Sox Rally Falls Short, Jays Win (6/24/00)

Two straight games the Boston Red Sox had a chance to tie or win the game in the ninth inning and two straight games they have failed. The Toronto Blue Jays battered Sox starter Brian Rose (3-5, 6.11 ERA) for 4 runs and knocked him out in the third inning. Down 5-2 in the eighth inning, the Sox closed the gap to 5-4 but Rheal Cormier gave up the killshot to Brad Fullmer. Jays flamethrowing closer Billy Koch slammed the door as the Jays held on to win 6-4 at the Skydome.

                                             Bender tells Brian Rose how he feels

Roy Halladay got the start in the top of the first inning and Jose Offerman flied out to left to start. Jeff Frye grounded out to short and Carl Everett flied out to right to end the inning. The Jays immediately pounced on Brian Rose in the bottom of the first inning. Shannon Stewart grounded out to third to start but Alex Gonzalez was plunked. Raul Mondesi grounded out to short but Carlos Delgado hit the roof of the Skydome with a 2 run home run to give the Jays the lead. Brad Fullmer flied out to left to end the inning with the Jays up 2-0.

                                                           Delgado hits one out

The Sox fought back in the top of the second inning when Nomar Garciaparra struck his 7th home run of the season to lead off. Brian Daubach struck out swinging and Jason Varitek flied out to left, but Darren Lewis reached on an error. Curtis Pride struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox down 2-1.

                                                             Nomar goes yard

Rose got Tony Bautista to pop up to right to start the bottom of the second. Jose Cruz grounded out to second but Alberto Castillo singled to right. Homer Bush flied out to right to end the inning.

The Sox tied it up in the top of the third as Manny Alexander singled to left to begin. Offerman lined out to right but a grounder by Frye moved Alexander to second. Everett lashed a base hit to score Alexander to tie the game. Nomar singled Everett to third but Daubach flied out to center to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.

                                                         Everett drives in a run

As soon as the Sox tied it, the Jays took the lead back in the bottom of the third. Stewart walked and Gonzalez belted a home run into the Merrimack River to increase the lead. Mondesi popped up to third and Delgado flied out to left. Fullmer hit a routine grounder to Nomar who threw his glove at the ball and screamed for an error. Sox manager Jimy Williams ran out of the dugout screaming and tried to throw a roundhouse right at Rose, blaming him for the error. Rose ran away and Hipolito Pichardo materialized out of thin air to take the mound. Batista grounded out to second to end the inning with the Jays up 4-2.

                                                             Get him outta there!

The Sox did nothing in the top of the fourth as Varitek grounded back to the mound to start. Lewis grounded out to short but Pride drew a walk. Alexander whiffed to end the inning. Pichardo got the Jays to beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the fourth although Cruz got a base hit to center to begin. Castillo and Bush grounded out to short while Stewart grounded out to second to end the inning.

Halladay held down the Sox in the top of the fifth as Offerman flied out to center to start. Frye flied out to right but Everett walked. Nomar flied out to center to end the inning. The Jays struck again in the bottom of the fifth as Gonzalez and Mondesi hit back to back singles to start. Delgado lined a base hit to right to score Gonzalez with another run. Fullmer hit a bullet to Offerman who doubled off Delgado for the double play. Batista lined out to left to end the inning with the Jays up 5-2.

Chris Woodward took over for Gonzalez to begin the top of the sixth as Daubach whiffed to start. Varitek flied to center and Lewis took strike three to end the inning. Pichardo returned for the bottom of the sixth and Cruz grounded out to first to start. Castillo grounded out to short and Bush grounded out to second to end the inning.

It was the Sox turn to beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the seventh inning. Pride grounded out to second, Alexander grounded out to third and Offerman grounded out to first to end the inning. Rod Beck came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Stewart lined out to right to start. Woodward whiffed and Mondesi grounded out to short to end the inning.

The Sox finally rallied in the top of the eighth inning. Frye got a base hit and Everett singled Jeff to third to chase Halladay. Paul Quantrill came in and Nomar scored Frye with a grounder. Daubach whiffed but Varitek singled home Everett. Lewis grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox back in it 5-4.

                                                         Varitek drives in a run

Just as soon as the Sox fought back, the Jays iced it in the bottom of the eighth against Rheal Cormier. Delgado grounded out to second but Fullmer crushed a home run all the way to Saskatchewan to ice the game. Batista flied out to left but Cruz singled to left. Castillo grounded out to short to end the inning with the Jays ahead 6-4.

Flamethrower closer Billy Koch took the mound to close out the top of the the ninth. Scott Hatteberg pinch hit for Pride and struck out swinging. Alexander took strike three and Offerman flied out to left to end the game. The Sox had dropped a close one 6-4 to the Jays.

Jackass of the Night is Brian Rose. The problematic starter turtled once again in a big time pitching situation with first place slipping away. He lasted just 2 2/3 innings and took the loss allowing 4 runs.

                                                       Rose colored Jackass



The Good:

Carl Everett was 2 for 3 with an rbi and a run scored.

Nomar Garciaparra was 2 for 4 with 2 total rbis and a home run.

Rod Beck pitched a scoreless seventh inning.



The Bad:

Jose Offerman was 0 for 5.

Brian Daubach was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.

Darren Lewis was 0 for 4.

Scott Hatteberg struck out as a pinch hitter.

Rheal Cormier allowed a run in the eighth inning.



The Ugly:

Jeff Frye was just 1 for 4 with a run scored.

Jason Varitek was just 1 for 4 with an rbi.

Curtis Pride was 0 for 2 but walked.

Manny Alexander was just 1 for 4 with a run scored.

Hipolito Pichardo allowed a run in 3 1/3 innings.




Final Thoughts:

How much longer will the Sox put up with Brian Rose in the rotation? The New York Yankees are vulnerable for the first time in 3 years and the Sox are right in the middle of the AL East race. They can't afford to slip behind them with losses like this. Rose simply doesn't have the stuff to compete at a level this high. Maybe a trade to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays is in order to get him out of the bright lights of Boston and New York. As for the game, the Sox battled but once again Toronto outhit them. The Sox can't afford to get into slugfests with the Jays who have too much power. The loss dropped the Sox to 37-33, 1.5 games behind the Jays for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow afternoon the Sox look to rebound in a battle of aces. Chris Carpenter goes for the Jays up against Pedro Martinez of the Sox at 1:05 PM at the Skydome.

Sox Rally Falls Short in Toronto (6/23/00)

After the Boston Red Sox jumped back into first with two big wins over the New York Yankees, the Toronto Blue Jays kicked them in the gut and hit the Stone Cold stunner in tonight's game to bring them back to reality. Frank Castillo of the Jays held the Sox in check for most of the game while the vaunted Jays offense lit up spot starter John Wasdin (0-3, 5.46 ERA). If there was ever a "scheduled loss" it was this game. Still, the Sox got with in a run in the eighth inning but got shut down by Billy Koch again. When the dust settled the Jays had knocked off the Sox and took over first place 5-4 at the Skydome.

                                          "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT WASDIN??"

The Sox struck first right off the bat against Castillo in the top of the first inning as Darren Lewis walked to start. Lewis was thrown out trying to steal and Jeff Frye took strike three, but Trot Nixon launched his 8th home run of the year to put Boston on top. Nomar Garciaparra flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.

                                                        Nixon goes yard

The Jays looked to answer in the bottom of the first when Shannon Stewart walked to start. Alex Gonzalez struck out but Jason Varitek airmailed a throw to second that allowed Stewart to swipe second and advance to third. Raul Mondesi popped up to first and Carlos Delgado flied out to left to end the inning.

The Sox struck again when Carl Everett pounded his 23rd home run of the season to start the top of the second. Brian Daubach grounded back to the mound but Jason Varitek drew a walk. Manny Alexander singled to center but Wilton Veras struck out swinging. Lewis grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox up 2-0.

                                                          Home run Everett

The Jays pounced in the bottom of the second as Brad Fullmer hit a home run all the way to Winnipeg to cut the lead instantly. Tony Batista took strike three and Jose Cruz Jr grounded out to second but Alberto Castillo doubled to right. Homer Bush singled in Castillo to tie the game before swiping second. Stewart flied out to center to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.

Castillo settled down in the top of the third as Frye grounded out to short to start. Nixon got a base hit to right but Nomar forced him at seconds and Everett popped up to third to end the inning. The Jays took command in the bottom of the third as Gonzalez singled to center and Mondesi cracked a home run all the way to Montreal to put the Jays up for good. Delgado flied out to center, Fullmer grounded out to first and Batista struck out swinging to end the inning with the Jays up 4-2.

                                                            Mondesi puts the Jays up

The Sox failed to respond in the top of the fourth as Daubach whiffed to start. Varitek grounded out to second and Alexander grounded out to third to end the inning. The Jays finished off Wasdin in the bottom of the fourth as Cruz Jr belted a home run all the way to Ottawa to start. Castillo grounded back to the mound, Bush grounded out to short and Stewart singled to center. Stewart tried to stretch a double but was thrown out at second to end the inning with the Jays up 5-2. "Way Back" Wasdin lived up to his billing as he allowed 3 homers and 5 runs in his spot start.

                                                            Way Back does it again

Castillo cruised in the top of the fifth inning as Veras grounded back to the mound to begin. Lewis grounded out to second and Frye lined out to second to end the inning. Bryce Florie came in for the bottom of the fifth and Gonzalez grounded out to short to start. Mondesi grounded back to the mound but Delgado and Fullmer stroked back to back base hits. Batista popped up to first to end the inning.

The Sox mustered nothing in the top of the sixth as Nixon flied out to center to start. Nomar flied out to right and Everett popped up to third to end the inning. Tim Wakefield took over for the bottom of the sixth and Cruz Jr popped up to third to start. Castillo took strike three and Bush grounded out to short to end the inning.

Castillo dominated the top of the seventh as Daubach hit one up the elevator shaft to start. Varitek flied out to left and Alexander went down hacking to end the inning. Wakefield returned for the top of the seventh and Stewart grounded out to third to start. Gonzalez flied out to center and Mondesi popped up to second to end the inning.

The Sox finally sprung to life in the top of the eighth although Veras flied out to center to start. Lewis and Frye stroked back to back doubles to cut the lead and chase Castillo from the game. Pedro Borbon Jr came in and Frye got himself thrown out at third on a grounder by Nixon. Jays closer Billy Koch came in for the four out save with Curtis Pride now running for Nixon. Nomar walked and Everett doubled Pride home to make himself the go-ahead run at second base. Daubach walked to load the bases but Varitek popped up to left to end the inning. Still, the Sox had clawed back within a run to make it 5-4.

                                                         The Sox rally for a few runs

Wakefield held the fort in the bottom of the eighth although Delgado walked to start. Fullmer flied out to right but Batista banged into a double play to end the inning.

The Sox went quietly in the top of the ninth as Alexander grounded out to third to start. Scott Hatteberg pinch hit for Veras and struck out swinging. Lewis grounded out to second to end the game. The Jays had held off the Sox to take over first place 5-4.

Jackass of the Night is John Wasdin. "Way Back" allowed 5 runs in 4 innings and put the Sox in a hole they couldn't climb out of.

                                                        Way Back Jackass



The Good:

Trot Nixon was 2 for 4 with a home run.

Curtis Pride scored a run as a pinch runner.

Bryce Florie pitched a scoreless 5th inning.

Carl Everett was 2 for 4 with 2 total rbis and a solo home run.

Tim Wakefield tossed 3 scoreless innings.



The Bad:

Wilton Veras was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Scott Hatteberg struck out as a pinch hitter.




The Ugly:

Darren Lewis was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored a run.

Jeff Frye was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.

Nomar Garciaparra was 0 for 3 but walked.

Brian Daubach was 0 for 3 but walked.

Jason Varitek was 0 for 3 with an error but walked.

Manny Alexander was just 1 for 4.




Final Thoughts:

Too bad the Sox couldn't overcome the lousy spot start by Wasdin in this one. They had their chances in the 8th and 9th inning but just couldn't deliver the knockout punch. Kudos to Wakefield and Florie for holding the fort after Wasdin was sent packing. The Sox need to do something offensively as well as in the rotation because the bottom of the order is a black hole. If Troy O'Leary can get his head in the game when he comes off the DL, that will help big time since Darren Lewis is coming back to earth. The Toronto offense is for real and they can bop with the New York Yankees. Maybe its time to consider them a serious threat. The loss dropped the Sox to 37-32, 0.5 games behind the Jays for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow afternoon the Sox look to bounce back against the Jays when they send Brian Rose (3-4) up against Roy Halladay at 4:05 PM at the Skydome.

Sox Hold Off Yankees, Back in First (6/22/00)

Who would have thought that the Martinez that would save the Boston Red Sox in a series against the New York Yankees would be Ramon (6-4, 5.75 ERA) and not Pedro? After the Yankees bashed the Sox heads in 22-1 on Monday night then defeated Pedro the following night, the Sox showed some serious balls to win last night and tonight. Ramon tossed arguably his best game of the season by going nearly 7 innings and holding the world champs to 2 runs. Timely offense in the first couple of innings against Jake Westbrook was all the Sox need to vault back into first with a 4-2 win at Fenway Park.

                                                 The Temptations approve of the win

The Yankees struck first in the top of the first inning although Chuck Knoblauch grounded out to second to begin. Derek Jeter took strike three but Paul O'Neill walked and Bernie Williams crushed a home run all the way into the Azores to give the Yankees the lead. Tino Martinez grounded out to second to end the inning but the Yankees led 2-0.

                                                            Williams goes yard

The Sox failed to respond against Westbrook in the bottom of the first as Jose Offerman took strike three to start. Jeff Frye grounded out to short and Trot Nixon lined out to second to end the inning.

The Yankees wouldn't score again the rest of the night as Ramon went to work in the top of the second inning. Jorge Posada flied out to center but Shane Spencer drew a walk. Ricky Ledee forced Spencer at second but stole second. Scott Brosius popped up to first to end the inning. The Sox clawed back in the bottom of the second inning as Nomar Garciaparra led off with a double to left and Carl Everett singled him home. Brian Daubach singled Everett to third and Carl scored on the sac fly by Jason Varitek to tie the game. Daubach moved to third on the grounder by Curtis Pride but Manny Alexander flied out to left to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.

                                                         Nomar starts the rally

Ramon caught Knoblauch looking to start the top of the third before Jeter flied out to right. O'Neill doubled to left but Williams struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox took command in the bottom of the third although Offerman flied out to left to start. Frye doubled to right and Nixon walked to bring up Nomar. Garciaparra delivered with a double to left to score Frye with the go-ahead run. Everett was intentionally walked to load the bases and Daubach made Westbrook pay with a base hit to left to score Nixon, but Nomar was thrown out at home. That was it for Westbrook as Jason Grimsley came in and uncorked a wild pitch to move Everett and Daubach. Varitek grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-2.

                                                            Sox take the lead

Ramon kept the lead intact in the top of the fourth as Tino Martinez grounded out to first to start. Posada grounded out to first and Spencer went down swinging to end the inning. Pride and Alexander both grounded out to second to begin the bottom of the fourth but Knoblauch threw away a routine grounder by Offerman away. A wild pitch moved Offerman to third but Frye grounded out to third to end the inning.

Ledee struck out swinging to begin the top of the fifth but Brosius grounded out to short. Knoblauch singled to left but Jeter flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox nearly iced it in the bottom of the fifth as Nixon walked to start. Nomar forced Nixon at second before Everett went down hacking. Daubach walked and Varitek was plunked to load the bases but Pride whiffed to end the inning.

Ramon cruised in the top of the sixth inning as O'Neill grounded out to short to start. Williams took strike three and Tino Martinez flied out to center to end the inning. Grimsley held the Sox down in the bottom of the sixth as Alexander grounded back to the mound. Offerman lined out to first but Frye singled to right. Nixon grounded out to third to end the inning.

Ramon returned briefly in the top of the seventh with Darren Lewis now in left. Posada whiffed but Spencer singled to right. Ledee popped up to short and Sox manager Jimy Williams thought that was good enough for Ramon. Martinez pitched great to hold the Yankees to two runs in 6 2/3 innings. Bryce Florie came in and gave up a single to Brosius, but Knoblauch grounded out to third to end the inning.

                                                         Hell of an effort by Ramon

Mike Stanton came in for the bottom of the seventh and looked more like himself. Nomar lined out to left but Everett singled to center. Daubach whiffed and Varitek flied out to left to end the inning.

Rich Garces came in for the top of the eighth and cruised. Jeter flied out to right, O'Neill grounded out to first and Williams grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the eighth as Lewis grounded out to third to start. Alexander grounded out to second and Offerman grounded out to short to end the inning.

Derek Lowe was brought in to close out the top of the ninth and Tino Martinez grounded out to second to begin. Posada hit a bullet but Nomar snared it and Spencer grounded out to third to end the game. The Sox had won the game and reclaimed first place with the 4-2 win.

Hero of the night is Ramon Martinez. He tossed 6 2/3 innings of 2 run ball against the world champs to earn the win.

                                                 Ramon The Hero



The Good:

Jeff Frye was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Trot Nixon walked twice and scored a run in 4 at-bats.

Nomar Garciaparra was 2 for 4 with an rbi and a run scored.

Carl Everett was 2 for 3 with a walk, rbi and a run scored.

Brian Daubach was 2 for 3 with a walk and an rbi.

Bryce Florie got the final out of the 7th inning.

Rich Garces tossed a scoreless 8th inning.

Derek Lowe earned his 17th save with a scoreless ninth inning.



The Bad:

Jose Offerman was 0 for 5 with a strikeout.

Curtis Pride was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Darren Lewis was 0 for 1 at the plate.

Manny Alexander was 0 for 4.



The Ugly:

Jason Varitek was 0 for 2 but was hit with a pitch and drove in a run.




Final Thoughts:

That's more like it. After the Sox more or less lucked into a win last night due to the ineffectiveness of Mike Stanton, tonight they needed strong pitching to beat the champs. Ramon Martinez stepped up big time as did the bullpen. The Sox didn't get much offense once Westbrook was out of the game but they got all they needed with the way the pitching staff held the fort. The Sox are a starter or two away from seriously challenging the Yankees for AL East supremacy and Sox manager Dan Duquette has a little over a month to find that starter. As for now, how about those first place Red Sox? The win improved the Sox to 37-31, 0.5 games in front of the Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to continue their winning ways against the surging Toronto Blue Jays in their next series. Tomorrow night John Wasdin (0-2) gets the spot start against Frank Castillo at 7:05 PM at the Skydome.

Sox Hold Off Late Yankees Rally (6/21/00)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. Tim Young was sent back to Pawtucket to make room for Friday's starter John "Way Back" Wasdin. The move makes absolutely no sense because I'd rather start Young on Friday instead of Way Back. Also Andy Sheets accepted his demotion to Pawtucket rather than become a free agent.

                                                                          OUT

                                                                  IN

As for the game, its about time the Sox paid back the New York Yankees. After getting obliterated 22-1 on Monday night, the Yankees beat Pedro Martinez last night to reign supreme in the AL East. Tonight the Sox counterpunched the Yankees by exploiting the Yankees usually indomitable bullpen. A titantic meltdown by Jason Grimsley and old pal Mike Stanton led to 5 Boston runs in the 7th inning. The Sox survived a late Yankees surge to beat the Yanks 9-7 in front of 32,958 fans at Fenway Park.

                                             Detective Munch approves of the win

Pete Schourek got the start for the Sox and Chuck Knoblauch led off the top of the first by popping up to second to start. Derek Jeter popped up to Jeff Frye in foul territory before Paul O'Neill was frozen for strike three to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the first against Yankees starter David Cone. Jose Offerman led off with a double to right before being sacrificed to third by Frye. A wild pitch scored Offerman and Trot Nixon tripled into the triangle. Nomar Garciaparra walked to put runners at the corners and Carl Everett beat out a double play ball to score another run. Mike Stanley whiffed to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.

                                                           Offerman starts the rally

Bernie Williams popped up to third to start the top of the second inning but Jorge Posada singled to left. Posada was forced at center on a grounder by Shane Spencer before Scott Brosius grounded out to short to end the inning. Scott Hatteberg flied out to center to start the bottom of the second before Darren Lewis flied out to right. Manny Alexander singled to left and Offerman walked, but Frye flied out to right to end the inning.

Schourek cruised in the top of the third inning as Chris Turner whiffed to start. Clay Bellinger popped up to third and Knoblauch grounded out to short to end the inning. Nixon grounded out to first to begin the bottom of the third before Nomar doubled to right. Everett walked but Stanley flied out to center and Hatteberg grounded out to first to end the inning.

Jeter popped up to right to begin the top of the fourth before O'Neill grounded out to first. Williams grounded out to short to end the inning. Cone cruised in the bottom of the fourth as Lewis flied out to center to start. Alexander flied out to left and Offerman flied out to center to end the inning.

The Yankees clawed back in the top of the fifth as Posada and Spencer drew back to back walks to start. Brosius beat out a double play ball to put runners at the corner and naturally the previously unheard Turner singled home Posada. Bellinger beat out an infield single to load the bases but Schourek held the fort by getting Knoblauch to pop up to right and Jeter to fly out to center to end the inning with the Sox up 2-1.

                                                        Of course Turner gets the RBI

The Sox tried to fight back in the bottom of the fifth when Frye got a base hit to center to start. The rally ended as Nixon whiffed, Nomar flied out to right and Everett went down swinging to end the inning.

The Yankees chased Schourek quickly in the top of the sixth when O'Neill doubled to center to begin. Pete should never have started the inning as it was, but he went 5 innings and allowed 2 runs. Hipolito Pichardo came in and struck out Williams but Posada singled home O'Neill to tie the game although he was thrown out at second trying to stretch. Spencer flied out to right to end the inning but the game was tied 2-2.

                                                           So much for Schourek

The Sox fought back in the bottom of the sixth as Stanley singled to center to begin. Hatteberg doubled him to third but Lewis whiffed. Alexander dumped a base hit to center to score Stanley with the go-ahead run and Offerman walked to load the bases. Frye scored Hatteberg with a sac fly but Nixon grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 4-2.

                                                          Stanley starts the rally

The Sox then bumbled around the top of the seventh inning as Brosius singled to center to begin. Tino Martinez pinch hit for Turner and walked and Jose Vizcaino pinch hit for Bellinger. Jose hit a routine grounder to Frye who screamed and kicked the ball completely out of Fenway for an error to score Brosius and send Tino to third. Rich Garces replaced Pichardo and Knoblauch got Vizcaino forced at second but Martinez scored to tie the game. Jeter singled to center to send Knoblauch to third and he scored on the O'Neill sac fly to give the Yankees the lead. Williams was intentionally walked and Posada took strike three to end the inning but the normally reliable middle relievers failed to give the Yankees the 5-4 lead.

                                                              Nice relief Pichardo

Somehow the Sox rallied against the Yankees in the bottom of the seventh against Jason Grimsley. Nomar singled to center and Everett walked before both runners moved over on the Stanley grounder. Hatteberg grounded out to second but Nomar scored to tie the game and Everett moved to third. Brian Daubach pinch hit for Lewis and was intentionally walked. Curtis Pride pinch ran for Daubach and somehow Alexander walked to load the bases. Mike Stanton came in and somehow the best control reliever the Yankees had walked both Offerman and Frye to give the Sox the lead. Nixon then jacked a ground rule double into the Sox bullpen to score Alexander and Offerman to ice the game. Jeff Nelson replaced Stanton and Nomar grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox ahead 9-5.

                                                    Offerman and Alexander score

Rod Beck came in for the top of the eighth and punched out Spencer to start. Brosius singled to left but Martinez popped up to first. Brosius took second on defensive indifference and Vizcaino grounded out to second to end the inning. Everett took strike three to begin the bottom of the eighth but Stanley singled to left. Hatteberg banged into a double play to end the inning.

Derek Lowe came in to close out the top of the ninth and Knoblauch singled to right to start. Jeter struck out swinging and O'Neill lined out second but Williams launched a 500,000 foot home run into the Atlantic Ocean to cut the lead. Posada whiffed to end the game with the Sox hanging on to win 9-7.

                                                  Pedro Martinez is excited for the win


Hero of the Night is Jose Offerman. He scored the first run of the game and walked home the go-ahead run in the 7th.

                                                      Hero Jose


The Good:

Jeff Frye was 1 for 2 with a walk and 2 rbis.

Trot Nixon was 2 for 5 with 2 rbis and a run scored.

Nomar Garciaparra was 2 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.

Mike Stanley was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

Brian Daubach walked in the bottom of the seventh.

Curtis Pride scored a run as a pinch runner.

Manny Alexander was 2 for 3 with a walk, rbi and scored a run.

Pete Schourek allowed just 2 runs in 5 plus innings.

Rod Beck pitched a scoreless 8th inning.




The Bad:

Darren Lewis was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.

Hipolito Pichardo allowed an inherited runner to score and 3 of his own in just 1 full inning.

Derek Lowe allowed 2 runs in the 9th inning.




The Ugly:

Carl Everett was 0 for 3 but walked twice, drove in a run and scored.

Scott Hatteberg was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run and scored.

Rich Garces allowed an inherited runner to score in an inning of work.




Final Thoughts:

The Sox needed a big win to get back on track and this was barely the way to do it. Not only did the Sox need an uncharacteristic meltdown by Mike Stanton but their middle relievers were lit up. Garces and Pichardo are supposed to be stoppers but they didn't get the job done. Still, a win is a win and any wins over the Yankees is a good thing. Even with the 22-1 and Pedro losses, the Sox still are one more win away from being back in first place. The win improved the Sox to 36-31, 0.5 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow the Sox look to jump back into first when they send Ramon Martinez (5-4, 6.08 ERA) out against Jake Westbrook of the Yankees at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.

Yankees Beat Pedro, Blank Sox (6/20/00)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. After getting his brains beat in in last night's game, Rob Stanifer has been sent down to Pawtucket. I don't know what Jimy Williams was thinking letting him get knocked around like that, but I doubt we see him until September. In his place the Sox called up Tim Young. The lefty had a hot streak in May before being sent down, let's see if he can recapture the magic.

                                                                    OUT

                                                                    IN

As for the game, if last night was the equivalent of the New York Yankees setting Fenway Park on fire with a 22-1 embarrassment, then tonight's game was them pissing on the ashes. Andy Pettite pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning until Mariano Rivera finished off the shutout. Pedro Martinez (9-3, 1.18 ERA) allowed 3 home runs in 8 innings and that was all the Yankees needed. The Sox have given up 25 runs in two games while scoring just 1. The offense can't continue to disappear against good teams but they did tonight as the Yankees blanked the Sox 3-0 at Fenway Park. How many runs did the Sox score Dean Wormer?

At first Pedro cruised in the top of the first inning as Chuck Knoblauch flied out to left to start. Derek Jeter flied out to center before Paul O'Neill watched strike three go by to end the inning. Pettite got the Sox to beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the first inning. Jose Offerman grounded out to second to begin before Jeff Frye did the same. Nomar Garciaparra dumped a base hit to right but Mike Stanley grounded out to third to end the inning.

Pedro turned up the heat in the top of the second inning as Bernie Williams took strike three to start. Tino Martinez and Jorge Posada both went down swinging to end the inning. Carl Everett led off the bottom of the second by lining out to third but Jason Varitek singled to center. Darren Lewis forced Varitek at second and Trot Nixon grounded into a force to end the inning.

Shane Spencer swung at air to open the top of the third before Jim Leyritz also fanned. Scott Brosius flied out to left to end the inning. The Sox pissed their only chance to score away in the bottom of the third although Wilton Veras lined out to first to start. Offerman got a base hit to left, Frye walked and Nomar singled to left to load the bases. Stanley then popped up to right to end the inning.

                                                "Dammit Stanley"

The Yankees struck first in the top of the fourth as Knoblauch singled to center to begin. The alert Pedro picked him off but Jeter clobbered a home run into the Charles River to put the Yankees up for good. O'Neill grounded out to second but Veras booted a Williams grounder for an error. Martinez flied out to center to end the inning with the Yankees up 1-0.

                                                         Jeter goes yard

The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the fourth as Everett popped up to second to start. Varitek walked but Lewis banged into a double play to end the inning.

Pedro recovered to get Posada to pop up to third leading off the top of the fifth. Spencer and Leyritz were both frozen for strike three to end the inning. Pettite matched Pedro in the bottom of the fifth as Nixon flied out to left to start. Veras whiffed and Offerman grounded out to second to end the inning.

Brosius got a base hit to start the top of the sixth before moving to second on the sacrifice bunt by Knoblauch. Jeter grounded back to the mound and O'Neill grounded out to first to end the inning. Clay Bellinger took over for Knoblauch in the bottom of the sixth as Frye grounded out to second to start. Nomar whiffed and Stanley took strike three to end the inning.

The Yankees got to Pedro again as Williams belted a home run into Walden Pond to ice the game in the top of the seventh. Martinez grounded out to second but Posada walked. Spencer was plunked and Nomar booted a ground ball by Leyritz to load the bases. Ricky Ledee pinch ran for Leyritz but Brosius whiffed to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 2-0

                                                       Williams takes Pedro deep

The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the seventh inning as Lewis grounded out to second to start. Nixon grounded out to first and Veras grounded out to third to end the inning.

The Yankees finished off Pedro in the top of the eighth although Jeter grounded out to short to start. O'Neill then pounded a home run all the way into Newfound Lake to increase the lead. Williams grounded out to first and Martnez flied out to right to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 3-0. Pedro did what he could and nine times out of 10, 8 innings of 3 run ball should be enough to win. This was the tenth time.

                                                         No run support for Pedro

Offerman grounded out to short to start the bottom of the eighth before Frye whiffed. Nomar doubled off the Monster to chase Pettite. Gotta give credit to Pettite for outpitching Pedro in a game like this. Mariano Rivera came in for the four out save and Brian Daubach pinch hit for Stanley. Daubach grounded out to short to end the inning.

Derek Lowe came in for the top of the ninth and Posada walked to start. Spencer took strike three before Ledee flied out to left. Brosius struck out swinging to end the inning. Everett whiffed to open the bottom of the ninth but somehow Varitek walked. Scott Hatteberg pinch hit for Lewis only to pop up to short. Nixon flied out to center to end the game. The Yankees had blanked the Sox and guaranteed leaving Fenway in first place with a 3-0 win.

Jackass of the Night is Mike Stanley. He left a man on in the first inning and the bases loaded in the third inning.

                                                         Stanley the Jackass



The Good:

Nomar Garciaparra was 3 for 4.

Jason Varitek was 1 for 2 with 2 walks.

Derek Lowe pitched a scoreless ninth inning.



The Bad:

Brian Daubach was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.

Darren Lewis was 0 for 3.

Scott Hatteberg was 0 for 1.

Trot Nixon was 0 for 4.

Wilton Veras was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.



The Ugly:

Jose Offerman was just 1 for 4.

Jeff Frye was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but walked.

Carl Everett was just 1 for 4.

Pedro Martinez took the loss but went 8 innings and allowed 3 runs while striking out 9.




Final Thoughts:

Don't know what else to say at this point. The Sox get their doors blown off and then Pedro is beaten. If the fans didn't think the Yankees were for real, they will now. The Sox defense, pitching and offense were exposed big time and we still have a game to go in this series. The Sox need to make a trade for a starter and an infielder if they have any hope of catching New York. They're not gonna get it done with Ramon Martnez, Jeff Fassero, Pete Schourek and Brian Rose. The loss dropped the Sox to 35-31, 1.5 game behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to avoid a sweep tomorrow night when Pete Schourek takes the mound up against David Cone at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.

Yankees Massacre Sox (6/19/00)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a bevy of roster movies. Donnie Sadler was sent down to Pawtucket, Curtis Pride and Rob Stanifer were called up from Pawtucket, Jeff Fassero and Troy O'Leary were both placed on the Disabled List and Bryce Florie was removed from the Disabled List. Sadler just wasn't getting it done in the big leagues. Maybe his home run against Baltimore a month ago put the idea in his head he could do it more rather than be the speedster the Sox thinks he should be. Jeff Fassero hasn't won a game in a month and they're saying he's got a dead arm. Troy O'Leary has been a complete mess all season and there are reports he's going through some personal issues that he needs to deal with. Curtis Pride was on the 97 Sox and he replaces O'Leary with Stanifer and Florie replacing Fassero and Sadler. Hopefully Pride can hit, who knows?

                                                                        OUT

                                                                   IN

As for the game, if the Sox thought they could hang with the repeat World Champion New York Yankees, this game certainly proved they can't. The Yankees pounced on Brian Rose (3-4, 5.72 ERA) for 5 runs in 5 innings. If that wasn't bad enough, the floodgates opened in the final two innings as scared call-up Rob Stanifer and lame duck Tim Wakefield coughed up a combined SIXTEEN runs. Combine that with a run given up by the returning Bryce Florie, it added to an 18 hit, 22 run attack. Ramiro Mendoza held the Sox to just 1 run in a 7 inning start as the Yankees put their foot on the Sox throat with a 22-1 win at Fenway Park.

At first Rose cruised in the top of the first inning. Chuck Knoblauch whiffed before Derek Jeter flied out to center. Paul O'Neill lined out to first to end the inning. Jose Offerman tried to start a rally off Mendoza in the bottom of the first but he was thrown out trying to steal. Jeff Frye hit one up the elevator shaft and Trot Nixon grounded out to second to end the inning.

Rose got Bernie Williams to ground out to first to start the top of the second before Tino Martinez grounded out to second. Jorge Posada took strike three to end the inning. Nomar Garciaparra doubled off the Monster to begin the bottom of the second but Carl Everett popped up to third. Brian Daubach grounded back to the mound and Jason Varitek lined out to Mendoza to end the inning.

Shane Spencer looked to put the Yankees on top with a triple to open the top of the third. Rose somehow got Ricky Ledee to pop up to third before Scott Brosius hit one up the elevator shaft. Knoblauch lined out to short to end the inning, good work by Rose. Mendoza cruised in the bottom of the third as Darren Lewis flied out to left to begin. Wilton Veras grounded out to short and Offerman grounded out to second to end the inning.

The Yankees broke through in the top of the fourth as Jeter doubled to right to begin. O'Neill flied out to left and Williams whiffed, but Martinez singled home Jeter to give New York the lead. Posada then iced the game with a 970,000 foot home run. Spencer grounded out to short to end the inning but the Yankees were ahead 3-1.

The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the fourth inning as Frye grounded out to third to start. Nixon watched strike three go by before Nomar flied out to right to end the inning.

The Yankees finally wiped out Rose in the top of the fifth inning although Ledee grounded out to first to start. Brosius got a base hit to right but Knoblauch flied out to center. Jeter crushed a 14,000 foot home run to add to the lead. O'Neill walked and swiped second before Williams popped up to third to end the inning with the Yankees up 5-0. Rose sucked again, allowing 5 runs in 5 innings. Strangely he wouldn't be the worst pitcher in the game as it turned out.

                                                      Another poor outing from Rose

The Sox did nothing against Mendoza in the bottom of the fifth as Everett whiffed to start. Somehow Daubach tripled into the triangle but Varitek struck out swinging. Lewis flied out to left to end the inning.

Bryce Florie made his first appearance since April 8th in the top of the sixth and the Yankees lit him up too. Martinez grounded out to second but Posada walked. Spencer doubled and Ledee was intentionally walked. The gamble failed as Brosius singled home Posada to increase the lead. Knoblauch forced Spencer at home on a grounder before Jeter grounded to third to end the inning with the Yankees up 6-0.

Clay Bellinger took over at second for the bottom of the sixth and the Sox bungled that too. Veras hit a grounder to Jeter who threw the ball away, allowing Wilton to reach second. Veras then made the boo-boo by getting thrown out at third on the Offerman grounder. The mental error hurt as Frye and Nixon stroked back to back singles to load the bases...but Nomar hit a bullet to Jeter who doubled off Offerman to end the inning. What a waste.

Florie made the Yankees beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the seventh inning as O'Neill grounded out to short to start. Williams grounded out to short and Martinez grounded out to first to end the inning. The Sox FINALLY got on the board in the bottom of the seventh as Everett doubled to left to begin. Carl moved to third on the Daubach fly ball and scored on the Varitek grounder. Lewis grounded out to second to end the inning but the Sox would not be shutout 6-1.

                                                            Everett scores a run

Rob Stanifer was called up from Pawtucket in the afternoon and he got steamrolled in the top of the eighth inning. Posada singled to right and Spencer hit a double play ball to Nomar.....that he booted for an error. Ledee forced Spencer at second which would have been the third out if Nomar turned the DP. The floodgates opened as Brosius walked to load the bases and Bellinger doubled home Posada and Ledee. Jeter hit a routine grounder to Veras and he bobbled it for another error that scored Brosius. O'Neill singled home Bellinger and Williams singled home Jeter. Felix Jose came in to run for O'Neill and Martinez doubled him home. Posada grounded out to first but Spencer capped the inning with a 3 run bomb into the Atlantic Ocean. Ledee singled and Sox manager Jimy Williams woke up from his nap to finally take the beaten Stanifer out of there. Rob was charged with 9 runs but because of the errors, only one of them was earned. Brosius flied out to center to end the inning with the Yankees up 15-1.

                                                              "This sucks"

Jeff Nelson laughed at the Sox as he came in for the bottom of the eighth with Bellinger now at first with Wilson Delgado now at second. Veras walked to start before Offerman flied out to left. A wild pitch moved Veras to second and Wilton moved to third on the grounder by Frye but Nixon took strike three to end the inning.

The Yankees poured it on in the top of the ninth with Scott Hatteberg now behind the plate, Manny Alexander at short and Curtis Pride now in center. Bellinger walked to start but Jeter flied out to center. To add insult to injury, Jose blasted a 2 run bomb all the way into the Nile River. Williams singled to center before taking second on a wild pitch. Delgado and Posada drew back to back walks to load the bases and Spencer scored Williams with a sac fly. Ledee singled home Delgado and Brosius put the final nail in the coffin with a 3 run moonshot into the Gulf of Mexico. Bellinger struck out swinging to end the inning with the Yankees head 22-1.

                                                   We surrender

Mike Stanton had mop up duty in the bottom of the ninth. Alexander popped up to third, Pride whiffed and Daubach struck out swinging to end the game. The Yankees ripped out the Sox throat with a 22-1 massacre.

Jackass of the Night is Brian Rose. He lasted just 5 innings and allowed 5 runs, putting the Sox in a hole they couldn't climb out of.

                                                               Rose The Jackass



The Good:

Carl Everett was 1 for 3 with a run scored.



The Bad:

Manny Alexander was 0 for 1.

Curtis Pride struck out in his only plate appearance.

Darren Lewis was 0 for 3.

Rob Stanifer was charged with 9 runs in 2/3 of an inning.

Tim Wakefield gave up 7 runs in 1 1/3 innings.



The Ugly:

Jose Offerman was just 1 for 4.

Jeff Frye was just 1 for 4.

Nomar Garciaparra was 1 for 3 but his error opened the floodgates in the 8th.

Trot Nixon was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Brian Daubach was just 1 for 4.

Jason Varitek was 0 for 3 but drove in a run.

Wilton Veras was 0 for 2 with an error but walked.

Bryce Florie allowed a run in 2 innings of work.



Honorable Mention:

Scott Hatteberg caught the last inning.




Final Thoughts:

That has got to be one of the most embarrassing losses to the Yankees in history. Not just this season, but all time. Its one thing to lose big, its another to be completely embarrassed. This makes Dave Righetti's no hitter look like a random Sunday game in May. The repeat Champions came to Fenway Park and set it on fire more or less. How do you come back from this? You get embarrassed on your home field and drop out of first place, now what? Forget the pitching imploding, the Sox offense has been a mess lately. If the starters don't pick it up, this team is going to go down the tubes real fast. The Sox do have a chance to make things right with Pedro Martinez going tomorrow night. They're going to have to take a stand now or live with the embarrassment. The loss drops the Sox to 35-30, a half game behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Sox look to Pedro Martinez (9-2) to save them and put the Sox back in first, the Yankees counter with Andy Pettite at 7:05 PM at Fenway Park.