Mike Lowell’s single down the left field in 13th gives the Sox second win of the 10-game trip

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RED SOX OUTLAST ORIOLES 5-2 IN EXTRA FRAMES; MOVE TO 33-24
Mike Lowell’s single down the left field in 13^th gives the Sox second win of the 10-game trip

(May 30, 2008) – It was a good night for Boston. On the same night the Boston Celtics returned to the NBA Finals for the first time in 21 years, the Red Sox pulled out the 5-2 victory in 13 innings with Mike Lowell’s third hit of the game off Chad Bradford. The Sox third baseman drove in the birthday boy, Manny Ramirez, who reached on Melvin Mora’s second error of the game to lead off the inning. It was Lowell’s 22^nd RBI of the year.

But the scoring was not done the lucky thirteenth inning. First baseman Kevin Youkilis got into the action with a base hit to shortstop, moving Lowell up to third. The right handed Dennis Sarfate came in to relieve Bradford but the damage was done. To add insult to injury, Lowell swiped his first bag of the season with his steal of third in the inning on a double steal. After Jason Varitek struck out for the first out of the inning, Coco Crisp drove in Lowell and Youkilis when he was safe at first on shortstop Freddie Bynum’s throwing error.

Last time the Sox were in Baltimore, the Orioles were taking infield practice before the game – something that is not usually done by ball clubs during the season. But it was not all that effective. All of the runs scored in the top of the 13^th inning were unearned. Sure it will make the pitchers happy not see their ERAs sky rocket but it will make manager Dave Trembley’s blood pressure go through the roof. Honestly, six year olds can play better defense than the Orioles did tonight.

The Sox did not wait around against Oriole starter Daniel Cabrera. Ortiz got the Sox on the board early with a one-out RBI base hit into right center to plate Jacoby Ellsbury, who doubled down the left field line to lead off the inning. Still in search of that evasive 500^th homerun, Ramirez prolonged the first inning with another double down the left field line sending Ortiz to third. Ortiz would come home to score Boston’s second run of the game on a long, sacrifice fly to left off the bat of Lowell.

Baltimore cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second when former Sox first baseman Kevin Millar dropped a single in front of Ramirez with one out. Coming into tonight’s game, Orioles left fielder Luke Scott has been 4-for-5 against Josh Beckett and would continue his success against the Sox ace with a single into right to move Millar to third. Trying to piece something together against Beckett, Scott took off for second with Hernandez at the dish. Sox catcher Jason Varitek’s throw traveled a bit too far than the necessary 128 feet, from home to second, and allowed Millar to come on with Baltimore’s first run. Third baseman Aubrey Huff’s ninth round tripper of the season evened up the score at two a piece in the O’s half of the fourth.

It was hard to imagine that both starters started before the tip-off of Game Six but it was true and both were out of the game before the second quarter started. After getting off to a rocky first inning, Cabrera settled down long enough for the Orioles to tie the game in the fourth. Nothing came easy for the tall, lanky Baltimore pitcher but he was able to scratch and claw his way out of jams after a turbulent first. Cabrera went on to pitch seven innings allowing just the two runs on six hits while walking two and striking out three Sox before turning the game over to the Orioles relievers, who as a group, pitched extremely well this year.

In six innings, Beckett allowed one earned run on four hits while striking out 10 orange birds on 118 pitches. He did not pitch like the quintessential Josh Beckett Red Sox fans expect to see but he pitched well enough to have a chance to get his sixth win of the season. During the fifth and sixth innings, Beckett retired four consecutive batters via the strike out before allowing his first walk of the game. That first walk would soon turn into three more and next thing Beckett knew he was facing center fielder Adam Jones with the bases loaded. After a long at-bat, Jones finally succumbed to Beckett’s fastball for the all-star pitcher’s 10^th strike out of the game.

Sox left handed set-up, Hideki Okajima came on in relief of Beckett to pitch the seventh and eighth innings. In two innings of work, the Japanese left hander faced seven batters and retired five of them, giving up a one-out single to second baseman Brian Roberts in the seventh before turning the reigns over to Sox right handed set-up man Manny Delcarmen for the bottom of the ninth inning.

After recent call-up Jeff Bailey pinch-hit for the weak hitting Alex Cora in the top of the ninth, Julio Lugo found himself in a very rare situation. He was in the game in the ninth inning. Due to Lugo’s poor performance in the field – 12 errors on the season – Cora will come out as a defensive replacement but tonight it was vice-versa with Cora being pinch-hit for in the top of the inning.

Facing the bottom third of the Baltimore line up, Delcarmen quickly retired Hernandez and Jones on a fly ball to center and a strike out before giving up a base hit by the dive of Dustin Pedroia to shortstop Freddie Bynum. Bynum would steal his first base of the season to place himself in scoring position for Brian Roberts. The Orioles second baseman worked a walk against the Boston native to bring up the father of quintuplets, Melvin Mora. Coming into his at-bat in tonight’s game Mora is had been 0-for-4 with two strike outs and it would only get worse when he grounded out to Lowell at third for the final out of the inning and force extra frames.

Since relieving Cabrera in the eighth inning, Baltimore bullpen has pitched outstanding, retiring 12 consecutive Red Sox hitters since Lowell’s base hit to left center. The Orioles streak was retired when Albers walked Lugo to lead off the inning. With Lugo off on the pitch, Ellsbury hit a squibbler into right field sending the Sox shortstop to third base. For the first time all game the Sox had something boiling with Pedroia at the dish but unfortunately there were all ready two outs. Pedroia hit a weak ground ball to Mora but the second base umpire called base runners inference on Ellsbury to end the inning.

It will be a match-up of Southpaws in tomorrow night’s second game of the four game series. The Sox will send Jon Lester to the hill to face Garrett Olson. Lester is coming his first start since throwing his no-hitter and is 3-1 on the season with a 5.19 ERA with 45 strike outs while Olson is 4-1 with a 4.09 ERA and 26 strike outs.

WIN: Mike Timlin (3-3)

LOSS: Chad Bradford (2-2)

SAVE: Jonathan Papelbon (15)

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Game Notes:

SawxBlog gives a Happy 36^th Birthday shout out to the RBI Man, Manny Ramirez.

Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis had the dreadful baseball hat trick of three consecutive strike outs in the third, sixth and seventh innings.

Baltimore starter Daniel Cabrera recorded his first one-two-three inning in the top of the fourth inning when he got Kevin Youkilis to fly out to center, Jason Varitek to pop to shortstop and retiring Coco Crisp by way of the K.

Injury Report:

Before the game the Red Sox put Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 15-day disabled list and called up Jeff Bailey from Pawtucket.

J.D. Drew was a late scratch to Friday’s line up after having vertigo, giving Jacoby Ellsbury the opportunity to start in right field, according to Terry Francona.

The 3 Stars of the Game:

1. Mike Lowell, BOSTON ---- 3-5 2 Singles, Double, 2 RBIs

2. David Ortiz, BOSTON ---- 2-6 Single, Double, RBI

3. Aubrey Huff, BALTIMORE --- 1-5 Homerun, RBI

Dustin Pedroia’s two-out ground rule double to left sparks late eighth inning rally, gives Sox 5-3 win

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RED SOX TOP MARINERS 5-3; MOVE TO 32-22
Dustin Pedroia’s two-out ground rule double to left sparks late eighth inning rally, gives Sox 5-3 win

(May 26, 2008) – Just what the doctor ordered. A nice dose of the AL West bottom feeders is what the Sox needed to end their seven game road losing streak. In just his second start of the 2008 campaign Bartolo Colon picked up his second win of the season in the Red Sox’s 5-3 victory over the hapless Seattle Mariners.

For the first seven innings of the game it was tight pitcher's duel, between Colon and Seattle’s youthful right hander Felix Hernandez. Hernandez retired 11 consecutive Sox batters before reaching David Ortiz in the top of the fourth inning. For the second time in three days, the Sox designated hitter broke up a potential no-hit bid with his solo homerun to dead center field. It was Ortiz’s 12^th homerun on the season tying him with Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton for second place in the American League homerun category. But that would be all the runs the Sox would score until the top of the eighth.

The Sox batted around in the top of the eighth and put a four spot on the board. At that point the game against a weak hitting Seattle team the game was over. The four run rally all started with two outs and when it looked as if the Sox would squander another opportunity to re-take the lead. But cocky little second baseman, Dustin Pedroia, came through, pulling a Hernandez fastball to left field for a ground rule double, scoring Julio Lugo from second base. Hernandez would intentionally walk Ortiz to face the equally dangerous left fielder Manny Ramirez.

After being in a horrific slump the past two weeks, the RBI Machine has begun to come around at the beginning of this 10 game road trip. In the eighth inning of last night’s 5-3 victory, Ramirez took an inside pitch to right, scoring Pedroia from second base and advance Ortiz to third. Sox third baseman Mike Lowell would drive in Ortiz from third with his first hit of the game, a line drive down the third base line that the Mariners Adrian Beltre could not make a play on.

Hernandez would give up a single to J.D. Drew and a bases loaded walk to Jason Varitek before Seattle manager John McClaren had seen enough and opted for the 25-year-old left hander Ryan Rowland-Smith. Smith was able to get Sean Casey, who was batting for the second time in the inning to ground out to second but the damage was done. In the words of Christine, “Take the ‘D’ from Dover and it’s over.” Hernandez pitched 7.2 innings allowing a streak of ugly fives (five runs on five hits while walking five and striking out five).

Even with a strict pitch count, the hefty Sox veteran right hander – Colon – was able to make his way through seven complete innings before turning the game over to the bullpen. In seven innings, Colon recorded just one run on five hits while walking one and striking out for Seattle hitters. Left handed set up man, Hideki Okajima came on in relief of Colon to pitch the bottom of the eighth. After giving up a single to right off the bat of Jose Lopez, Okajima stranded the second baseman at first, retiring the following three batters to end the inning.

Jonathan Papelbon came on in the ninth inning – in a non-save situation – to get some work. But things did not go the way the Sox closer would have liked. Papelbon struck out lead off batter, right hander Jeremy Reed to begin the inning but allowed first baseman Richie Sexson to reach on his throwing error. Catcher Kenji Johjima lined a base hit into right center that sent Sexson to third. Center fielder Ichiro Suzuki lined a base hit into center to plate Sexson with Seattle’s second run of the game and moving Johjima to third. With runners at the corners the Mariners appeared as if they had something going. Johjima would score on Papelbon’s wild pitch to designated hitter Jose Vidro to cut the Sox lead to two.

It was a gut-wrencher in the bottom of the ninth because it looked as if the Sox were doing everything in their power to give the game to Seattle. Papelbon’s error. Varitek not being able to handle a Papelbon pitch in the dirt to Vidro allowing the Mariners catcher to score. But like all good teams, the Red Sox were able to survive the rocky ninth and pull out their 32^nd win of the season when Vidro grounded out to Pedroia to end the ballgame.

Daisuke Matsuzaka looks to take game two of the three game series against the Mariners when he toes the rubber against Seattle right hander Miguel Batista. Matsuzaka is hoping to be come the first American League pitcher to reach the nine win mark. He is currently the last remaining MLB pitcher who is undefeated at 8-0 with a 2.40 ERA, 53 strike outs, 38 walks and a 1.32 WHIP.

Making his 11^th start of the season against the Sox Japanese pitcher, Batista is 3-6 on the season with a 6.47 ERA, 35 strike outs and a 1.97 WHIP. He is coming off a 9-2 loss against the Detroit Tigers in Motown where he allowed five runs – four earned, - on seven hits while walking one and striking out two in just three innings. Against the Red Sox in his career, Batista is 4-5 in 8 starts with a 6.20 ERA, a 33-to-34 strike out-to-walk ratio and a 1.92 WHIP.

Unlike Batista, the Sox starter tomorrow night has better numbers against the team from the Emerald City. Matsuzaka is currently 1-1 in four starts with a 4.33 ERA, 23 strike outs and a 1.15 WHIP. Mariner batters are hitting just .220 against Matsuzaka and that includes Ichiro’s 1-for-12 (.083) with two walks and three strike outs against his fellow countryman.

WIN: Bartolo Colon (2-0)

LOSS: Felix Hernandez (2-5)

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Game Notes:

Kevin Youkilis was originally in the starting line up but was last minute scratch due to pain on the top of his right hand. Youkilis told the Sox medical personnel that he felt it yesterday against the Athletics and is currently day-to-day, according to the Sox public relations staff. The Sox first baseman was replaced in the line up by The Mayor Sean Casey.

Nine lives

Ichiro Suzuki got another chance at the plate in the first inning against Sox starter Bartolo Colon. On the third pitch to the Seattle center fielder, Suzuki skied a pop up to Jason Varitek who bobbled the ball and let it slip out of his glove and into the stands; thus giving Ichiro an extra life at the plate.

The 3 Stars of the Game:

1. Bartolo Colon, BOSTON --- 7IP, 5H, 1ER, 1BB, 4K

2. David Ortiz, BOSTON --- 1-5 Homerun, RBI

3. J.D. Drew, BOSTON --- 2-3 2 Singles

David Ortiz’s two homeruns power Sox to their first sweep of Milwaukee in 11 years

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RED SOX SWEEP BREWERS 11-7; MOVE TO 27-19
David Ortiz’s two homeruns power Sox to their first sweep of Milwaukee in 11 years

(May 18, 2008) – In today’s series finale against the Brewers, under overcast skies at Fenway, the Red Sox had the opportunity to do something they have not done in 17 years. Luckily they had their ace Josh Beckett on the hill to change the Sox history books.

The Beckett, fans saw in 2006 returned against the Brewers this afternoon giving up four long balls in his fifth win of the season. Although Beckett allowed six runs on six hits, he did return to his 2007 Cy Young contending season by striking out nine Milwaukee batters placing him in two off the AL lead for strike outs with 56. But the Sox offense and the Brewers impatience saved him from his fourth loss of the season and gave the Sox their first sweep of the Brewers at the old ballpark since May 20-22, 1991.

David Ortiz was the hero in today’s game. He took it upon himself to make sure the Red Sox would sweep the Brewers into the Steel City. After the Brewers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a Ryan Braun two-run shot over the wall in left, Ortiz lined a one out double to left to drive in Dustin Pedroia in the bottom half; cutting Milwaukee’s lead to one run.

Two innings later, after Pedroia hit a solo-homerun that just barely cleared the wall in left center, the big, bulky Ortiz was not going to be shown-up by the runt of the Sox litter. He wanted to get in on the homerun action as well and lined his ninth dinger of the season around Pesky’s pole and into the seats in right to give the Sox the 3-2 advantage.

But the Brewers would not go quietly. In the top of the fourth shortstop J.J. Hardy took a two-out Beckett curveball and lined it for a two-run homerun over the Monster after right fielder Corey Hart extended the inning with a base hit up the middle. It would be the last lead Milwaukee would hold for the remainder of the game. The Sox would send six batters to the plate in the bottom of the inning to place Boston back on top for good.

Mike Lowell would reach on Brewers third baseman, Bill Hall’s fielding error to lead off the fourth inning rally. In reminiscence towards last night’s game, Hall’s error would come back to haunt Milwaukee. Kevin Youkilis would move Lowell to second with a base hit of Brewers starter Carlos Villanueva. Villanueva would walk Jason Varitek to load the bases before striking out Coco Crisp for the first out of inning but he was not out of the woods just yet. After Crisp struck out, Julio Lugo walked to drive in Lowell with the fourth and tying run before Jacoby Ellsbury singled towards right to drive in Youkilis and Varitek to take the lead 6-4. From there the Sox started to pull away like Big Brown yesterday at the Preakness in the last turn.

Ortiz would add to his offensive power surge in the bottom of the fifth with his tenth homerun on the season, driving in Pedroia who led of the inning with a double off the wall. Although, the Brewers never quite reached the Sox lead, they kept clawing their way back with back-to-back homeruns by Braun and Prince Fielder. It was Braun’s second homerun of the game and 13^th on the season.

Youkilis would put the icing on the cake in the bottom of the seventh with his ninth homerun of the season and his 32^nd and 33^rd RBIs of the year – driving in Lowell, who singled to right to lead off the inning. The Brewers would get an additional run in the top of the eighth on a ground ball to second base by Braun to drive in second baseman Rickie Weeks. It was Braun’s fourth RBI of the game but Milwaukee would not get any closer and were swept out of the Hub by their former American League rivals.

The Sox will return to action tomorrow night when they face the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park in a four game series. The left handed Jon Lester will take the hill in search of his long awaited third win of the season and will be opposed by Royals right hander Luke Hochevar. Hochevar is 3-2 on the season with a 3.94 ERA, 24 strike outs and a 1.30 WHIP. Lester is coming off a no-decision against the Baltimore Orioles where he pitched remarkable – pitching six innings allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four – before the bullpen blew the win in the bottom of the seventh inning.

WIN: Josh Beckett (5-3)

LOSS: Carlos Villanueva (2-5)

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Game Notes:

Justin Masterson will be called up to make the start on Tuesday against Kansas City Royals right hander Gil Meche.

Bartolo Colon will also make his first start of the 2008 season on Wednesday against Brett Tomko.

The 3 Stars of the Game:

1. David Ortiz, BOSTON --- 3-5; 2 Homeruns, 4 RBIs

2. Josh Beckett, BOSTON --- 7IP, 6H, 6R, 1BB, 9K

3. Ryan Braun, MILWAUKEE --- 2-4; 2 Homeruns, 4 RBIs

David Ortiz’s two-run homerun lifts Sox to 5-3 victory in the day half of twin bill

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RED SOX TAKE GAME 1 AGAINST BREWERS 5-3; MOVE TO 25-19
David Ortiz’s two-run homerun lifts Sox to 5-3 victory in the day half of twin bill

(May 17, 2008) – Back in their comfort zone of Friendly Fenway and playing in front of the home crowd, the Red Sox ended their four game losing streak with a 5-3 win against the third place Milwaukee Brewers in the first game of the day-night doubleheader. It was the first time Milwaukee returned to Fenway Park since joining the Senior Circuit after the 1997 season.

The Sox got on the board first when David Ortiz walked with two outs against Jeff Suppan to extend the inning for Manny Ramirez. Two homeruns shy of the magical 500^th career homerun, Ramirez is almost certain to achieve the feat at home after failing to hit the heralded achievement on the past 10-game road trip. But after his Oscar winning performance of acting as if a Suppan fastball hit him on the hand instead of the bat knob, the Sox had runners on first and second with Kevin Youkilis at the dish.

Youkilis singled to right field moving up Ortiz and Ramirez a base hit. Suppan was wild early on in the game. After hitting Ramirez with a fastball, he walked in the first Sox run of the game on a five pitch walk to J.D. Drew. Drew was credited with his 18^th run batted in of the season when Ortiz crossed plate.

They would add to their 1-0 led the next inning when Julio Lugo lined a base hit up the middle behind Suppan with one out. He move up to second another base hit to left by the center fielder, Jacoby Ellsbury, who was only in the starting line up because Coco Crisp was still feeling side effects of the migraines that forced him from the game on Wednesday. After Dustin Pedroia failed to drive in the runners, but no need Ortiz broke the game open with a three-run homerun over the Green Monster.

Ortiz’s eighth homerun of the season and RBIS 30,31 and 32 barely made its way over the left field wall. In any other ballpark it would be just your average fly ball to the left fielder but not in Fenway. It is one of the advantages to playing 81 home games a year at baseball’s oldest ballpark but with advantages it also has disadvantages and throughout Red Sox history fans have seen both.

Milwaukee was not able to piece anything together against Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka until the top of the seventh inning. The Brewers were able to get the lead off hitter on base in four of the six innings Matsuzaka was on the mound but ended up stranding the runners on base. In the seventh, Matsuzaka easily got third baseman Bill Hall and catcher Jason Kendall to fly out to center and right, respectively but allowed second baseman Rickie Weeks to reach on Youkilis’s throwing error. Youkilis’s first error of the 2008 season prolonged the inning for center fielder Mike Cameron. Cameron cut the Sox lead in half with two run bomb over the Monster. Both runs unearned due to Youkilis’s very, very bad throw to first. He is no longer a third baseman and needs to stick with first to hide his weak arm. In 6.2 innings of work, Matsuzaka allowed just two runs – although neither run earned – on seven hits while walking two and striking out seven.

After giving up a base hit to last year’s Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun, Terry Francona had seen enough and opted to pull Matsuzaka in favor of the left handed Javier Lopez to face Prince Fielder. But Lopez was not all too effective and walked Prince Fielder on five pitches before being relieved by Manny Delcarmen. Delcarmen came on to get right fielder Corey Hart to ground into a fielder’s choice to end Milwaukee’s seventh inning threat.

After relieving Lopez, who faced just one batter, Delcarmen stayed on to pitch the eighth and allowed no runs on one hit before turning the game over to closer Jonathan Papelbon. But the ninth inning for Papelbon would not be without drama. Braun took a Papelbon fastball offering and launched it over the Monster to cut the Sox lead to two runs but the Sox closer was able to get Fielder to pop to shortstop to get the final out of the game and his 12^th save on the season.

The Sox return to action tonight in the night cap of the double header and will send Tim Wakefield to the hill to oppose Brewers righty Dave Bush who is 1-4 on the season with a 6.06 ERA.

WIN: Daisuke Matsuzaka (7-0)

LOSS: Jeff Suppan (2-3)

SAVE: Jonathan Papelbon (12)

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Game Notes:

Last time these teams met: June 6-8, 2003 at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Sox won the series 2-1, sandwiching a June 7 loss with two wins.

Red Sox-Brewers history:

When the Milwaukee Brewers were part of the American League, the Red Sox and Brewers played 394 games with Boston winning 211 of them. Since moving over to the National League after Major League Baseball expanded following the 1997 season, Boston and Milwaukee have faced each other just once – in 2003. But let’s reminisce back to the day when these two teams one another between 10 and 18 times a year. In 197 games played at Fenway between these two teams, the Sox came out on the winning end of 113 of them.

Red Sox Notes:

Mike Lowell is getting the late afternoon game off with three games being played in 36 hours.

Coco Crisp is not in the afternoon starting line up after he had to be taken out of the game in Baltimore with headaches and nausea in the sixth inning. He told Terry Francona that he will be able to pinch-run, pinch-hit or enter the game as a defensive replacement late in the game.

Hideki Okajima has a minor wrist injury and is day-to-day. The team will continue to monitor the injury but does not foresee the left-handed reliever to spend any time on the disabled list.

The 3 Stars of the Game:

1. David Ortiz, BOSTON --- 2-2; HR, 2 BB, 3 RBIs,2 Runs-Scored

2. Daisuke Matsuzaka, BOSTON --- 6.2IP, 7H, 2R, 0ER, 2BB, 7K

3. Prince Fielder, MILWAUKEE --- 2-3; 2 DB, BB

Mike Lowell’s keeps Sox four game streak alive with a 3-for-5 night

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RED SOX TOP TIGERS 5-3; MOVE TO 21-13
Mike Lowell’s keeps Sox four game streak alive with a 3-for-5 night

(May 5, 2008) – It is tough to imagine a team called the Tigers would be this bad in 2008. Not after the World’s number one golfer is Tiger Woods, who won the first three PGA tournaments of 2008 season. But because of Detroit’s misfortune early in the year, Daisuke Matsuzaka did not have to be perfect to record his fifth win of the season in the Red Sox’s 5-3 victory in Comerica Park.

Matsuzaka was not particularly sharp this evening, walking eight Tiger batters in just five innings while striking out just one opposing batter. Walks were the only problem the Sox starter, who had not allowed a hit until the bottom of the fourth inning but was already well above 65 pitches by that point. It was awfully difficult to watch Matsuzaka have trouble finding the strike zone while he was in the game but he was still able to weasel his way out of jams.

Since coming off the disabled list on the May 1, the Sox third base man had been just 4-for-17 but tonight was the night that Mike Lowell produced offensively. Lowell put the Sox on the board first with a two-run homerun over the head of Detroit left fielder Gary Sheffield in the top of the second inning. As the game progressed, the Cuban ballplayer would flirt with the possibility of becoming the first Sox player to hit for the cycle since John Valentin accomplished the feat 12 years ago against the Chicago White Sox.

In the top of the fourth inning Lowell doubled to left field to lead off the inning. He came around to score on Kevin Youkilis’s fourth homerun and second in as many games. Youkilis’s 22 RBIs ties him with the Tigers Miguel Cabrera for second among AL first baseman, behind Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau. David Ortiz would take another run on the board with a one out single in the top of the seven to plate second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

The Tigers would rally in the bottom of the inning against the young Craig Hansen, two innings after Matsuzaka was forced out of the game after throwing 109 pitches, 60 for strikes. Hansen would allow a base hit to second baseman Placido Polanco to lead off the inning then mishandle a dribbler out in front of the plate off the bat of Carlos Guillen. The Sox young right hander out of St. John’s University looked as if he would get out of the jam by getting right fielder Magglio Ordonez to ground into double play, but Hansen would go on to walk Cabrera and Sheffield before being relieved by Hideki Okajima. The left hander would gave up a bases loaded single to pinch-hitter Marcus Thames to close the lead to two runs.

Tim Wakefield will make the start in game two of the four game series with Detroit on Tuesday in what will be re-match of the April 10 game against Nate Robertson. The Sox’s elder statesman is in search of his third win of the season and is coming off a 3-0 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on May 1. In that loss, Wakefield pitched seven innings allowing three runs on five hits while walking three Jays batters.

Robertson is 1-3 on the season with a 6.82 ERA with 27 strike outs. The Tigers right hander is coming of a win against the Yankees in New York where he pitched 5.2 innings allowing four earned runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out three. The last time he faced the Sox was against Wakefield on April 10 where he pitched 5.1 innings allowing four runs on eight hits in the Sox’s 12-6 win. In the win, Wakefield pitched five innings allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits while striking out five and walking five.

WIN: Daisuke Matsuzaka (5-0)

LOSS: Jeremy Bonderman (2-3)

SAVE: Jonathan Papelbon (10)

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Game Notes:

The Tigers designated outfielder Jacque Jones for assignment. Jones was traded from the Chicago Cubs to the Tigers with hopes that he would provide offense at the plate. But instead of starting the 2008 season off on the right foot, the former Minnesota Twin was hitting at a .165 clip with a .244 on base percentage and a .253 slugging percentage.

Craig Hansen was re-called from triple A Pawtucket to fill the void that Brandon Moss left when he was placed on the DL earlier today.

Mike Lowell is just a triple away from the cycle and what a good place to get the opportunity than at the spacious Comerica Park.

Red Sox are currently 20-15 in Comerica Park since it opened in 2000.

The 3 Stars of the Game:

1. Mike Lowell, BOSTON 3-5 Homerun, Double, 2 RBIs

2. David Ortiz, BOSTON 2-4 Homerun, 2 RBIs

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

David Ortiz's two doubles and two RBIs lead to a Tampa Bay blood-bath 12-4

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RED SOX OFFENSE POWERS PAST RAYS 12-4; MOVE TO 17-13
David Ortiz's two doubles and two RBIs lead to a Tampa Bay blood-bath 12-4

(May 3, 2008) – Last week James Shields threw a complete game shut out against Josh Beckett and the Red Sox. But there were no “rays” of sunshine tonight for the Tampa Bay starter. Shields did not make it past the fourth inning, allowing seven runs on 10 hits. On the other side of the field, the first four innings did not fair much better for Beckett.

After mowing down the first five batters of the game, Beckett allowed the first Tampa Bay hit to Rays catcher Dioner Navarro. A batter later, Beckett gave up a two-run homerun to right fielder Gabe Gross to make it a one run ball game. But that was a close as Tampa Bay would get all game because the Red Sox offense was smokin’ hot.

The power surge from Friday night continued into the first inning against the Rays on Saturday under the Fenway Park lights. Rookie Jacoby Ellsbury started the night off with a base hit up the middle that fell just short of Rays center fielder Nathan Haynes. Second year second base man Dustin Pedroia followed Ellsbury’s base hit with a single of his own into left, moving his cohort up a station to second.

The month of April had not been too kind to David Ortiz, going 19-for-103 with five homeruns and 21 RBIs, but has come around as of late. Let it be noted in the past five games Ortiz appears to being breaking out of his funk that plagued him in the first month of season. In his last ten games, the Sox designated hitter has hit at a .300 clip (12-for-40) and drove in Ellsbury and Pedroia for the first two runs of the game with a double to left. His buddy, left fielder Manny Ramirez would drive him in for the third and final run of the inning with a base hit of his own into center.

Like the flu epidemic that ran rampant through the Sox clubhouse two weeks ago, hitting is contagious. Until the bottom of the eighth inning every member of the Sox starting line up had a base hit with the exception of catcher Jason Varitek. Up till the eighth, Varitek’s only contribution – offensively – was getting hit on the kneecap, with the bases loaded, by J.P Howell to force home Ortiz with the seventh run of the game. Varitek’s first and only hit of the game was two-run single to right driving in Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis. The Red Sox catcher got greedy and tried to turn a single into a double and was thrown out by right fielder Gabe Gross.

After a tempestuous first four innings, Beckett settled down in the fifth and retired eight consecutive Rays batters before giving up a solo homerun to second baseman Akinori Iwamura in the top of the eighth. The homerun was Iwamura’s second homerun and eighth RBI of the season. In total the Sox ace completed eight innings allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out just five Tampa Bay hitters.

Tampa Bay ace Scott Edward Kazmir returns to the mound tomorrow to make his first start of the season and he faces fellow Southpaw Jon Lester. It always seems as if Kazmir and Lester always get matched up together. The last time these two lefties met was Tuesday August 14 of last year, Lester nearly matched Kazmir’s six innings of four hit ball while striking out eight Sox batters. In that game the Rays lead the game in the bottom of the ninth inning with one-out and Lowell at the plate and with one sweet swing by the Sox third baseman an unsuspecting fan on Lansdowne Street wound up with a souvenir. Center fielder Coco Crisp would drive in Varitek, who doubled following a strike out by Kevin Youkilis, with the game winning run to give the Red Sox the 2-1 victory and Eric Gagne his first win in a Sox uniform.

Lester is coming his fourth straight no decision where he pitched eight innings of one-hit ball before turning it over to closer Jonathan Papelbon who received his first victory of the season in the 1-0 Red Sox victory. The Sox left handed starter is currently 1-2 on the season with a 4.31 ERA with 22 strike outs.

In 2007, Kazmir was 13-9 with a 3.48 ERA, 239 strike outs and 1.38 WHIP. Although his career record against the Red Sox is 6-5, Kazmir has the Sox’s number. In 101.1 innings, the Rays lefty holds Sox hitters to a .218 average and has a 2.66 ERA against the occupants of Fenway Park. Against the Sox, Kazmir has struck out 118 Sox batters in his career against Boston. For the Rays, Kazmir is their only hope to salvage a game in the series and avoid a sweep in revenge of last week.

WIN: Josh Beckett (3-2)

LOSS: James Shields (3-2)

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Game Notes:

J.D. Drew returns to the line up after missing three games with a sore left quad.

Lost in the shuffle of all the hits and runs, Dustin Pedroia, at second was 3-for-5.

The 3 Stars of the Game:

1. David Ortiz, BOSTON 3-5 2 Doubles, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs scored

2. Jason Varitek, BOSTON 1-4 Single, 3 RBIs, 2 Runs scored

3. J.D. Drew, BOSTON 2-4 Double, 2 RBIs, Run scored

A.J. Burnett’s five strike outs propel Jays to their only victory of the series

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RED SOX FALL TO BLUE JAYS 3-0; MOVE TO 17-13
A.J. Burnett’s five strike outs propel Jays to their only victory of the series

(May 1, 2008) – The Blue Jays starved off a three game sweep by the Sox with a 3-0 behind a remarkable, three-hit pitching performance by Jays starter A.J. Burnett. In his 8.2 innings, Burnett kept the Sox off the scoreboard and racking up five strike outs while walking five batters.

Although Tim Wakefield followed Clay Buchholz, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka by going at least seven innings, the knuckleballer unfortunately picked up his first loss of the season. The knuckleball was not dancing for Wakefield tonight. Tonight was the first game where Wakefield did not record one strike out. Before tonight’s game his game low in strike outs was one and that was his last outing against Tampa Bay.

Toronto was patient with Wakefield and got to him for three earned runs on four hits while walking four times. In the top of the third, the Jays finally got on the board when Alex Rios singled and stole his seventh base of the season off of the Sox’s catcher Kevin Cash. Rios scored from second on a base hit by former National League Gold Glove Award winning third base man Scott Rolen, to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.

Wakefield ran into trouble two innings later when shortstop David Eckstein doubled down the right field line then hit Rolen on the left shoulder, put Jays on first and second and no outs. But a base running blunder by Eckstein saved Wakefield in the inning. Designated hitter Matt Stairs hit a high, towering fly ball to left field over the head of Manny Ramirez and Coco Crisp. Eckstein thought Crisp would have a play on the ball so he went back to second base to tag, not knowing Rolen was on his tail behind him. It was a play right out of “Little Big League,” you the movie where a 12-year-old boy manages the Minnesota Twins.

After realizing the ball hit the very top of the manual scoreboard, bouncing directly into Crisp’s hot, little hand, Eckstein motored his small legs to third base with Rolen fifteen feet behind him. There was going to be a problem. Crisp’s throw came back to the infield and was caught by shortstop Jed Lowrie. Not seeing Rolen in no-man’s land between second and third, Lowrie quickly threw to Cash to get Eckstein who rounded third because he saw Rolen barreling to third once he stopped. Due to his blunder, Eckstein became the first out of the inning. Rolen would score on a sacrifice fly by to center by Vernon Wells but thankfully for Wakefield it was the only run of the inning. It could have been a lot worse.

The bottom of the ninth inning looked as if there would be another come-from-behind victory for the Red Sox. After Jays closer B.J. Ryan struck our Ramirez looking and got Mike Lowell to fly out to center field, the chances were slim but rookie Brandon Moss worked a two-out walk to bring Crisp to the plate. It appeared to 36,000 fans at the Fens that Crisp flew out to Rios to end the game but as the Jays dugout was ready to empty to congratulate each other on the win, first base umpire, Brian Gorman called Ryan on a balk. Game was still on.

Could it be? Could it be for the third consecutive day another dramatic come-from-behind victory for the Red Sox? Well that is what the fans were hoping for. But I can tell you the baseball beat writers in the press box all threw their heads in their hands, getting ready to crumple up their articles for respective editors.

Given a second chance, Crisp lined a base hit into right field sending Moss to third and bringing the game-tying run to the plate in the hands of Lowrie. A lot of pressure was riding on a 24-year-old to be a hero like Kevin Youkilis and Jason Varitek before him. Lowrie has similar features to former Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, could he pull off a “Virginia Tech” and bring the Sox back to tie the game like Ryan did against the Hokies last October? As B.J. Ryan fell behind in the count to Lowrie, Sox fans became louder and rowdier hoping for the best. But Ryan would battle back, catching the youngster starring wide-eyed at strike three.

Tampa Bay rolls into Fenway Park tomorrow night for a weekend series with the Red Sox for the first time this season. The Fenway Park occupants have revenge on their mind after their 3-0 series sweep down in the Florida sun. See I always told you sun does bad things to you. (No, I am not going to go all Shonda Schilling on you.)That is the reason I wear globs of sunscreen even though it is the worst feeling in the world but it is better than turning a bright red color.

Under the Friday night lights, Clay Buchholz will take the mound against Rays right-hander Edwin Jackson, in a re-match of last Saturday night where the Rays won the game 2-1. Buchholz made one mistake, in eight innings, was to second baseman Akinori Iwamura, gave Tampa Bay the one-run victory. Jackson, who was saved a loss by Iwamura, allowed just one run on five hits while walking three and striking out four in seven innings. On the season the Rays righty is 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA and 22 strike outs while Buchholz is 1-2 with a 4.08 ERA and 27 strike outs. In the words of T.I. “may the best man win, partner.”

WIN: A.J. Burnett (3-2)

LOSS: Tim Wakefield (2-1)

SAVE: B.J. Ryan (3)

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Game Notes:

HealthWatch

Terry Francona decided not to push neither J.D. Drew (quadriceps) nor Jacoby Ellsbury (groin) back into to the line up for tonight’s series finale against the Blue Jays. Francona told Globe reporters that Drew was going to be shagging balls in right field before tonight’s game.

Although David Ortiz is in the starting line up tonight, the Sox designated spent time today on the elliptical machine to stretch out his surgically repaired knee; which is still sore from when he dove into the first base bag trying to beat out a double play. Francona also noted there is nothing structurally wrong with Ortiz’s knee, a sigh of relief to the majority of Sox fans.

As for closer Jonathan Papelbon, Francona still has not reached decision about whether he is available. He pitched the ninth innings in the last two games and Francona is still worried about the 27-year-old’s shoulder.

The 3 Stars of the Game:

1. A.J. Burnett, TORONTO 8.2IP, 3H, 0ER, 5BB, 5K

2. Alex Rios, TORONTO 3-5 3 Singles, Homerun, RBI

3. David Ortiz, BOSTON 2-4 2 Singles

David Ortiz’s first homerun of the season lead Sox to a 3-1 series win over Oakland

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RED SOX SHUT OUT ATHLETICS 5-0 TO MOVE TO 3-1
David Ortiz’s first homerun of the season lead Sox to a 3-1 series win over Oakland

(April 2, 2008) – Who said the number 13 was an unlucky number? It was not for David Ortiz at least. On Ortiz’s 13^th at bat of the season, he dropped a bloop single in front of Emil Brown in the fifth for his first hit of the season. Two innings later he would break the nothing-nothing tie with a high, two-run homerun to right centerfield. The Sox went on to win 5-0 behind 6 2/3 strong innings by Sox lefty Jon Lester, who allowed just two hits and three walks while striking out three.

Early on in the game, Harden did not look like the same pitcher who struck out nine Red Sox hitters in Japan. In 14 pitches, he allowed a single to Dustin Pedroia, two walks to Kevin Youkilis and Ortiz with not a single out in the inning. The Sox were poised to do some major damage against Harden in the first.

But then the light seemed to switch on in Harden’s head becoming the pitcher he was seven days ago, striking out both Manny Ramirez and Mike Lowell swinging for the first two outs of the game. Playing in his first game of the season since sitting out the previous three games with back spasms, J.D. Drew stranded Pedroia, Youkilis and Ortiz by grounding out to first base to end the first inning.

On the mound for the Red Sox, Lester had his way with Oakland hitters. Although allowing sporadic hits to Oakland hitters (Daric Barton and Jack Hannahan) they never materialized into scoring opportunities for the Athletics. Every time Oakland got a runner on base he was wiped out by either a double play or a strike out. The only time the Athletics got a runner to third base, on Lester, was in the first inning on Mike Sweeney’s fielder’s choice to shortstop sending Barton (who doubled to left in his at-bat) to third.

Lester benefited from some good defense behind him in three consecutive innings. In the bottom of the second, he walked shortstop Bobby Crosby on four pitches he was aided by a double play ball, by catcher Kurt Suzuki, to shortstop to end the inning. The next inning, third baseman Hannahan singled to lead off the inning but Lester was able to get center fielder, Chris Denorfia to ground to shortstop for another double play. The fourth inning saw another lead off walk by the Sox left hander but after a Jack Cust strike out, Lester was able to get Brown to pop out to Drew who then threw to first to get Sweeney who strayed to far off the bag.

Harden left the game after five innings and was relieved by Andrew Brown. After hitting Lowell in the ribs, Brown appeared to on the verge of getting out of the inning unscathed. He struck out Drew and catcher Kurt Suzuki caught Lowell trying to steal and only needed one more out but that out would not come without some pressure. Brown walked Varitek and gave up a hit to Coco Crisp before being relieved by former Sox pitcher, Alan Embree but did not offer any relief. Embree hit the first batter he faced (Alex Cora) in the hand to load the bases. For the first time since the first the Sox had the bases loaded and just like the first they squandered the opportunity to put points on the board when Pedroia grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop.

But good teams find a way to win. When Youkilis led off the seventh inning with a double to left center, Ortiz took a 1-2 fastball to deep right center to give the Red Sox the 2-0 lead. From their they would not look back and went on to the 5-0 victory as well as their first series win of 2008.

The Sox will send Tim Wakefield to the mound when they travel North of the Border to Toronto, Ontario, Canada to play the Blue Jays on Friday April 4 at 7:15pm. Wakefield will be making his first start of the 2008 season and will be opposed by Jays right hander Shaun Marcum. Marcum was 12-6 last year with a 4.13 ERA and 122 strike outs. The Red Sox knuckleballer is coming off a 17 win season (17-12) with a 4.76 ERA and 110 strike outs.

WIN: Jon Lester (1-1)

LOSS: Alan Embree (0-1)

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Game Notes:

Daric Barton’s double in the bottom of the first was his first hit of the season. Coming into today’s game, Barton was 0-for-9.

David Ortiz’s First Hit Watch:

Ortiz got his first hit of the season in the top of the fifth inning with two outs and a man on first. It was a bloop single just over the head of third baseman Jack Hannahan.

Third Time’s a Charm:

For the third in the game and second time with no outs, the Sox loaded the bases in the top of the eighth but for the first time they took advantage of the opportunity. Pedroia and Youkilis singled home Varitek and Crisp, respectively, against left hander Lenny DiNardo and right hander Santiago Casilla, respectively, to give Boston the 4-0 lead.

Top Three Stars of the Game:

1. David Ortiz, BOSTON – 2-4 Game Winning 2-run HR, 2RBI
2. Jon Lester, BOSTON – 6.2IP, 2H, 0ER, 3BB, 3K – 94 pitches – 53 for strikes
3. Jason Varitek, BOSTON – 2-4 HR, RBI