Sox Comeback Falls Short in Baltimore (4/27/11)

The good news was the Boston Bruins knocked out the Montreal Canadiens with their overtime victory in their NHL playoff Game 7 showdown, the bad news was the Boston Red Sox rallied from down 4-0 to tie the Baltimore Orioles....only for the O's to score the winning run in the eighth to win the game. Josh Beckett got tagged for 4 runs in 6 innings and the Sox trailed 4-0 going into the top of the eighth inning. Suddenly Adrian Gonzalez drove in a run and Kevin Youkilis smashed a 3 run home run to tie the game. All the feel good momentum was squandered in the bottom of the eighth inning when Vladimir Guerrero tagged Daniel Bard (0-3, 3.97 ERA) for a run to put the O's back on top. Kevin Gregg slammed the door in the ninth inning and the O's had won it 5-4 at Camden Yards.

  

Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie got the ball in the top of the first inning and Jacoby Ellsbury led off with a base hit to left. Dustin Pedroia flied out to left but JD Martinez doubled to right. Kevin Youkilis struck out swinging and David Ortiz popped up to short to end the inning. Beckett got the ball in the bottom of the first and Brian Roberts flied out to left to start. Nick Markakis grounded out to second but Derrek Lee singled off Beckett. Vladimir Guerrero popped up to right to end the inning.

JD Drew singled to right to start the top of the second but Jed Lowrie struck out swinging. Carl Crawford banged into a double play to end the inning. Beckett cruised in the bottom of the second as Luke Scott flied out to left to start. Adam Jones lined out to first and Mark Reynolds grounded out to third to end the inning.

Jason Varitek struck out swinging to begin the top of the third before Ellsbury took strike three. Pedroia watched strike three to begin the inning. Beckett dominated the bottom of the third as Matt Wieters struck out looking to start. Robert Andino also took strike three and Roberts flied out to left to end the inning.

The Sox blew a rally in the top of the fourth as Gonzalez flied out to left to start. Youkilis also flied out to left but Ortiz dumped a base hit to center. Drew walked and Lowrie got a base hit to right. Ortiz came around third and slid.....OUT! Ortiz was thrown out at home to end the inning.

                                                        Yerrrr out!

The O's pounced on Beckett in the bottom of the fourth although Markakis whiffed on a changeup to start. Things went south as Pedroia and Ellsbury let a pop up by Lee drop for a double and Guerrero popped up to short. Scott and Jones then blasted back to back home runs to Argentina to give the O's the lead. Reynolds lined out to left to end the inning but the O's led 3-0.

                                                          Scott gives the O's the lead

The Sox did nothing in the top of the fifth as Crawford flied out to left in foul territory to start. Varitek grounded out to short but Ellsbury doubled to center. Pedroia hit a bullet but right to Guthrie to end the inning. The O's got another run in the bottom of the fifth as Wieters singled to right to begin. Andino beat out a bunt single and both runners moved over on a wild pitch. Roberts scored Wieters with a sac fly to right and Andino moved to third. Markakis grounded out to second and Lee grounded out to short to end the inning with the O's ahead 4-0.

                                                      O's increase the lead

The Sox failed to respond in the top of the sixth as Gonzalez went down hacking to start. Youkilis flied out to right but Ortiz dropped a hit to right. Drew flied out to center to end the inning. Beckett came back for one more inning in the bottom of the sixth as Guerrero popped up to first to start. Scott flied out to center but Jones doubled down the left field line. Reynolds struck out swinging to end the inning. That was it for Beckett who allowed 4 runs in 6 innings of work.

                                                Too many homers allowed by Beckett

Jeremy Accardo came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Lowrie struck out swinging to start. Crawford flied out to left and Varitek grounded out to first to end the inning. Tim Wakefield came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Wieters struck out swinging to start. Andino flied out to center and Roberts grounded out to short to end the inning.

Suddenly the Sox sprang to life in the top of the eighth as Ellsbury singled to right to start. Pedroia walked to chase Accardo and Clay Rapada came in to pitch to Gonzalez and Adrian singled home Ellsbury to cut the lead. Koji Uehara was summoned to pitch to Youkilis and somehow Youk homered just over the left field wall to tie the game. Ortiz flied out to left but Drew walked to put the go-ahead run on. Lowrie struck out swinging and Crawford flied out to center to end the inning but the Sox had tied it 4-4.

                                                  Youkilis ties the game

Just as soon as the Sox tied it, the O's took the lead back against Daniel Bard in the bottom of the eighth. Markakis and Lee stroked back to back base hits before moving over on a passed ball. Varitek muffed a second pitch and Markakis made a mad dash home. Varitek gunned the throw to Bard who blocked off Nick's arm and made the tag for the out. Too bad Guerrero then hit a grounder up the middle to score Lee with the go-ahead run. Scott flied out to left and Jones whiffed to end the inning but the O's had taken the lead 5-4.

                                                          O's take the lead

Felix Pie took over for Scott in left with Kevin Gregg on the mound for the top of the ninth. Marco Scutaro pinch hit for Varitek and flied out to right to start. Ellsbury popped up to third and Pedroia grounded out to third to end the game. The O's had held on to win 5-4.

                                                          Dammit

Jackass of the Night is Daniel Bard. He allowed the run in the eighth after the Sox had tied it.

                                                             Cover your face, Jackass

The Good:

Jacoby Ellsbury was 3 for 5 with a run scored.

Adrian Gonzalez was 2 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.

David Ortiz was 2 for 4.

JD Drew was 1 for 2 with 2 walks.

Tim Wakefield pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

The Bad:

Carl Crawford was 0 for 4.

Jason Varitek was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Marco Scutaro was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

The Ugly:

Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but walked and scored a run.

Kevin Youkilis was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a 3 run home run.

Jed Lowrie was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.

Josh Beckett allowed 4 runs in 6 innings of work. He gave up 7 hits and struck out 4.

Final Thoughts:

Good grief that was a let-down. The Sox looked lifeless for seven innings only to rally in the eighth inning. Naturally just like everything else this month, they found a way to screw it all up. Beckett was mortal tonight but even so, the Sox shouldn't have had to rally in the eighth like that after the way they had been hitting the last two weeks. Crawford continues to struggle offensively but Youkilis, Varitek and Scutaro isn't doing much either....apart from the 3 run homer Youk hit. Still, to look lifeless for seven innings and still make a game of it shows this offense will be dangerous moving forward. Bard is a damn good pitcher but that was inexcusable to allow that run after making a good play to get the out at home. Its been that kind of month where nothing ends well no matter how good things are going. Tomorrow night the Sox look to avoid a series sweep when they send Jon Lester (2-1) to the mound up against Brad Bergesen of the Orioles. The game begins at 7:05 PM at Camden Yards.

Dice K Dazzles, Bats Pound Jays on Patriots Day (4/18/11)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. Rookie relief pitcher Felix Doubront was sent down to Pawtucket for more seasoning and the veteran reliever Hideki Okajima was called up to take his place. 4 years ago Okajima was an integral part of the Red Sox bullpen, hopefully he can rediscover the magic again during this call-up.

                                                                      OUT

                                                              IN

As for the game, welcome to the party Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-2, 6.43 ERA). After Josh Beckett and Jon Lester pitched back to back good games, Dice K just outshined both of them. Matsuzaka was dominant against the Toronto Blue Jays, holding them to just 1 hit and 1 walk in 7 shutout innings in one of his best games ever pitched. The Red Sox bats also made sure this game would be easy by knocking Jays starter Ricky Romero out early and erupting for 9 runs off 13 hits. Jed Lowrie went 4 for 5 with a home run as both Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis also homered for the Sox. The Sox are starting to heat up and they won their third straight game with a 9-1 rout of the Jays on Patriots Day at Fenway Park.

                                                       Tori Black approves of the win

Dice K began his dominance in the top of the first inning as Yunel Escobar led off with a fly out to right. Corey Patterson also flied out to right but Jose Bautista hit a grounder up the middle for a base hit. Adam Lind grounded out to first to end the inning. The Sox wasted no time getting to Romero in the bottom of the first as JD Drew led off with a triple off the centerfield wall. Dustin Pedroia walked but Adrian Gonzalez struck out swinging. Kevin Youkilis also struck out swinging but David Ortiz walked. Jed Lowrie stepped up with a base hit to right to score Drew and Pedroia. Ortiz took third on the play but Carl Crawford popped up to shallow left to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.

                                                       Lowrie stays hot

Aaron Hill led off the top of the second with a fly out to Crawford and JP Arencebia popped up to Jacoby Ellsbury. Travis Snider walked but Edwin Encarnacion flied out to left to end the inning. The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the second as Jason Varitek flied out to the centerfield warning track to start. Ellsbury lined out to short but Drew walked. Pedroia grounded a single into right but Gonzalez took strike three to end the inning.

Dice K cruised in the top of the third as Jayson Nix popped up to Youkilis to start. Escobar popped up to shallow center and Patterson struck out swinging on a fastball up to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the third with Youkilis doubling off the top of the bullpen to start. Ortiz lined a base hit in the hole to right to score Youk and increase the lead. Lowrie lined another base hit to right but Crawford popped up to second to a chorus of boo's. Varitek forced Lowrie at second but Ortiz moved to third. Ellsbury popped up to shallow left to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.

                                                                Ortiz drives in a run

Dice K cruised in the top of the fourth as Bautista grounded out to third to start. Lind popped up to left and Hill flied out to center to end the inning. Drew beat out an infield single up the middle to start the bottom of the fourth but Pedroia flied out to center. Gonzalez earned the hat trick with a swinging strikeout and Youkilis flied out to right to end the inning.

Sox analyst Jerry Remy complained that play-by-play man Don Orsillo cut him out of pictures together in the top of the fifth inning. Dice K was so excited to hear the news that he struck out Arencebia swinging. Snider flied out to left and Encarnacion grounded out to short to end the inning. The Sox iced the game in the bottom of the fifth as Ortiz walked and Lowrie obliterated his second home run of the season to increase the lead. Crawford flied out to left to another round of boo's but Varitek walked to chase Romero. Luiz Perez was brought in and Ellsbury struck out swinging. Drew grounded out to short to end the inning but the Sox were ahead 5-0.

                                                        Lowrie hits one out

Matsuzaka cruised in the top of the sixth as Nix struck out looking on three pitches to start. Escobar flied out to right on the first pitch and Patterson lined out to center on the first pitch to end the inning. Dice K threw just 5 pitches in that inning and the Sox scored again in the bottom of the sixth. Pedroia walked to start but Gonzalez forced him at second. Youkilis then belted his second home run of the year into the bullpen to increase the lead. Ortiz grounded into the shift but Lowrie poked a base hit to left for his fourth hit of the day. Crawford broke out of his slump with a double off the Monster to score Lowrie, earning a standing ovation. Perez was done and Octavio Dotel was brought in to strike out Varitek looking to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-0.

                                                    Career homer 114 for Youkilis

Dice K returned for one last inning in the top of the seventh as Bautista flied out to center to start. Youkilis took a tumble to haul in a pop up from Lind and Hill grounded out to third to end the inning. Dice K retired the last 16 in a row, allowed one hit and one walk in 7 shutout innings, outstanding!

                                                               Dice K delivers

John McDonald took over at second for Hill to start the bottom of the seventh and Ellsbury clobbered his fourth home run of the year into the Sox bullpen to wrap up the scoring. Drew popped up to center and Pedroia struck out swinging, but Gonzalez fooled Patterson with a ground rule double into the centerfield seats. Youkilis flied out to left to end the inning but it was 9-0 Sox.

                                                        Ellsbury a power hitter?

Alfredo Aceves came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Arencebia grounded out to short to start. Lowrie made a nice play to rob Snider of a hit and Encarnacion popped up to third to end the inning. That's 19 in a row retired by Sox pitching. Casey Janssen came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Ortiz popped up to Bautista to start. Lowrie struck out swinging and Crawford grounded out to second to end the inning.

Tim Wakefield had mop up duty in the top of the ninth and Nix popped up to short. Escobar broke up the string of 20 in a row retired with a home run all the way to Boylston Street. Patterson popped up to Youkilis in foul territory and Bautista flied out to left to end the game. The Sox had won it on Patriots Day 9-1.

Hero of the Night is Daisuke Matsuzaka. He tossed 7 shutout innings allowing just 2 base runners in a masterpiece.

                                                               Dice K Hero

The Good:

JD Drew was 2 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.

Dustin Pedroia was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a run scored.

Kevin Youkilis was 2 for 5 with a 2 run homer and 2 total runs scored.

David Ortiz was 1 for 3 with 2 walks, an rbi and a run scored.

Jed Lowrie was 4 for 5 with 4 total rbis, 2 total runs scored and a 2 run home run.

Alfredo Aceves pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

The Bad:

Tim Wakefield allowed a run in the ninth inning.

The Ugly:

Adrian Gonzalez was just 1 for 5 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but scored a run.

Carl Crawford was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run.

Jason Varitek was 0 for 3 but walked.

Jacoby Ellsbury was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a solo home run.

Honorable Mention:

Darnell McDonald played right field in the final two innings.

Final Thoughts:

Looks like the Sox are starting to come out of their slump. Not only has the offense woke up but so has the pitching. Dice K, Jon Lester and Josh Beckett have thrown 3 straight good games and Dice K in particular was outstanding today. If John Lackey and Clay Buchholz can pitch to their talent, this team is going to be very tough to beat, especially if the offense cooks like this. Lowrie when healthy is a difference maker and so is Ellsbury, those two could be the key to a good season if they can hold up. Crawford finally got an rbi double and if he gets hot, the AL is in big trouble. Its still early in the season but the signs of a great team are there if they can keep this up. The Sox spend the rest of the month playing AL West teams so now is the time to establish dominance over them and send a message that they're for real. The Sox now travel to Oakland to play a series with the A's. John Lackey (1-1, 15.28 ERA) looks to join the other starters in a resurgence against Brett Anderson of the A's. The game begins tomorrow night at 10:05 PM Eastern time at Oakland Coliseum.

Rays Pound Dice K, Red Sox (4/11/11)

If you thought the season couldn't get any worse for the Boston Red Sox, think again. The Red Sox came into tonight's game 2-7 but the Tampa Bay Rays came into it 1-8. The Rays sure as hell didn't play like a 1-8 team as they decimated Daisuke Matzusaka (0-2, 12.86 ERA) and the Boston Red Sox pitching staff. The Rays who had lost 1/3 of their team in free agency crushed the Red Sox for 19 hits, 7 walks and 16 runs. Every starter but Dan Johnson had at least one hit and Dice K lasted just 2 plus innings while allowing 7 runs. Tim Wakefield allowed 5 of his own and Dan Wheeler allowed 4. The Red Sox scored 5 of their own but it wasn't close to enough as the Rays feasted on the Sox 16-5 at Fenway Park.

                                                        16 runs? We surrender!

Dice K got tagged by an old friend in the top of the first inning although Sam Fuld flied out to right to start. Old buddy Johnny Damon set the tone with a home run into the bullpen to put the Rays up two batters into the game. Matt Joyce took strike three and Dan Johnson grounded out to first to end the inning with the Rays ahead 1-0.

                                               A familiar sight in Boston, a Damon home run

Jeremy Hellickson got the start for Tampa in the bottom of the first and Carl Crawford flied out to left to start. Dustin Pedroia grounded out to second but Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Youkilis drew back to back walks. David Ortiz grounded out to first to end the inning, more woes with RISP.

The Sox whacked Dice K in the top of the second as Ben Zobrist smacked a double down the third base line to start. BJ Upton walked and Felipe Lopez singled to center to load the bases. John Jaso doubled off the Monster to score Zobrist and Upton then Reid Brignac cleared the bases with a base hit to right. Fuld then put the exclamation point with a 300 foot home run just around the Pesky Pole to ice the game just like that. Damon singled to center and Sox analyst Jerry Remy pointed out every ball hit was a straight fastball right down the middle. Damon moved to second on the Joyce grounder to second and to third on the liner off Dice K that he recovered to get Johnson at first. Zobrist was rung up for strike three to end the inning but it was 7-0 Rays.

                                                       Fuld ices the game

The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the second as JD Drew grounded into the shift to start. Jarrod Saltalamacchia struck out swinging and Jacoby Ellsbury grounded out to short to end the inning.

The Rays chased Dice K in the top of the third as Upton dropped a base hit to right and Lopez walked. Sox manager Terry Francona had seen enough and the boos rained down on Dice K as he left. He lasted just 2 innings and allowed 7 runs, brutal. Tim Wakefield came in and picked off Upton before getting Jaso to bang into a double play to end the inning.

                                                     Another horrible Dice K start

The Sox struck back in the bottom of the third although Scutaro grounded out to third to start. Crawford grounded out to first but Pedroia walked. Gonzalez hit a liner to right that Joyce dove and missed completely. Pedroia scored and Gonzalez took third on the triple. Youkilis grounded out to second to end the inning but it was 7-1 Rays.

                                                  Joyce misses it completely

The Rays struck again in the top of the fourth inning although Brignac grounded out to second to start. Fuld doubled to center and Damon grounded a single up the middle to score Sam with another run. Ellsbury dove to make a great catch to rob Joyce of a hit and made another good running grab on a Johnson liner to end the inning with the Rays ahead 8-1.

                                                         Damon does it again

The Sox struck back in the bottom of the fourth as Ortiz of all people tripled to center to start. Drew singled to center to score Ortiz to cut the lead. Saltlamacchia popped up to Fuld, Ellsbury lined out to center and Scutaro grounded out to second to end the inning but the Sox were down 8-2.

                                                 Francona congratulates Big Papi

The Rays struck again in the top of the fifth as Zobrist grounded out to second to start. Upton hit a routine grounder to Scutaro who tried to kick the ball over to first for an error. Lopez flied out to right but Jaso doubled to left to score Upton with another run. LeBlanc lined out to first to end the inning with the Rays ahead 9-2.

                                                 "I don't got it" - Scutaro

The Sox looked to rally in the bottom of the fifth when Crawford hit a ground rule double into the bullpen to start but Fuld made an amazing diving catch to rob Pedroia of a double. Crawford moved to third on the Gonzalez grounder to short and Youkilis walked to put runners at the corners. Ortiz grounded into the shift to end the inning.

The Rays poured it on in the top of the sixth as Fuld tripled off the glove of Ellsbury to start. Damon walked and a passed ball scored Fuld, advancing Damon to second. Joyce singled to center to advance Damon to third but Johnson popped up to third. Zobrist doubled down the right field line to score both runners and chase Wakefield. Alfredo Aceves came in and got Upton to pop up to second and Lopez to ground out to short to end the inning but it was 12-2 Rays.

                                                  Rays poured it on

Old buddy Casey Kotchman replaced Lopez and Sean Rodriguez took over for Johnson to begin the bottom of the sixth. Drew grounded out into the shift to start but Saltalamacchia drew a walk. Ellsbury dropped a soft liner into center for a base hit to chase Hellickson. Adam Russell came in and got Scutaro to bang into a double play to end the inning.

Jed Lowrie came in for Gonzalez and Darnell McDonald replaced Drew to begin the top of the seventh. Jaso grounded out to second to start before Brignac flied out to left. Fuld was a single shy of the cycle but he flied out to the left field warning track to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the seventh as Crawford ate up Brignac with a ground ball for an error to start. Pedroia and Lowrie drew back to back walks to load the bases but Youk hit a bullet to Zobrist who doubled Pedroia off at second for the double play. Cesar Ramos took over for Russell and Ortiz greeted him with a base hit to center to score Crawford and advance Lowrie to third. McDonald took strike three to end the inning with the Sox down 12-3.

                                                       Ortiz drives in a run

Aceves cruised in the top of the eighth by striking out Damon swinging to start. Joyce popped up to left and Rodriguez struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox tacked on a run against Joel Peralta in the bottom of the eighth although Saltamacchia struck out swinging to start. Ellsbury then hit his second home run of the season just over the bullpen in right to cut the lead. Scutaro popped up to shallow left but Fuld dove and missed a bloop single by Crawford. Pedroia grounded out to third to end the inning but it was 12-4 Tampa.

                                                        Ellsbury homers at Fenway

Dan Wheeler came in to take a pounding in the top of the ninth as Zobrist lashed a base hit up the middle to start. Upton hit a grounder that Scutaro dove to snare but threw away for an error to put runners at the corners with nobody out. Kotchman hit a grounder by the diving Lowrie for a base hit to score Zobrist with another run. Jaso flied out to center but Brignac lined a base hit into center to score Upton. Fuld needed a single for the cycle and did manage to line a hit into the left field corner, but he kept on going to second for another double to score Kotchman. Damon grounded out to short on a bang bang play but Brignac scored to increase the lead. Joyce grounded out to second to end the inning but it was 16-4 Rays.

                                                    The errors keep on coming

Kyle Farnsworth had mop up duty in the bottom of the ninth and Lowrie hit a roller up the middle for a base hit to start. Youkilis dropped a double to center to send Lowrie to third and Ortiz scored Jed with a sac fly to left. McDonald took strike three and Saltalamacchia grounded out to second to end the game. The Rays embarrassed the Sox with a humiliating 16-5 victory.

                                                      Rays win

Jackass of the Night is Daisuke Matsuzaka. He lasted just 2 plus innings and put the Sox in  a 7-0 hole they couldn't climb out of. He allowed 7 runs on 2 walks and 8 hits.

                                                               Dice Jackass         

The Good:

Carl Crawford was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

Adrian Gonzalez was 1 for 2 with a walk and an rbi.

Jed Lowrie was 1 for 1 with a walk and a run scored.

Kevin Youkilis was 1 for 3 with 2 walks.

David Ortiz was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis and a run scored.

JD Drew was 1 for 3 with an rbi.

Jacoby Ellsbury was 2 for 4 with a solo home run.

Alfredo Aceves tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings.

The Bad:

Darnell McDonald struck out twice in two plate appearances.

Marco Scutaro was 0 for 4 with 2 errors.

Tim Wakefield allowed 5 runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Dan Wheeler allowed 4 runs in the top of the ninth.

The Ugly:

Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 3 but walked twice and scored a run.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but walked.

Final Thoughts:

Of all the losses this season, this has to be the most embarrassing. Its one thing to lose to the American League champion Texas Rangers or to the New York Yankees, its another thing to get smashed by the 1-8 Tampa Bay Rays. It wasn't just that the Rays won, its how they did it. They couldn't miss even if you put blindfolds on them. Essentially Sam Fuld hit for the cycle if he stopped at first in the ninth and Damon turned back the clock 6 years. This season is coming apart at the seams before it even begins really. Who thought the "best team evah" would start 2-8? The starting pitching has been a complete nightmare the first 10 games of the season apart from Beckett last night. Matsuzaka again sucked a big one but the rotation is too good to keep up this stretch of ineptitude. How long will it go on before it bites them in the ass come September though? Tomorrow night the Sox look to rebound against the Rays and it will be a battle of aces. Jon Lester goes for the Sox up against David Price of Tampa. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.

Yankees Homer Barrage Knocks Out Sox (4/9/11)

So much for the good feel of yesterday's win for the Boston Red Sox. After the Sox broke their 6 game losing streak, they reverted back to their losing ways against the New York Yankees. Clay Buchholz (0-2, 7.20) was hammered for 5 runs in just 3 2/3 innings. Felix Doubront and Alfredo Aceves also got tagged as the Yankees cranked out 4 home runs, 13 total hits and 9 runs. The Red Sox offense had men on base all game but could rarely drive them in, exactly the opposite of the Yankees. The Sox starting pitching has been abysmal the first two weeks of the season and it cost them another game as the Yankees won it 9-4 at Fenway Park.

Buchholz started off strong in the top of the first inning as Brett Gardner grounded out to short to start. Derek Jeter walked but was thrown out at second by the alert Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Mark Teixeira struck out swinging to end the inning. Ivan Nova got the start for the Yankees and Carl Crawford flied out to right to start. Dustin Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez drew back to back walks but David Ortiz flied out to left to end the inning.

The Yankees struck in the top of the second as Alex Rodriguez hit a routine grounder to Jed Lowrie. Lowrie picked up the ball and laughed at it for an error to put Rodriguez on first. Robinson Cando doubled A-Rod to third and Rodriguez scored on the grounder to second by Nick Swisher. Curtis Granderson walked and Eric Chavez doubled home Cano. Rusell Martin hit a ground ball to third but Youkilis fired home to get Granderson. Gardner took strike three to end the inning but the Yankees were up 2-0.

                                                  "I got it...I got it...I don't got it" - Lowrie

The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the second as JD Drew hit a roller up the middle for a base hit to start. Lowrie atoned for his error with a base hit to right but Jarrod Saltalamacchia struck out swinging. Jacoby Ellsbury popped up to left and Crawford grounded into a force to end the inning.

The Yankees threatened in the top of the third as Jeter flied out to right to start. Teixeira grounded out to first but A-Rod singled to left. Cano singled to right but Swisher flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the third as Pedroia doubled down the left field line to start. Pedroia moved to third on a grounder to second by Gonzalez and scored on the grounder to short by Youkilis. Ortiz grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox down 2-1.

                                                     Youkilis drives in a run

The Yankees broke the game open in the top of the fourth as Granderson walked to start. Chavez doubled to left and Martin hit a home run all the way to the Baltic Sea to put the game out of reach. Gardner grounded back to the mound but Jeter hit a grounder up the middle for a base hit. Sox pitching coach Curt Young came out to tell Buchholz that Larry Hagman played Major Nelson on I Dream of Jeannie and Clay was so inspired he got Teixeira to fly out to right. Unfortunately A-Rod singled to left and Sox manager Terry Francona had seen enough. Clay was finished after allowing 5 runs in just 3 2/3 innings. Felix Doubront came in and struck out Cano swinging to end the inning but the Yankees were ahead 5-1.

                                                  Buchholz gets hammered

The Sox did pull off a rally in the bottom of the fourth as Drew was plunked to start. Lowrie singled to right to move Drew to third but Saltalamacchia took strike three. Ellsbury beat out a double play ball to score Drew and Crawford singled to center to move Jacoby to third. Pedroia cleared the bases with a double off the centerfield door to cut the lead. Gonzalez flied out to center to end the inning but the Sox had clawed back down 5-4.

                                                    Pedroia drives in two

The Yankees took momentum back in the top of the fifth as Swisher singled to left and Granderson hit  a home run to Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas to ice the game. Chavez singled to right but Martin flied out to right. Gardner lined out to left and Jeter grounded out to second to end the inning but it was 7-4 Yankees.

                                                        Granderson ices it

The Sox finished off Nova in the bottom of the fifth as Youkilis dropped a base hit to left to start. Ortiz flied out to right and Drew walked to chase Ivan. David Robertson came in and Lowrie took strike three to kill the rally. Saltalamacchia grounded out to first to end the inning.

Alfredo Aceves came in for the top of the sixth and the Yankees tagged him too. Teixeira grounded out to second but A-Rod popped up to short. Cano then hit a home run all the way to San Juan, Puerto Rico to increase the lead. Swisher walked but Granderson struck out swinging to end the inning with the Yankees up 8-4.

                                                                Cano hits one out

The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the sixth as Ellsbury grounded out to first to start. Crawford grounded out to short and Pedroia flied out to center to end the inning.

The Yankees struck again in the top of the seventh although Chavez was finally retired with a fly out to right. Martin then hit a 50,000 foot home run to wrap up the scoring. Gardner grounded out to second and Jeter struck out swinging to end the inning with the Yankees up 9-4.

                                                          Martin adds to the lead

Joba Chamberlain came in for the bottom of the seventh and Gonzalez grounded out to second to start. Youkilis and Ortiz both went down swinging to end the inning.

Tim Wakefield came in for the top of the eighth and Teixeira flied out to center to start. A-Rod popped up to second and Cano grounded out to short to end the inning. Luis Ayala came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Drew struck out swinging to start. Lowrie and Saltalamacchia stroked back to back base hits but Ellsbury flied out to center. Crawford flied out to right to end the inning and the Sox had left 9 men on base so far.

Wakefield returned for the top of the ninth and Swisher grounded out to second to start. Granderson struck out swinging and Chavez grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Ayala returned for the bottom of the ninth and Pedroia doubled to right to begin. Gonzalez moved him to third with a grounder and Youkilis walked. Ortiz banged into a double play to end the game. The Yankees had won it 9-4.

                                                     Yankees win

Jackass of the Night is Clay Buchholz. He put the Sox in a hole they couldn't get out of by allowing 5 runs in 3 2/3 innings.

                                                        Jackass Buchholz

The Good:

Dustin Pedroia was 3 for 4 with 2 rbis, a walk and a run scored.

JD Drew was 1 for 2 with a walk, hit by pitch and a run scored.

Jed Lowrie was 3 for 4.

Tim Wakefield pitched 2 scoreless innings.

The Bad:

David Ortiz was 0 for 5 with a strikeout.

Felix Doubront got tagged for 2 runs in 1 1/3 innings.

Alfredo Aceves gave up 2 runs in 2 innings.

The Ugly:

Carl Crawford was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.

Adrian Gonzalez was 0 for 4 but walked.

Kevin Youkilis was just 1 for 4 but walked and drove in a run.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Jacoby Ellsbury was 0 for 4 but drove in a run and scored.

Final Thoughts:

Losing six straight to start the season was bad enough but losing to the Yankees is even worse. The Sox had their chances to come back in this one but couldn't get the clutch hit from any of their stars. Apart from Pedroia it seemed that Ortiz, Gonzalez and Crawford just couldn't deliver when it mattered. Obviously that's going to change as the season goes on but for now, that looks very bad. The starting pitching woes continued as Buchholz got smacked around and so did the bullpen. Doubront and Aceves were serving up longballs like concession stands serve bad food and overpriced drink. Amazing to think Buchholz was one of the best pitchers in the league last year when he's crapped himself in two straight starts this season. The worst part was once Nova was out of the game, the Yankees bullpen shut down the Sox the entire rest of the way. Chamberlain faced the 2-3-4 hitters and blitzed right through them. Why couldn't the Sox do that? The less said of this disaster, the better. The Sox and Yankees return tomorrow night to play the rubber game of this three game set. Josh Beckett (0-1) takes on Yankees ace CC Sabbathia on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball. The game begins at 8:10 PM at Fenway Park.

Yankees Massacre Sox in Game 3 (10/16/04)

After a rainout pushed Game 3 back a day, maybe they should have played last night in the rain anyway. The Boston Red Sox' epic season is about to come crashing down at the hands of the New York Yankees. The Yankees added a new chapter in their 86 year beat down of the Red Sox by knocking the Sox flat tonight in Game 3. The Yankees pounded starter Bronson Arroyo and a host of relief pitchers for 22 hits and 19 runs in one of the most decisive routs in MLB history. Though the Sox scored a bunch of runs of their own, it wasn't nearly enough as the Yankees are now one game away from a four game sweep as they took Game 3 by a score of 19-8 at Fenway Park.

Arroyo took the mound in the top of the first and immediately crapped his pants. Derek Jeter started with a walk and Alex Rodriguez doubled into the left field corner to score him. A-Rod moved to third when Gary Sheffield flied out to the centerfield wall and Hideki Matsui smashed a 40,000 foot home run to right to increase the lead. Bernie Williams singled to right but Jorge Posada banged into a double play to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 3-0.

                                                         Matsui puts the Yankees up big

The Sox had no trouble hitting Yankees starter Kevin Brown in the bottom of the first but ran themselves out. Johnny Damon grounded out to short and Mark Bellhorn whiffed, but Manny Ramirez singled. Ortiz singled to right but Manny was foolishly thrown out at third trying to stretch to end the inning.

Ruben Sierra doubled to the left field wall start the top of the second but Jon Olerud popped up to short. Miguel Cairo popped up to first and Jeter flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox fought back in the bottom of the second as Jason Varitek walked to start. Trot Nixon pounded a home run just over the head of Sheffield into the stands to cut the lead. Kevin Millar flied out to the centerfield wall but Bill Mueller doubled off the bottom of the right field wall. Cabrera grounded out to third but Damon lined one off the glove of Olerud over to second. The hustling Mueller scored to tie the game but Cairo foolishly threw home which allowed Damon to reach second. A wild pitch moved Damon to third before Bellhorn drew a walk. Manny hit a liner to Jeter who bobbled it, allowing Damon to score the go-ahead run. That was the first lead in the series for the Sox. Ortiz grounded out to second to end the inning but it was 4-3 Sox.

                                                            Nixon gets the Sox back in it

The Yankees pounded Arroyo in the top of the third inning as A-Rod pounded a home run over the Monster Seats to tie the game. Sheffield walked and Matsui pounded a double to right to chase Arroyo. In a game the Sox had to win, Arroyo lasted just 2 innings and was charged with 6 runs.

                                                 Damn Yankees

Ramiro Mendoza came in to take a beating as Williams singled home Sheffield to put the Yankees back on top. Mendoza balked home Matsui as the boo birds came out. Sox manager Terry Francona ran out to argue but it was clearly a balk. Posada popped up on the infield to Millar before Sierra swung at a changeup in the dirt for strike three. Olerud grounded out to short to end the inning but the Yankees were up 6-4.

The Sox tied it up in the bottom of the third with Javier Vazquez on the mound for the Yankees. Varitek got the rally started with a base hit to left but Nixon whiffed. Millar doubled off the Monster before Mueller walked to load the bases. Cabrera hit a line drive out of the reach of Sheffield that went to the wall. Varitek and Millar scored but Mueller was gunned down at home for a huge out. Damon grounded out to first to end the inning but the game was tied 6-6.

                                                     Cabrera with the clutch hit

The Yankees wasted no time getting the lead back in the top of the fourth inning as Cairo was plunked to start. That was it for Mendoza as Curtis Leskanic was brought in to pour gas on the fire. Nixon made a great diving catch to rob Jeter of a hit but A-Rod walked. Sheffield then crushed a 3 run home run into the Monster seats to give the Yankees the lead back. Matsui doubled into the left field corner to chase Leskanic. Tomorrow's starter Tim Wakefield came in and got Williams to pop up to first but Posada was intentionally walked. Sierra made the Sox pay by tripling past Nixon to score two more runs. Olerud lined out to short to end the inning but the 5 run inning put the Yankees up for good 11-6.

                                                     The Yankees pour it on

Bellhorn whiffed to start the bottom of the fourth but Ramirez walked. Ortiz got a base hit to right but Varitek hit a bullet to first and Ortiz was doubled off to end the inning.

The Yankees were relentless in the top of the fifth inning although Cabrera made a great play to rob Cairo of a hit to begin. Jeter walked and A-Rod doubled to the right field wall to score Jeter. Sheffield crushed a double to the Monster to score A-Rod with another run. Matsui flied out to left and Williams whiffed to end the inning but the Yankees were up 13-6.

                                                        A-Rod keeps up the destruction

The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the fifth as Nixon popped up to center to start. Millar popped up to second and Mueller grounded out to second to end the inning.

Wakefield cruised in the top of the sixth as Posada flied out to center to start. Sierra flied out to the centerfield wall before Olerud grounded out to short to end the inning, hurting himself in the process.

                                                 Stephen King is used to horror shows

Tony Clark replaced Olerud in the bottom of the sixth and Cabrera started a rally with a double to the centerfield wall. Damon popped up to right but Bellhorn whiffed. Manny whiffed to end the inning.

The carnage continued in the top of the seventh as Cairo hit a base hit in the hole at short to start. Damon made a sliding catch to rob Jeter of a hit before Bellhorn dropped a routine pop up by A-Rod. Luckily Cairo never moved so he got Miguel at second on the force. Sheffield hit a laser off the Monster but it was just a single that moved Jeter to third. That was it for Wakefield who did the best he could to save the rest of the bullpen for tomorrow's game. Alan Embree came in to pitch to Matsui and naturally Matsui singled home A-Rod for another run. Williams doubled home both runners to increase the lead. Posada crushed a double off the Monster for yet another run as the remaining Sox fans booed the Sox pitching staff. Sierra grounded out to short to end the inning but it was 17-6 Yankees.

                                          Can anyone get Matsui out?

Ortiz singled off the Monster to start the bottom of the seventh and Varitek smashed a two run home run to center just to piss the Yankees off. Nixon flied out to right and that was it for Vazquez. Paul Quantrill came in and Millar grounded out to short before Mueller lined a base hit into the left field corner. Cabrera lined a base hit to center but Damon lined out to left to end the inning. If nothing else the Sox beat around the Yankees pitching but trailed 17-8

                                                        Varitek goes yard.

Mike Myers came in to pitch the top of the eighth with Doug Mirabelli now behind the plate. Myers whiffed Clark and Cairo but Jeter poked a single to center. Bellhorn made a diving stop to rob A-Rod of a hit, forcing Jeter at second to end the inning. Bellhorn earned the golden sombrero with his 4th strikeout to start the bottom of the eighth before Manny flied out to center. Ortiz whiffed to end the inning.

The Yankees had one final kick in the ass for the Sox in the top of the ninth when Sheffield singled up the middle to start. Bubba Crosby ran for Sheffield and Matsui ended the massacre with a two run bomb to center. Williams and Posada stroked back to back hits before Sierra was frozen for strike three. Clark hit a liner to Mueller who doubled off Williams to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 19-8.

                                                   Scoreboard says it all

The torture ended with Tom Gordon now on the mound for the bottom of the ninth. Mirabelli popped up to second but Nixon doubled off the centerfield wall. Nixon moved to third on a wild pitch but Millar whiffed. Mueller flied out to center to end the game. The Yankees had a stranglehold on the American League Championship Series and was up 3 games to 0 with a 19-8 rout.

                                                          Can't argue this


Jackass of the Night is a tough one considering everyone the Sox threw out there got hammered but I'll go with Arroyo. He had absolutely nothing and he put the Sox in a hole that was too big to climb out of. He lasted just two innings and was charged with 6 runs.

                                                   Arroyo The Jackass



The Good:

David Ortiz was 3 for 5 with a run scored.

Jason Varitek was 2 for 3 with a walk, 3 runs scored and a 2 run home run.

Trot Nixon was 2 for 5 including a 2 run homer.

Bill Mueller was 2 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.

Orlando Cabrera was 3 for 4 with 2 rbis.



The Bad:

Doug Mirabelli was 0 for 1 at the plate.

Ramiro Mendoza allowed a run in the third inning.

Curtis Leskanic was charged with 3 runs in just 1/3 of an inning.

Tim Wakefield allowed 5 runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Alan Embree allowed 2 runs in just 1/3 of an inning.

Mike Myers allowed 2 runs in 2 innings of work.



The Ugly:

Johnny Damon was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run and scored.

Mark Bellhorn was 0 for 4 with a golden sombrero of 4 strikeots but walked.

Manny Ramirez was just 1 for 4 but walked.

Kevin Millar was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.




Final Thoughts:

It can't end like this. Seriously, it can't end like this. After coming within a horrendous managerial decision from winning the pennant last year, the Sox can't just fall on their face and get swept after everything that's happened since Game 7 last year...can it? The Yankees offense looks to be completely unstoppable, scoring 32 runs in the first 3 games of this series. Not only that, Curt Schilling has a serious ankle problem and Pedro Martinez got out-pitched by Jon Lieber. The offense scored 8 runs today but the pitching just can't stop the Yankees. The worst apart about it is the only thing standing between the Red Sox and an embarrassing four game sweep is Derek Lowe. The same Lowe that was supposedly hung over when he got bombed by the Yankees on national television. The Sox look to avoid a sweep tomorrow night when they send Lowe to the mound against Orlando Hernandez at 8:00 PM at Fenway Park.