The Red Sox Finally Start To Learn From Their Mistakes Over The Last Few Years

If only there was a way the Dodgers could take John Lackey and deploy Bobby Valentine as a clubhouse attendant-a job that's much more his speed these days. Still, getting rid of $262.5 million owed to Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Nick Punto means that Boston is finally admitting that they needed a big change in terms of players.

James Loney is an average MLB first baseman and who knows if right-hand pitchers Allen Webster and Rubby De La Rosa or outfielder Jerry Sands will pan out for the Red Sox at the Major League level. That's besides the point and obviously, on paper in terms of talent the players that the Red Sox gave up are on a whole other level than the Dodgers.

No, this was a salary dump as the stubborn Red Sox owners and front office were able to get rid of the team's biggest pain in the ass-Beckett. Gonzalez is a fine player but he proved in his year and a half here that he's not East Coast material. He's not a leader and he seems like a guy that only really cares about his personal numbers. If the team wins or loses, well that doesn't matter as much. Bottom line, he's not a winner. He is one of the most skilled first basemen in MLB but that doesn't make him clutch or likable for that matter. He never understood that we care way too much about the Red Sox and we overanalyze everything. He's from California so I'm sure he'll be comfortable in LA. The fans (when they show up) just want to be seen there and have fun, that's all they care about.

As for Crawford, his signing even more than Gonzalez in that ill-fated week in December of 2010 never made much sense. The Red Sox already had a center fielder and leadoff hitter-Jacoby Ellsbury-that is a better all-around player than Crawford. He was wildly overpaid and clearly pressed from day one to try and justify it. Unlike Beckett who is an asshole or Gonzalez who is clueless, Crawford is a decent guy. He wanted fans to like him and with his salary and lack of production, that was probably never going to happen. After last season's nightmare, he couldn't stay healthy this season. I honestly hope he is healthy next season with the Dodgers so he can get back to the player he used to be with the Rays.

What is there left to say about the Texas Toughguy? He morphed into a super villain, the likes of which I can never recall on the Boston sports scene. He kept digging himself into a deeper hole with his terrible performances capped off by ridiculous comments to the media and general surliness. In the last year, he has dragged down many teammates around him, notably Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz. By shipping him out of town and hopefully getting rid of Lackey this winter, there is hope that the Red Sox will start to get part of their soul back.

Maybe the failure of these big-ticket players, along with Daisuke Matsuzaka whose career in Boston is quickly winding down, will make the Red Sox change how they evaluate free agents going forward. It is one thing to have good numbers in Tampa Bay, Florida (now Miami) or San Diego. Those markets are nothing like Boston and the inherit pressures you get by playing here. Boston now has plenty of money to use the next few offseasons. This was a huge step in the right direction, by also moving on from Lackey and Dice-K while (please God) not bringing back Bobby Valentine, the fans will return. We can live with some rebuilding if the team suddenly is likable easy to cheer for again.

Tweet


Follow @RichSlate

Even On Off-Days This Season, The Red Sox Must Have Some Sort Of Drama

The Red Sox aren't even playing a game tonight but they still can't keep themselves out of the news for all the wrong reasons.

Boston will finally let outfielder Carl Crawford get Tommy John surgery (to correct a chronic UCL tear in his left elbow) on Thursday, after hemming and hawing about it for way too long. The only reason I can surmise for why this didn't happen weeks ago is that the shameless owners and front office wanted to squeeze as much money as possible out of fans. They had to pretend that the playoffs were a real possibility. When they put Crawford on the shelf for 6-9 months, that is the proverbial white flag admitting what we've all known for months-this season is over.

Reports came out last weekend in New York that Crawford was going to have the surgery but the Red Sox denied it. Crawford has basically admitted he wasn't right, he didn't make his 2012 debut until July 16 due to wrist surgery over the winter and then he hurt his elbow while rehabbing in April. I actually feel bad for him since he seems like a honest player and he was never able to peform like himself to try and atone for his miserable first season in Boston.

The part that made this situation so frustrating was that Bobby Valentine said weeks ago that he needed special rest and couldn't make good throws from the outfield (hence taking him out late in close games). Yet Crawford appeared in last night's series finale in the Bronx. At some point, they should have cut their losses since waiting this long means he probably won't be ready for Opening Day 2013. Ironically, Crawford played pretty decent in 31 games: .282 batting average, .306 OBP, .479 SLG, 3 home runs, 19 RBIs, 23 runs, 10 doubles, 2 triples, 5 stolen bases.

If that wasn't enough, the Red Sox made another move that you could see coming for a long time: they fired manager Bobby Valentine's mortal enemy Bob McClure and promoted assistant pitching coach Randy Niemann to the head pitching coach position for the last 40 games. Haha I'm pretty sure no other team in MLB has an assistant pitching coach but that's beside the point.

The wheels have completely fallen off for Boston as they have lost 12 of their last 18 games to fall 13.5 games behind the Yankees in the AL East and 7.5 games back of the Orioles for the second AL wild card spot.

As everybody knows, the main catalyst of this trainwreck baseball team has been their awful starting rotation, headlined by Jon Lester (7-10, 5.03 ERA) and Josh Beckett (5-11, 5.23 ERA) The Red Sox' team ERA is 4.30 which is 11th in the AL heading into tonight's games and the starters ERA is 4.82, 5th-worst in MLB. This will be the fourth pitching coach in three years for the Red Sox which speaks to the lack of order in the foundation of the franchise.

The scary part is that this move indicates that Bobby V gets his way in a small sense. McClure wasn't his guy and during the season, there were reports that they didn't even talk to one another (don't ask me how that's possible). Niemann was the only coach that Valentine was able to bring in this offseason so there has to be a sense of loyalty for that. McClure had been the pitching coach for six seasons in Kansas City and Niemann was with the Mets organization for 24 seasons. I don't think pitching coaches mean much but when you hire them from shitty clubs like that, it should be no surprise when stuff like this flares up.

The Red Sox (59-63) will interrupt their regularly scheduled soap opera to actually play a game tomorrow night (7:10 p.m., NESN) as the Los Angeles Angels (62-60) come to Fenway for three games. Aaron Cook (3-6) takes on Ervin Santana (6-10) in the opener. Stay tuned tomorrow to see what other useless coach gets fired and which player elects to shut it down for the rest of the season (looking at you David Ortiz).

UPDATE 8/21: Daniel Nava returned to Boston today and he'll DH in tonight's lineup vs. the Angels. He replaces Crawford on the Red Sox roster. Also, Vicente Padilla was activated from the DL which meant Danny Valenica was sent to Pawtucket to make room for him.

Tweet


Follow @RichSlate

If Only Clay Buchholz Could Pitch Every Game For The Red Sox, Then They Might Be OK

Clay Buchholz has earned the right to be Boston's Opening Day starter in 2013 with his superb second half. It continued tonight in Baltimore as the Red Sox (58-61, 29-27 away) salvaged a game against the Orioles (64-54, 32-29 home) with a 6-3 win at Camden Yards.

Not only did Buchholz (11-3) help Boston avoid the three-game sweep but he maintained his run of six quality starts in a row. What's more, he hasn't been charged with a loss since July 14 which is remarkable considering how much the Red Sox have lost in that time frame. He actually allowed two runs in the first and one in the second but settled down to go eight innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts and three walks.

Alfredo Aceves, Boston's lonely closer, struck out the side in the ninth for a 1-2-3 inning and his 24th save of the season.

After struggling so badly with runners in scoring position the previous two nights, the Red Sox improved (5 for 16) even if they still left way too many guys on base (10). Boston had 13 hits, five RBIs and four walks. Cody Ross went 3 for 5 with a double and RBI, Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 5 with a double, two runs and an RBI, Carl Crawford was 2 for 5 with two runs, a double and stolen base, Adrian Gonzalez was 2 for 4 with two runs, two RBIs and a double while Scott Podsednik was 2 for 4 with a double, RBI and run.

Adam Jones had a two-run double in the first for the Orioles and Mark Reynolds blasted a solo homer (his 12th of the season) in the second inning but other than that, Baltimore was shut down. They went 2 for 8 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.

Orioles starter Chris Tillman (3 earned runs, 6 hits) couldn't get out of the fifth inning but reliever Luis Ayala (4-4) allowed three runs in the sixth which turned out to be the difference.

Podsednik got Boston on the board with an RBI single in the second which cut it to 2-1. Boston tied in the fifth as Crawford scored on a wild pitch by Tillman and Gonzalez knocked in Pedroia with a sacrifice fly.

Pedroia started the scoring in the sixth by reaching on an infield single while Podsednik crossed the plate. Then Gonzalez and Ross kept the line moving with RBI singles of their own.

Boston improved to 4-8 against Baltimore this season; they play six more times with a home series for each team in late September.

The Red Sox are 3-4 so far on their 10-game road trip and it wraps up this weekend in the Bronx with three against the Yankees (70-48, 1st AL East), who are the top team in the American League. Remember when Boston won two of three at Yankee Stadium in the end of July? That was a real turning point of the season huh, oh wait.

Franklin Morales (3-3) faces Phil Hughes (11-10) tomorrow night (7:05 p.m., NESN), Jon Lester (6-10) takes on David Phelps (3-3) on Saturday afternoon (4:05 p.m., NESN) then Josh Beckett (5-10) closes out what could be a very ugly series vs. Hiroki Kuroda (11-8) on Sunday night (8:00 p.m., ESPN).

Tweet


Follow @RichSlate

Red Sox Piss Another Season Down The Drain, Misery Continues In Baltimore

Aaron Cook had a no-hitter entering the sixth inning and the Red Sox led the Orioles 2-0. As quick as you could say, no October baseball at Fenway, Baltimore scored five runs en route to a 5-3 win tonight at Camden Yards.

Boston (57-61, 28-27 away) latest slide all but guarantees that September will be completely meaningless. There is no chance this team will push for a playoff spot, at this point they are going to struggle to finish over .500 and in front of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Baltimore (64-53, 32-28 home) only had six hits but they made them count by going 4 for 13 with runners in scoring position. The Red Sox were 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position while they both left six men on base.

The uniquely terrible aspects to this loss for Boston included a throwing error by Cook that led to three runs plus the ejections of Adrian Gonzalez and Bobby Valentine. After Pedro Strop quick pitched Gonzo in the eighth then got him to ground out, the normally church mouse quiet first baseman sort of showed some emotion. Valentine came out to defend him/fire up his worthless team but you can see from the final score how that went.

Cook (3-6) went 5.1 innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on three hits with one strikeout and three walks.

Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez (5-2) went six innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits with two strikeouts and a walk. Baltimore's bullpen locked it down, especially Strop who had a 1-2-3 eighth with two strikeouts for his 20th hold and closer Jim Johnson who notched his 35th save with a clean ninth including a strikeout.

Jacoby Ellsbury's (2 hits) RBI double and Carl Crawford's sacrifice fly scored Nick Punto (2 runs) staked the Red Sox to a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning.

The Orioles sixth included an RBI single by Nate McLouth, Adam Jones grounded into a fielder's choice and Cook threw the ball away which allowed J.J. Hardy to score, Matt Wieters had an RBI double and Mark Reyonlds ended it with a two-run double.

All Boston could muster after Baltimore's big sixth inning was an RBI ground out by Crawford in the seventh.

Clay Buchholz (10-3) is all that stands in the way of a three-game sweep by the Orioles tomorrow night (7:05 p.m., NESN) as he takes on Chris Tillman (5-2). The only question is how will the Red Sox find a new and different way to lose?

Tweet


Follow @RichSlate

I Have Never Seen A Local Team Be Toxic In Every Conceivable Way Possible, Until Now

If you want to see a dysfunctional team, in every way possible, tune into a Red Sox game in 2012. Better yet, don't even watch but just read some of their assorted daily drama that is constantly stirred up by these malcontents, out of touch owners and wacky manager.

I have never cared less about a local squad (Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, Red Sox) than this one. Things get more predictable by the day, it's like paint by numbers. Tonight, Josh Beckett (5-10) "pitched" and the Red Sox (57-60, 28-26 away) lost the series opener 7-1 to the Orioles (63-53, 31-28 home) at Camden Yards.

The end of the season can't come soon enough for this truly hateable team. The Texas Toughguy went 5.1 innings, allowing six earned runs on six hits with two strikeouts, two walks and two home runs allowed. After Matt Wieters reached on an infield single (scoring a run) and Chris Davis (2 hits, walk) had an RBI single in the sixth, Beckett was pulled from the game by Bobby Valentine. Would you believe Mark Melancon gave up a three-run bomb to Mark Reynolds (his second of the game) on the next pitch? Haha unbelievable, pass me a couple beers Lackey.

Not that it mattered anyway. Baltimore has the look of a playoff team this season despite the fact that their lineup isn't very good, their rotation is average at best and they play terrible defense (worst in the AL). Still, they make up for it by hitting homers, having a good bullpen and being clutch. What a concept!

Their de-facto ace Wei-Yin Chen (11-7) went six innings, allowing one earned run on nine hits with four strikeouts and a walk. Baltimore's bullpen kept the lead intact as Darren O'Day, JC Romero and Matt Lindstrom all threw scoreless frames. Too bad nobody in Baltimore has figured out yet that the O's are a team to get behind, I guess they are all busy on the corners like in The Wire.

The Red Sox actually outhit the Orioles 11-7 but they were 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position and they left 12 men on base. You couldn't be that ineffective if you tried, you have to give Boston credit for that. Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia (double, triple, walk), Cody Ross (run, double) and Carl Crawford all had two hits in the loss.

Mighty Omar Quintanilla-Orioles No. 9 hitter-took Beckett deep in the third, a solo shot and his 3rd of the season. Crawford tied it with an RBI single in the fourth but Reynolds woke up with a solo homer in the fifth (his 10th of the season) and Baltimore was on their way.

All was not lost for the Red Sox though since Danny Valencia got his first hit for them while Andrew Bailey made his debut. The former A's closer walked Davis then struck out Reynolds to end the eighth. Too bad he couldn't have returned oh I don't know, a month ago. Oh well, like I said before, it doesn't matter.

Aaron Cook (3-5) takes the ball against Miguel Gonzalez (4-2) tomorrow night (7:05 p.m., NESN) in the middle game of this three-game series. At least I can stomach watching Cook play baseball, Beckett literally makes me sick.

Tweet


Follow @RichSlate

Lester Strikes Out 12 For 1st Win Since June 27, Frontrunning Red Sox Roll 14-1 Over Indians

Everyone has noticed all season that the Red Sox are two different teams: a great frontrunner that can blow out teams with the best of them but then also one that cannot win close games, therefore leaving them floating around .500 for the duration of 2012.

Jon Lester (6-10) remembered he used to be an ace this afternoon as Boston (57-59, 28-25 away) drubbed Cleveland (53-62, 30-29 home) 14-1 at Progressive Field. The teams split the four-game series as Lester recorded his first win since June 27 (really) and most strikeouts in over two years.

In only six innings, Lester struck out 12 and allowed one earned run on three hits with two walks. He was backed by an offense that exploded for 16 hits (7 extra base hits), 14 RBIs and five walks (which is a high total for the free-swinging Red Sox). Boston was 9 for 19 with runners in scoring position which is more regularly the result of multiple games.

Without David Ortiz and Will Middlebrooks, Boston's four best remaining hitters had big days: Carl Crawford had three doubles, three RBIs and two runs; Adrian Gonzalez had a double, home run (13th of the season; he leads the AL in RBIs since the All-Star break), walk, two runs and four RBIs; Dustin Pedroia scored three runs, had two hits (double), an RBI and walk while Jacoby Ellsbury was 2 for 5 with a double, two runs and two RBIs. Not to be overshadowed, Mike Aviles was 3 for 3 with a double, three runs, a walk and stolen base.

Poor Indians rookie Corey Kluber (0-1) served as batting practice for this mediocre team. He wasn't fooling anybody as he allowed six earned runs on seven hits in 3.1 innings. Things didn't improve when Josh Tomlin was the first guy out of the bullpen for Cleveland and he was charged with seven earned runs in 1.1 innings.

This was the rare baseball game that was over by the fifth inning as the Red Sox opened up their 14-1 lead. That made for some extended garbage time, fittingly in their last day in a worthless city.

Boston gets tomorrow off then they play three games in Baltimore (62-53, 3rd in AL East) who are still playing like a team that will be alive in October. Josh Beckett (5-9) faces Wei-Yin Chen (10-7) on Tuesday night (7:05 p.m., NESN), Aaron Cook (3-5) opposes Miguel Gonzalez (4-2) on Wednesday night (7:05 p.m., NESN) and Clay Buchholz (10-3) takes the mound against Chris Tillman (5-2) in the finale on Thursday night (7:05 p.m., NESN).

The Orioles have had the Red Sox' number since last September and I expect that to continue this week since they are legitimately in the playoff hunt so every game counts. This is the middle series before Boston concludes its grueling 10-game road trip in New York next weekend. As for Lester, we can only wait until his next start (Saturday vs. Yankees) to decide if today was a blip against a weak-hitting opponent or the start of something good at the end of the season.

Tweet

Follow @RichSlate

I Don't Think Even Aaron Cook Expected To Pitch That Well Against The Rangers

There was plenty to like about Monday night's game at Fenway Park. Boston blew out a very good team, they racked up 14 hits, Aaron Cook pitched a gem and it was all over in two hours and 47 minutes which gave us plenty of time to watch tape delayed London Olympics events in which we already knew the final outcome.

The Red Sox (55-55, 29-32 home) rolled 9-2 over the Rangers (63-45, 29-24 away) in the series opener.

Cook (3-5) went seven innings, allowing one earned run on six hits with two strikeouts and three walks. Yu Darvish (11-8) looked like Dice-K if he struck out more batters. He stayed out there for 6.2 innings (don't ask me why) and 123 pitches but was rocked for six earned runs on 11 hits with nine strikeouts and four walks.

The top of the Red Sox lineup had their most productive game of the season. Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford, Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez combined for seven runs, 11 hits (8 doubles) and eight RBIs. As a team, Boston went an impressive 6-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

Ex-Red Sox David Murphy gave Texas a short-lived 1-0 lead in the second with an RBI single. Boston responded with two runs in the third and three in the fourth. Crawford and Gonzalez had RBI doubles then Ellsbury had an RBI double, Crawford had a sacrifice fly and Pedroia had an RBI double.

Gonzalez's RBI single in the seventh made it 6-1 and the Red Sox scored three more times in the eighth. Crawford had an RBI double, Gonzalez added another run-scoring single and Cody Ross notched a sacrifice fly.

Another ex-Red Sox, Adrian Beltre, blasted a solo homer (19th of the season) in the ninth but Boston was able to limit the Rangers to that last run.

Boston looks for its third straight victory tomorrow night (7:10 p.m., NESN) as Jon Lester (5-9) takes on Ryan Dempster (0-0). I've got a feeling it's going to be a high-scoring affair, a pitcher's duel would totally shock me.

Tweet


Follow @RichSlate

Remind Me Again Why Franklin Morales Isn't In The Red Sox Rotation Full-Time?

Never fear folks, Franklin Morales (3-2) won't let the Red Sox get swept by the lowly Twins in the worst series so far of the neverending 2012 season.

He went six superb innings (1 run, 3 hits, 4 strikeouts, 3 walks) in his first start since July 13 as Boston (54-55, 28-32 home) held on for a 6-4 win vs. Minnesota (47-61, 24-29 away) this afternoon at Fenway Park. The Red Sox snapped a four-game losing streak overall and they had lost the first three games to the Twins.

Vicente Padilla did his best Alfredo Aceves impression from Saturday's night's debacle as he allowed a solo homer to Josh Willingham (28th of the season) and a two-run bomb to Ryan Doumit (11th of the season) in the ninth that made a 6-1 game 6-4 in the blink of an eye. Luckily, Aceves shook off his struggles to get a 1-2-3 ninth (on 9 pitches) for his 23rd save of the season. That ability to bounce back sums up his main talent-he's fearless and incredibly durable.

Birthday boy Carl Crawford (who turned 31 on Sunday) had a solid performance, going 3-for-5 with two runs, an RBI and a stolen base. Best of all for the impatient Crawford, he saw a team-high 22 pitches. Adrian Gonzalez (3 RBIs, run, walk), Cody Ross, Will Middlebrooks (stolen base) and Mike Aviles (run, walk) all had two hits in the win as Boston outhit Minnesota 14-6.

The Red Sox scored twice in the third on Crawford's groundout and Gonzalez's RBI single. Ben Revere (hit, stolen base, 19-game hitting streak, 1 incredible over-the-shoulder catch) got the Twins on the board with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, cutting it to 2-1.

Gonzalez hit a two-run homer (his 11th of the season) over the Monster in the fifth, Ross had a run-scoring single in the seventh and Jacoby Ellsbury tacked on a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Is it too soon to lock up Ross with a multi-year deal before he becomes a free agent this winter? He's earned that pay day.

Things are about to get real at Fenway as the American League's best team-tied with the Yankees-comes to town. The Texas Rangers (63-44, 1st in AL West) play the Red Sox three times to end Boston's longest homestand (10 games) of 2012. The Red Sox lost two of three in the Lonestar State two weeks ago and looking at the pitching matchups, I fully expect a sweep by the two-time defending AL champions.

Aaron Cook (2-5) faces Yu Darvish (11-7) tomorrow night (7:10 p.m., NESN), Jon Lester (5-9) gets new Ranger Ryan Dempster (5-5) on Tuesday night (7:10 p.m., NESN) then the Texas Toughguy (5-9) is scheduled to oppose Matt Harrison (13-6) on Wednesday afternoon (1:35 p.m., NESN) if his bad back and fat ass will allow it.

In other Twins-Red Sox news, the teams made a minor trade this afternoon as Minnesota dealt third baseman Danny Valencia to Boston for Single A outfielder Jeremias Pineda. Valencia had a promising rookie season in 2010 (7 homers, 40 RBIs, .311 batting average in 85 games) and reasonably productive 2011 (15 homers, 72 RBIs in 154 games) but he fell off the map this season (.198 in 34 games). He will report to Pawtucket and look for him to get called up September 1 when the rosters expand.

Tweet


Follow @RichSlate

The Dog Days Of Summer Have Left The Red Sox All But Dead

When you really look at the numbers after a Red Sox loss this season, they will make your head spin. Take tonight's 6-5 setback to the Twins (46-60, 23-28 away) in 10 innings at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox (53-54, 27-31 home) blew a 5-1 lead as they went 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position, grounded into three double plays and left 10 runners on base. Apparently 14 hits aren't enough as they managed to not score a run with runners on first and third with no outs (1st inning); bases loaded with one out (8th inning) and a runner on second with two outs in the ninth. Oh and the Twins made three errors yet still found a way to beat these bums.

After winning four in a row, Boston has now lost the first two games of a series-at home-to one of the worst teams in the American League.

Justin Morneau (2 doubles, 2 RBIs, run) and Jamey Carroll (double, RBI, walk) both went 4-for-4 as the Twins made Felix Doubront (5 innings, 5 earned runs, 8 hits, 2 strikeouts, 4 walks) pay for his lack of control.

Caroll's RBI single in the 10th off Vicente Padilla (4-1) was the difference. Jeff Gray (6-1) picked up the win with a scoreless 1.1 innings while Jared Burton earned his fourth save of the season. You're not alone if you've never heard of many of the current Twins, who no doubt will be bagging groceries in a few years.

Brian Duensing was the victim of bad luck since he went six innings and allowed five runs (2 earned) on 10 hits with three strikeouts and no walks. In the third, Morneau dropped an easy foul pop-up and on the next pitch, Carl Crawford (3 hits, 2 runs) took him deep for a three-run shot (his 3rd of the season, all in the last week).

Darin Mastroianni (2 hits, run) gave Minnesota an early 1-0 advantage with an RBI single in the second. Kelly Shoppach (2 hits) tied it with an RBI single in the second.

Boston did the rest of its work in the third with Adrian Gonzalez's (run, walk) RBI single preceding Crawford's blast into Minnesota's bullpen.

Due to a tight strike zone and a lack of focus, Doubront blew the four-run lead in the fifth. Josh Willingham walked with the bases loaded, Morneau had a run-scoring single and Danny Valencia tied it at five with a sacrifice fly.

Just in case you forget that Bobby V is in over his head, he made sure to remind us by leaving Ryan Lavarnway in to bat with runners on first and second with two outs in the seventh. I know I was shocked when he fouled out to catcher Joe Mauer to end the threat. Jarrod Saltalamacchia was unavailable because of an ear infection. Haha really. I think most Little League teams are tougher collectively than this group.

Dustin Pedroia (run), Cody Ross (double, run) and Mike Aviles (walk) all padded their stats-what's really important-with a pair of hits in the loss. Ben Revere had two hits and a run for the Twins.

I have become totally numb to the brutal losses and general apathy surrounding this suddenly floundering franchise. I can't deal with any of the drama surrounding Bobby Valentine and the players since it never ends. I truly believe the only way to get the Red Sox front office to pay attention is by not going to Fenway anymore and to stop spending money on all the Red Sox related crap. It's clear that they don't care about wins or losses, otherwise they would have done something to change the makeup of this toxic team last winter.

Clay Buchholz (9-3) faces rookie Cole De Vries (2-2) tomorrow night (7:10 p.m., NESN) as Boston tries to get back to .500 and find a way to beat mighty Minnesota.

Tweet


Follow @RichSlate

The Aaron Cook Experiment Settles Into A Predictable Fate

After four good starts in a row since returning from the DL, the wheels have started to fall off for sinkerballer Aaron Cook (2-5). He's struggled in his last three starts (especially the past two) and as a result, hasn't recorded a win since June 29.

Boston (53-52, 27-29 home) weren't able to complete the three-game sweep of Detroit (55-50, 27-29) as the Tigers jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the fifth tonight vs. Cook and held on for a 7-5 win at Fenway Park. It also snapped the Red Sox' four-game win streak.

Cook doesn't walk anybody (4 walks all season) but he also doesn't strike anybody out (4) which means he's pitching to contact. Lately, he's been leaving fastballs and hanging curveballs up in the zone, leading to many home runs. The game got out of reach when Miguel Cabrera (2 hits) hit a two-run homer (26th of the season) over everything in left in the fifth which was followed by Prince Fielder's (2 hits) solo homer to center (17th of the season), making it 6-1 Detroit.

In 4.2 innings, Cook allowed six earned runs on nine hits. Rick Porcello (8-6) usually struggles against the Red Sox and he wasn't great this evening (5.2 innings, 4 earned runs, 8 hits, 6 strikeouts, 2 walks) but he handed it over to a nearly flawless bullpen.

Phil Coke allowed a solo homer to Carl Crawford (2nd of the season) in the seventh to make it 6-5 Detroit but Octavio Dotel (1 inning, 1 strikeout), Joaquin Benoit (1 inning, 1 strikeout) and Jose Valverde (1 inning, 2 strikeouts; 21st save) combined for three perfect innings.

Cody Ross (2 hits) gave Boston a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the first. Brennan Boesch tied it with an RBI single in the fourth then the Tigers scored five runs in the fifth. Austin Jackson added an RBI single and a run scored on Quintin Berry's ground out before the long balls from Cabrera and Fielder.

The Red Sox showed signs of life with three runs in the sixth. Jarrod Saltalamacchia grounded into a double play but a run scored. Pedro Ciriaco and Will Middlebrooks kept the inning alive with RBI singles.

In the eighth, Delmon Young's (2 hits) homer to right (12th of the season), that wrapped around Pesky's pole proved to be a valuable insurance run.

Adrian Gonzalez was 2-for-3 with a run and walk in the loss. Craig Breslow made his first appearance back with the Red Sox (he played with them briefly in 2006) as he was the first guy out of the bullpen. He went 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.

The schedule does the Red Sox a huge favor as the terrible Minnesota Twins (44-60, AL Central) come to Fenway this weekend and they will meet four times. I would normally say that they have to take at least three but we all know that the middling Red Sox will probably win twice.

Jon Lester (5-8) faces rookie Samuel Deduno (2-0) tomorrow night (7:10 p.m., NESN) to open the series. Felix Doubront (10-5) gets Brian Duensing (2-6) on Friday night (7:10 p.m., NESN). Clay Buchholz (9-3) opposes rookie Cole De Vries (2-2) on Saturday night (7:10 p.m., NESN) and Josh Beckett (5-9) meets Nick Blackburn (4-6) on Sunday afternoon (1:35 p.m., NESN). If Lester and Beckett can't beat the Twins, they might not win another game respectively in 2012.

Tweet


Follow @RichSlate

Red Sox Come Home, Win 3rd Straight Thanks To Another Fine Start By Buchholz

We are less than 16 hours away from the 2012 MLB Trade Deadline and at least for the moment, it doesn't appear that the Red Sox will do anything big. Still, there is time left for them to pull something off but in the interim, Boston (52-51, 26-28 home) won its third straight overall with a 7-3 win vs. Detroit (54-49, 26-28 away) tonight at Fenway Park.

It was the start of the Red Sox' longest homestand of the season (10 games) and Clay Buchholz (9-3) once again pitched like the ace that he's been since the All-Star break. He gave them eight solid innings (3 runs, 2 earned, 5 hits, 4 strikeouts, 2 walks) to earn the win.

Boston's offense knocked around Max Scherzer (10-6) and reliever Phil Coke. In 6.1 innings, Scherzer allowed five earned runs on seven hits with nine strikeouts and two walks. How many times do you have to hear that strikeouts really aren't that important? I'll say it again: they are one of the most overrated things in baseball. A 5-3 lead in the eighth became 7-3 when Will Middlebrooks (13th of the season) roped a two-run shot off the light tower against Coke to put it out of reach.

Austin Jackson led off the game with a solo homer (his 11th of the season) for the 1-0 Tigers lead, what turned out to be their only one of the game.

Carl Crawford (2 runs) and his one functioning arm/elbow drove in Jacoby Ellsbury with an RBI triple in the first then he scored on Dustin Pedroia's ground out.

Miguel Cabrera tied it in the second for Detroit with an RBI single. Pedroia put Boston ahead one last time with a two-run shot (his 9th of the season) that just made it over the Monster in the sixth.

Alex Avila provided the Tigers' last run with an RBI double in the seventh. Kelly Shoppach tripled (really) and Ellsbury knocked him in with a single in the seventh for a 5-3 Red Sox advantage.

Adrian Gonzalez (run) and Jarrod Saltalamacchia both had two hits in the win for Boston but as usual, what occurred off the field was far more interesting for this group of clowns.

After making an out in the eighth, Ryan Sweeney punched a door and injured his hand so he's likely headed to the DL. Guess he didn't want to be dealt from here. With Twitter, now everyone is aware of all the trade rumors involving Josh Beckett (5-9). If he's on the mound tomorrow night (7:10 p.m., NESN) against Justin Verlander (11-6), well then it's official: the terrorists have won and there is no reason to pay attention for the rest of 2012. He would be a classic case of addition by subtraction.

UPDATE 7/31: We probably won't see Sweeney again this season. He's expected out up to eight weeks after breaking his hand last night. Ryan Kalish has been recalled to take his spot.

Tweet


Follow @RichSlate

Cody Ross & Adrian Gonzalez Combine For 10 RBIs In Red Sox' Rout Of White Sox

Pedro Hernandez's Major League debut was nothing to write home about as far as he or his team was concerned. More importantly, Red Sox fans went home happy as Boston pummeled Chicago 10-1 tonight at Fenway Park.

White Sox (50-41, 26-19 away) manager Robin Ventura left his rookie in to receive a serious beating. In four plus innings, Hernandez (0-1) allowed eight earned runs on 12 hits (three home runs) with two strikeouts and a walk.

Cody Ross (3 for 6, 2 HRs, double, 3 runs, 6 RBIs) and Adrian Gonzalez (3 for 4, 4 RBIs, run, HR) formed a lethal 3-4 combination for the Red Sox' (47-45, 24-25 home) reconfigured batting order.

Felix Doubront (10-4) became the first Red Sox pitcher to reach double-digit wins this season. Jon Lester and Josh Beckett have combined for the same amount as Doubront, just like Boston mapped it out. In six innings, Doubront allowed one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts and three walks. He was helped out by two double plays turned by his defense.

Having Jacoby Ellsbury (3 hits, 3 runs, double) and Carl Crawford (2 runs, single) makes a difference at the top of the order, huh?

Paul Konerko's RBI single in the first inning marked the 10th straight game that the visiting team has scored at least one run in the first at Fenway.

Things picked up immensely for the Red Sox as Gonzalez tied it with an RBI single in the first then Ross hit a pair of three-run bombs (his 14th and 15th of the season) in the third and fourth inning.

Gonzalez went back-to-back with Ross in the fourth then capped off this laugher with a two-run single in the sixth.

With the big lead, Matt Albers, Mark Melancon and Andrew Miller pitched three perfect innings of relief with three strikeouts.

Dustin Pedroia is expected to be activated off the DL tomorrow night (7:10 p.m., NESN), hopefully he's discovered a bionic thumb or something so he doesn't hurt it for the 12th time this season. Clay Buchholz (8-3) faces Jose Quintana (4-1) in the finale as Boston goes for the series win.

UPDATE 7/19: In their first minor move shortly before the trade deadline, the Red Sox dealt PawSox pitcher Justin Germano to the Cubs for cash considerations.

Tweet


Follow @RichSlate

Adrian Gonzalez Picks Up His Biggest Hit In A Red Sox Uniform-3-Run HR-As Red Sox Beat White Sox 5-1

Only the Red Sox in 2012 would pick up one of their best wins of the season but have it completely overshadowed by a freak injury to their most valuable player.

Adrian Gonzalez came through in the clutch and late in the game for once with a three-run homer in the eighth (his 7th of the season) as Boston (46-44, 23-24 home) began a seven-game homestand with a 5-1 win against the White Sox (49-40, 25-18 away) this evening at Fenway Park.

During Gonzalez's homer, over the Monster and off lefty reliever Leyson Septimo, David Ortiz (run, hit, walk) stumbled around second base and limped home. He walked gingerly to the dugout and was replaced. Mike Aviles (stolen base) followed up with an RBI single later in the inning but the Fenway crowd was stunned at another potentially serious injury to a Red Sox player. Ortiz will get an MRI tomorrow on his Achilles.

Aaron Cook dazzled for seven innings: one unearned run on five hits with no strikeouts or walks. Vicente Padilla (3-2) pitched a 1-2-3 eighth with a strikeout for the win and closer Alfredo Aceves had a scoreless ninth despite the fact that he warmed up thinking they would need a save.

Cook was ultra efficient: 97 pitches (66 strikes), 15 out of his 21 outs were on ground balls and the game was over in two hours and 40 minutes. Can he pitch every game please?

Carl Crawford had a single, two runs and a walk in his first game of 2012 for the Red Sox. Batting ninth, Pedro Ciriaco heated up after a quiet weekend with three more hits including a double.

Kevin Youkilis (3 for 4, 2 doubles, run) did his best to star in his first return back to Fenway as a visitor. Unfortunately for Youk, his teammates couldn't do much (combining for two hits) other than starting pitcher Dylan Axelrod who went 6.2 innings, allowing one earned run on seven hits with eight strikeouts.

After a classy and deserved standing ovation before his first at bat, Youk singled and eventually scored on an error by Gonzalez. It turned out to be Chicago's only run. They were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left four on base.

Gonzalez tied it with an RBI single in the bottom of the first. Boston went 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position, they left seven on base.

One positive for the Red Sox is that the Orioles, Rays and Blue Jays-the three teams they can realistically finish higher than in the AL East this season-all lost tonight.

Tomorrow night (7:10 p.m., NESN) Mr. Perfect Game turned bum Philip Humber (3-4) takes on Jon Lester (5-6). Even though Lester has been garbage this season, you have to think this is a good matchup for him since Humber has been repeatedly hammered since his fluke perfect game in April.

UPDATE 7/17: The MRI showed no tear in Ortiz's Achilles which is good news. He's wearing a boot and thinks he'll be out a week but the Red Sox are expected to make a decision tomorrow whether to put him on the DL or not (something they hate doing for some reason).

In other Red Sox news, Franklin Morales is being moved back to the bullpen so Boston will return to a 5-man pitching rotation.

UPDATE 7/18: Ortiz is on the DL and expected out for at least two weeks. Mauro Gomez was recalled from Pawtucket.

Tweet


Follow @RichSlate

Four Boston Pro Athletes Among Forbes' List Of Top 100 Highest Paid In 2012

As the saying goes, playing professional sports in New England isn't for everybody. There is tons of pressure and an insane level of scrutiny but it is also doubly rewarding when you do well since we will shower you with an unhealthy level of love and affection.

Forbes' List of the Top 100 highest paid athletes in 2012 proves that playing for the New England Patriots, Boston Celtics and Boston Red Sox also has another positive aspect: you'll get paid handsomely. Bottom line, if you're a great competitor, you want to play in a market like this since the fans care so much and are for the most part very knowledgeable about the respective sports.

No surprise that Pats quarterback Tom Brady has the top spot locally at No. 28. He earned $23.1 million in salary and $4 million in endorsements. He's joined by teammate Logan Mankins who checks in at No. 51. New England's outstanding offensive lineman made $21.9 million in salary and $100,000 in endorsements. Haha I have no clue what Mankins pitches, maybe cowboy boots or trucks?

Celtics big man Kevin Garnett is the only guy on his team that's on the list. He was 57th, making $17.1 million in salary and $4 million in endorsements.

Finally, the last Boston athlete to sneak onto the list is Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford. Obviously, his inclusion is the one that sticks out the most since he had an awful first season with Boston last year and he has yet to play in a game this season due to a bunch of injuries. He was 98th with $16.8 million in salary and $150,000 in endorsements. I guess those Dunkin' Donuts ads don't pay what they used to.

There were no Bruins on the list which is probably a good thing since it would give Tim Thomas something else to complain about on his Facebook page. That stupid government! Apropos of nothing, he is tied for the third highest paid Bruin next season ($5 million) behind captain Zdeno Chara ($6.9 million), center David Krejci ($5.25 million) and tied with center Patrice Bergeron despite the fact that he supposedly won't play in 2012-13.

We are lucky enough to currently have some of the best professional coaches (remember the Highest Paid Coaches list by Forbes?) and players residing in our region.

Tweet


Follow @RichSlate

Someday Soon, Philip Humber Will Be A Great Trivia Answer

It's not a complaint but there was way too much quality sports related programming on TV tonight. I say that because I barely watched any of the Red Sox-White Sox game but I still saw the important stuff.

Boston (8-10, 5-5 away) opened the four-game series with a convincing 10-3 win at U.S. Cellular Field against the White Sox (10-9, 3-5 home).

The Red Sox won their fourth straight game (a tidy 4-0 road trip so far) with a blueprint for what they need to do to pile up victories this season: hit early and often. Eight of nine players in the lineup recorded hits and Boston used three home runs to overpower Philip Humber (1-1), who randomly threw a perfect game last Saturday.

With a rotation that looks shaky, the Red Sox will likely need to count on their many quality hitters to carry them through long portions of this season.

Humber looked nothing like the untouchable pitcher he was against Seattle (that might be a clue). In five innings, he allowed nine earned runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and three walks.

Kevin Youkilis (3 hits, 2 runs) hit a grand slam while Jarrod Saltalamacchia (2 home runs, 3 RBIs) continued to heat up.

The best part is that Boston only needed to use two pitchers to get the job done which is a half or a third of what it usually takes to get through nine innings for this group. Felix Doubront (1-0) picked up his first win of the season with six solid innings. He allowed three earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts and three walks.

Junichi Tazawa pitched three scoreless innings in relief, punctuated by four strikeouts. He only allowed two hits with four strikeouts and no walks.

Adrian Gonzalez's RBI double and David Ortiz's RBI single in the first gave the Red Sox a 2-0 lead. Providence native Paul Konerko stroked an RBI double in Chicago's first at bats but Boston posted five more runs in the third inning. Youk (2nd of the season) hit the grand slam to right and Saltalamacchia (3rd of the season) went back-to-back with a solo shot to right.

A.J. Pierzynski had an RBI single in the third and Dayan Viciedo (2 hits) added a solo homer in the fourth that cut it to 7-3 Red Sox.

Saltalamacchia crushed a two-run homer to left center in the fifth and Ryan Sweeney (2 hits) provided the final run with an RBI single in the ninth that scored Mike Aviles (2 runs).

Daniel Bard (1-2) is back in as a starter (boo!) tomorrow night as he takes on John Danks (2-2) at 8:10 p.m. on NESN. Obviously, I want Bard to do well in whatever role he has but at this point, everybody can see that he would be most valuable to the Red Sox bullpen.

The only bad news of the day is that Carl Crawford's elbow problem could keep him out for up to three months. Not what the Red Sox needed to hear with both him and Ellsbury out for extended periods of the 2012 season.

Tweet


Follow @RichSlate

Orioles Take Three Out Of Four At Fenway

It seems like ages ago but do you remember when the Boston Red Sox looked like the class of the American League this summer? They had moved past their abysmal 2-10 and appeared destined for big things in October.

They still could be in the postseason but this team gives new meaning to the term "limping into the playoffs." Tonight, the Baltimore Orioles (65-90)-one of the worst teams in baseball this season and for the past decade-won 6-4 in Boston's (88-68) regular season home finale at Fenway Park.

The O's won three of four against the Red Sox in a series that meant everything to the home team and nothing to the visitors who have been out of contention since I don't know, June? The same things are being said over and over about this edition of the Red Sox and at this point you have to think they are all valid: they're frontrunners, they have no heart or no pride, they think the playoffs are a given.

Despite all this negativity, Boston is in good shape for the AL Wild Card. They're 2.5 games up on the Tampa Bay Rays (who lost both games today in a day-night doubleheader with the Yankees) and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. A win here or there in September (5-16) and it would be locked up but hey, did you hear Sweet Caroline tonight? That was awesome.

Not even Josh Beckett (13-6) could shake this team out of its malaise. The Texas wannabe toughguy went 7.1 innings, allowing six earned runs on seven hits with a walk and eight strikeouts.

Tommy Hunter kept Baltimore in the game until he had to leave in the seventh with a groin strain. He went 6.2 innings, allowing four earned runs on nine hits with a walk and four strikeouts.

In a season that has been a huge disappointment from game one, Carl Crawford actually had a great performance. Too bad, nobody will remember it since it came in another unforgivable loss. Crawford was a homer shy of a cycle with two RBIs; Adrian Gonzalez (2 hits) was the only other Red Sox with multiple hits.

It's hard to choose the most pathetic aspect of this series finale (other than the final result): Baltimore rallied from a 4-1 deficit tonight and also, closer Jim Johnson had his third straight 1-2-3 save (9th save of the season) over two days and each took 10 pitches or less.

The greatest softball player in all the land, with apologies to my girl Jennie Finch, Mark Reynolds was the offensive star for the Orioles. He got the scoring started with a solo homer in the second and then a two-run blast in the seventh which tied it at four.

After tripling to lead off the third, Crawford scored on Jason Varitek's ground out. Crawford added a two-run double in the fourth and David Ortiz made it 4-1 with an RBI single in the fifth.

Normally, that would be enough against the O's but no lead is safe right now for Boston. J.J. Hardy (2 hits) cut it to 4-2 in the sixth with an RBI single and then Vlad Guerrero knocked in two with an RBI single off Alfredo Aceves in the eighth.

It wasn't Aceves' fault since he came in with runners on second and third with one out. He's wiggled out of countless situations like that this season but you can't expect that every time out. I would have intentionally walked Vlad to get the force at every base but hey, what do I know?

There are six more games of this misery and probably a few after that (don't expect a long stay in October) but I can't ever remember a Red Sox team in my lifetime that has disintegrated down the stretch like this. It's embarrassing.

After an off-day tomorrow, they've got three in New York (against the AL East champs) then wrap up the regular season with three in Baltimore. Can they get into the playoffs without winning another game? We shall see I guess.

Follow @RichSlate


Tweet

In 2011, The Rays Are Just A Better Team Than The Red Sox, Period

I've said it all season (look it up) and with one game left in the season series, it's no time to stop beating the same repetitive drum: the Tampa Bay Rays are simply better than the Boston Red Sox in 2011.

By taking today's game 4-3 at Fenway Park, the Rays' (84-67) starting pitching continued to completely nullify the Red Sox' (87-64) superior lineup and as a result, they are 11-6 against Boston this year.

Tampa Bay has climbed to within three games of the AL Wild Card and they'll have a very good chance to chip it down to two tomorrow afternoon as David Price faces Tim Wakefield.

For the second time in a week, Jon Lester (15-8)-Boston's ace-failed to beat the Rays in a huge game. He battled for seven innings but he allowed four earned runs on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts.

Tampa Bay starter Jeff Niemann (11-7) was kept on a short leash (5 innings, 2 earned runs, 4 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts; 89 pitches) but that was because as usual, Rays manager Joe Maddon had a trick up his sleeve: rookie Matt Moore.

Making just his second MLB appearance, the former minor league pitcher of the year was able to give his team three innings. He only allowed one earned run on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts. He's already been compared to Price in 2008 in terms of how Maddon would like to deploy his newest young hard-throwing lefty.

Tampa Bay got out to a 3-0 lead with two runs in the first on Ben Zobrist's two-run bomb and Desmond Jennings (2 runs) scored on Lester's wild pitch.

Mike Aviles (3 hits) hit an RBI double in the third to score Carl Crawford (2 runs, 2 hits) and Jacoby Ellsbury (2 RBIs, hit, stolen base) knocked in Aviles with a sacrifice fly to cut it to 3-2 after three innings.

Evan Longoria's RBI single in the fifth was the difference. Ellsbury knocked in the last Boston run with a ground out in the seventh.

Moore going three allowed Maddon to avoid using any other relievers before temporary closer Joel Peralta struck out two in the ninth and danced around a hit to record his fourth save of the season.

Probably the only good news to come out of the loss for the Red Sox is that Daniel Bard seems to have found himself once again. He pitched a 1-2-3 eighth (8 of 12 pitches for strikes), his second great outing in as many days.

Follow @RichSlate


Tweet

Grandpa Wakefield Finally Records Win No. 200, Now Get Off His Damn Lawn!

It only took Tim Wakefield nine tries to get win No. 200 but he finally accomplished the milestone tonight and it couldn't come at a better time for the Boston Red Sox.

The 45-year old knuckleballer, MLB's oldest player, went six innings as the Red Sox (86-61) snapped a five-game losing streak with a 18-6 blowout of the Toronto Blue Jays (74-74) at Fenway Park.

Coupled with Baltimore's gift of a win over Tampa Bay, Boston moved back to four games ahead of the Rays in the AL wild card race. The Yankees held serve in Seattle with another win, New York leads the AL East by four games.

Since his last win took place way back on July 24, it was an honest question to wonder if Wakefield (7-6) would ever get to 200. Everything seemed to conspire against him: bad outings, the bullpen blowing it, tough luck, etc. The fact that it happened to be one of the most vital wins of the season for a team desperately trying to cling to a playoff spot is a feather in the cap of Boston's most professional athlete.

Wakefield went six innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Staked to a 10-5 lead, Boston's bats continued to come out of their recent coma as they piled up a season-high run total.

Brandon Morrow (9-11) was his typical erratic, not very good self. In 5.1 innings, he allowed seven runs (five earned) on seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

Another great sign for the Red Sox is that Dustin Pedroia (5 RBIs, 4 runs, 4 hits) broke his cold streak with one of his best games of the season. Jacoby Ellsbury (4 runs, 4 hits, 3 RBIs), Jarrod Saltalamacchia (4 RBIs, 2 runs, 2 hits), Carl Crawford (3 runs, 2 hits), Marco Scutaro (2 runs, 2 hits) and Adrian Gonzalez (2 hits) all had multiple hits which made you quickly forget that David Ortiz was a late scratch with back spasms.

Toronto was competitive in the early innings as J.P. Arencibia hit a three-run blast into the Monster in the second inning and Jose Bautista (his MLB-leading 42nd of the season) added a two-run homer off Fisk's pole in the third.

Ellsbury (27th of the season) and Pedroia (19th of the season) went back-to-back to give Boston the lead for good in the fourth at 6-5. Pedroia padded his stats with a three-run shot in the sixth.

Alfredo Aceves locked it up for Wake with a scoreless seventh and eighth.

The record figures to skip tomorrow afternoon as John Lackey ushers out the last summer like day at Fenway with what's sure to be another unforgettable start. The Jays counter with Ricky Romero, who was great last week against Boston but typically struggles for some reason against the Red Sox.

One more time, give it up for Wakefield!

Follow @RichSlate


Tweet

Erik Bedard Picks Up First Win For Red Sox; Carl Crawford Blasts First Grand Slam In Boston

After a pair of disheartening losses in a row (losing the series finale to the Yankees and sleepwalking through a shutout against the Rangers), the Boston Red Sox were due for a breakout game yesterday afternoon at Fenway Park.

Fittingly, it was two guys that haven't really pulled their weight much who helped pick up the team when it needed it most.

Erik Bedard (5-9) earned his first win in a Red Sox (84-54) uniform while Carl Crawford hit his first grand slam for Boston (fourth career) in a long but satisfying 12-7 win over Texas (79-61).

The Red Sox pounded out 16 hits with 12 RBIs and six walks as they dispatched the Rangers.

Bedard started off slow as Texas jumped out to an early 3-0 lead but he stayed composed as his teammates exploded for eight runs in the fourth. They were up as much as 12-3 before they lazily put it away. The lefty went six innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits with four walks and six strikeouts.

Former Red Sox David Murphy opened the scoring with an RBI single in the second. Michael Young (2 hits) added an RBI single in the third and another former Red Sox Adrian Beltre (2 RBIs) drove in a run with a groundout.

Jed Lowrie started the comeback with an RBI single in the third. He departed in the fourth with tightness in his left shoulder. What else is new? Other than J.D. Drew, Lowrie might be the most delicate human being on the planet. He can't stay healthy if his life depended on it.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia tied it up with a two-run homer off Rangers starter Colby Lewis (11-10), his 14th of the season. Pinch-hitting for Lowrie, Mike Aviles (2 hits) had an RBI single which set the table for Crawford's 11th homer of the season-the biggest one so far in his Red Sox infancy. Jacoby Ellsbury reached on an infield single, scoring another run.

Lewis was pulled after 3.1 innings. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Dustin Pedroia (2 hits, 3 RBIs) had the final blow, a three-run double in the sixth which put Boston up 12-3.

Texas added three garbage runs in the eighth and one in the ninth but it didn't matter.

Josh Reddick had his first career four-hit game with the Red Sox but he got plunked on the hand by a Darren Oliver pitch in the eighth. Not sure if it's because of that or simply that Matt Harrison (a lefty) is starting this afternoon for Texas but Reddick is out of the lineup with new Red Sox Conor Jackson starting in right field.

John Lackey takes the ball for Boston as they try to win their second straight series against the Rangers. The Yankees are still half a game up on the Red Sox in the AL East heading into today's action.

Follow @RichSlate


Tweet

CC Sabathia Finally Solves The Red Sox In 2011

It's almost impossible to win at any level of baseball when you leave 16 runners on base. Even more so when you face CC Sabathia and your team counters with John Lackey.

Sabathia (18-7) finally got over his funk against Boston (0-4) coming into tonight as the Yankees (81-52) climbed within half a game of the Red Sox (82-52) with a 5-2 win at Fenway Park.

The series opening win gave New York some early momentum heading into the last series at Fenway in the regular season between the rivals while also cutting the season series to 10-3 in favor of Boston.

It made sense that after struggling so much against the Red Sox that Sabathia would eventually pitch as well against them as he does vs. the rest of MLB. It took a season-high 128 pitches just to get through six innings. He allowed two earned runs on 10 hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts (including Adrian Gonzalez three times) in a bizarre outing.

Lackey (12-10) threw nearly as many pitches (119) in one more inning of work. That amount of pitches from the starters alone is the main reason why this contest took place at the standard glacial pace for Red Sox-Yankees (3:59). Lackey allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits with four walks and three strikeouts.

Eric Chavez and Francisco Cervelli were unlikely heroes that turned in nice performances in the win. Chavez had RBI singles in the second and fourth (sandwiched around an RBI double by Robinson Cano) for a 3-0 Yankees lead.

Two equally unexpected guys cut it to 3-2 for the Red Sox in the fourth. Carl Crawford (2 hits, walk) hit a solo homer (his 10th of the season) and Marco Scutaro (2 hits) had an RBI double.

Cervelli hit a solo bomb in the fifth (his second career home run) and was going crazy around the bases which led to Lackey plunking him to start the seventh. Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild was tossed after the benches cleared (but nothing happened) and manager Joe Girardi was ejected in the ninth for arguing about Jarrod Saltalamacchia swinging when he got hit by a Mariano Rivera pitch.

It was a testy night as Jacoby Ellsbury was hit by Sabathia and Matt Albers plunked Jorge Posada.

Jed Lowrie had three hits and David Ortiz had two hits in the loss.

Cory Wade got an out in the seventh and Boone Logan had the last two outs in the frame, paving the way for Rafael Soriano (scoreless eighth) and Rivera who got his 35th save thanks in part to a bogus strikeout of Lowrie (two ultra shaky called strikes).

Albers was a bright spot as he got the last two outs of the eighth to keep Boston within three runs. He needed a positive outing like that since he's gone off a cliff in August. Alfredo Aceves also had a 1-2-3 ninth in four pitches.

Phil Hughes faces Josh Beckett tomorrow night in a matchup that clearly favors the Red Sox. Beckett has owned the Yankees this year although as Sabathia showed, things can change when you face a team so much.

Follow @RichSlate


Tweet