O's Drop Unclutch Sox (8/14/12)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. It was discovered that Kelly Shoppach was the one who blew the whistle on how horrible Sox manager Bobby Valentine is to the media so Sox GM Ben Cherrington shipped him to the New York Mets for a player to be named. It would have been a lot easier for Cherrington just to fire Valentine but oh well, bye bye Kelly. In his place the Sox finally activated closer Andrew Bailey off the Disabled List. Its too little, too late with the Sox hopelessly out of the AL East race but at least he can show something for next year.

                                                                      OUT

                                                                 IN

As for the game, with tensions buzzing over another media blowup, the Boston Red Sox found a new way to lose tonight against the Baltimore Orioles. The Sox as a team pounded out 11 hits....but only scraped out one run. A lot of guys got hits but none of them when it mattered. Josh Beckett (5-10, 5.19 ERA) continued his career nosedive by getting knocked out in the sixth inning after allowing 6 runs. Andrew Bailey made his too little, too late Red Sox debut by striking out the only man he faced, but by that point the O's already had a commanding lead. Reports of the Red Sox players hating Bobby Valentine are coming out and it shows as the Sox dropped another game 7-1 to the O's at Camden Yards.

Wei-Yin Chen got the ball for Baltimore in the top of the first and Jacoby Ellsbury slapped a leadoff single in the hole at short to start. Pedro Ciriaco dropped down the perfect bunt and almost beat it out. Dustin Pedroia lined one off the glove of Chen but Manny Machado gunned him down at first. Adrian Gonzalez struck out swinging to end the inning. Beckett got the ball in the bottom of the first and Nick Markakis grounded out to second to start. JJ Hardy popped up to short and Nate McLouth struck out swinging to end the inning.

Cody Ross grounded out to second to start the top of the second inning but Ryan Lavarnway singled to right. Carl Crawford beat out a fielder's choice and Mike Aviles struck out swinging to end the inning. Adam Jones popped up on the infield but Avilies sprinted past Beckett to make the catch. Matt Wieters walked and Chris Davis singled to right, but Mark Reynolds hit one up the elevator shaft. Manny Machado popped up to third in foul territory to end the inning.

The Sox blew a rally in the top of the third as Machado made a good play to rob Danny Valencia of a hit to start. Ellsbury grounded out to first but Ciriaco doubled down the left field line. Pedroia walked but Gonzalez flied out to left to end the inning. The O's struck first in the bottom of the third as Omar Quintanilla clobbered a home run all the way to the Red Sea to start. Markakis grounded out to short, Hardy popped up to first and McLouth popped up to first to end the inning with the O's up 1-0.

                                                            Home run Quintanilla

The Sox fought back in the top of the fourth when Ross hit a ground rule double to the left field stands to start. Ross moved to third on a grounder to first by Lavarnway and scored on the Crawford base hit to center. Avilies struck out swinging and Valencia flied out to center to end the inning with the game tied 1-1.

                                                    Crawford ties it up

Beckett cruised in the bottom of the fourth as Jones struck out swinging to start. Wieters lined out to center and Davis flied out to left to end the inning.

Ellsbury grounded out to second to start the top of the fifth and Ciriaco grounded out to short. Pedroia tripled into the right field corner but Gonzalez grounded out to second to end the inning. The O's retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth as Reynolds hit a home run to Jupiter to start. Machado popped up to short, Quintanilla lined out to left and Markakis flied out to center to end the inning with the O's up 2-1.

                                                          Reynolds hits a home run

The Sox blew a rally in the top of the sixth and Ross singled to left to start. Lavarnway lined out to left but Crawford singled to right. Aviles struck out swinging and Valencia flied out to center to end the inning. The O's finally knocked out Beckett in the bottom of the sixth as Hardy got a base hit to left to start. McLouth popped up to third but Jones walked. A wild pitch moved both runners over and Jones hit a Baltimore chopper over all 3 defenders to score Hardy with another run. Davis lined a base hit to center to score Jones and chase Beckett. Josh would be charged with 6 runs before the inning was over. Mark Melancon came in to pitch and naturally he served up a 3 run homer to Reynolds all the way to Jacksonville, Florida to ice the game. Machado grounded out to short and Quintanailla struck out swinging to end the inning but the game was all but finished 7-1.

                                                Reynolds ices the game

Ellsbury dropped a base hit to right to start the top of the seventh and chase Chen. Darren O'Day came in and Ciriaco struck out swinging. Pedroia doubled to right and Gonzalez walked to load the bases, but Ross struck out swinging. Lavarnway took strike three to end the inning, what a waste. Melancon got Markakis to grounded out to second to start the bottom of the seventh and Hardy struck out swinging. McLouth grounded out to first to end the inning.

Old friend JC Romero came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Crawford flied out to center to start. Aviles also flied out to center but Valencia singled to left. Ellsbury grounded out to first to end the inning. Scott Posednik came in to play center for the bottom of the eighth and Jones struck out swinging to start. Wieters grounded back to the mound and that was it for Melancon. Andrew Bailey made his Red Sox debut by walking Chris Davis but striking out Reynolds swinging to end the inning.

                                                        Better late than never for Bailey

Matt Lindstrom came in to close out the top of the ninth and Ciriaco lined out to left to start. Pedroia flied out to right and Gonzalez grounded out to short to end the game. The O's had won it 7-1.

                                                                       O's win

Jackass of the Night is Josh Beckett. He got hammered for 6 runs in 5 1/3 innings to put the Sox in a hole too deep to climb out of.

                                              2006 Jackass Beckett returns

The Good:

Jacoby Ellsbury was 2 for 5.

Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 4 with a walk.

Cody Ross was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Carl Crawford was 2 for 4 with an rbi.

Andrew Bailey struck out the only man he faced.

The Bad:

Mike Aviles was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.

The Ugly:

Pedro Ciriaco was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Adrian Gonzalez was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but walked.

Ryan Lavarnway was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Danny Valencia was just 1 for 4.

Mark Melancon allowed the 3 run homer to Reynolds in 2 1/3 innings.

Honorable Mention:

Scott Posednik played centerfield in the bottom of the eighth.

Final Thoughts:

Not only is the season going down the drain, but if that wasn't bad enough,......this happened. Yessire bob, the players themselves have revolted against Valentine. Its been a long time coming to after the lackadaisical play as of late. Tensions have been bad virtually all season with incidents popping up here and there but now that its in full print in the media for the whole world to see, there's no denying it now. Its been a bad year anyway with long term injuries to David Ortiz, Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury, Will Middlebrooks and John Lackey missing the season with Tommy John surgery, but anyone that's left clearly has no love for Valentine. Its almost guaranteed Valentine won't be back next season to manage this team and hopefully the next guy in can get the most out of Gonzalez, Crawford, Pedroia, etc thast Bobby couldn't. A picture surfaced of Bobby Valentine sleeping in his office with Pedroia sarcastically saying "Here's our manager making the starting lineups" Its gotten pretty ugly around here. As for this game, how the heck do you crank out 11 hits but only 1 run? The O's only had 7 as a team but still plated 7 runs. Chen is a good pitcher but it wasn't like he was working on a 3 hit shutout. Once again the Sox are finding new ways to lose and the season can't end fast enough. The loss dropped the Sox to 57-60, 12.5 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night Aaron Cook (3-5) looks to stop the bleeding against Miguel Gonzalez of the Orioles. The game begins at 7:05 PM at Camden Yards.

Rangers Massacre Red Sox (4/17/12)

Holy moly this month has gone completely south for the Boston Red Sox. After getting blanked by the Tampa Bay Rays yesterday, the Sox got annihilated by the defending American League champion Texas Rangers. Jon Lester (0-2, 5.82 ERA) got shelled for 7 runs and lasted just two innings. If that wasn't bad enough, Mark Melancon and the bullpen had a total meltdown in the final two innings as the Rangers scored TEN runs in the final two innings. Meanwhile Colby Lewis held the Sox to just two runs in 7 innings on a first inning home run by Dustin Pedroia. Josh Hamilton and Mike Napoli drove in 9 runs combined and the Rangers ran away with this one 18-3 at Fenway Park.

                                                       My sentiments exactly

Lester got the call in the top of the first inning and Ian Kinsler shot a base hit into center to start. Elvis Andrus struck out swinging on a nasty cutter but Josh Hamilton lined a base hit past Dustin Pedroia to move Kinsler to third. Old friend Adrian Beltre banged into a double play to end the inning. The Sox struck first against Colby Lewis in the bottom of the first as Mike Aviles led off with a single off the Monster and Pedroia smashed his third home run of the year into the Monster Seats. Adrian Gonzalez slapped a seeing eye single to right but David Ortiz popped up to Beltre in foul territory. Kevin Youkilis looked at strike three on the outside corner but Ryan Sweeney doubled off the top of the centerfield wall. Cody Ross grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.

                                                               Sox take the lead

The Rangers exploded in the top of the second as Michael Young struck out swinging to start. Nelson Cruz doubled to center and Mike Napoli hit a home run all the way to Florida to tie the game. Yorvit Torrealba walked, Craig Gentry ripped a base hit to center and Kinsler walked to load the bases. Andrus beat out a roller to the mound to score Torrealba but Ross dropped a pop up by Hamilton. Kinsler ended up being forced at third but Gentry scored to increase the lead. Beltre singled in the hole at second to load the bases but Young grounded out to short to end the inning with Lester at 63 pitches and the Rangers ahead 4-2.

                                                                   Rangers take the lead

The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the second as Jarrod Saltalamacchia flied out to center to start. Jason Repko took strike three on the outside corner and Aviles struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Rangers finished off Lester in the top of the third as Cruz roped a base hit to center to start. Napoli and Torrealba drew back to back walks and that was mercifully it for Lester. He was absolutely horrible, eventually being charged with 7 runs in 2 plus innings. Scott Atchison came in to take a beating as Gentry forced Napoli at third but Cruz scored another run. Kinsler walked to re-load the bases and Andrus scored Torrealba with a sac fly to the right field wall. Hamilton dumped a base hit to right to score Gentry and move Kinsler to third. Beltre flied out to right to end the inning with the Rangers ahead 7-2.

                                                              Hamilton adds to the score

The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the third as Pedroia grounded out to short to start. Gonzalez flied out to right but Gentry trapped a sinking live drive by Ortiz for a hit. Youkilis struck out swinging to end the inning.

Atchison cruised in the top of the fourth as Young struck out swinging to start. Cruz grounded out to third and Napoli struck out swinging to end the inning. Sweeney popped up to Beltre in foul territory to start the bottom of the fourth but Ross beat out a roller off of Lewis' glove for a single. Saltalamacchia flied out to center but Repko lashed a base hit to left. Ross made it to third but Repko was thrown out at second trying to stretch a double to end the inning.

                                                            "You're out you dummy!"

Atchison struck out Torrealba swinging on a slider to start the top of the fifth but Gentry lined a base hit to center. Kinsler grounded back to the mound but Gentry broke up the double play by wiping out Aviles at second. Andrus forced Kinsler at second to end the inning. Aviles flied out to left to start the bottom of the fifth before Pedroia popped up to Beltre in foul territory. Gonzalez popped up to center to end the inning.

The Rangers struck again in the top of the sixth as Hamilton grounded out to second to start. Beltre popped up to first but Young hit a home run all the way to Cuba to increase the lead. Cruz flied out to right to end the inning with the Rangers up 8-2.

                                                               Young drives one out

Ortiz grounded out to second to start the bottom of the sixth and Youkilis struck out swinging to earn the hat trick. Sweeney doubled off the bottom of the Monster but Ross lined out to short to end the inning.

Matt Albers came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Napoli popped up to left to start. Torrealba flied out to the right field warning track and Gentry popped up to first in foul territory to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the seventh as Saltamacchia popped up to Napoli to start. Repko struck out swinging and Aviles was frozen for strike three to end the inning.

Things fell apart in the top of the eighth with Mark Melancon on the mound as Kinsler hit a straight fastball right down the middle off the Monster for a double before Andrus drew a walk. Hamilton hit a home run all the way to Alabama and Beltre followed with a home run to South Carolina as the boo's rained down. David Murphy pinch hit for Young and drew a walk before Cruz launched a home run to Arizona to mercifully knock out Melancon from the game. Justin Thomas came into the game to take a beating as NESN showed a graphic that Josh Hamilton's home run landed 15 rows lower than the Ted Williams red seat. For those that don't know Ted Williams hit the longest home run recorded at Fenway marked by a red seat and Hamilton's home run was pretty close to it. Napoli singled to the left field wall but Torrealba took strike three to get a mock cheer from the Fenway crowd. A wild pitch moved Napoli to second and Gentry singled in the hole at short to put runners at the corners. Alberto Gonzalez pinch hit for Kinsler and scored Napoli with a grounder to third. Andrus doubled to center to score Gentry and Brandon Snyder pinch hit for Hamilton. Snyder walked but Beltre popped up to right to end the inning with the Rangers up 16-2...woof!

                                                           "Well this sucks"

Koji Uehara came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Nate Spears pinch hit for Pedroia. Spears struck out swinging but Gonzalez launched his second home run of the year to cut the lead. Ortiz grounded out to second and Youkilis struck out swinging to earn the golden sombrero plus end the inning with the Sox down 16-3.

                                                                        Gonzalez goes yard

Vicente Padilla came in and he took a beating as well in the top of the ninth as Murphy broke an 0 for 13 slump with a base hit to left. Cruz struck out swinging but Napoli hit yet another home run to Winchester Mass to wrap up the scoring. Torrealba got the Rangers' 21st hit of the night with a base hit to left but was forced at second by Gentry. Gonzalez struck out swinging to end the inning with the Rangers up 18-3.

                                                                    Napoli hits another out

Mark Lowe came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and Sweeney singled to right to start. Ross struck out swinging and Saltalamacchia lined out to second before Repko earned the hat trick with a swinging strikeout to end the game. The Rangers had annihilated the Red Sox 18-3.

                                                                   What a loss

Jackass of the Night is Jon Lester. He set the tone for the night by allowing 7 runs in 2 plus innings and putting the Sox in a hole they couldn't climb out of.

                                                          Jon Jackass

The Good:

Dustin Pedroia was 1 for 3 with a 2 run home run.

Adrian Gonzalez was 2 for 4 with a home run.

Ryan Sweeney was 3 for 4.

Scott Atchison allowed just 1 run in 4 innings.

Matt Albers pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

The Bad:

Nate Spears struck out as a pinch hitter.

Kevin Youkilis was 0 for 4 with a golden sombrero of 4 strikeouts.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia was 0 for 4.

Mark Melancon allowed 6 runs without recording an out.

Justin Thomas allowed 2 runs in an inning of work.

Vicente Padilla allowed 2 runs in an inning of work.

The Ugly:

Mike Aviles was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but scored a run.

David Ortiz was just 1 for 4.

Cody Ross was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.

Jason Repko was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.

Final Thoughts:

Talk about a living hell for the Boston Red Sox. The stench of September 2011 followed them into this season and they still haven't looked right. Not only did Lester get pounded but the bats were silenced by Colby Lewis and Melancon looks like a deer in the headlights. His body language in the eighth made it seem like he wanted to be anywhere else but Fenway. The Sox have to do something with him because the Sox sent off "Glasbones" Jed Lowrie for him but so far he's giving them less than Glassbones ever did. Lester will have bad days and so will the offense but it just seems like nothing's gone right for the Sox this year similar to the end of last year. The only highlights was Gonzalez hitting a home run, Sweeney going 3 for 4 and Matt Albers not giving up a run. Otherwise the defending repeat American League champion Rangers pounded out 21 hits and 18 runs. Hopefully they wore themselves out and the Sox can serve it back to them tomorrow. After all any time the Sox score 10 runs they do absolutely nothing the next day. The Sox look to rebound tomorrow against the Rangers when Josh Beckett (1-1) takes the mound against Derek Holland of Texas. The game begins at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.

Sox Pound Rays in Fenway Opener (4/13/12)

The Boston Red Sox ineptitude ended briefly in front of their own crowd at the 100th Anniversary of Fenway Park. 100 years ago the Sox were the best team in the American League and this year they looked like one of the worst, falling to 1-5 on the year. Not today....today they looked like worldbeaters, pounding the Tampa Bay Rays and their ace David Price. The Sox knocked Price out after the third inning and used a massive 8 run rally in the bottom of the eighth to put the game away. Josh Beckett (1-1, 5.68 ERA) looked like himself for the first time since last August. He tossed 8 outstanding innings and allowed just 1 run. The only bad news was the loss of Jacoby Ellsbury to a shoulder injury in the fourth inning. Apart from that, everything came up Red Sox as they beat the Rays 12-2 at Fenway Park.

                                             92 year old Johnny Pesky approves of the win

Beckett got the ball in the top of the first inning and Desmond Jennings flied out to a running Darnell McDonald to start. Old friend Carlos Pena doubled just over the head of McDonald off the Monster but Evan Longoria popped up to left. Matt Joyce flied out to center to end the inning. David Price got the ball in the bottom of the first and Jacoby Ellsbury led off with a grounder to third. Dustin Pedroia popped up to shallow left and Adrian Gonzalez struck out swinging to end the inning.

Beckett got tagged in the top of the second as Ben Zobrist grounded a base hit up the middle to start. Jeff Keppinger hit a grounder just out of the reach of Youkilis that turned into a double to score Zobrist. The Sox have trailed in all seven games to start the season. Keppinger moved to third on the grounder to second by Steven Vogt but was stranded when Jose Molina grounded out to Aviles. Reid Brignac grounded out to short to end the inning but it was 1-0 Rays.

                                             The Rays strike first

The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the first as Kevin Youkilis ripped a base hit to center to begin. David Ortiz walked but both Darnell McDonald and Cody Ross watched strike three go by. Mike Aviles grounded out to second to end the inning.

Beckett cruised in the top of the third inning as Jennings flied out to right to start. Pena grounded out to first and Longoria grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox busted through in the bottom of the third inning as Kelly Shoppach was hit with a pitch to start. Ellsbury blooped a double down the left field line and Pedroia walked to load the bases. Gonzalez slapped a base hit in the hole at third to score Shoppach with the tying run. Youkilis hit a sac fly to right to score Ellsbury to put the Sox ahead and move Pedroia to third. Ortiz accidentally hit a swinging bunt to third to score Pedroia with another run. McDonald drew a walk but Ross grounded into a double play to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-1.

                                                   Ortiz drives in a run

Beckett kept the lead in the top of the fourth as Ross made a great diving catch to rob Joyce of a hit to start. Zobrist drew a walk but Keppinger flied out to center. Vogt grounded out to first to end the inning. Burke Bandenhop came in to pitch the bottom of the fourth when tragedy struck. Aviles grounded out to short but Shoppach doubled to center. Ellsbury dropped a base hit to right to score Shoppach but was injured on a double play ball hit by Pedroia to end the inning. Brignac landed on Ellsbury's shoulder and he had to be hauled off on a gurney and headed to Mass General's ICU with the Sox ahead 4-1.

                                                 Not what the Sox needed

Molina popped up to first to start the top of the fifth with Ryan Sweeney now in for Ellsbury in right with Ross moving to center. Brignac flied out to center and Jennings grounded out to second to end the inning. Wade Davis came in to pitch the bottom of the fifth and Gonzalez flied out to right to start. Youkilis grounded out to third and Ortiz grounded out to second to end the inning.

Pena flied out to the centerfield warning track to start the top of the sixth before Longoria also flied out to deep center. Joyce ripped a base hit over the head of Aviles but Zobrist grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the sixth as McDonald flied out to right to start. Ross grounded out to third but Aviles reached on an error when Pena bobbled a throw from short. Shoppach hit a seeing eye single into right to move Aviles to third. Shoppach did a belly flop onto second base for a stolen base but Sweeney popped up to Brignac to end the inning.

Keppinger popped up to first to start the top of the seventh before Vogt popped up to left. Molina lined a base hit to left and Luke Scott pinch hit for Brignac. Scott flied out to a running McDonald in front of the Monster to end the inning. Elliot Johnson came in to play short for the bottom of the seventh and Pedroia went down hacking to start. Gonzalez squeezed a base hit just inside the first base bag but Youkilis struck out swinging. Ortiz went down hacking to end the inning.

Beckett returned for one final inning in the top of the eighth and McDonald made a great sliding catch to rob Jennings of a hit to begin. Beckett struck out Pena swinging on a nasty curve and Longoria grounded out to first to end the inning. That was it for Beckett who was masterful, holding the Rays to one lone run in 8 innings of work.

                                                              Beckett gets it done

The Sox exploded in the bottom of the eighth with Joel Peralta now on the mound as McDonald doubled off the Monster to start. McDonald took third on a wild pitch as Ross walked to put runners at the corners. Aviles walked to load the bases and Shoppach doubled into the left field corner to score McDonald and Ross. That was it for Peralta as Josh Lueke came on in relief. Sweeney then blooped a single in a right that scored Aviles and Shoppach to increase the lead. A husting Pedroia beat out a grounder with a head first slide into first then Gonzalez blooped a single to left to load the bases. Youkilis ripped a base hit to center to score Sweeney and Pedroia and Ortiz doubled to the left field wall to score Gonzalez to add to the lead. McDonald walked and Ross wrapped up the scoring with a sac fly to center to score Youkilis. Aviles singled in the hole at second to load the bases but Shoppach popped up to short. Sweeney flied out to left to end the inning but the Sox put eight runs on the board to lead 12-1.

                                                      Have a day Kelly Shoppach

Mark Melancon had mop up duty in the top of the ninth and Joyce flied out to center to start. Zobrist hit a home run all the way to Argentina to cut the lead but Keppinger grounded out to first. Vogt took strike three to end the game. The Sox had won it 12-2.

                                                        Sox win

Hero of the Night is Josh Beckett. He shut down the Rays for 8 innings and held them to just a single run.

                                                              Hero Beckett

The Good:

Jacoby Ellsbury was 2 for 3 with an rbi and a run scored before leaving.

Ryan Sweeney was 1 for 3 with 2 rbis and a run scored.

Adrian Gonzalez was 3 for 5 with an rbi and a run scored.

Kevin Youkilis was 2 for 4 with 3 rbis and a run scored.

David Ortiz was 2 for 4 with a walk and 2 rbis.

Darnell McDonald was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a run scored.

Kelly Shoppach was 3 for 4 with a hit by pitch, 2 rbis and 3 runs scored.

The Bad:

Mark Melancon allowed a run in the top of the ninth.

The Ugly:

Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked and drove in 2 runs.

Cody Ross was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked, drove in a run and scored a run.

Mike Aviles was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored a run.

Final Thoughts:

Great win but losing Ellsbury was certainly a worst case scenario. Last year's MVP runner up was supposed to be a catalyst for this offense with Carl Crawford on the shelf. With Ellsbury gone, that's another top of the order million dollar bat on the Disabled List. Still, if Ortiz, Youkilis, Pedroia and Gonzalez hit to their abilities, they may be able to hold out until Crawford and Ellsbury return. Its a shame Ellsbury got hurt because everything else went great. The bats beat around David Price and Beckett was outstanding. If the Sox hadn't rallied in the bottom of the eighth Sox manager Bobby Valentine was going to led Beckett finish the job. Apart from Mark Melancon, there's not much to complain about today. Hopefully this can be the start of the Sox getting on track and getting back to where they were from May to August last year. Tomorrow afternoon the Sox are back in action against this same Rays team. Clay Buchholz gets the start for the Sox up against Jeremy Hellickson of the Rays. The game begins at 4:05 PM at Fenway Park.