"Who Needs an Ace When You Can Get a Bunch of No. 3s & 4s?"- Red Sox So Far This Offseason

I refuse to be the reactionary type that calls into sports talk radio or bitches on Twitter and Facebook in the immediate aftermath of the Red Sox making a curious move in December. Nope, the Winter Meetings just concluded in San Diego and Boston has not one, not two but three new starting pitchers in its rotation (at least for the moment). Still, especially with the whirlwind of activity the last few days with the Red Sox, I want to hold off from completely bashing them since this can't be it, right?

It started earlier this week when Jon Lester finally made up his mind and chose the Cubs over the Red Sox (has anyone else ever done that in baseball history?). That set off dominoes all over MLB and locally, Boston traded pitchers Rubby De La Rosa and Alan Webster to Arizona for Wade Miley. Then they dealt outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, reliever Alex Wilson and prospect (RHP) Gabe Speier to Detroit. Finally, they signed former Red Sox great Justin Masterson to a one-year deal worth $9.5 million with incentives built in that could add up to $2.5 million.

At best, these seem like reasonable moves. Webster stinks and De La Rossa has outstanding stuff but apparently Boston wasn't too enamored with him. Miley was not good in 2014 (8-12, 4.34 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 183 Ks, 75 BBs). Still, he was on a terrible team and he's a 28-year-old lefty that should be entering the prime of his career. Most importantly for the Red Sox, he should deliver innings. He went over 200 IP the last two seasons and nearly three in a row (194.2) in 2012.

Porcello undoubtedly has the most potential of this group. He's still only 25 (he turns 26 on December 27) but the former first-round pick already has six years of big league experience under his belt. He quietly improved with the Tigers (his only MLB home before now) but last season could be fairly termed his breakthrough campaign: 15-13, 3.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 3 shutouts, 129 Ks/41 BBs in 204.2 IP. The thing you wonder about with him is how he does with more pressure since he's been able to hide in Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer's (among others) shadows all those years.

Masterson is a Patriots-esque move: bringing back a guy that had moderate success with them then blossomed somewhere else but later lost it amidst injuries and general struggles (hey LeGarrette Blount). It's safe to say that last season was a disaster for Masterson as he was traded from the Indians to the Cardinals but never could find it, eventually excluded from St. Louis' postseason roster (keep in mind that he was an All-Star in 2013 with Cleveland). He came up with the Red Sox in 2008 and was part of the Victor Martinez trade with Cleveland the following year so he knows manager John Farrell and should have a good feel for what it's like to be a Red Sox.

I am disappointed that the Red Sox seemingly gave up Cespedes for less than I thought he was worth but apparently there wasn't a great market for him or something. Still, I realize that to get anything of value in a trade, you are going to have to give up a good player and not the last guy on your bench or some Single-A scrub that nobody knows. It would have been fun to see him get a full season in Boston in a real lineup with Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez after he was solid in his short stint here last season but what can you do?

Despite all this, the fundamental truth remains the same: Boston has no ace (you could also argue no No. 2 either) since who can trust Clay Buchholz or Joe Kelly to do that? The scary part is that the Red Sox always try to act like they are smarter than every other team yet here they are once again completely changing their focus. Their philosophy goes from one extreme to another each season: pay out their ears for overrated free agents, save money and sign veteran guys and most recently I guess they watched the ALCS this fall between the Orioles and Royals and thought "hey, aces are overrated." Wrong, the Giants captured their third World Series in five years thanks to Madison Bumgarner's singular brilliance. You can win plenty of regular season games with smoke and mirrors but eventually in the playoffs, their true colors will show.

Scherzer is a free agent that could command upwards of $200 million while Phillies ace Cole Hamels is thought to be available via a trade since Philadelphia is still rebuilding. Unless they get one of those guys (clearly I'd prefer Scherzer) or somehow luck into another top of the rotation guy, it's hard to get too enthused about the Red Sox in 2015. This team has finished in last place two of the last three years so it'd be nice if they acted with a little more urgency here. Fenway Park has the most expensive tickets in MLB and Boston had the fourth highest payroll in the league. In other words, there is no excuse not to field a contender almost every year with no salary cap.

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Red Sox Beat Indians 5-2 in Series Opener at Fenway, See That Wasn't So Hard Guys

It still doesn't feel like summer (come on weather!) and the Red Sox are still scuffling like there's no tomorrow but at least they played well tonight. Boston (30-36 overall, 16-17 home) began a four-game series with Cleveland (33-34 overall, 12-23 away) and seven-game homestand at Fenway Park with a rare (in 2014) easy 5-2 victory.

Jon Lester (7-7) pitched like an ace, going 7.2 innings and allowing only two runs (one earned) on eight hits with four strikeouts and one walk. After Jason Kipnis (2 for 4) singled with two outs in the eighth, Lester was lifted after 109 pitches. Junichi Tazawa struck out the ghost of Carlos Santana (the baseball player) before a 1-2-3 ninth with one strikeout for Koji Uehara's 14th save (in 14 opportunities) of the season.

After the mediocre Indians swept the Red Sox last week in dumpy Cleveland, it was nice to see Boston come out with somewhat of a pulse as former Indians star Grady Sizemore had a ground-rule double in the second that scored Mike Napoli (2 for 4) for a 1-0 lead.

If any opposing manager in MLB could understand the danger of pitching to David Ortiz, you'd figure it would have to be Cleveland's Terry Francona (that still doesn't sound right) but for some odd reason, he let Josh Tomlin (4-3) go after him with two outs in the fifth and Jackie Bradley Jr. (single, walk, stolen base, 2 runs) on third base with first base open. You'll never guess what happened next! OK, a baby could, as Ortiz went deep to center for his 15th home run of the season and a 3-0 Red Sox advantage.

Cleveland's two runs in the sixth were a gift by multiple Red Sox as Lester couldn't handle a relatively easy throw at first base from Napoli then Kipnis lined a two-run single (generous ruling) under Dustin Pedroia's glove, a play that the Gold Glover normally makes in his sleep. Bradley Jr. made up for those miscues with an awesome catch of Michael Bourn's sinking line drive to center in the seventh then he doubled off "Friendly" Mike Aviles at first base for the third out.

Boston added a pair of insurance runs in the home half of the sixth on a two-run double by Brock Holt (2 hits). Daniel Nava was 3 for 4 in the win which is a monumental achievement given his alarming struggles in 2014. Even Jonathan Herrera got in on the act, well kind of, going 2 for 4 with a triple (his second extra base hit of the season!) and scoring a run.

It is supposed to rain all day tomorrow but if they get the game in, it will be John Lackey (7-4) vs. Justin Masterson (4-4) scheduled for a 7:10 p.m. start. Masterson pitched a gem (7 scoreless innings in a 3-2 win) against his former team last week at Progressive Field. He can't do that twice in a row, right?

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Red Sox Take 3 of 4 From Indians Thanks To Ellsbury's Walk-off 2-Run Double

Every good season in MLB features at least a few signature wins and memorable moments. Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park, Jacoby Ellsbury (2 hits, stolen base) provided the best win of 2013 for the Red Sox with a walk-off two-run double against the Indians for a 6-5 Red Sox victory. It was the team's fourth walk-off win of the season.

With the Red Sox win and a Yankees loss, Boston and New York are now tied atop the AL East.

Boston (31-20 overall, 16-11 home) ripped Cleveland's (27-22 overall, 12-12 road) heart out in back-to-back games with a pair of improbable comebacks (their bullpen had been 8-0 going into Saturday's contest) which led to a series win (3-1) and three consecutive wins for the home team. The Red Sox finished the season series 5-1 against former manager Terry Francona's new squad.

Boston trailed 5-1 going into the bottom of the eighth before Jose Iglesias' sacrifice fly cut it to 5-2. Mike Napoli and Jarrod Saltalamacchia each had RBI ground outs to bring Boston within a run in the ninth. Indians closer Chris Perez (0.2 IP, 4 ER, 2 hits, 3 walks) was the main scapegoat for Cleveland even though Joe Smith came in for one pitch-Ellsbury's two-run double-that cost the Indians the game. Making matters worse, Perez had to leave the game with an arm/shoulder injury.

Felix Doubront pitched well (6 IP, 4 runs, 2 earned runs, 5 hits, 8 strikeouts, 2 walks) but the immoral Corey Kluber (6.2 IP, 1 earned run, 3 hits, 10 strikeouts, 1 walk) was even better for the Indians.

Ellsbury and Stephen Drew (3 for 4 with double, triple, 3 runs) cost Boston a pair of runs in the first as they let Carlos Santana's pop up to center drop in for two runs.

Daniel Nava got the Red Sox started with an RBI single in the third inning. Jason Kipnis (3 runs, 2 hits) hit the cheapest homer you can get in Fenway, 319 feet around Pesky's Pole, for a solo shot in the fifth and Nick Swisher (2 hits) added a solo homer of his own in the sixth but at least his went well over the Monster-a little more impressive. Swisher's sacrifice fly in the eighth made it 5-1 as Cleveland looked poised to get a series split.

Alex Wilson pitched a scoreless seventh for the Red Sox and Craig Breslow (2-0) went the last two innings and earned the win despite allowing Swisher's sac fly.

The weather is finally supposed to get nice tomorrow-fittingly for Memorial Day-and Boston begins Interleague play for this season with two games at Fenway against the Phillies (24-26, 3rd in NL East) then two in the City of Brotherly Love. Clay Buchholz was scratched from tomorrow night's (7:10 p.m., NESN) start after he slept wrong on his collarbone holding his baby (haha OK?) and Alfredo Aceves (1-1) will make a spot start against rookie Tyler Cloyd (1-0). On Tuesday night (7:10 p.m., NESN) Ryan Dempster (2-5) faces Cliff Lee (5-2). Wednesday night (7:05 p.m., NESN) at Citizens Bank Park, John Lackey (3-4) takes on Kyle Kendrick (4-3) and on Thursday night (7:05 p.m., NESN), Jon Lester (6-1) meets rookie Jonathan Pettibone (3-0).

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Red Sox Win Their Fourth Straight, 7-2 Over Indians In First Game After Marathon Bombings

The Red Sox will lose plenty of games this season but it was nice that they could do their very small part to bring some smiles to a stunned region tonight. Since the Bruins' game was postponed last night and the Celtics' game tonight was cancelled, the Red Sox had the honor of being the first Boston team to play after the bombings at the Boston Marathon.

Boston (9-4 overall, 5-2 away) opened up a three-game set at nearly empty Progressive Field with a 7-2 win over Terry Francona's Indians (5-7 overall, 2-4 home). It was their fourth straight win after sweeping Tampa Bay. The game took 3:30 but really the second inning was all that mattered. Ubaldo Jimenez (0-2) couldn't get out of it as the Red Sox batted around and scored all seven of their runs. Part of the reason it took so long was that Boston struck out 16 times and walked nine times.

Felix Doubront (1-0) was the lucky recipient of the offensive explosion/Jimenez's meltdown. He had his usual five inning outing with two earned runs on four hits, seven strikeouts and four walks on 104 pitches.

David Ross walked with the bases loaded to start the onslaught in the second. Pedro Ciriaco hit a sacrifice fly then Jacoby Ellsbury (run, stolen base) knocked in a run with a single. Dustin Pedroia walked with the bases loaded then Mike Napoli (double, run) cleared the bases with a wall ball double.

Former Red Sox great "Friendly" Mike Aviles provided Cleveland's first run with a sacrifice fly in the second. Their other run came in the fifth on Ross' passed ball. It was a reunion of old Red Sox as Milton, MA native Rich Hill pitched a scoreless eighth for the Indians.

Clayton Mortensen and Alex Wilson both had two scoreless innings of relief for Boston.

Good seats are still available if you want to fly out (haha yeah right) to Cleveland tomorrow night (7:05 p.m., NESN) as Justin Masterson (3-0) faces Alfredo Aceves (0-0). Another former Red Sox, Masterson is off to a brilliant start with an ERA of 0.41, 0.82 WHIP and 20 strikeouts in 22 innings.

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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.

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When You Can't Get Brent Lillibridge Out, It's Time To Forfeit The Rest Of The Season

You know the Red Sox are a joke when they let a complete scrub like Brent Lillibridge (a member of the team for 10 games earlier this season) tear them up. In 16 at bats with Boston, he had two hits (both singles).

Tonight, he went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs as he fell a triple short of a cycle in Cleveland's (53-61, 30-28 home) 5-2 win vs. Boston (56-59, 27-25 away) at Progressive Field. A part of me just died writing the first part of that sentence.

The Red Sox are 33-45 against right-handed pitchers this season, the second worst mark in the American League. That troubling trend continued as the legendary Zach McAllister (5-4) spun a gem against them. He went eight innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits with four strikeouts and no walks.

Closer Chris Perez got his second save (31st overall) in three games with a clean ninth inning.

Boston did their part to hand over the game by running into two crucial outs. Dustin Pedroia was thrown out at home by a mile in the fourth inning after Adrian Gonzalez's two-run double. All the runners were bunched up, not sure how that happened or why third base coach Jerry Royster decided to send him with one out in the inning. Then Jacoby Ellsbury (2 doubles, run) led off the sixth with a double that he tried to stretch into a triple. He was hustling so you can't hate on that too much but you never want to commit the first out especially in a tie game (2-2).

Franklin Morales (3-3) was alright, his biggest flaw was racking up a Dice-K-esque 108 pitches in 5.1 innings. His stuff wasn't bad since he allowed three earned runs on two hits with six strikeouts and four walks.

Lillibridge hit his first home run in over a year, a no-doubter to left field in the third which gave the Indians a 1-0 lead. He tied it in the fifth with an RBI single which was followed by single runs for Cleveland in the sixth, seventh and eighth. Michael Brantley had a sacrifice fly, Lou Marson sacrificed to the pitcher and Ezequiel Carrera added an RBI single.

Boston goes for the four-game split tomorrow afternoon (1:05 p.m., NESN) and Cleveland attempts to win the series (3-1) as Jon Lester (5-10) opposes rookie Corey Kluber (0-0). If this Red Sox team has taught us anything, it is to expect the absolute worst in any situation both on and off the field. So yeah, that is where my head is at.

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Too Bad The Red Sox Only Have 1 Clay Buchholz, They Could Use A Few More

Clay Buchholz is pitching like a man on a mission, too bad the same cannot be said for the rest of the Red Sox rotation this season.

Buchholz (10-3) pitched his second complete game of the season and fifth of his career as Boston (56-58, 27-24 away) beat Cleveland (52-61, 29-28 home) 3-2 tonight at Progressive Field in the second game of the four-game set.

Buchholz only allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits with six strikeouts and no walks. Asdrubal Cabrera had a solo homer (13th of the season) in the first for the Indians and Ezequiel Carrera's sacrifice fly in the sixth provided the other run.

Dustin Pedroia (2 hits, walk, run, stolen base) had an RBI single in the fourth as he continues to heat up while Cody Ross had the big blow with a two-run blast (18th of the season) in the sixth.

Young journeyman (I realize that's an oxymoron) Chris Seddon (0-1) pitched well enough to win on most nights for Cleveland. In six innings, he allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

Red Sox rookie third baseman Will Middlebrooks reportedly broke his wrist after getting hit by a pitch in the ninth inning. With only seven weeks left in the regular season, who knows when he would be able to return? I feel bad for him since he's having a very solid year and for fans, he is one of the only reasons to watch this team day in and day out. Boston will have to call up Danny Valencia from Pawtucket to take his place.

Franklin Morales (3-2) faces Zach McAllister (4-4) tomorrow night (6:05 p.m., NESN). Other than Buchholz, Morales has been the most trustworthy Red Sox starter in 2012 so I think he'll give them another good outing.

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Ubaldo Jimenez Goes Back To Being An Ace, For 1 Night Only-Against The Red Sox Of Course

Good or bad, the Red Sox will find a way to lose to virtually any kind of team in 2012. Their season to nowhere-copyright me-journeyed to Cleveland tonight with the Indians (52-60, 29-27 home) taking a 5-3 decision in the series opener at Progressive Field.

Boston (55-58, 26-24 away) repeatedly shot themselves in the foot by going 1-for-13 (I didn't think that was possible before I watched this team) with runners in scoring position and leaving seven men on base. It's the first time the Red Sox have fallen three games under .500 since June 11. Expect that loss column to keep going up like the price of gas around the U.S.

Ubaldo Jimenez's (9-11) ERA is 5.25 but that didn't stop him from striking out 10 batters this evening. The former Rockies ace who has dropped off a cliff since being traded to Cleveland, held Boston to three earned runs over six innings with one walk and one home run allowed.

That sound you heard a few weeks ago was Felix Doubront (10-6) hitting the wall since he's pitching way more innings than he ever has in one MLB season. In a measly 4.1 innings, he allowed four earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts, two walks and one home run allowed.

Fresh up from the minors, Jason Donald (2 runs, walk, stolen base) led off the bottom of the first with his inaugural homer of 2012. Adrian Gonzalez (12th of the season) grabbed the lead for Boston with a two-run bomb in the fourth and Dustin Pedroia-a DH for the first time in his career-added an RBI single in the fifth for the Red Sox. Of course, that would be their final run and Gonzalez left in the eighth after getting hit in the thigh.

Asdrubal Cabera's (run, walk) RBI double and Carlos Santana's (2 hits, walk) RBI single in the fifth tied it at three. Michael Brantley's sacrifice fly later in the inning put the Tribe up for good and Donald's ground out in the eighth was an insurance run.

Jacoby Ellsbury had a single, run, walk and stole three bases (they remembered he's fast!) and Pedro Ciriaco was 2-for-4 with a double in the loss.

The Indians bullpen had things locked down on the Red Sox with Tony Sipp pitching a clean seventh, Vinnie Pestano with a scoreless eighth (his MLB-leading 31st hold) and Chris Perez had a 1-2-3 ninth (on 13 pitches) for his 30th save of the season.

Clay Buchholz (9-3) faces Chris Seddon (0-0) tomorrow night (7:05 p.m., NESN). Buchholz is Boston's only reliable starter at this point and Seddon is making only his second start of the season, so if the Red Sox are going to win a game this weekend-I would put my money on that one.

In other Red Sox news, the team re-signed outfielder Scott Podsednik, who was traded to Arizona with Matt Albers but never reported. Ryan Kalish was sent down to Pawtucket to make room for him on the roster.

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Red Sox Mostly Stand Pat At Trade Deadline: Acquire Craig Breslow, Deal Away Lars Anderson In Separate Moves

We all tried to lie to ourselves for the last few weeks but we should have known all along that the Red Sox wouldn't do anything big at the 2012 MLB Trade Deadline. Josh Beckett is still here (although he could be moved in a waiver deal in August) and he'll start tonight against Justin Verlander and the Tigers.

Boston made two minor moves: they traded right-handed reliever Matt Albers and PawSox outfielder Scott Podsednik to the Arizona Diamondbacks for lefty reliever Craig Breslow; PawSox first baseman Lars Anderson was sent to the Cleveland Indians for Double-A knuckleballer Steven Wright (not the comedian), who will report to the Portland Sea Dogs.

A New Haven, CT native and Yale graduate, Breslow actually appeared in 13 games for the Red Sox in 2006 before being released after the season. It seems like ever since then (maybe because Theo Epstein also went to Yale), Boston had always coveted him and tried to bring him back.

He's played for six MLB teams (Padres, Red Sox, Indians, Twins, A's and Diamondbacks) over seven seasons. Understandably given his role, Breslow isn't much of a name nationally but he's been one of the best and most consistent players at his specialized position. His career ERA is 3.02 with a 1.24 WHIP. Earlier in his career, he was regarded as a lefty specialist but now he faces righties as well. In 40 appearances for Arizona this season, he had a 2.70 ERA with 1.18 WHIP and 42 strikeouts in 43.1 innings.

Albers had a misleading 2.29 ERA this season in 39 1/3 innings with 25 strikeouts and 15 walks. He played for Boston the last year and a half after signing as a free agent. After an outstanding first half in 2011, he came crashing back to Earth and while his numbers look good in 2012, Bobby Valentine clearly didn't trust him since he never pitched in late innings or particularly tough situations.

That trade means that Franklin Morales will probably have the chance to go back to the starting rotation since now Boston has three lefties in the bullpen: Breslow, Andrew Miller and Morales.

Podsednik (.387 average in 19 games with the Red Sox) was outstanding in his brief time with Boston this season. However, he's 36 and after he got hurt then rehabbed in Pawtucket, he lost his spot with Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford returning to action. Who knows how much he has left in the tank anyway?

Once upon a time, Anderson was a big-time prospect but playing first base, he was never going to find consistent playing time with Adrian Gonzalez (signed through 2018) ahead of him and light years better to begin with.

The best we can hope is that they can get rid of Beckett via a waiver deal; today was the non-waiver deadline. Until then, please boo him as much as possible if you go to a game that he starts. Boston had a chance to really shake it up but rookie GM Ben Cherington didn't have the balls to find a way to trade Beckett (who has 10-5 veto rights) or something else that would change the chemistry in that toxic clubhouse. So yeah, looks like the Red Sox still aren't going anywhere in 2012. Oh joy.

UPDATE 7/31: Clayton Mortensen was brought up for tonight from Pawtucket since Breslow isn't in town yet.

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Red Sox Win Third Straight Game Vs. Indians To Take The Series

Well it is a bit early to start printing Red Sox 2012 World Series Champions merchandise but the last three days have been a positive development for a team that hasn't done anything right since last September.

Boston (15-19, 7-11 home) won its third straight game over Cleveland (18-16, 10-6 away), concluding the four-game series this afternoon with a 12-1 blowout on Mother's Day at Fenway Park.

A pair of unlikely stars along with a budding star propelled the Red Sox as Jarrod Saltalamacchia (5 RBIs, 3 hits, run), Daniel Nava (3 runs, 3 RBIs, 2 hits) and Will Middlebrooks (3 runs, 2 hits, 2 RBIs) helped beat up former Boston pitcher Justin Masterson (1-3). After he allowed six earned runs in six innings, another former Red Sox-Dan Wheeler-was also tagged for six earned runs (in only one inning).

Daniel Bard (3-4) picked up the win after six routine innings. He allowed one earned run on six hits with two strikeouts and four walks.

Boston made sure it would be a comfortable Sunday as they scored four runs in the first inning. They added one in the third and sixth before icing it with six in the seventh.

Fittingly, it was Middlebrooks (RBI single), Nava (RBI double) and Saltalamacchia (two-run single) that got it done in the first.

The Indians scored their only run in the third on a bases loaded walk by Asdrubal Cabrera. Michael Brantley (3 hits, 2 doubles) was the only Indians hitter to have a good game in this forgettable contest for the AL Central leaders.

Middlebrooks (4th of the season) hit a solo homer to left in the third and Salty had an RBI single in the sixth. David Ortiz (2 runs) started the hit parade in the seventh with an RBI single, Nava had a two-run double and Salty (5th of the season) crushed a three-run bomb to center.

In a weird twist, Boston doesn't get an off day (this is the middle of the 20 games in 20 days stretch) and Seattle (16-20) comes to Fenway for two games. The good news is that the Red Sox avoid Felix Hernandez but Mr. 18 off days himself-Josh Beckett-starts on Tuesday. Jon Lester (1-3) faces Jason Vargas (4-2) tomorrow night (7:10 p.m., NESN) and Beckett (2-4) opposes Blake Beavan (1-3) on Tuesday afternoon (4:05 p.m., NESN). The only explanation I have for the strange 4:05 start is that it's a getaway day with the Red Sox leaving after the game for an eight-game road trip.

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Hooray, Red Sox Win Their Second Straight Game Over The Indians

It figures that one of the few Red Sox games that I've missed so far this forgettable season turned out to be A) a convincing win and B) a tidy two hours and 30 minutes.

No complaints though as Boston (14-19, 6-11 home) beat Cleveland (18-15, 10-5 away) 4-1 last night at Fenway Park. Felix Doubront (3-1) pitched six strong innings for the Red Sox and a trio of relievers held the Indians hitless over the final three frames.

Doubront allowed one earned run on three hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Andrew Miller (7th), Vicente Padilla (8th, 1 strikeout) and Alfredo Aceves (9th, 1 strikeout in his 7th save) were all superb as they didn't allow a hit or walk.

For the game, Cleveland was limited to three total hits. Josh Tomlin went on the DL so Zach McAllister (1-1) got the last minute call-up and start for the Indians. He went seven innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.

The Red Sox scored twice in the third inning with Dustin Pedroia (2 hits) knocking in Mike Aviles with an RBI double and David Ortiz scored Pedroia with a double of his own.

Boston tacked on a run in the fourth as Daniel Nava (2 hits) scored on Aviles' sacrifice fly. Cleveland scored its lone run in the sixth on Jason Kipnis' infield single that plated Lou Marson. Cody Ross (6th of the season) added an insurance run with a solo homer over everything in left in the home half of the sixth.

The Red Sox will try to win only their second home series of the season (Tampa Bay, nearly a month ago) this afternoon (1:35 p.m., NESN) as Daniel Bard (2-4) takes on former Boston pitcher Justin Masterson (1-2). The young sinkerballer has pitched well the few times he's faced his first MLB team.

UPDATE 5/13: Darnell McDonald was placed on the DL with an oblique strain and Mauro Gomez, a first baseman, was called up from Pawtucket.

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Red Sox Break 5-Game Losing Streak At Fenway Park With 7-5 Win Vs. Indians

It wasn't pretty but Clay Buchholz and the Red Sox (13-19, 5-11 home) bounced back tonight from the disaster that was Josh Beckett on Thursday night as they beat the Indians 7-5 in a long (3:57), ugly game at Fenway Park.

Boston jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the fifth inning but they had to sweat it out a bit as Cleveland scored three runs in the seventh and one in the ninth before finally being subdued for good.

Buchholz (4-1) continued to benefit from stellar run support from his teammates. He actually pitched well except for the fact that he departed in the sixth with one out and the bases loaded. Cleveland (18-14, 10-4 away) was able to plate all three of those runs against Rich Hill and Andrew Miller but it could have been worse. Buchholz went 6.1 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits with no strikeouts and three walks. Bobby V left him in too long (as he's prone to do) but you can't fault him that much since the bullpen has been fried the last few weeks. Buchholz was lucky he didn't get hit harder since in 111 pitches, he only got three swings and misses.

The shell of the pitcher they call Ubaldo Jimenez (3-3) continued to suck for the Indians. He only lasted 4.1 innings, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and five walks.

Dustin Pedroia (3 for 4, 3 RBIs, run) led Boston's offense while Ryan Sweeney (2 hits, run, RBI) and Adrian Gonzalez (2 doubles) also had multiple hits. Nick Punto got a rare start at shortstop and he scored two runs.

Michael Brantley (2 hits, 2 RBIs) led four Indians with multiple hits: Jason Kipnis (2 hits, run), Travis Hafner (2 hits, RBI) and Jack Hannahan (2 hits) all had good evenings at the plate.

Santana gave the Indians a 1-0 lead in the first with an RBI single but Will Middlebrooks answered with a two-run double in the home half of the first. Pedroia added a two-run double in the second then Boston scored three times in the fifth on Cody Ross's RBI double, Sweeney's RBI single and Pedroia's sacrifice fly.

Hill walked Hafner with the bases loaded in the seventh and Kipnis scored on Middlebrooks's error. Brantley had RBI singles in the seventh and ninth.

Alfredo Aceves got his first save attempt in nearly two weeks so it was no surprise that it was rocky. He had runners on first and third with one out but struck out Hannahan and retired Johnny Damon on a lazy fly ball to center for his sixth save of the season.

Felix Doubront (2-1) faces Josh Tomlin (1-2) tomorrow night (7:10 p.m., NESN) as the Red Sox try to win their second straight game for the first time in two weeks (they haven't done it yet in May).

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Josh Beckett Cements His Place In The Boston Sports Scumbag Hall Of Fame

It is hard to believe how far both the Boston Red Sox and Josh Beckett have fallen off the map in the last few months (going back to September). The ringleader of last season's chicken and beer fiasco, who should have been traded over the winter, has completely given up on his career. Or so it seems. There's no other way to explain it since a guy with his talent should never be this consistently awful.

The Cleveland Indians (18-13, 10-3 away) beat the Red Sox (12-19, 4-11 home) 8-3 tonight in the series opener at Fenway Park. Boston has now lost three games in a row and eight out of nine overall plus 11 of its last 12 games at Fenway.

Beckett (2-4) had his shortest start in nearly four years as he couldn't make it out of the third inning, against a weak hitting team. In the first start since his golf trip last week, the Texas Toughguy showed his true colors by folding easier than anyone could have possibly imagined. In 2.1 innings, he allowed seven earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

The best part was that Bobby Valentine had to take him out of the middle of the third so that allowed the crowd to really get on Beckett. If the Red Sox are going to go down in flames like this, at least we can all enjoy booing the hell out of a worthless piece of shit like him.

Cleveland scored two runs in the second and four in the third. Former Red Sox first baseman Casey Kotchman opened the floodgates with a sacrifice fly. Jack Hannahan (3rd of the season) hit a two-run homer to right.

It only got worse for Beckett as Jason Kipnis (6th of the season) hit a solo homer to right in the third, followed by Shin-Soo Choo's RBI double and Michael Brantley's (4 hits) double that scored two.

Former Red Sox pitcher Derek Lowe (5-1), who is a few weeks away from his 39th birthday, proved that some guys are winners and never lose the desire to compete in MLB. The sinkerballer went six easy innings, allowing two earned runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and a walk. And to think, the Red Sox easily could have picked him up with a throwaway trade to the Braves.

Daniel Nava had an RBI double in the fifth, his first game in 2012 with Boston, then Dustin Pedroia (5th of the season) homered to right in the seventh. Pedroia actually came to the plate as the tying run with two outs in the eighth and the bases loaded but he popped up.

Carlos Santana tacked on one more Indians run in the ninth with a sacrifice fly.

The main reason that the Red Sox have been so brutal is that their starting rotation is nothing less than a nightmare. You keep waiting for somebody to step up and throw a gem but other than Lester's win in Chicago, that has been severely lacking. I've said the bullpen has sucked (and it has at times) but who can blame them when they've been forced to throw 3+ innings every single game.

Ubaldo Jimenez (3-2) faces Clay Buchholz (3-1) tomorrow night (7:10 p.m., NESN) and if you want to make some money: bet against Boston. I'm serious, for whatever reason they were pretty big favorites tonight. We might as well get something tangible from this lost season, it's only a matter of time before Vegas figures out that this team is hopeless and changes up the lines.

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In 2011 Justin Masterson Is Better Than Erik Bedard, Fact

If you took a time machine back to 2006 or 2007 and said that a low-level prospect named Justin Masterson would someday be better than Erik Bedard, you would not believe it.

Welcome to real life folks where the former Red Sox middle reliever (Masterson) is better than Bedard (Boston's newest acquisition). To be fair, it is the breakout season of Masterson's career (9-7, 2.63 ERA, 121 strikeouts, 1.17 WHIP) as he's transformed himself into a front-end starter in the average AL Central.

Conversely, Bedard (4-7, 3.55 ERA, 92 strikeouts, 1.18 WHIP) does not look like a guy that the Red Sox (68-42) should trust in a pennant race but here they are.

The Indians (55-54) earned a split at Fenway Park with a 7-3 win tonight that was all about Masterson's dominance of his former teammates coupled with Bedard's uneven debut.

Masterson went six innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits with a walk and nine strikeouts (including four in the third inning). Bedard was limited to 70 pitches in his second start back from the DL. He went five innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with no walks and five strikeouts.

To make matters worse, the Yankees swept the White Sox with a 7-2 win tonight as well meaning Boston and New York are tied atop the AL East heading into this weekend's series at Fenway.

Things started well for Boston as they got two runs in the first on an RBI double by Adrian Gonzalez (14-game hit streak) and an RBI single by David Ortiz.

From there, Cleveland took over offensively as they almost tripled the Red Sox' hit total (14-5). Carlos Santana led the Tribe with three hits and three RBIs while Travis Hafner and Kosuke Fukudome had three hits and Asdrubal Cabrera scored three runs.

Jacoby Ellsbury capped a memorable series for him (two walkoff hits) with two hits, a run and a walk.

The Indians tied it with two runs in the second on Matt LaPorta's (2 hits) infield single and a groundout by Austin Kearns.

Santana's RBI single in the third put Cleveland up 3-2 before Josh Reddick pushed across Boston's last run in the fourth with a solo home run (his fifth of the season) into the Red Sox bullpen.

Santana hit a two-run bomb off Franklin Morales (0-2) in the sixth before Hafner and Fukudome added RBI doubles in the seventh and ninth respectively.

Andrew Miller made his first appearance for the Red Sox out of the bullpen and the change of scenery didn't seem to change anything in his uneven performances. He's becoming a left-handed Dice-K which is about the worst thing I could say about the guy. In 2 2/3 innings, he threw 71 pitches and gave up two earned runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts. I'll cut him some slack since it was his first relief outing but he's going to have to step it up if he wants to keep his job.

With the Yankees in town, all the usual trappings are in place: Friday night game on NESN, Saturday afternoon game on Fox and Sunday night game on ESPN. It has been almost two months (June 9) since the teams last played but hopefully Boston can keep its death grip (8-1) on the season series.

The pitching matchups are Jon Lester vs. Bartolo Colon tomorrow night, John Lackey vs. CC Sabathia on Saturday and Josh Beckett vs. Freddy Garcia on Sunday. Slight edge to the Red Sox on Friday and Sunday although Colon and Garcia have been surprisingly very solid. Saturday is a layup for the Yanks since Sabathia is on fire (3 of his 5 losses this season have been to Boston). I'm excited, it's been too long since we last saw baseball's best rivalry.

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Yawn, Another Walk-Off Hit For Jacoby Ellsbury Vs. Cleveland

For a player that had never felt the joy of a walk-off hit in the majors, Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury is sure getting used to the feeling as he had his second in a row against the Cleveland Indians tonight at Fenway Park.

Whereas last night's single won it in the ninth, Ellsbury ratcheted up the excitement this evening with a solo homer (his 18th of the season) with two outs in the ninth against Cleveland (54-54) reliever Joe Smith (2-2).

As a fun footnote, the ball landed in the first row of the center field bleachers about 10 rows in front of where I was sitting with my girlfriend and other friends from college. That makes it 2-for-2 for my girlfriend and I this season in terms of Red Sox (68-41) wins of the walk-off variety in both games we've attended (also Carl Crawford's single vs. Seattle on May 1).

For the second straight outing, Tim Wakefield pitched well enough to notch his 200th career win on most nights but he got a no-decision after 6.2 innings of work. He allowed three earned runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Hey, what's another few days to MLB's oldest player (he just turned 45 yesterday)?

Indians starter Carlos Carrasco also got a no-decision. He went seven innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits with three walks and five strikeouts.

Dustin Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Reddick all had two hits as Boston outhit Cleveland by a 2-to-1 margin (10-5) overall.

David Ortiz gave the Red Sox a 1-0 lead in the first with a two-run single which scored Gonzalez and Kevin Youkilis.

Jason Kipnis put a run up for the Tribe with a solo homer (second night in a row he's done that) in the fourth followed later by an RBI double by Travis Hafner in the same frame that tied it at two.

Ortiz scored on Marco Scutaro's fielder's choice in the fourth.

Ezequiel Carrera's ground-rule double to right scored Lonnie Chisenhall in the seventh but Ellsbury sent everyone home happy with his blast in the ninth.

Like Ellsbury, Jonathan Papelbon (4-0) had another notable performance as he picked up his second win in as many nights with a 1-2-3 ninth complete with a strikeout. The unsung hero (and who thought I'd ever say this in my life) was Randy Williams. Yes, that one. He served as the bridge between Wakefield and Papelbon, getting four very important outs including no hits and two strikeouts.

Tomorrow night's series finale is an intriguing one as Erik Bedard makes his Red Sox debut against former Boston hurler Justin Masterson (who consistently pitches well against his old team). The Red Sox will look to win the series 3-1 and gain some steam going into a huge weekend meeting with the Yankees, who sit only one game back in the AL East.

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Ellsbury's First Career Walk-Off Hit Propels Red Sox To Win

A day that started out with promising news-Clay Buchholz won't need surgery on his back and could return late in the season-ended on a high note as well with Jacoby Ellsbury knocking in Jarrod Saltalamacchia with a walk-off single in the ninth for a 3-2 Red Sox win over the Indians at Fenway Park tonight.

It was the first career walk-off hit of Ellsbury's career and six overall for Boston (67-41) this season. The start of the game was delayed an hour and 45 minutes by rain; I can't ever remember this many rain delays in one season, it's getting absurd.

Cleveland (54-53) starter David Huff pitched well but the Red Sox got his pitch count over 100 in the fifth inning to ensure it would be a short outing. In five full innings (102 pitches), he allowed one unearned run on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

Josh Beckett lasted a little longer but he was done after six innings (85 pitches) since Terry Francona didn't feel like risking him after he had warmed up twice (during the rain delays). He gave up two earned runs on six hits with no walks and seven strikeouts.

The two runs for the Indians were provided by a pair of rookies that truthfully, I'd never even heard of before. The latter day Mantle and Maris, Jason Kipnis (first inning) and Lonnie Chisenhall (fourth inning) both had solo home runs.

David Ortiz scored in the second on a wild pitch before Kevin Youkilis tied it up with a blast, his 16th of the season off the Sports Authority sign over the Monster in the sixth.

After Jason Varitek singled with one out in the ninth against Vinnie Pestano (1-1) and Josh Reddick's bloop single fell in for a hit, Ellsbury smoked a single up the middle. There was a play at the plate with Saltalamacchia pinch running for Varitek but a nice headfirst slide helped him avoid Cleveland catcher Carlos Santana's tag.

Franklin Morales had the best outing of his short Red Sox career by pitching a scoreless seventh and eighth. He allowed one hit and struck out three. Jonathan Papelbon (3-0) looked dominant in the ninth as he got a 1-2-3 inning punctuated by a strikeout which led to Ellsbury's heroics.

The win was especially vital since the Yankees shut out the White Sox to remain only one game behind the Red Sox for first-place in the AL East.

History will be on the line tomorrow night as I will be in the ballpark and Tim Wakefield goes for his 200th win against Carlos Carrasco.

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Red Sox take a dump on the Cleveland Indians, leave town with a series win

I was all set to watch the series finale yesterday afternoon between the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. However, when I flipped the game on the radio (while I was on the computer), I listened in amazement as they hung seven on Indians (30-16) starter Mitch Talbot in the first inning, en route to a 14-2 ass kicking.

Thanks to the blowout, I felt comfortable going to the gym and catching bits and pieces of the game when I could. The Red Sox (27-22) won the series and their 10th game out of their last 12 thanks to a season-high 20 hit attack including four homers and six doubles.

Jon Lester (7-1) was the lucky recipient of the ridiculous output from his offense. Lester threw six scoreless innings, allowing three hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. After a couple subpar outings in a row, it was nice to see him be lights out once again.

Talbot (1-1) deserves some sympathy since he was making his first start off the DL, against a red-hot team, but thems the breaks sometimes. In three innings, he allowed 12 hits, eight earned runs with two walks and a strikeout.

Carl Crawford led the Red Sox, going 4 for 4 in his best game so far in an underwhelming season in Boston. He had a homer, two doubles, three runs and two RBIs. Jacoby Ellsbury (2 walks) and Drew Sutton (2 runs) had three hits while Dustin Pedroia (3 RBIs), Adrian Gonzalez, David Ortiz, Jarrod Saltalamacchia (3 RBIs) and Mike Cameron all had two hits.

Pedroia, Ortiz and Saltalamacchia had the other homers in this joke of a game.

Boston travels to Detroit for a four-game series beginning with an afternoon game today. Alfredo Aceves takes on Max Scherzer.

Red Sox finally top the world beating Indians

After four tries in 2011, the Boston Red Sox (26-22) finally beat the Cleveland Indians (30-16) 4-2 last night at Progressive Field.

Josh Beckett (4-1) picked up his first regular season win in Cleveland (who could ever forget his legendary start there in the 2007 playoffs?) after 6.2 innings. He allowed five hits, one earned run with three walks and six strikeouts.

Fausto Carmona (3-5) went eight innings for the Indians but he allowed five hits, four earned runs with one walk and seven strikeouts.

The unlikeliest of heroes stepped up at the plate for Boston as Jason Varitek hit a two-run homer, his first in almost a year (May 30, 2010).

Jonathan Papelbon gave up a solo homer to Travis Buck in the ninth but recovered to get his ninth save of the season.

Some Amish guy named Ezequiel Carrera gave Cleveland a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the second which scored Buck.

Jed Lowrie tied it up in the third with a sacrifice fly which drove in Carl Crawford. The Red Sox went ahead for good later in the frame on Adrian Gonzalez's RBI double (scoring Jacoby Ellsbury).

Varitek's two-run bomb in the seventh plated David Ortiz.

Jon Lester takes on Mitch Talbot this afternoon in the series finale.

Cleveland rocks (or so I've been told)

Sooner or later in 2011, the Cleveland Indians will come back to Earth. Right? Maybe not for MLB's surprise top team.

For the fourth time this season in four games at Cleveland's Progressive Field, the Indians (30-15) beat the Red Sox (25-22). Last night, the Tribe rallied for a 3-2 win as Daniel Bard (1-4) once again failed to get the job done.

Bard deserves blame since he you know, threw the pitches. However, Red Sox manager Terry Francona should get some heat too since he had Bard face Asdrubal Cabrera (who was 5 for 5 on Sunday and had hit a solo homer earlier last night) with first base open and a struggling Shin-Soo Choo up next.

Cabrera hit an RBI double off Bard which scored Michael Brantley (who had tied it with an RBI single) with the winning run in the eighth.

Indians closer Chris Perez worked around two hits in the ninth to get his 13th save of the season. Carl Crawford ended the game by grounding into a double play.

Clay Buchholz started for Boston and yet again, he shut down the opposition enough to earn a win. He went 7.1 innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs and two walks with four strikeouts. He was pulled after 94 pitches since he threw an obscene 127 in his last start.

Former Red Sox pitcher Justin Masteron (who went to Cleveland in the Victor Martinez trade on July 31, 2009) continued to baffle his old team. He also got a no decision but he pitched well. He went 7.2 innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs with two walks and three strikeouts.

Dustin Pedroia gave the Red Sox a 1-0 lead in the third with an RBI single that scored Crawford.

Cabrera tied it up with his 10th homer of the season in the fourth inning.

Crawford answered with just his second homer of the season-solo of course-in the fifth.

Tonight figures to be another pitcher's duel as Josh Beckett opposes Fausto Carmona.

OK this is starting to get funny

At this point, you have to laugh. The Boston Red Sox are off to their worst start since 1945 and they seem to find a more ridiculous way to lose each day or night.

Yesterday afternoon, Jon Lester and Fausto Carmona had a classic pitcher's duel in the series finale at Progressive Field.

Cleveland (4-2) pushed across a run in the eighth inning as Asdrubal Cabrera put down a squeeze bunt which scored Adam Everett. That 1-0 lead turned out to be the only run that was necessary as the Indians held on for a 1-0 win and a series sweep of the Red Sox (0-6).

Lester (0-1) deserved a better fate in his second start of the season. He went seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and three walks while striking out nine.

Carmona matched him. He also went seven innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out four.

Daniel Bard (0-2) took the loss after walking Everett, who stole second base then advanced to third on a sacrifice by Orlando Cabrera (small ball!).

This excruciating loss wouldn't be complete with a baserunning gaffe to end it.

David Ortiz walked with two outs against Indians closer Chris Perez and Darnell McDonald pinch ran for him. J.D. Drew hit a hot shot off Perez but McDonald took a big turn around second base and fell down. He couldn't recover in time and was thrown out at second on a heads up play. Haha, that's how it ended.

Perez earned his second save of the season with that big mistake.

Well things can only get better, right? The Red Sox come home for Opening Day at Fenway Park (your favorite theme park). All the frauds and big money bozos will be in the house so I wouldn't be surprised if those clueless idiots don't even really boo the team like they should.

John Lackey takes on Phil Hughes this afternoon. Look at it like this: if New York wins two of three this weekend, Boston will be 1-8. God forbid if the Yankees sweep, Boston will be 0-9. Oh my. Needless to say, it's long past the time to wake up and start playing.