April 9, 2008
After generating just 15 runs combined over its first seven losses, Detroit tagged Boston’s pitchers for 10 hits, en route to a 7-2 victory before a Fenway crowd of 3,7190.
Jon Lester’s debut against the Tigers was a rocky one. Failing to record at least one strike out for the first time in 29 games (28 starts), he dropped to 1-2 after giving up four runs, all of them earned, on four hits over 5.1 innings.
Meanwhile, Detroit right-hander Jeremy Bonderman – who entered last night’s game with a 5.68 ERA - extended his winning streak against the Sox to four games, scattering five hits over five innings for his first victory of the 2008 campaign.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton 
at 9:52 PM | Permalink
August 14, 2007
Earlier this afternoon, Sox manager Terry Francona received a text message from pitcher Brendan Donnelly after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in California.
``His text said he came through it great and he was just going to go rest,’’ Francona said. ``I think he was a little groggy, but he sent a real quick message that said, `Hey, I made it,’ and he’s okay, which I really appreciate a lot.’’
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 6:46 PM | Permalink
TONIGHT'S LINEUPS:
BOSTON RED SOX
Lugo, ss
Pedroia, 2b
Ortiz, dh
Ramirez, lf
Lowell, 3b
Youkilis, 1b
Varitek, c
Crisp, cf
Pena, rf
SP: Jon Lester, LH
TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS
Iwamura, 3b
Crawford, lf
Upton, cf
Pena, 1b
Young, rf
Harris, 2b
Gomes, dh
Wilson, ss
Paul, c
SP: Scott Kazmir, LH
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 5:00 PM | Permalink
August 2, 2007
How did Doug Mirabelli’s teammates respond after his baserunning blunder cost Boston a run in the sixth when the score was still tied at 3-all?
Well, says manager Terry Francona, every time a fly ball was hit after that, Eric Hinske would offer some good-natured ribbing by yelling, "Tag!"
``I think we’re probably one of the few teams where when something like that happens, you don’t see a lot of tension in the dugout. I mean, we don’t want to make mistakes and that was an important part of the game. We were very hopeful we would overcome and win, like we did. At the time, you don’t know what’s going to happen. But I think teams show a lot of their colors in instances like that, and there wasn’t tension, where you could see that on some teams. . . . . We just continued to play the game and we were thrilled that he came through.’’
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 4:38 PM | Permalink
For those of you who aren't already aware of this, interesting point of fact about Boston's newest reliever Eric Gagne: He wears prescription goggles when he pitches because of a hockey injury.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 3:51 PM | Permalink
Red Sox Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr, who was honored before today's game on the 60th anniversary of the first Bobby Doerr Day, made a grand entrance. He emerged from an opening in the center-field wall, riding around the warning track in a 1946 Ford.
Shortstop Johnny Pesky, outfielder Dom DiMaggio and pitcher Dave Ferriss - all three teammates with Doerr on Boston's 1947 club - participated in the pre-game ceremony with the nine-time American League All-Star, who batted .288 with 223 home runs and 1,247 RBI when he played from 1937-44 and then from 1946-51.
``I enjoy watching your little second baseman out there,'' Doerr, once a second baseman himself, said of the Sox' Dustin Pedroia in his remarks to the Fenway crowd. ``He's having a great year. I really enjoy watching him.''
The 89-year-old - who was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986, into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1995 and had his uniform No. 1 officially retired by the Sox on May 21, 1988 - says he watches every Red Sox game on television with his sister in Oregon.
Right before Doerr threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Sox pitcher Mike Timlin, team owners John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino presented Doerr him a hi-def TV.
``I just think Bobby – Mr. Doerr – is a very classy guy,'' said Sox manager Terry Francona. ``Our players looked excited. On a hot day, a day game after a night game, guys that weren’t playing were all out there watching. I thought that was really respectful and deserving.’’
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 1:50 PM | Permalink
Brendan Doyle, the R.I. State Trooper who continues to recover from severe head injuries that he suffered after being assaulted, is attending today's game with his brother, Patrick, as the guest of Red Sox senior adviser and Rhode Island native Jeremy Kapstein.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 1:23 PM | Permalink
August 1, 2007
A four-run rally in the seventh gave Boston a 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Baltimore Orioles tonight at Fenway.
Kevin Youkilis smacked a bases-loaded two-run double to center in that rally to give the Sox their first lead. And it was one they would not relinquish, as Jonathan Pabelbon recorded his 24th save.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 10:30 PM | Permalink
Red Sox legend and Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr will be honored in a pre-game ceremony tomorrow, 60 years to the day from the first Bobby Doerr Day at Fenway in 1947.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 9:16 PM | Permalink
Newest Celtic Kevin Garnett threw out the ceremonial first pitch to David Ortiz, pumped his fist then gave the Sox slugger a big hug.
Wrapping his long arms around Ortiz, the 6-foot-11, 253-pound Garnett almost made Boston's 6-4, 230-pound designated hitter look diminutive. Almost.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 7:03 PM | Permalink
After another successful rehab stint with Pawtucket Tuesday night in Columbus, Ohio, Curt Schilling will return to the Red Sox and start on the mound Sunday in Seattle, says Sox skipper Terry Francona.
``I thought he and the medical staff and John (Farrell) did great,'' Francona said of the 40-year-old right-hander, who has been on the disabled list since June 22 (retroactive to June 19) because of tendinitis in his right shoulder. ``He came through this . . . . he threw seven innings (Tuesday) night (of) four-hit ball. He pitched, he pitched again, pitched again, and the ball keeps coming out of his hand like we wanted it to. It’s been very successful. We’ll be thrilled to have him back.’’
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 6:14 PM | Permalink
Arriving in Boston at about 2 o'clock this afternoon, Eric Gagne met with the media a short time ago. A few excerpts from that press conference:
Calling the Red Sox ``the best organization in baseball’’ and Boston ``the best sports city in America,’’ he said he jumped at the chance to come here.
``It’s an honor. I’ve got to get used to that red. I’ve never worn red before. So I’m pretty excited. Everybody knows what Boston means, and being a Red Sox is a great honor. I’m just excited to be here and win a World Series.''
Gagne says he received more phone calls following the trade announcement than he did after being named the 2003 National League Cy Young Award winner.
``There are so many fans in Montreal and Canada, especially with the Expos gone, and everybody in Montreal pretty much are Boston fans.''
(Gagne admits he was an Expos fan growing up, but that Boston was his second choice once the Montreal team folded.)
Although Boston was among the teams included in his no-trade clause, Gagne says that was primarily because he prefers to be a closer and he knew that Boston already had one in Jonathan Pabelbon. And he insisted yesterday that agreeing to go to Boston was ``one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever made.’’
``I want to be a closer. I’ve always wanted to be a closer. I think I see myself as a closer. But I have a chance to have 15 more saves and win a World Series. That was a pretty easy choice, so I’m really glad to be here.’’
Gagne says he has already spoken to Mike Timlin and plans to pick up some tips from him to help him adjust to his new role as a set-up guy: ``It’s going to be a good challenge. I’m just here to help the team win the World Series. Basically that’s what it comes down to. I want to win, and it’s not every day you have a chance to come on a team like that.''
Sidelined for the better part of the last two seasons by various elbow and back injuries, Gagne was asked how he's been feeling this season: ``It was probably a month and a half ago where I went back-to-back days, had a day off and went back-to-back again. That’s really when I felt like my arm was bouncing back, and my back was feeling good. I felt great all year, but it just got better and better every week. It’s good to be out on the field and be able to compete and not worry about your body, not worry about anything else but make pitches and get people out.’’
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 5:40 PM | Permalink
A few notes from Sox manager Terry Francona’s pre-game meeting with the media:
* On the acquisition of reliever Eric Gagne: ``Any time you feel like you got deeper, especially pitching, it is exciting. . . . (Having Gagne) it gives us another arm late in the game where we don’t wear people out hopefully.
* Francona planned to meet with Gagne and pitching coach John Farrell following tonight's batting practice: ``I know that for him, his program is very regimented and is very important to him, like (Jonathan Papelbon) so there’s going to be learning on our part and there’s going to be some give and take so we where we can try to make it as close to perfect as possible. Sometimes the game doesn’t get played out perfect, so we’ll make sure the communication is outstanding and we’ll make it work.’’
* Although he would not elaborate out of respect for the family, Francona said that J.D. Drew’s 17-month-old son Jack underwent ``some pretty extensive surgery’’ last night and does not expect Drew to be available for tonight’s game.
* Mike Timlin, who hasn't pitched since last Monday because of soreness in his right shoulder, is available to throw tonight, although Francona says he would prefer to wait until tomorrow to use him.
* Francona, who has become an ardent Celtics fan, says he is almost as excited about the Celts’ acquisition of Kevin Garnett as he is about the Sox grabbing Gagne: ``Gagne is first, but not by a lot. This is a big deal. I am really excited about this. My kids love (the Celtics). I love it. I like to watch (Celtics television commentator) Tommy Heinsohn. He cracks me up.’’
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 5:36 PM | Permalink
BOSTON
Lugo, ss
Pedroia, 2b
Ortiz, dh
Ramirez, lf
Youkilis, 1b
Lowell, 3b
Varitek, c
Crisp, cf
Pena, rf
Starting pitcher: Tavarez
BALTIMORE
Roberts, 2b
Patterson, cf
Markakis, rf
Millar, 1b
Tejada, ss
R. Hernandez, c
Payton, lf
Gibbons, dh
Gomez, 3b
Starting pitcher: Trachsel
-- Carolyn Thornton
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 4:42 PM | Permalink
July 31, 2007
David Ortiz snapped out of his home run slump, belting his 17th and 18th of the season, but it wasn’t enough to get the Red Sox past Baltimore, as the Orioles secured a 5-3 victory in the opener of a three-game set at Fenway.
Josh Beckett, who was tagged with a 1-0 loss to Cleveland last Thursday despite producing what catcher Jason Varitek called ``one of the best outings Josh has ever had,’’ took the loss again tonight, after giving up five earned runs on nine hits over eight innings.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 10:19 PM | Permalink
Cleaning out his locker at about 4:35 p.m., left-handed pitcher Kason Gabbard quietly declined to comment on the news that he had been traded to the Texas Rangers along with outfielders David Murphy and Engel Beltre in exchange for right-hander Eric Gagne and cash considerations.
Gabbard, his eyes watering, stopped by David Ortiz’ locker to say good-bye. The Sox slugger gave him a big bear hug and said, ``Keep doing your best.’’
``He’s a good kid,'' Ortiz said when asked about Gabbard's departure. ``He just came in and he did what he was supposed to. I wish him the best. I wish him luck. It’s hard to see a guy that you’ve played with go. But you know how it is.''
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 5:28 PM | Permalink
Veteran reliever Brendan Donnelly announced in the clubhouse about a half hour ago that he is going to undergo "Tommy John'' surgery to his right elbow ``either next Friday or the following Tuesday.''
Orthopedist Lewis Yocum will perform the surgery on the right-hander, who has been on the DL since mid-June with what was initially described as a strained right forearm, out on the West Coast.
Donnelly, who is 2-1 with a 3.05 ERA in 27 appearances this season had this to say: ``I need to go get surgery and fix what’s been going on in my arm. For several years it’s been going on, but there were really no signs of it breaking down over the last three years until now. We’ve tried everything two times to come back, and by doing the surgery now, it gives me the opportunity to pitch next year and four or five years down the line, as opposed to just fighting through day by day and wondering when the day’s going to come that it’s just going to fail. That day came and we tried to do everything we could to come back, and it’s just not responding.
``What (stinks) is I’m not going to be a part of what’s going on here, which is something pretty special right now.’’
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 5:13 PM | Permalink
July 2, 2007
The Pawtucket Red Sox took the field tonight looking to rebound from their worst loss in nearly three years, but failed to get the redemption they were looking for, dropping a 4-1 decision to the Charlotte Knights at McCoy.
Facing 6-foot-10 lefty Andrew Sisco with two outs and a 1-and-2 count, catcher Kevin Cash hooked a ball around the right-field foul pole to put the PawSox on the board.
But Casey Rogowski cleared the right-field wall with an Abe Alvarez offering in the fifth to tie the game.
And that’s the way it would stay until the eighth inning, when Danny Richar smacked a two-run triple to right off of Pawtucket reliever Bryan Corey and then scored on Ryan Sweeney’s sacrifice fly to left to give Charlotte a lead it would not relinquish.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 8:58 PM | Permalink
Utility infielder Zach Borowiak was transferred from Portland to Pawtucket today.
This marks the Triple-A debut for the 26-year-old, who hit .229 with two home runs and 21 RBI in 51 games for the Sea Dogs. He played 23 of those games at second, 21 games at third, 5 at first and 2 at short, committing just five errors.
Borowiak spent all of last season with Portland, batting .216 in 107 games.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 6:05 PM | Permalink
July 1, 2007
Dropped fly balls, overthrows, baserunning blunders and not nearly enough offense to make up for all of the mental and physical miscues resulted in a 14-2 defeat to the Charlotte Knights for the Pawtucket Red Sox today at McCoy Stadium.
This is the PawSox' worst defeat since dropping a 21-5 decision at Rochester on Aug. 30, 2004.
Pawtucket, which managed just four hits, committed five costly errors. That's the most the club has committed in a game in more than two years. Pawtucket also had five against Durham on June 23, 2005. The outcome was decidedly different than yesterday’s, however, as the PawSox won that game, 13-2.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 4:15 PM | Permalink
June 15, 2007
Managing just two hits on the night, the PawSox failed to extend their four-game winning streak, falling to the Richmond Braves, 3-0, before a McCoy Stadium crowd of 9,126.
The Braves picked up two runs in the third off starter Jon Lester, who gave up eight hits over his seven-inning stint.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 9:33 PM | Permalink
Mike Burns has relieved Jon Lester in the eighth.
Lester gave up eight hits and two runs, both of them earned, over his seven-inning stint. He recorded three strikeouts and two walks, throwing 61 of his 93 pitches for strikes.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 9:02 PM | Permalink
There is still no one warming up in the bullpen after Jon Lester pitched a scoreless seventh inning. Richmond failed to add to its 2-0 lead, thanks in part to a sharp defensive play by Pawtucket shortstop Ed Rogers.
Brent Lillibridge, who had led off the inning with a double and then stole third, broke for home on Wes Timmons’ hard grounder to short. Without hesitation, Rogers fielded the ball and fired it home to catcher George Kottaras. After a brief rundown, Lillibridge was tagged out by Lester.
Then with Gregor Blanco at the plate, Timmons, who made it to second on the previous play, tried to steal third on Lester as Lillibridge had. But this time, Lester picked him off.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 8:51 PM | Permalink
Lester is up to 75 pitches through six innings.
He needed eight pitches to strike out Pena, but only one to get Koonce to fly out to center field.
Mendez took the first pitch Lester offered him down the right-field line for a double.
But Lester got Clark to fly out to center field on a 2-and-2 pitch for the third out.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 8:20 PM | Permalink
Lester wasn’t quite as efficient in the fifth: 15 pitches, 6 for strikes.
He threw four straight balls to leadoff hitter Corky Miller, then worked a full count against Timmons before striking him out swinging.
Prado then hit a shallow fly ball to right that was caught by McEwing.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 8:11 PM | Permalink
It was a quick fourth-inning stint for Lester, as he threw seven pitches, all of them for strikes.
After Mendez flew out to left for the first out, Clark singled to center field. But Lillibridge hit into a 5-4-3 double play.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 7:53 PM | Permalink
Richmond has taken a 2-0 lead in the top of the third against Lester, who has thrown 29 pitches, 24 of them for strikes.
Wes Timmons led off with a single up the middle, moved to second on a sac bunt by Blanco, then scored from second on Prado’s single to left.
Pena singled to right, advancing Prado to third. Prado then scored on Koonce’s sac fly to right, although he was nearly thrown out at the plate by PawSox rightfielder David Murphy.
Pena got caught in a rundown between first and second and was tagged out to end the inning.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 7:51 PM | Permalink
Lester just faced four batters in the second inning, throwing 12 pitches.
After Carlos Mendez grounded out to short on the first pitch he saw, Doug Clark beat out a grounder to second.
Brent Lillibridge flew out to right for the second out.
Lester then got Corky Miller to hit a foul popup near the Richmond dugout, which first baseman Jeff Bailey caught for out No. 3.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 7:34 PM | Permalink
Hello from Pawtucket, where the PawSox are hosting the Richmond Braves tonight.
Jon Lester is on the mound, making his eighth start for Pawtucket.
Manager Ron Johnson said prior to the game that the southpaw has no real restrictions except that Johnson plans to keep him ``right around that 100-pitch range.’’
Lester threw 15 pitches in the first inning. He got leadoff hitter Gregor Blanco to ground out to short and Martin Prado to hit a foul popup behind first that was caught by PawSox second baseman Joe McEwing.
Lester than gave up an infield hit to Brayan Pena, but got Graham Koonce to fly out to right to end the inning.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 7:22 PM | Permalink
May 17, 2007
Tonight's lineups:
Detroit Tigers
Curtis Granderson, cf
Placido Polanco, 2b
Gary Sheffield, DH
Magglio Ordonez, rf
Carlos Guillen, ss
Sean Casey, 1b
Marcus Thames, lf
Mike Rabelo, c
Brandon Inge, 3b
Starting pitcher: Chad Durbin (3-1, 5.08)
Boston Red Sox J
Coco Crisp, cf
Alex Cora, ss
Kevin Youkilis, 1b
Manny Ramirez, DH
Mike Lowell, 3b
Jason Varitek, c
Eric Hinske, rf
Wily Mo Pena, lf
Dustin Pedroia, 2b
Starting pitcher: Curt Schilling (4-1, 3.63)
Note: Although Francona said following the first game that J.D. Drew was going to try to play in the nightcap, he must not have liked what he saw when the outfielder went down to the cage to loosen up this afternoon.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 6:26 PM | Permalink
Sox manager Terry Francona says outfielder J.D. Drew is going to try to play in tonight’s game. Francona did not play Drew in the opener to give him more time to recover after slamming into the wall in front of the Sox bullpen while tracking a ball on Tuesday.
``We’re going to try,'' Francona said. ``It’s not the perfect conditions with the weather, but he wants to try to play. We’re going to let him go down to the cage and loosen up and see. And I might go down there with him. I want to see how he’s doing, but he wants to play. So we’ll see.’’
Francona also said that Wily Mo Pena is going to play left field, so that Manny Ramirez can take David Ortiz' place in the DH spot.
``(Ortiz) probably shouldn’t have played today,'' Francona said. ``He was sick and he said, `I was this close to calling you this morning, but I know it’s a double header.’ So we’re going to let him kind of gather himself a little bit here later today.’’
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 5:29 PM | Permalink
A few more tidbits about today's 2-1 win:
* With his sixth-inning single, Mike Lowell extended his hitting streak to eight games. He has gone 12-for-30 during that stretch with a double, three homers and nine RBI, five runs and four walks. Lowell has had at least one hit in 31 of his 37 games this season.
* More on Kevin Youkilis' career-high 10-game hitting streak: He has recorded at least two hits in 8 of those 10 games and is hitting .476 (20-for-42) during that stretch with 5 doubles, 2 home runs, 10 RBI, 8 runs and 2 walks.
* Including today's win, Boston is 7-3 in one-run games.
* Boston has played 42 day-night doubleheaders at Fenway since 1970, winning both games 14 times, losing both games 8 times and splitting the other 20.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 5:04 PM | Permalink
The Red Sox' 2-1 win over Detroit in today's opener was clinched by two solid relief efforts.
Taking over for starter Julian Tavarez in the eighth, Hideki Okajima forced the Tigers' Placido Polanco to fly out to right, struck out Gary Sheffield and got clean-up hitter Magglio Ordonez to pop up to first.
In so doing, Okajima extended his scoreless streak to 18 2/3 innings over his last 18 outings. Recording nearly half of his 45 outs with strikeouts, he has retired 53 of the last 62 batters he has faced and boasts an ERA of 0.46.
Making his first save appearance since May 6 at Minnesota, Papelbon struck out Carlos Guillen and Ivan Rodriguez, then got Sean Casey to ground out to short en route to his 11th save. He has pitched four shutout innings with three saves in his last four appearances, blowing his only save on May 1 against Oakland.
``It's so nice to be able to get to the eighth and feel like regardless of what the score is, you're going to win,'' said Sox skipper Terry Francona. ``It doesn't necessarily always work out that way, but we should have a lot of confidence in the way those guys are throwing. I know our team does. I know they do. Okajima throws strikes and it doesn't matter if he's facing a lefty or righty, he's equally as tough.''
``No panic with Pap,'' added Tavarez.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 4:35 PM | Permalink
You can push his starts up or back. You can tell him he’s pitching at noon, 7 o’clock at night or in the wee hours of the morning. Julian Tavarez will assure you that he’s ready to go.
``I grew up playing ball,’’ Tavarez, who hails from the Dominican Republic, said after pitching the Sox to a 2-1 win over the Detroit Tigers this afternoon. ``I never went to school in my life, not even one day. The only thing I did was play ball in the street, and that’s the only thing I know how to do. To me, everything is mental. My mind is always ready for anything. To me, nothing bothers me. I’m always like, ``I’m ready. I’m ready to play.’’ It doesn’t matter if it’s 3 in the morning. Let’s start the game. It’s the only thing I know how to do is play ball. I work really hard in the weight room and running and come early to the ballpark, but there’s only one thing that’s in my mind. If you think, `It’s only three days rest. I’m not strong enough to go out there,’’ just don’t go out and pitch because you’re not going to last long on the mound. To me, it’s like, `I’m ready.’ I’m fine, no pain in my body I’m fine. I’m going to go out there and give it my best.’’
Working a season-high seven innings, Tavarez gave up one run on four hits, walking four and striking out three.
After throwing fewer than 100 pitches in each of his previous 12 starts, he tossed 104 pitches today - his most since throwing 106 in a start on Aug. 30, 2002 against Pittsburgh when he was with Florida.
Sox manager Terry Francona on Tavarez' performance today: ``A couple of times, he pitched himself into a bind by getting ahead of the hitter and then walking. It's so nice to see him be able to dial up, making a pitch. After doing that, once to (Gary Sheffield), you see the way the inning is going so many times when you walk people to get to that situation and make a bad pitch and all of a sudden, it's a multi-run inning. Then he gathered himself and went out and was really good in six and seven.''
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 4:20 PM | Permalink
| Buoyed by a solid performance by right-hander Julian Tavarez (right, AP Photo), Boston strengthened its hold on the A.L. East and took a 2-1 lead in its four-game series with Detroit, defeating the Tigers, 2-1, this afternoon, in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.
Tavarez improved to 2-4, scattering four hits over seven innings.
The Sox took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Coco Crisp avoided the tag on Tigers short stop Carlos Guillen's attempt to turn a double play on a David Ortiz grounder. Seeing third base unattended because of the shift Detroit had on Ortiz, Crisp capitalized on the opportunity to take an extra base.
The speedy outfielder then scored on a Manny Ramirez liner to center.
Julio Lugo reached base in the third when Guillen misplayed his hard grounder, advanced on a walk to Ortiz and scored on Kevin Youkilis' RBI single to right to make it 2-0.
Craig Monroe got one run back for the Tigers in the fifth when he walked and later scored on an RBI single by Placido Polanco.
But Tavarez pitched two more scoreless innings and Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon took it from there with each pitching a scoreless inning of relief to secure the win for Boston.
|  |
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 3:00 PM | Permalink
Lefty Hideki Okajima has just relieved Julian Tavarez in the top of the eighth.
Tavarez leaves the game with a 2-1 lead having given up four hits over seven innings in a stellar start. The right-hander threw 104 pitches, 60 of them for strikes, recording three strikeouts and walking four.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 2:53 PM | Permalink
Tomorrow, Red Sox infielder Dustin Pedroia and his wife Kelli will help the Sox and the American Academy of Dermatology kick off its 2007 Play Smart When It Comes To The Sun program, a public education campaign to raise awareness about skin cancer detection and prevention. (Kelli Pedroia is a survivor of melanoma.)
The campaign, being held in conjunction with Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association, aims to make people aware that skin cancer affects 1 in 5 Americans with more than 1 million new cases being diagnosed each year. More than 108, 230 of those cases turn out to be melanoma, a cancer that claims 8,110 lives each year.
It will also be pointed out through the program that the baseball community should be particularly mindful of the potentially life-threatening condition and ways to protect against it, given the countless hours that players and fans alike spend in the mid-day sun.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 2:39 PM | Permalink
With the 11th season of Interleague Play between the American League and National League kicking off tomorrow, the Red Sox will close their 10-game homestand wit a three-game set against the Atlanta Braves.
American League East clubs will primarily play against the National League West, while the N.L. Central teams will face the A.L. West and N.L. East clubs will match up against the A.L. Central.
The Sox and Minnesota Twins boasted the best records in Interleague Play last season, with both posting 16-2 marks. They were followed by the Detroit Tigers (15-3), Chicago White Sox (14-4), Seattle Mariners (14-4) and Colorado Rockies (11-4).
At 103-73, the New York Yankees own the best record since the inception of Interleague Play in 1997. Among N.L. Clubs, the Florida Marlins have the best overall mark at 96-72.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 2:33 PM | Permalink
Kevin Youkilis just hit an RBI single to right that drove in Julio Lugo and gives the Sox a 2-0 lead over Baltimore in the third inning.
Now 2-for-2 today, he came into the game having hit safely in nine straight and 18 of his last 19 games. His .333 average coming in ranks him sixth in the American League. Youkilis leads A.L. first basemen in average, hits and on-base percentage.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 1:38 PM | Permalink
When Manny Ramirez lined a single to center, driving in Cocoa Crisp from third in the first inning, the Sox slugger brought his RBI total to 1,541, moving him past Willie Stargell for sole possession of 38th place on the all-time list.
With his single to center in the first inning, Kevin Youkilis extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 12:48 PM | Permalink
| Terry Francona found out earlier this week that divine intervention doesn't come cheap: Spotting two nuns sitting in the stands for Sunday's Boston-Baltimore game, the Sox manager threw a ball to one of them and said, ``We need a win tonight,'' to which she replied, ``There's another nun here.'' Francona tossed another ball over and asked, ``Is that two wins?'' Her answer: ``If you sign the balls.''
``It turned into a 20-minute thing, but we won the game,'' Francona said of the Sox' 6-5 comeback over the Orioles. |  |
(Note: The two nuns above, in a photo taken at Fenway Park by the Journal's Bob Breidenbach on May 2, weren't the nuns in question. But, hey, they could have been.)
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 12:37 PM | Permalink
Sox skipper Terry Francona announced some changes to the pitching rotation.
This is how he plans to go:
This afternoon against the Tigers: Julian Tavarez
Tonight against the Tigers: Curt Schilling
Tomorrow against Atlanta Braves: TBA, although it is likely Boston will call up Kason Gabbard from Pawtucket to replace Josh Beckett who tore the skin off the top of the middle finger of his throwing hand.
Saturday against Atlanta Braves: Daisuke Matsuzaka
Sunday against Atlanta Braves: TBA, since Francona decided to give Tim Wakefield an extra day
Monday against New York Yankees: Tim Wakefield
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 11:35 AM | Permalink
Good morning!
Today's lineups:
Detroit Tigers
Curtis Granderson, cf
Placido Polanco, 2b
Gary Sheffield, DH
Magglio Ordonez, rf
Carlos Guillen, ss
Ivan Rodriguez, c
Sean Casey, 1b
Craig Monroe, lf
Brandon Inge, 3b
Starting pitcher: Zach Miner (first appearance)
Boston Red Sox J
Julio Lugo, ss
Coco Crisp, cf
David Ortiz, DH
Manny Ramirez, lf
Kevin Youkilis, 1b
Mike Lowell, 3b
Eric Hinske, rf
Doug Mirabelli, c
Alex Cora, 2b
Starting pitcher: Julian Tavarez (1-4, 6.60)
Notes:
* Mike Maroth was orginally tabbed to pitch for Detroit, but was scratched because of illness.
* Wily Mo Pena was going to play right field last night in place of J.D. Drew, in part because Drew was still recovering from running into the wall in front of the Sox' bullpen and in part because Maroth is a lefty.
Sox manager Terry Francona still decided to give Drew the game off even though Zach Miner is a right-hander, but now Eric Hinske is playing right.
Francona did not say whether Drew will play the nightcap.
* Dustin Pedroia was slated to play second last night, but has been replaced in the lineup by Alex Cora.
* Doug Mirabelli is behind the plate for this one instead of Jason Varitek.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 11:22 AM | Permalink
April 11, 2007
Sox catcher Jason Varitek on Mariners' pitcher Felix Hernandez's one-hitter: "He was able to keep doing different things. He had an exploding slider, and he was able to mix in his curveball. And the second time around, he started showing that change-up. It was one heck of a performance.''
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 10:31 PM | Permalink
Sox catcher Jason Varitek on Dice-K's outing: "Probably in his eyes, it probably wasn't his best, but he made some real good pitches. He pitched well enough to keep us in that game. The other guy just pitched a little better today."
``I understand (Matsuzaka) didn't have the same feel on the baseball that he has had, but he was still able to battle through different pitches to get through it and keep the game close. . . . At different times, he was lights out tonight.''
"He's definitely a competitor, no question. And he's going to win a lot of ballgames for this team.''
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 10:26 PM | Permalink
After getting pounded, 14-3, by the Sox on Tuesday, the Seattle Mariners rebounded with a 3-0 victory tonight behind the one-hit pitching of Felix Hernandez.
Jose Guillen gave Seattle a lead it would not relinquish in the second inning when he singled off the Green Monster and went on to score on Yuniesky Betancourt’s sac fly to left.
The Mariners went ahead, 3-0, in the fifth when Adrian Beltre doubled home Jose Lopez, went to third on a throwing error by Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia and then scored himself on a Jose Vidro liner to center.
Dice-K Matsuzaka could not secure a victory in his Fenway debut. The righthander scattered eight hits over seven innings, giving up three runs – all of them earned. He threw 64 of his 103 pitches for strikes, recording four strikeouts and walking one batter.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 9:29 PM | Permalink
J.D. Drew spoiled Felix Hernandez's no-hitter with his leadoff single in the bottom of the eighth.
The Sox rightfielder has now hit safely in all eight games this season.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 9:13 PM | Permalink
Dice-K Matsuzaka's Fenway debut will not go down as a victory. Seattle tagged the Sox righthander for three runs - all of the earned - before he was relieved by J.C. Romero in the eighth.
Matsuzaka gave up eight hits over his seven-inning stint. He threw 64 of his 103 pitches for strikes, recording four strikeouts and walking one batter.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 7:12 PM | Permalink
Dice-K walked out to the bullpen to warm up at 6:29 p.m.
He was greeted by a loud round of cheers.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 6:31 PM | Permalink
Today's pre-game press conference briefly turned into a Laurel-and-Hardy routine when Sox manager Terry Francona attempted to pronounce the Japanese word for "good.''
Sitting just a few feet away from Francona, Japanese reporter Takashi Settai - who writes for the Nikkei, a daily newspaper in Toronto - couldn't help but burst into laughter when Francona stressed the wrong syllable while trying to say "iiyo.''
The journalist quickly apologized when Francona shot him a glance.
"You've got to remember, I grew up in Beaver Falls, Pa.,'' Francona said. ``You can barely understand English there sometimes."
"Say it again?'' Francona said to Settai.
"EE-yoh."
"That's what I said."
"No, you said, ee-YOH."
"No wonder he looked at me like I'm a (dummy) when I said it."
"We try,'' Francona added. "I think most people probably appreciate the attempt, as bad as it might be."
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 5:19 PM | Permalink
Does Sox manager Terry Francona think the expectations for Dice-K will continue to mount?
"If they do, that means he's pitching well. I don't think that's going to bother him. . . . The expectations are going to be off the charts, but part of that's because this guy's supposed to be good."
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 5:12 PM | Permalink
Asked during his pre-game press conference if Dice-K had arrived at the ballpark, Sox manager Terry Francona quipped:
"I don't know. I figure . . . . . I've had Pedro (Martinez). As long as he's good for the first pitch, that's good enough.''
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 5:04 PM | Permalink
Sox catcher Jason Varitek celebrates his 35th birthday today.
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 5:02 PM | Permalink
Sox manager Terry Francona doesn't envision the added hype surrounding tonight's game affecting Dice-K:
"This won't bother him. I've watched him enough now for 2 months, where he goes about his business, and part of what's made this sometimes tolerable, most of the time not even bothering us is because of the way he handles it. He handles his responsibilities with the media and it doesn't seem to get in the way of his work and it doesn't seem to irritate him. Once he steps on that field, he knows what he's supposed to do, and his preparation for getting on the field, it's been flawless. So the way he has handled his responsibilities has made it a heck of a lot easier on us.''
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 4:57 PM | Permalink
Asked about the impact of tonight's game and the much-anticipated Fenway debut of Sox pitcher Diasuke Matsuzaka on the game of baseball, Sox manager Terry Francona had this to say during today's pre-game press conference:
"I came to the ballpark today not feeling any different. My biggest project coming in was not trying to spill the coffee while I was driving because of these people, the way they drive. And then you kind of get in here and you start hearing people talk about what a huge day this is, and I guess for fans of different countries it is. I want us to be 5-3 when it's over, not 4-4. That's kind of how I've been viewing it. I know that he's going to face Ichiro (Suzuki) and the flashbulbs are going to be going off. I just don't want Ichiro to get off first because he screws up the game. So maybe I'm missing out on some of it, but I really want the impact of this game (to be) for us to win. I'll leave the significance up to you guys (the media) or whoever's watching, and however it impacts them, good.''
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 4:41 PM | Permalink
The lineup for tonight's Sox-Mariners' game:
BOSTON RED SOX
ss - Lugo
1b - Youkilis
dh - Ortiz
lf - Ramirez
rf - Drew
3b - Lowell
c - Varitek
cf - Crisp
2b - Pedroia
SP - Matsuzaka
SEATTLE MARINERS
cf - Suzuki
3b - Beltre
dh - Vidro
lf - Ibanez
1b - Sexson
rf - Guillen
c - Johjima
ss - Betancourt
2b - Lopez
SP - Hernandez
Posted by Carolyn Thornton at 4:32 PM | Permalink
