Saturday, May 14, 2011

Game 38/162, Red Sox Beat the Yankees Using Power

Red Sox 5, Yankees 3

Red Sox  - 000 200 300 - 5 9 1
Yankees - 000 020 011 - 4 8 0 

redsox.mlb.com

The Red Sox had a familiar strategy to win the game on Friday, power and good pitching. Buchholz pitched the best he had all season, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits and 7 Ks in 7 IP against the powerful Yankee lineup. 

Bard came in in the eight, giving up a triple to Granderson and letting him score on the wild pitch. Later in the inning, after walking A-Rod and hitting Cano, they had a double steal to try to get the win. Then luckily Swisher struck out on a high pitch and Posada  grounded out to second.

In the ninth, after getting two quick outs, Papelbon gave up a single to Jeter with two strikes and Granderson had a nice hit to left. Later they advanced to second and third. If Teixeira got a hit they Yanks would tie, and a homer would win it for the Yanks but happily, he popped out to third to end the game. 

As for the Red Sox offense, Adrian Gonzalez hit a deep, high homer that made me think it might get outta the park, but it didn't. Then Youk got on after a drop third strike and later, with the bases loaded, he came home on a ground out by Drew.

In the 7th inning, Salty got a hit and Joba came in. Ellsbury got on with a fielders choice and stole second. He later scored on Gonzalez's sac fly. Then with Pedroia on, Youk hit a two run homer to right and while in the dugout, you could easily read his lips: "I love this park". Probably referring to the short porch out in right.

Just for fun: Adrian Gonzalez leads the league in RBIs. The Red Sox are three games behind the Yankees and 5 games behind the Rays in first place.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Game 36/162, Rogers Centre Proves Unlucky For Red Sox

Blue Jays 7, Red Sox 6

Red Sox   - 010 120 011 0 - 6 16 0
Blue Jays - 300 011 010 1 - 7 9  2
Rogers Centre, over the last 12 games has been Fenway North for the Red Sox, who entering last night’s game the Red Sox were 10 for 12. Friendly Rogers Centre could not overcome 
unlucky game 13, as the Red Sox lost to the Blue Jays 7 to 6.

The Red Sox last night just did not have enough to overcome the Blue Jays last night; not enough hitting and not enough pitching to win the game. Last night’s game the Red Sox frustrated me as they failed to reach the .500 mark, fall to 17 and 19.

Frustrating best describes the game last night; Lester could not keep the Blue Jays hitters from scoring runs, Lester could not hold off the Jays’ hitters through 5 and a third innings. Lester had a twenty five pitch inning, frustrating. Red Sox reliever Rich Hill kept the game from spinning out of control when Lester was pulled with one out and two runners on in the 6th inning. Frustrating night.

Adrian Gonzalez smashed 2 homers and David Ortiz knocked another homer you would think the Red Sox would bring enough offense to the Rogers Centre to win. Frustrating. When the Blue Jays brought in a mouth full of consonants, reliever Marc Rzepczynski, who would eventually give up a double to Jed Lowrie, who doubled in the run that tied the game 5 to 5.

Bard would give up an uncharacteristic home run pitch. Then in extra innings off of Sox reliever Matt Albers gave up a single to Rajai Davis, then he stole second base and then third. Davis would score the game winner or a sacrifice fly by David Cooper.

Frustrating night. There was just not enough hitting and not enough pitching for the Red Sox to reach the .500 plateau. 

Article by George Cosmo

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Game 34/162, Red Sox Get the Win on Mothers Day

Red Sox 9, Twins 5

Twins     - 300 100 010 - 5  8  3
Red Sox  - 014 020 20x - 9 14  0

On Sunday, the Sox get the win. Dice-K got the win. He started off badly in the first inning and got better as the game went on. 

The Red Sox got on the board after Youkilis doubled and Drew grounded out with the RBI. In the third, the Red Sox really got into the attack with 5 hits in the inning, getting 4 runs. 

In the top of the fourth, Danny Valencia, (who I saw play in the minors a few times) hit a homer that was disputed and then checked by instant replay. After the Replay, the umpires confirmed the homer.

In the fifth, Gonzalez homered, showing some power over the last few days. Also, Drew hit into a force out and Youkilis scored on the error.

Lowrie also hit a two run double in the seventh to finish out the game. He has hit .229 on this current homestand. 

Notable Players:
Jacoby Ellsbury - 3 for 5 with a double and a run - extends hit streak to 17 games
Adrian Gonzalez - 3 for 5 with a homer and 2 RBIs
Kevin Youkilis - 2 for 4 with 4 runs and an RBI

Starting Pitcher:
Dice-K - 6 IP 5 H 4 ER 4 Ks