So much for the feel good win of Sunday night for the Boston Red Sox. Jon Lester performed as bad as Josh Beckett did in the opener and it became a battle of the bullpens after New York Yankees starter AJ Burnett didn't last long either. Unlike on Opening Day, the Yankees bullpen held and the Sox cracked. Nick Johnson and Robinson Cano drove in the deciding runs and the world champion Yankees got revenge on the Sox with a 6-4 win at Fenway Park.
Lester got the ball in the top of the first inning and Derek Jeter led off by striking out swinging on a full count. Nick Johnson grounded out to third before Mark Teixeira took strike three to end the inning. The Sox wasted no time getting to Burnett in the bottom of the first inning as Jacoby Ellsbury's pop up fell into no-man's land for a leadoff single. Ellsbury took off for second but Jorge Posada threw the ball into center, moving Jacoby to third. Dustin Pedroia lined out to second but Victor Martinez drew a walk. Kevin Youkilis hit a fly ball to center and Ellbury made a mad dash home to score on the sac fly to give the Sox the lead. Ortiz grounded into the shift to end the inning with the Sox ahead 1-0.
1-0 Sox
The Yankees tied it in the top of the second as Alex Rodriguez led off with a tapper back to the mound to start. Robinson Cano broke his bat on a base hit up the middle before Jorge Posada walked. Nick Swisher doubled down the right field line to score Cano with the tying run. Marcus Thames drew a walk and Sox pitching coach John Farrell sprinted to the mound to tell Lester that Slumdog Millionaire was on in the clubhouse. Lester got so excited that he struck out Curtis Granderson swinging to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.
Yankees tie it up
Adrian Beltre led off the bottom of the second with a base hit to center but JD Drew whiffed on a curve in the dirt. Mike Cameron struck out but Beltre swiped second on the throw down. Marco Scutaro popped up to Teixeira in foul territory to end the inning.
As the top of the third inning began, NESN flashed the injury report. Boof Bonser would begin his rehab with Pawtuckett on Thursday and Daisuke Matsuzaka would begin his with Pawtucket on Saturday. Jed Lowrie was out with mono and Junichi Tazawa was out for the year with Tommy John surgery. Johnson led off the inning by flying out to right to start. Teixeira missed a home run by 10 feet by the left field foul pole before grounding out to short. A-Rod grounded out to third to end the inning.
Who is Lowrie making out with?
The Sox took command in the bottom of the third as Ellsbury doubled down the right field line to start. Pedroia also missed a home run by 10 feet by the left field foul pole before he lined out to a diving Granderson in center. V-Mart bashed his first home run of the season into the Boston bullpen to put the Sox on top. Youk was rung up on a fastball on the outside corner and Ortiz grounded into the shift to end the inning but the Sox were on top 3-1.
Martinez put the Sox on top
Lester walked Cano to open the top of the fourth but Posada banged into a double play. Swisher was plunked but Lester struck out Thames to end the inning. Beltre led off the bottom of the fourth by lashing a base hit to center. Drew popped up to left but Cameron was plunked. Scutaro banged into a double play to end the inning.
The Yankees roared back in the top of the fifth as Granderson lashed a base hit to right to start. Jeter lined a base hit to center that sent Granderson to third and Johnson was hit with a pitch to load the bases. Teixeira beat out a double play ball to score Granderson and A-Rod doubled to the left field wall to tie the game. Cano put the Yankees on top with a sac fly to score Teixeira and Posada flied out to left to end the inning. Lester didn't have it at all and left after 5 innings, 4 runs allowed and trailing 4-3.
Not Lester's best stuff
The Sox answered in the bottom of the fifth although Jeter made a great jumping catch to rob Ellsbury of a base hit to begin. Pedroia drilled a base hit to right and motored around home to tie the game on a wall ball double by V-Mart. Youk was rung up for strike three and Ortiz went down hacking to end the inning but it tied 4-4.
Martinez ties it up with a double
Manny Delcarmen made his season debut in the top of the sixth and Swisher doubled high off the wall to start. Brett Gardner pinch hit for Thames and moved Swisher to third with a grounder to second. MDC got a big out when Youk robbed Granderson of a hit with a diving catch. Jeter grounded out to short to end the inning. Alfredo Aceves took over for the Yankees in the bottom of the sixth and Jeter made another great jumping catch to rob Beltre of a hit. Drew grounded out to first but Jeter threw a routine grounder by Cameron into the dirt for an error. Scutaro grounded into a force to end the inning.
"Flamethrower" Daniel Bard came in for the top of the seventh and Johnson walked to start. Ellsbury made a great diving catch to rob Teixeira of a bloop single before A-Rod was rung up on a bad call for strike three. Cano grounded out to second to end the inning. Ellsbury grounded out to first to start the bottom of the seventh before Pedroia popped up to center. V-Mart lined out to left to end the inning.
The Yankees took command in the top of the eighth inning as Hideki Okajima came in to crap his pants. Posada hit a ground rule double into the right field corner but Okajima got Swisher to ground out to short. Gardner sliced a base hit to left but Posada remained at second and Granderson flied out to the left field warning track. Jeter hit a routine grounder to Scutaro but Youk couldn't pick the low throw by Marco and everyone was safe to load the bases. The Yankees pounced on the mistake a Johnson walked home Posada to put the Yankees up for good. That was it for Okajima who had to throw over 30 pitches, leaving the bases loaded. Scott Atchison made his Red Sox debut and first appearance in the United States since 2007 by getting Teixeira to fly out to right to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 5-4.
Not Okie's night
Daniel Robertson came in to face Youk in the bottom of the eighth and Youkilis got a base hit to left. Yankees manager brought in Damaso Marte to face Ortiz only for Marte to throw the pickoff throw away to advance Youk to second. Ortiz failed to advance Youk by popping up to center and that was it for Marte. Joba Chamberlain came in to face Beltre and struck Adrian out. Drew whiffed to end the inning as Sox fans groaned.
The Yankees got a big insurance run off Atchison in the top of the ninth although Drew ran down an A-Rod fly ball to the right field warning track. Cano didn't miss like A-Rod did, pounding a home run into the right field corner to ice the game. Posada whiffed and Swisher took strike three to end the inning but the Yankees were up 6-4.
No doubt for Cano
Mariano Rivera came in to close out the bottom of the ninth and Cameron popped up to short to start. Somehow Scutaro doubled to the left field wall to bring the tying run to the plate. Ellsbury took strike three on the outside corner and Pedroia flied out to right to end the game. The Yankees avenged opening day with a 6-4 win over the Sox.
Damn Yankees
Jackass of the Night is Hideki Okajima. Yes the error didn't help but he still put two men on and walked in the go-ahead run when one more out got out of the inning.
Okie-dokie Jackass
The Good:
Jacoby Ellsbury was 2 for 5 with a stolen base and 2 runs scored.
Victor Martinez was 2 for 3 with a walk, 3 total rbis and a 2 run home run.
Kevin Youkilis was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Adrian Beltre was 2 for 4 with a stolen base.
Manny Delcarmen pitched a scoreless 6th inning.
Daniel Bard pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
The Bad:
David Ortiz was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
JD Drew was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Mike Cameron was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Jon Lester lasted just 5 innings and allowed 4 runs in his season debut.
Scott Atchison allowed a run in 1 1/3 innings of work.
The Ugly:
Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.
Marco Scutaro was just 1 for 4 and committed an error.
Final Thoughts:
That's why the Yankees are the world champions. When the bullpen needed to step up, they did and when the Sox needed theirs, they didn't. Not much the Sox could do against Rivera but they could have avoided getting to that point if they finished off the eighth inning rally. A loss like this stings because two in a row against the Yankees puts the pressure on them for tomorrow night's game. Now its anyone's ballgame for bragging rights this early in the season. Tomorrow night is the rubber game between the two teams with John Lackey making his Red Sox debut taking on Andy Pettite of the Yankees. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park,
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Off-Day News (4/5/10)
On this day in Basebawful History:
1974 - Sox beat Brewers on Opening Day
1979 - Sox beat Indians on Opening Day
1983 - Jays rout Sox on Opening Day
1984 - Late rally beats Angels
1993 - Sox beat Royals on Opening Day
1999 - Sox survive bad weather to beat Royals on Opening Day
2000 - Pedro Martinez wins Opening Day
2001 - O's walkoff on Sox
Tomorrow night Jon Lester makes his season debut against AJ Burnett at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park
1974 - Sox beat Brewers on Opening Day
1979 - Sox beat Indians on Opening Day
1983 - Jays rout Sox on Opening Day
1984 - Late rally beats Angels
1993 - Sox beat Royals on Opening Day
1999 - Sox survive bad weather to beat Royals on Opening Day
2000 - Pedro Martinez wins Opening Day
2001 - O's walkoff on Sox
Tomorrow night Jon Lester makes his season debut against AJ Burnett at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Sox Outslug Yankees in Season Opener (4/4/10)
The New York Yankees may have won the World Series last year but this year is a new year and the Boston Red Sox are out for blood. The Sox have reloaded with veterans such as Mike Cameron, Scott Schoenweis and Adrian Beltre and all three had an impact in the season opening win over the Yankees. The Yankees knocked Josh Beckett out in the 5th inning and took a 7-5 lead with 9 outs to play. Pedroia led the charge by knocking in 3 of the four runs the Sox scored and Jonathan Papelbon slammed the door on the 9-7 victory on Opening Day at Fenway Park.
Joe Perry approves of the win
Derek Jeter opened the season against Beckett by grounding out to short to begin. Nick Johnson flied out to Mike Cameron on the centerfield warning track before Mark Teixeira grounded out to Kevin Youkilis unassisted to end the inning. CC Sabathia got the ball in the bottom of the first and Jacoby Ellsbury greeted him by lining out to center to begin. Dustin Pedroia struck out swinging on a high fastball before Victor Martinez grounded out to first off the first base bag to end the inning.
The Yankees struck first in the top of the second although Alex Rodriguez grounded back to Beckett to start. Robinson Cano lined out to center before Jorge Posada homered off the Pesky Pole to give the Yankees the lead. Curtis Granderson's 1st at bat in a Yankee uniform ended with him launching a home run over the Sox bullpen to increase the lead. Nick Swisher singled to right and Brett Gardner singled to left. Jerer forced Gardner at second to end the inning but the Yankees now led 2-0.
A new enemy in pinstripes
The Sox fought back in the bottom of the second as Kevin Youkilis led off with a double off the scoreboard. Youk moved to third on a grounder by David Ortiz before Granderson robbed Adrian Beltre of a double with a jumping catch at the wall. Still, the fly out was long enough to score Youk with a sac fly to cut the lead. JD Drew watched strike three go by to end the inning with the Sox down 2-1.
Granderson makes the catch
Johnson walked to open the top of the third before Teixeira popped up to right. A-Rod banged into a double play to end the inning. Mike Cameron made his Sox debut by walking to begin the bottom of the third but was doubled off on a Marco Scutaro liner to third. Ellsbury grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Yankees embarrassed the Sox in the top of the fourth as Ellsbury just missed a Cano line drive off the wall for a double. Cano moved to third on the Posada grounder and stayed there momentarily as Granderson grounded out to first. Swisher drew a walk and Gardner ripped a base hit to left to score Cano. Jeter singled past the diving Scutaro to score Swisher with another run and advance Gardner to third. All of a sudden Jeter took off for second and Martinez threw down with Gardner coming home. V-Mart's throw wasn't close and Gardner slid in safe with a steal of home as Jeter took second. Yankee fans laughed at the Red Sox fans as Johnson took a backdoor curve to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 5-1.
Nice going Martinez
The Sox rolled over in the bottom of the fourth as Pedroia was called out on a bang bang play by umpire Angel Hernandez on a grounder to first. V-Mart grounded out to third before Youk popped up to short to end the inning.
The Yankees knocked Beckett out in the top of the fifth inning although Teixeira flied out to center to start. A-Rod popped up to second but Cano singled off the right field wall. Posada walked and Sox manager Terry Francona had seen enough. Beckett looked awful and Francona wisely pulled him after 4 2/3 innings, 5 runs allowed and 94 pitches. Scott Schoenweis made his Sox debut by uncorking a wild pitch that moved the runners along. ESPN broadcaster Jon Miller revealed Scott's wife died and Scott spent time on the Disabled List for depression because of it. Now he's back in the majors and he struck out Granderson to end the inning.
Awful season debut by Beckett
The Sox began their comeback in the bottom of the fifth although Ortiz popped up to third. Beltre whiffed on a low change but Drew lined a base hit to left. Cameron also lined a base hit to left and Scutaro got the Sox third straight hit to left. Drew came around to score and Gardner's throw sailed, allowing Marco to reach second with Cameron moving to third. Ellsbury watched strike three go by to end the inning with the Sox down 5-2.
Happy fans
Schoenweis returned briefly for the top of the sixth inning as Swisher grounded out to short to start. Gardner popped up to center and that was it for Schoenweis. Ramon Ramirez made his season debut by allowing a base hit to center by Jeter. Johnson lined out to center to end the inning.
Great debut by Schoenweis
The Sox rallied in the bottom of the sixth as Pedroia walked to start. V-Mart doubled down the left field line and Youk ripped a triple past Swisher in right to score both runners. Ortiz broke his bat on a grounder to second and that was it for Sabathia. David Robertson came on and Beltre greeted him with a base hit to center to score Youk to tie the game. Drew grounded out to first and Cameron grounded out to third to end the inning but the Sox had tied it 5-5.
Youk hits a triple
The Yankees wasted no time taking the lead back in the top of the seventh as Teixeira led off with a walk. A-Rod doubled off the Monster to chase Ramirez. Hideki Okajima came in and Cano scored Teixeira with a ground out to second. Posada increased the lead with a base hit up the middle and Granderson drew a walk. Swisher banged into a double play to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 7-5.
Didn't look good
The Sox came out swinging in the bottom of the seventh against Chan Ho Park as Scutaro singled up the middle to start. Ellsbury took strike three but Pedroia tied the game up with a home run into the Monster Seats, lighting up the crowd. V-Mart grounded out to second but Youk doubled off the Monster to chase Park. Damaso Marte came in and a wild pitch moved Youk to third. Ortiz walked to chase Park as Joba Chamberlain came in to face Beltre. Adrian grounded into a force to end the inning but the Sox were ahead 8-7.
Pedroia ties it up
"Flamethrower" Daniel Bard came in for the top of the eighth and got Gardner to ground out to second to start. Jeter grounded out to first but Johnson walked. Randy Winn ran for Johnson but Teixeira grounded into a force to end the inning. The Sox hit the killshot in the bottom of the eighth although Drew grounded out to third to start. Cameron lashed a base hit to center before Scutaro drew a walk. Ellsbury lined out to center but Pedroia stroked a base hit to right, scoring Cameron with the insurance run. V-Mart lined out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 9-7
Cameron slides in safe
Jon Papelbon came out to close the game in the top of the ninth inning. A-Rod grounded out to third before Cano lined out to a running Ellsbury. Posada dumped a base hit to center to bring the tying run to the plate but Granderson grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox had beaten the champs 9-7 on Opening Day.
Opening Day win
Hero of The Night is Dustin Pedroia. He tied the game with a big two run jack and hit the killshot in the 8th inning.
Opening Day Hero
The Good:
Kevin Youkilis was 3 for 4 with 2 rbis and 3 runs scored.
Adrian Beltre was 1 for 3 with 2 rbis.
Mike Cameron was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Marco Scutaro was 2 for 3 with a walk, rbi and a run scored.
Scott Schoenweis tossed one full scoreless inning.
Daniel Bard pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Jonathan Papelbon earned his first save of the season with a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Jacoby Ellsbury was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.
Josh Beckett was awful in his season debut, allowing 5 runs in just 4 2/3 innings off 8 hits and 3 walks.
Ramon Ramirez was charged with 2 runs in 1/3 of an inning.
The Ugly:
Victor Martinez was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.
David Ortiz was 0 for 3 but walked.
JD Drew was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Hideki Okajima got the win but allowed two inherited runners to score in an inning of work.
Final Thoughts:
Nothing like beating the Yankees on Opening Day. Its going to be a long year but to get off on the right foot is never a bad thing. The Sox were able to fight back after Beckett clearly didn't have it. The combination of Bard and Papelbon could be devastating in the later innings this season. If Beltre can rediscover his form from 2005, this could be a deadly team that rivals 2007. All of those are huge ifs but what's a fact is the Sox beat the Yankees tonight. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox look to make it two in a row against the Yankees on Tuesday night. Jon Lester makes his season debut opposite AJ Burnett at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
Joe Perry approves of the win
Derek Jeter opened the season against Beckett by grounding out to short to begin. Nick Johnson flied out to Mike Cameron on the centerfield warning track before Mark Teixeira grounded out to Kevin Youkilis unassisted to end the inning. CC Sabathia got the ball in the bottom of the first and Jacoby Ellsbury greeted him by lining out to center to begin. Dustin Pedroia struck out swinging on a high fastball before Victor Martinez grounded out to first off the first base bag to end the inning.
A new enemy in pinstripes
The Sox fought back in the bottom of the second as Kevin Youkilis led off with a double off the scoreboard. Youk moved to third on a grounder by David Ortiz before Granderson robbed Adrian Beltre of a double with a jumping catch at the wall. Still, the fly out was long enough to score Youk with a sac fly to cut the lead. JD Drew watched strike three go by to end the inning with the Sox down 2-1.
Granderson makes the catch
Johnson walked to open the top of the third before Teixeira popped up to right. A-Rod banged into a double play to end the inning. Mike Cameron made his Sox debut by walking to begin the bottom of the third but was doubled off on a Marco Scutaro liner to third. Ellsbury grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Yankees embarrassed the Sox in the top of the fourth as Ellsbury just missed a Cano line drive off the wall for a double. Cano moved to third on the Posada grounder and stayed there momentarily as Granderson grounded out to first. Swisher drew a walk and Gardner ripped a base hit to left to score Cano. Jeter singled past the diving Scutaro to score Swisher with another run and advance Gardner to third. All of a sudden Jeter took off for second and Martinez threw down with Gardner coming home. V-Mart's throw wasn't close and Gardner slid in safe with a steal of home as Jeter took second. Yankee fans laughed at the Red Sox fans as Johnson took a backdoor curve to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 5-1.
Nice going Martinez
The Sox rolled over in the bottom of the fourth as Pedroia was called out on a bang bang play by umpire Angel Hernandez on a grounder to first. V-Mart grounded out to third before Youk popped up to short to end the inning.
The Yankees knocked Beckett out in the top of the fifth inning although Teixeira flied out to center to start. A-Rod popped up to second but Cano singled off the right field wall. Posada walked and Sox manager Terry Francona had seen enough. Beckett looked awful and Francona wisely pulled him after 4 2/3 innings, 5 runs allowed and 94 pitches. Scott Schoenweis made his Sox debut by uncorking a wild pitch that moved the runners along. ESPN broadcaster Jon Miller revealed Scott's wife died and Scott spent time on the Disabled List for depression because of it. Now he's back in the majors and he struck out Granderson to end the inning.
Awful season debut by Beckett
The Sox began their comeback in the bottom of the fifth although Ortiz popped up to third. Beltre whiffed on a low change but Drew lined a base hit to left. Cameron also lined a base hit to left and Scutaro got the Sox third straight hit to left. Drew came around to score and Gardner's throw sailed, allowing Marco to reach second with Cameron moving to third. Ellsbury watched strike three go by to end the inning with the Sox down 5-2.
Happy fans
Schoenweis returned briefly for the top of the sixth inning as Swisher grounded out to short to start. Gardner popped up to center and that was it for Schoenweis. Ramon Ramirez made his season debut by allowing a base hit to center by Jeter. Johnson lined out to center to end the inning.
Great debut by Schoenweis
The Sox rallied in the bottom of the sixth as Pedroia walked to start. V-Mart doubled down the left field line and Youk ripped a triple past Swisher in right to score both runners. Ortiz broke his bat on a grounder to second and that was it for Sabathia. David Robertson came on and Beltre greeted him with a base hit to center to score Youk to tie the game. Drew grounded out to first and Cameron grounded out to third to end the inning but the Sox had tied it 5-5.
Youk hits a triple
The Yankees wasted no time taking the lead back in the top of the seventh as Teixeira led off with a walk. A-Rod doubled off the Monster to chase Ramirez. Hideki Okajima came in and Cano scored Teixeira with a ground out to second. Posada increased the lead with a base hit up the middle and Granderson drew a walk. Swisher banged into a double play to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 7-5.
Didn't look good
The Sox came out swinging in the bottom of the seventh against Chan Ho Park as Scutaro singled up the middle to start. Ellsbury took strike three but Pedroia tied the game up with a home run into the Monster Seats, lighting up the crowd. V-Mart grounded out to second but Youk doubled off the Monster to chase Park. Damaso Marte came in and a wild pitch moved Youk to third. Ortiz walked to chase Park as Joba Chamberlain came in to face Beltre. Adrian grounded into a force to end the inning but the Sox were ahead 8-7.
Pedroia ties it up
"Flamethrower" Daniel Bard came in for the top of the eighth and got Gardner to ground out to second to start. Jeter grounded out to first but Johnson walked. Randy Winn ran for Johnson but Teixeira grounded into a force to end the inning. The Sox hit the killshot in the bottom of the eighth although Drew grounded out to third to start. Cameron lashed a base hit to center before Scutaro drew a walk. Ellsbury lined out to center but Pedroia stroked a base hit to right, scoring Cameron with the insurance run. V-Mart lined out to right to end the inning with the Sox ahead 9-7
Cameron slides in safe
Jon Papelbon came out to close the game in the top of the ninth inning. A-Rod grounded out to third before Cano lined out to a running Ellsbury. Posada dumped a base hit to center to bring the tying run to the plate but Granderson grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox had beaten the champs 9-7 on Opening Day.
Opening Day win
Hero of The Night is Dustin Pedroia. He tied the game with a big two run jack and hit the killshot in the 8th inning.
Opening Day Hero
The Good:
Kevin Youkilis was 3 for 4 with 2 rbis and 3 runs scored.
Adrian Beltre was 1 for 3 with 2 rbis.
Mike Cameron was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Marco Scutaro was 2 for 3 with a walk, rbi and a run scored.
Scott Schoenweis tossed one full scoreless inning.
Daniel Bard pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
Jonathan Papelbon earned his first save of the season with a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Jacoby Ellsbury was 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.
Josh Beckett was awful in his season debut, allowing 5 runs in just 4 2/3 innings off 8 hits and 3 walks.
Ramon Ramirez was charged with 2 runs in 1/3 of an inning.
The Ugly:
Victor Martinez was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.
David Ortiz was 0 for 3 but walked.
JD Drew was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Hideki Okajima got the win but allowed two inherited runners to score in an inning of work.
Final Thoughts:
Nothing like beating the Yankees on Opening Day. Its going to be a long year but to get off on the right foot is never a bad thing. The Sox were able to fight back after Beckett clearly didn't have it. The combination of Bard and Papelbon could be devastating in the later innings this season. If Beltre can rediscover his form from 2005, this could be a deadly team that rivals 2007. All of those are huge ifs but what's a fact is the Sox beat the Yankees tonight. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox look to make it two in a row against the Yankees on Tuesday night. Jon Lester makes his season debut opposite AJ Burnett at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.