’s speed from second base and the Sox outfielder scored easily. There are only three other players in baseball who would be able to score on a plain single to the right fielder and all are in the AL East: Crisp, Roberts and B.J. Upton. But the Orioles would call upon closer George Sherrill to get the final five outs of the game and got Casey and Pedroia to fly out to left and ground out to first, respectively, to end the threat.

The Sox will play an afternoon matinee in the state that gave us Whitaker Chambers and CNN anchor Thomas Roberts before hopping on their charter at BWI for the 90 minute flight back to Boston. The Sox young left hander, Jon Lester will make his 10^th start of the season against the Orioles temperamental right hander Daniel Cabrera. Lester is 2-2 on the season with a 4.06 ERA, 29 strike outs with a 1.51 WHIP while Cabrera is 3-1 with a 3.54 ERA, 34 strike outs and a 1.20 WHIP.

But the Sox patient offense has always been Cabrera’s downfall. In 11 games against Boston, the Orioles right hander is 1-9 with a 7.84 ERA, 43 walks, and an opponent’s batting average of .296. Cabrera is coming off a 4-1 victory against the Royals in Kansas City where he pitched a three-hit complete game allowing jut one run while striking out seven Royals.

Lester is coming off another no-decision against the Minnesota Twins last Friday night; where he went 5.1 innings allowing five runs – three earned – on eight hits while striking out two. In his career against Baltimore, the Sox lefty is 3-0 in 18 innings with a 3.00 ERA, eight strike outs and a .275 opponent’s batting average.

WIN: Jeremy Guthrie (2-3)

LOSS: Josh Beckett (4-3)

SAVE: George Sherrill (13)

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Game Notes:

Tonight is the first game of 19 games these two teams will face. The Red Sox own the overall record against the Orioles with 1,104 wins and 911 losses. The Sox are 231 and 205 when they play in the birth city of Babe Ruth and 75 and 44 in Camden Yards.

Terry Francona will not be with the team for their final two road games in Maryland and will turn the reigns over to bench coach Brad Mills for the two games against the Orioles. His mother-in-law sadly passed away during last night’s game in her home in Arizona. Francona and his wife, Jackie, along with most of their children will join him in Arizona.

Although shortstop Julio Lugo tells the medical and coaching staff he is getting better every day, coming back from a Grade I concussion; the Sox opt to remain cautious and will keep him out of the line up for another day.

J.D. Drew left the game in the middle of the bottom of the third inning after injuring his left arm diving to make a play on Freddie Bynum’s bloop base hit. He was replaced in right by rookie Jacoby Ellsbury. It was confirmed by the Red Sox medical staff that Drew suffered a sprained left wrist. He is day-to-day.

Coco Crisp left the game after batting in the top of the sixth inning with an upset stomach. Ellsbury moved to center from right, Kevin Youkilis moved into right from first and Sean Casey entered the game at first.

Home plate umpire, Laz Diaz ejected David Ortiz in the top of the ninth inning for arguing a strike out.

Web Gems:

Top Third – Nick Markakis makes a leaping grab of a J.D. Drew fly ball to the warning track in right field that was sure to go for extra bases.

The 3 Stars of the Game:

1. Luke Scott, BALTIMORE --- 3-4 Homerun, 3 RBIs, 2 Runs-scored

2. Brian Roberts, BALTIMORE --- 2-3 2 Singles, BB, Run-scored

3. Manny Ramirez, BOSTON --- 2-4 Double, RBI

Twins take three of four from Sox behind Justin Morneau’s 2-4 night

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RED SOX FALL TO TWINS 7-3; MOVE TO 24-17
Twins take three of four from Sox behind Justin Morneau’s 2-4 night

(May 12, 2008) – Clay Buchholz’s struggles on the road continue. Even an early three runs in the first inning could not turn around the Sox rookie’s misfortune. In one of his shortest outings of the year, Buchholz allowed seven earned runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings while walking five and striking out just four Twins to earn his third loss of the season.

I was right about Roger Clemens. I was right about Jose Canseco. And now I am right about Coco Crisp being the starting center fielder. After getting the start in center against the Cuban right hander Livan Hernandez, Crisp continued his red hot hitting with a double off the baggy in right field. Crisp deserves to be playing over rookie Jacoby Ellsbury because he is producing on the field. The Sox veteran outfielder would come around to score on an opposite field base hit to left off the bat of David Ortiz to give the Sox the 1-0 lead.

Just three homeruns shy of 500 career homeruns, Manny Ramirez stepped to plate, with Ortiz on first after recording his 29^th RBI of the season. With one swing the bat the Red Sox had the early 3-0 lead and Ramirez was narrowed his road to the magical number 500.

But the Sox only lead of the game would be short lived. Minnesota started mounting their come back in the bottom of the first with one out. After Carlos Gomez struck out looking at a Buchholz fastball, second baseman Brendan Harris – who returned to the line up after sitting out with a strained hamstring in games two and three – singled into center. The American League leader in batting, catcher Joe Mauer, moved Harris to second with a single of his own in left.

The game was not starting out the way Buchholz would have liked and would continue to get worse. Twins first baseman Justin Morneau lined a base hit into right field scoring Harris. Sox right fielder J.D. Drew’s bobble picking up the base hit allowed Mauer to score from first and Morneau to move up to second.

Minnesota took the lead two innings later when Mauer led of the bottom of the third with walk followed by a base hit into right by Morneau, sending the Twins catcher to third. Right fielder Michael Cuddyer would drive in Mauer with a single up the middle to tie the game at three a piece. After last night’s hero Craig Monroe walked to load the bases in the inning with nobody out, left fielder Delmon Young, hit a ground ball to Alex Cora at short but the Sox shortstop could not turn the double play. In the back door, came Morneau with the go-ahead run and eventually the winning run. But the Twins were not done with Buchholz yet. They tacked on four more runs in the next inning and a third before he was pulled by Terry Francona. The Twins would put three more on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Just like the Celtics and the Cavaliers a few miles to the southeast in Cleveland, the Sox offense was quieted by the Twins pitching staff. Buchholz was not on his game tonight. From the first inning it was evident the Sox young right hander had difficulty finding the strike zone and the normally impatient Twins jumped on that. When he was off he was way off, similar to Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett tonight, being held to a combined 28 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists against the Cavs. They could not buy a point if they wanted, just as Buchholz could not pay his way out of jam if he wanted. And again also like the C's, poor Buchholz's road blues continue although, fortunately for the right hander it is the regular season and not the playoffs.

Before flying back to Boston, the Sox have one last stop in Baltimore to play the AL East foe, Orioles for a two game set tomorrow and Wednesday. Josh Beckett will get the nod in the first game of the series against Baltimore right hander Jeremy Guthrie.

At 4-2, Beckett is making his seventh start of the season and first against the Orioles this year. The Sox ace is currently seventh in the American League in strike outs just 10 behind Chicago White Sox starter Javier Vazquez who leads with 52 strike outs. Beckett is coming off a 5-1 win against the Tigers last Thursday where he pitched seven innings allowing one run on six hits while striking out eight and walking none. Overall he is 4-1 against the Orioles, in six starts, with a .229 opponent’s batting average, 38 strike outs and just four walks.

This game shall be a good one because Guthrie is 1-3 on the season with a 4.32 ERA and 32 strike outs on the season. He is coming off a 6-5 loss to the Oakland Athletics where he did not factored into the decision. In Baltimore’s 14^th one run game of the year, Guthrie went 5.2 innings allowing four runs on five hits while walking three and striking out six on 106 pitches. In his career against Boston, he is 0-0 in four games with a 2.61 ERA, a .259 opponent’s batting average, 12 strike outs and eight walks.

WIN: Livan Hernandez (6-1)

LOSS: Clay Buchholz (2-3)

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Game Notes:

Julio Lugo suffered a mild concussion when he slid collided with Twins second baseman Matt Tolbert Friday night. He just resumed baseball activities today and the Red Sox medical personnel will decide when the shortstop will return to game-action.

Sean Casey was activated earlier today and is in the starting line up. To make room for Casey on the active roster the Sox designated pitcher Julian Tavarez for assignment. Tavarez was expendable since he was one of the only pitchers on the team not useful with the majority of the pitching staff going 6-7 innings a game thus rendering his position on the team wasteful.

The 3 Stars of the Game:

1. Justin Morneau, MINNESOTA --- 2-4 RBI

2. Michael Cuddyer, MINNESOTA --- 2-4 RBI

3. Manny Ramirez, BOSTON --- 2-3 Homerun, 2 RBIs

Back-to-back homeruns by David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez help Sox to fifth win in a row

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RED SOX SHUT OUT THE TIGERS, AGAIN 5-0; MOVE TO 22-13
Back-to-back homeruns by David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez help Sox to fifth win in a row

(May 6, 2008) –As with any Tim Wakefield start, the game just flew by. Before you knew it, it was already the eighth inning the Tigers had just one hit off the Sox knuckleballer. At one point during the game Wakefield retired 17 consecutive Detroit batters. In his best outing of the season, the 14 year Sox veteran led the team to their 22^nd victory pitching eight complete innings allowing just two hits while striking out six Tiger hitters.

Just like last night the Sox jumped out to an early lead in the top of the second inning. Mike Lowell led of the inning by drawing a walk of Detroit starter Nate Robertson. Kevin Youkilis would follow Lowell’s walk with the double down the left field line sending the Sox third baseman to third with nobody out in the inning. Bob Ryan’s favorite outfielder, J.D. Drew, stepped up to the dish and drove in Lowell from third with a bounding ball up the middle and into center field. Back up catcher, Kevin Cash, who is better known for his glove rather than for his bat, slapped a double into left field to bring Youkilis and send Drew to second for the second run of the game. Center fielder Coco Crisp would ground to shortstop to plate Drew for the third and final run of the inning.

The Sox sluggers were in was Seventh Heaven in the top of the seventh. In the inning former Boston College and current Detroit Lions offensive tackle, Gosder Cherilus’s double, David Ortiz provided the fourth Boston run of the game with his seventh homerun of the season. After Ortiz’s homerun cleared the right field fence Tigers manager Jim Leyland had enough of Robertson and opted for right handed reliever Freddy Dolsi. Robertson left the game after pitching 6.1 innings allowing four runs on 10 hits while walking two and striking out just four Sox hitters.

Dolsi did not fair much better. The first batter he faced was the RBI Machine, Manny Ramirez. Not wanting to be out done by his country man and best friend, Ramirez also hit his seventh homerun on the season. Not coincidentally it was Ramirez’s 497^th career homerun. He is just three homeruns shy of the illustrious 500 homerun mark and 24 homeruns shy of tying Ted Williams at 521.

Mike Timlin came on to pitch the ninth in relief of Wakefield. He would give up a lead off single to Curtis Granderson getting Tiger fans excited but there excitement was quelled when second baseman Placido Polanco grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Right fielder Carlos Guillen flew out to, defensive replacement Jacoby Ellsbury to end the ballgame and give the Sox their fifth straight win.

Clay Buchholz goes to the hill tomorrow when he faces the Tigers young starter Armando Galarraga. A kid with a 6’3” and 190 pound frame does not scream endurance but Buchholz has improved his game and his stamina immensely since the season began in Japan. He currently sits behind only Josh Beckett for the team lead in strikes with 33 (Beckett has 34) and pitched just his second complete game of his career a week a half ago in Tampa Bay.

Buchholz is coming of his second win of the season against the Tampa Bay Rays last Friday. The young gun pitched 5.1 innings allowing one run on five hits while walking four and striking out six in the Sox’s 7-3 victory over the Rays. Overall on the season, Buchholz sits at 2-2 with a 3.71 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. He will be opposed tomorrow night by Detroit starter Armando Galarraga.

Galarraga is 2-1 on the season with a 1.88 ERA with 15 strike outs and a 0.88 WHIP. In his last started against the Minnesota twins last Friday in Minneapolis, Galarraga pitched six innings allowing four runs, two of them earned on six hits while walking two and striking out two.

WIN: Tim Wakefield (3-1)

LOSS: Nate Robertson (1-4)

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Game Notes:

Coco Crisp gets the start in center field with the left hander on the mound.

The 3 Stars of the Game:

1. Tim Wakefield, BOSTON --- 8IP, 1H, 0ER, 6Ks

2. Manny Ramirez, BOSTON --- 3-5 Homerun, RBI, Run Scored

3. Kevin Cash, BOSTON --- 3-4 Double, RBI, Run scored

Kevin Youkilis and Company do some spring cleaning and sweep Rays north of the border

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RED SOX SWEEP RAYS 5-3; MOVE TO 20-13
Kevin Youkilis and Company do some spring cleaning and sweep Rays north of the border

(May 4, 2008) – After being swept at Tropicana Field last weekend, the Red Sox returned the favor with a sweep of the Rays behind left hander Jon Lester. The Sox southpaw out-dueled Rays southpaw Scott Kazmir for just his second win – and first since his 5-0 victory in Oakland on April 2 – of the season.

The Sox got out to the early lead in the bottom of the first when lead-off hitter and left fielder, Jacoby Ellsbury reached on ground ball up the middle and would move up to second on a walk by Dustin Pedroia. Ellsbury would swipe third on his tenth stolen base of the season while Pedroia went to second with his fourth. Replacing David Ortiz in the third spot of the order, Kevin Youkilis drove in the Sox’s version of the Greek God Nike with the first run of the game.

The Rays lefthander showed glimpses of his Red Sox dominance in his first start of the season but they were not enough. In the third inning, the Sox got to the young Rays ace again when Manny Ramirez doubled off the wall in left field to drive in Pedroia and Youkilis with the second and third runs of the game. Crisp would add the fourth Sox run off of Kazmir on a ground out to third by Pedroia. The Sox center fielder reached base on a single to center and then steal his fifth base of the season off of catcher Shawn Riggans. Riggans throw to get the stealing Crisp would be off line and bounce into center field allowing the Sox center fielder to take third.

Kazmir would exit the game after throwing 90 pitches, 55 for strikes, in four innings allowing four runs on six hits while striking out five Sox batters. The Tampa Bay bullpen would keep the game 4-0 and allow the Rays to get back in the game. And they would start to do just that. In the top of the sixth inning when Northeastern grad Carlos Pena hit his first homerun since April 12 – seventh on the season – to right field off Lester.

The following inning, Manny Delcarmen relieved Lester who completed six innings allowing one run on four hits while striking out five Ray batters. After getting the first batter of the inning to ground out to third, Jason Bartlett singled into left field and would come around to score on a triple to the Triangle off the bat of second base man Akinori Iwamura. The speedy left fielder Carl Crawford would drive in Iwamura with Tampa Bay’s third run of the game. But that was as close as the Rays would get.

Youkilis would add and insurance run in the bottom of the seventh with his third homerun of the season to center field off Rays reliever Dan Wheeler. The Greek God of Walks would add two more insurance runs the following inning with a double off the wall in left to drive in Lugo and Ellsbury. But before Youkilis’s two RBI double, Ellsbury pilfered second for his second stolen base of the game and eleventh of the season on the Sox’s second double steal of the game. (Lugo stole third for his fourth of season.)

Just when the weather starts to turn out good for baseball in Boston, the Red Sox will jettison out on a 10 game road trip beginning with a four game series in Detroit. It will be the Sox first and only visit of 2008 to the Motor City, where it has been noted to be one of least safe biggest cities in the country. At least it is no East St. Louis. From Detroit, they will travel west a time zone for another four game series with the Twins in Minneapolis and then fly to Baltimore County for a two game series with the Orioles.

The last time these two teams met Detroit was searching for their first win of the season and riding a five game losing streak, April 8-10. The Tigers salvaged one game of the series win the middle game while the Sox provided the bread to the Tigers peanut butter and jelly in the middle. Although the Sox are 1,001-942 against the Tigers overall, the boys in red are 62 games below .500 in Motown but are 19-15 in Comerica Park since it was opened April 11, 2000.

The Sox will send Daisuke Matsuzaka to the hill for the seventh time this season to face Detroit right hander Jeremy Bonderman. Matsuzaka is coming of a no decision against the Toronto Blue Jays where he pitched seven innings allowing zero runs on two hits while walking just two and striking out four. Last time out against the Tigers on April 8, Matsuzaka recorded his second win of the season with a 6.2 inning shut out, allowing just four hits and four walks while striking out seven on Opening Day at Fenway.

Bonderman is making his seventh start of season in search of his third win for the Tigers. The Detroit righty is 2-2 on the season with one of those wins coming against the Red Sox on April 9, where he pitched 5 innings allowing one earned run on five hits in the Tigers first victory of the season. Bonderman is coming off a 6-2 win against the Yankees where he went 7.2 innings allowing two runs on five hits whiling only striking out one.

WIN: Jon Lester (2-2)

LOSS: Scott Kazmir (0-1)

SAVE: Jonathan Papelbon (9)

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Game Notes:

Brandon Moss was taken to Mass General yesterday for an emergency appendectomy. Manager Terry Francona said the team was not worried too much about Moss but they wanted to be safe rather than sorry. Moss left the clubhouse 30 minutes before the start of last night’s game and under went surgery during the game. According to team sources he is now “resting comfortably.” Although I do believe the word “comfortably” is all relative, you do not usually feel all that well after major surgery. Francona told the media that Moss will go home for about 10 days and then begin his rehab in Fort Myers. So look for Moss to be thrown on the Disabled List in the next few days.

Jacoby Ellsbury was not initially in the starting line up but started in left field in replace of Manny Ramirez who replaced David Ortiz as the designated hitter. Ortiz was a last minute scratch to the line up due to soreness in that surgically repaired knee of his. But on the brighter side, B.J. Upton is back in the line up for the Rays.

Jonny Gomes was robbed of a double off the wall in left. The ball hit the yellow stripe on the wall but third base umpire Bill Welke called the ball foul.

Jonathan Papelbon came on in relief of Hideki Okajima to face pinch hitter Dioner Navarro in the bottom of the eight. Papelbon would retire the final four batters of the game to earn his ninth save of the year.

The 3 Stars of the Game:

1. Kevin Youkilis, BOSTON ---- 3-4 2 Doubles, Homerun, 4RBIs

2. Manny Ramirez, BOSTON --- 1-4 Double, 2 RBIs

3. Coco Crisp, BOSTON --- 2-3, SB, Run scored

Unexpected hero, Nathan Haynes, propels Tampa Bay to a 5-4 victory over Red Sox

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RED SOX UPSET BY RAYS 5-4 IN 11; MOVE TO 15-10
Unexpected hero, Nathan Haynes, propels Tampa Bay to a 5-4 victory over Red Sox

(April 25, 2008) –Originally entering the game as a pinch-runner for Carlos Pena, who pinch-hit for Jonny Gomes, in the bottom of the ninth, Nathan Haynes became the hero two innings later with a no-out single to right to score left fielder, Carl Crawford. Haynes’s single gave Rays reliever Scott Dohmann his first win of the season and brought Tampa Bay back to the surface with a 12-11 record.

Crawford led of the bottom of the inning with single off of Sox reliever Mike Timlin to left field. He, then, swiped second base with great ease on a 0-1 count to B.J. Upton putting the winning run in scoring position with no outs. Upton walked to give Haynes the chance to be the hero. The Sox were expecting the long time minor leaguer to lay down a bunt to move the runner along but he surprised everyone in the dome with a single just over the head of 5’9” second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

The Rays would get out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning when Upton drove in Crawford with a sacrifice fly ball to rookie Jacoby Ellsbury in centerfield. But the lead did not stay. Manny Ramirez started off the second inning with a base hit to right field. After getting Kevin Youkilis to fly out right fielder Gabe Gross, Rays starter Matt Garza would walk J.D. Drew, Sean Casey and Julio Lugo to plate Ramirez with the go-ahead run.

But the damage was not done yet. Kevin Cash, who was getting the start with the knuckleballer on mound, drove in Drew with the third run with a fly ball to Crawford in left. The sacrifice fly was Cash’s third RBI on the season. The young Ellsbury would follow Cash’s lead with a single to left to plate Casey. After letting three runs cross the plate, Garza was able to minimize the damage, getting Dustin Pedroia to pop out to first.

Being known for his effectiveness in domed stadiums, Tim Wakefield struggled against the Rays. This was a time where numbers can lie. Although he was able to pitch six complete innings giving up just three earned runs on six hits, walks were a problem for Wakefield. Watching the game, Wakefield appeared flat against Tampa Bay hitters. Although Cash’s two passed balls did not help Wake’s cause, it is not the reason for his poor performance. Even though Wakefield’s three walks in the second inning did not come back to haunt the knuckleballer, you just can not do that as a starting pitcher. Wakefield’s first and only one-two-three inning came in the fifth inning but not before the Rays would come back to take a short-lived lead.

The Rays got one run back in the top of the third inning after a one-out single by rookie third baseman Evan Longoria to drive in designated hitter, Jonny Gomes. Longoria would have drove in two runs but Cash “caught” Upton attempting to steal third – Gomes was safe at second on the double steal. In the next inning, it looked as if Wakefield would get his first one-two-three inning of the game – getting Gabe Gross to ground out to second and Jason Bartlett to fly out to center – but it was not to be. After second baseman Akinori Iwamora singled to right, Crawford hit his second triple of the game down the right field line to drive in the Japanese shortstop. Crawford would score on Lugo’s fielding error on Gomes’s ground ball to take the lead.

As noted before the lead was short lived when Cash drove in Drew, in the top of the sixth, with a base hit. Drew led off the inning with a base hit that was followed by a Jed Lowrie single. Lugo, then, reached on a fielder’s choice – shortstop to second – to get Lowrie giving Cash the opportunity to tie the game.

The Sox look to even up the series with Tampa Bay tomorrow night when Clay Buchholz takes the mound in search of his second win of the season against Rays right hander Edwin Jackson. Buchholz is coming of a Patriots Day 8-3 victory over Texas where he pitched six complete innings allowing five hits while striking out six Rangers. Jackson will be looking to take game two against the Sox and rebound from a 6-0 loss against Chicago. In last Sunday’s game the Tampa Bay righty pitched just 4.1 innings while allowing six earned runs, including a homerun, on seven hits while striking on four Sox batters.

WIN: Scott Dohman(1-0)

LOSS: Mike Timlin (2-2)

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Game Notes:

First series of the season against the Rays and Red Sox.

First baseman Sean Casey left the game in the middle of the second inning with a right hip flexor strain. He appeared to injure himself when scoring form second on Ellsbury’s single to left field.

Rays relievers retired eight consecutive Sox batters before allowing Cash’s infield single to third in the top of the ninth.

There were Web Gems in the outfield tonight. Both B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford made remarkable diving catches to save additional runs and extra bases off the bat of Ellsbury and Youkilis in the fourth and sixth innings respectively.

The Sox are currently 1-1 in extra innings games.

The 3 Stars of the Game:

Nathan Haynes, TAMPA BAY 1-1 RBI Single

Carl Crawford, TAMPA BAY 3-5 2 Triples, RBI, 3-Runs Scored,

Manny Ramirez, BOSTON 3-5 Run Scored