Birdman daddy, I fly in any weather

Can I say it? I really like this team.
The 2009 Boston Red Sox are not going to win the AL East, we can agree on that, right? But they have a very good chance to win the wild card and once you get this team in the playoffs, I like their chances.

Yesterday's strange season took another unexpected pit stop as the two newest Red Sox (Paul Byrd and Billy Wagner) helped to shut out Toronto, 7-0 at Fenway as Boston swept the three-game series.

The Byrd Man was back with his old-timey delivery and right-handed Jamie Moyer-esque stuff. The Blue Jays (58-70) have clearly checked out and are dreaming of a miserable winter in Toronto mixed in with plenty of losses by the Leafs and Raptors. Just kidding, no players live there in the off-season.

Byrd pitched six scoreless innings, as he gave up three hits, walked three and struck out one. For one afternoon at least, he provided some stability to the back end of a rotation that has seen more action than Paris Hilton's bed. WOW!

He had been out of baseball and pitching to his 13-year-old son's team (really) when the Red Sox brought him back.

Acquired from the Mets last week, Wagner was impressive in his Red Sox debut as he struck out the side in the eighth.

Ignoring what chief moron Jonathan Papelbon had to say, Wagner is a welcome addition to a bullpen that was understandably getting tired and needed another left-hander. The fact that Papelbon has been shaky as well, makes this a no-brainer pick up.

The Sox (76-54) moved to 3.5 games up in the wild card on the Rangers and 5.5 on the Rays.

They also beat Roy Halladay for the second straight time. Think he wishes he got traded in July? Youk (2 hits, 3 RBIs) gave Boston a 1-0 lead in the first with an RBI double which scored Victor Martinez.

Rocco Baldelli made it 2-0 in the second with a solo homer before Youkilis had a sacrifice fly in the third, putting Boston up 3-0.

Alex Gonzalez (2 hits), who's swinging a hot bat, extended the lead to 4-0 in the fourth with an RBI single. Finally, the Sox scored three in the seventh on an error and another RBI single by Youk.

After the off-day today, the Sox have three games at the Trop starting tomorrow. If they can win at least two, they'll bury Tampa Bay for all intents and purposes. However if Tampa Bay continues to own Boston (especially at home), they will get right back in the wild card race.

How does Bruce Chen keep finding work?

The Boston Red Sox (54-34) ended the first half of the 2009 regular season yesterday on a high note as they blanked the Kansas City Royals (37-51), 6-0 at Fenway.

Coupled with the Angels sweep of the Yankees, Boston is now three games up on New York in the AL East going into the All-Star break.

Sox ace Josh Beckett (11-3) pitched a three-hit shutout, making it a very memorable 100th career win. He didn't walk anybody, struck out seven and only needed 94 pitches to get through Kansas City's sorry lineup.

Rookie Aaron Bates had a huge day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run and an RBI. Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and Rocco Baldelli each added two hits. Red Sox hitters walked nine teams as Royals starter Bruce Chen and a host of pathetic relievers, couldn't throw strikes. Jason Bay walked three times and was hit by a pitch twice.

Youkilis started the scoring with an RBI single in the first. Boston added three in the fourth as Bates doubled home Nick Green (3 walks, 2 runs), Bates scored on David Ortiz's groundout and Jason Varitek walked with the bases loaded.

Baldelli plated the final run with an RBI double in the eighth which scored Ortiz.

Pedroia is sitting out the All-Star game to be with his pregnant wife but Youk, Beckett, Bay and Jonathan Papelbon all headed to St. Louis for the All-Star festivities. The Red Sox return to action Friday night for a three-game series in Toronto.

The first half has to be considered a big success for Boston as they find themselves with the best record in the American League, in the toughest division in baseball. At various times, their hitting, relief and starting pitching has carried them. Boston is one of baseball's deepest and most talented teams. There's no reason they shouldn't be playing deep into October this season.

Red Sox take care of Marlins on record-breaking night

The weather in New England has been garbage so far this "summer" but the Red Sox are playing like a team cruising in July or August. Last night in Fenway Park's 500th straight sellout, Boston beat the Florida Marlins, 6-1.

Everyone's favorite trade rumor, Brad Penny, picked up the 100th win of his career. In the first, Penny (6-2) was drilled by a ball hit right at his ample bosom but he recovered to get the out and go five innings. He gave up one unearned run (on Jacoby Ellsbury's first career error) on three hits with four walks and three runs.

Florida (32-35) took a 1-0 lead in the first when Hanley Ramirez scored after Ellsbury's error on Jorge Cantu's sinking liner to center.

The Sox (40-25) didn't waste much time as they grabbed the lead in the second with two runs. Rocco Baldelli (2 hits) singled home Mike Lowell and David Ortiz (double, three runs, two walks) later scored on Jason Varitek's double play grounder.

After a brief slump, Dustin Pedroia (3 hits, 3 runs, 2 steals) is back to his old tricks. He added to Boston's advantage with a two-run single in the fourth.

Ellsbury (2 walks, steal) made up for his fielding mistake in the seventh when he crushed a solo shot to right.

Pedroia wrapped it up with an RBI single in the eighth.

Justin Masterson (sixth), Hideki Okajima (seventh), Ramon Ramirez (eighth) and Jonathan Papelbon (ninth) combined for four scoreless innings after Penny had departed to the clubhouse for the comfort of his feedbag.

A red-hot Jon Lester is on the mound tonight as the Red Sox go for the sweep against the Marlins and struggling starter Ricky Nolasco.

Rays demolish Red Sox, 9-1

The one sure thing in the Red Sox rotation couldn't get the job done yesterday afternoon at Fenway. Tampa Bay got to Jon Lester and made it a laugher, 9-1, in game 3 of the ALCS. The Rays take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Lester lasted 5.2 innings in a game where Boston needed more from their ace. He allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.

Matt Garza on the other hand, gave the Rays a perfect start. He went six innings, giving up a run on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts.

Evan Longoria scored in the second on Dioner Navarro's RBI groundout to make it 1-0 Tampa Bay. The Rays added four in the third on B.J. Upton's three-run bomb and Longoria's solo shot. Those two guys are currently killing the Sox.

Boston got runners at first and third in the seventh but could only come away with one run as Jacoby Ellsbury knocked in Jason Varitek with a sacrifice fly. Ellsbury, David Ortiz and Varitek are a combined 0-for-34 in the series.

The pride of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Rocco Baldelli sent Red Sox fans to the exits with a three-run homer in the eighth off Paul Byrd. Carlos Pena, from Haverhill, MA/Northeastern added a solo shot in the ninth.

Something needs to be shaken up with the Sox' lineup. Varitek will sit tonight as Kevin Cash catches starter Tim Wakefield. Coco Crisp (never thought I'd say this) should be in there over Jacoby Ellsbury. Coco is a terrible leadoff hitter so have Pedroia do it (which he proved capable of during the season).

It's pretty much a must-win for Boston tonight with Wakefield going against Andy Sonnanstine. If Boston loses tonight, they might not even make it back to Tampa. Right now, the Rays are beating them in every facet of the game.