Time and time again this Red Sox season has proven their resiliency this season, and Tuesday nights game was no different.
Felix Doubront took to the hill for the Sox, and he put together what was probably the most dominant start of his career.
Doubront would start the game by allowing a single on the first pitch of the game to Desmond Jennings, but got out of the inning unscathed.
The score would remain at 0s until Daniel Nava Launched a solo homer over the bullpen for his 10th of the season and a 1-0 lead.
Kelly Johnson led off the third inning with a single for the Rays, and that would be the last baserunner they would get off Doubront.
Doubront went on to retire the next 18 batters in a row he would face, unfortunately, the sox offense couldnt do anything else either and the score remained 1-0 heading to the 9th inning.
Heading to the ninth, Manager John Farell had a decision to make. Send out Doubront, who had thrown only 93 pitches and retired 18 in a row, or send out closer Andrew Bailey, who was struggling lately, and has always struggled against the Rays. Farrell Made absolutely the wrong decision in sending out Bailey. On just the second pitch he threw, Bailey gave up a homer to Kelly Johnson to tie the game at one, and in an instant, eight beautiful innings from Doubront had gone to waste.
Bailey got out of the rest of the inning without any damage and we headed to the bottom of the ninth tied at one. After Nava drew a walk, the struggling Jonny Games absolutely bombed a two run homer over the monster, his fifth of the year, to walk off the Sox to a 3-1 win. After todays doubleheader sweep, lets take a look at the AL East Standings.
1. Boston Red Sox: 44-29
2. Baltimore Orioles: 41-31 2.5GB
3. New York Yankees: 38-31 4.0GB
4. Tampa Bay Rays: 36-35 7.0GB
5. Torontoo Blue Jays: 34-36 8.5GB
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Tuesday Game one recap: Sox Beat Rays 5-1 in long affair
It took over six hours from first pitch to last, but the Sox got the job done in their first game of their doubleheader, thanks to some heroics from David Ortiz. The Sox got on the board right away in the first, after Ellsbury led off with a double, he got to third on a groundout, then scored on a sac fly from Pedroia.
Aceves got in trouble in the top of the second, walking three, and loading the bases with just one out with the game tied at one. He got a double play from Escobar to get out of it however, and the score remained tied at one.
The big blow would come in the third, when Ortiz laced a single up the middle with Victorino at second and Ellsbury at third, scoring both to give Boston a 3-1 lead. They would tack on a couple runs of insurance, and there was a little 3 hour rain delay in between, but it was an easy little 5-1 win.
Aceves got in trouble in the top of the second, walking three, and loading the bases with just one out with the game tied at one. He got a double play from Escobar to get out of it however, and the score remained tied at one.
The big blow would come in the third, when Ortiz laced a single up the middle with Victorino at second and Ellsbury at third, scoring both to give Boston a 3-1 lead. They would tack on a couple runs of insurance, and there was a little 3 hour rain delay in between, but it was an easy little 5-1 win.
Sunday Recap: Os 14 hit attack downs Sox 6-3
I am a few games behind in the recaps for the Sox, so this is for Sundays game.
Jon Lester took the mound against the Orioles on Sunday looking to get out of his recent slump. He hasnt won a game since May 15th, one of the worst slumps of his career. Through the first two innings, it looked like he may be on the right track. Lester looked in command through the first two, using his cutter effectively and not allowing any runs. Unfortunately, the sox makeshift offense, missing Victorino, Pedroia, and Napoli, wasnt doing anything either.
In the 3rd, thing spiraled out of control for Lester. A leadoff single by markakis spelled potential trouble, but Lester buckled down to get the next two outs. Unfortunately, with only one out left before getting out of the inning. Adam Jones laced a double down the line to score Markakis to make it 1-0, then Chris Davis launched a blast out of the park to make it 3-0, and all of a sudden Lester was looking bad again.
In the fifth, things got worse, as three hits, including two doubles, staked the orioles to two more runs and a 5-0 lead.
When things looked hopeless for the Sox, a Mike Carp double and Salty single set up a potential rally in the seventh. Middlebrooks followed with an opposite field homer to make it 5-3 and all of a sudden it was a ballgame again.
Unfortunately the bullpen would not hold. The Os got a run back in their half of the seventh on a Hardy single, extending the lead back to 3, halting any momentum the Sox had.
The offense would not do anything of note in the final two innings, allowing for a 6-3 final, and giving the Sox their first series loss since losing 2 of 3 to the White Sox in late May.
Jon Lester took the mound against the Orioles on Sunday looking to get out of his recent slump. He hasnt won a game since May 15th, one of the worst slumps of his career. Through the first two innings, it looked like he may be on the right track. Lester looked in command through the first two, using his cutter effectively and not allowing any runs. Unfortunately, the sox makeshift offense, missing Victorino, Pedroia, and Napoli, wasnt doing anything either.
In the 3rd, thing spiraled out of control for Lester. A leadoff single by markakis spelled potential trouble, but Lester buckled down to get the next two outs. Unfortunately, with only one out left before getting out of the inning. Adam Jones laced a double down the line to score Markakis to make it 1-0, then Chris Davis launched a blast out of the park to make it 3-0, and all of a sudden Lester was looking bad again.
In the fifth, things got worse, as three hits, including two doubles, staked the orioles to two more runs and a 5-0 lead.
When things looked hopeless for the Sox, a Mike Carp double and Salty single set up a potential rally in the seventh. Middlebrooks followed with an opposite field homer to make it 5-3 and all of a sudden it was a ballgame again.
Unfortunately the bullpen would not hold. The Os got a run back in their half of the seventh on a Hardy single, extending the lead back to 3, halting any momentum the Sox had.
The offense would not do anything of note in the final two innings, allowing for a 6-3 final, and giving the Sox their first series loss since losing 2 of 3 to the White Sox in late May.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Lackey rebounds from rough first inning to lead Sox to 5-4 win
Despite losing tough games the last two nights, I have to admit I was a bit unmoved by the tough couple games. Even though Baltimore was creeping up in the standings, the losses didnt affect me that much because I knew this Sox team was a good team just slumping through a couple games, and I was 100% confident theyd bounce back for a win Saturday. Well, twenty minutes into this game, my optimism for this game seemed out of place.
After the Sox went down easy in the first inning, it looked the bats would go right back to the struggles they endured the night before. To make matters worse, the bottom of the first was a disaster. Nate Mclouth led off with a single, followed by a Machado double to make it 1-0. Markakis followed with a single of his own, and then Adam Jones hit his second infield single of the series and Baltimore led 2-0 before an out was even recorded. Lackey was able to get out of the first miraculously without any damage, but 2-0 still seemed somewhat daunting considering the way the offense was going.
the second and third innings only led to continued problems for the offense, but then finally in the fourth inning, the bats awoke and the game turned in an instant. Dustin pedroia hit a single, followed by a two run blast by Mike Carp to even up the game. On the next pitch, Jonny Gomes hit a single through the infield, and then stephen Drew laced a double down the line to score Gomes and give Boston their first lead of the series, 3-2.
Ellsbury singled to lead off the fifth inning, and good basrerunning got him to third with one out, where Pedroia grounded out allowing him to score and extend the lead to 4-2. In the bottom of the fifth, it looked like things could get disastrous. Taylor Teagarden led off the inning with an infield single that could have easily been an error, then nate Mclouth reached on an error, and what should have been two outs with nobody on, was actually 1st and 3rd with no outs. Mclouth was caught stealing for the first out, then Lackey buckled down to get the next two outs without allowing the runner on 3rd to score and the lead remained at two.
In the sixth, Jonny Gomes extended the lead with a solo shot, his fourth of the season for a 5-2 lead, which would remain until the ninth inning.
Andrew Bailey came on to save the game in the ninth, and gave a couple runs, we wont get into the dirty details because he averted disaster and the Sox hung on by their fingernails for what should have been an easy win, but a win is a win. The lead in the division is back up to 2.5 games, and the Yankees just keep losing so the lead over them has swelled to 4 games. Tampa continues to stay at a comfy 5 games back.
The finale of this four game set comes tomorrow at 1:35. Will the Sox extend their division lead to 2.5 games? or will it shrink back to 1.5? thats a big difference so tomorrow is certainly a big game.
After the Sox went down easy in the first inning, it looked the bats would go right back to the struggles they endured the night before. To make matters worse, the bottom of the first was a disaster. Nate Mclouth led off with a single, followed by a Machado double to make it 1-0. Markakis followed with a single of his own, and then Adam Jones hit his second infield single of the series and Baltimore led 2-0 before an out was even recorded. Lackey was able to get out of the first miraculously without any damage, but 2-0 still seemed somewhat daunting considering the way the offense was going.
the second and third innings only led to continued problems for the offense, but then finally in the fourth inning, the bats awoke and the game turned in an instant. Dustin pedroia hit a single, followed by a two run blast by Mike Carp to even up the game. On the next pitch, Jonny Gomes hit a single through the infield, and then stephen Drew laced a double down the line to score Gomes and give Boston their first lead of the series, 3-2.
Ellsbury singled to lead off the fifth inning, and good basrerunning got him to third with one out, where Pedroia grounded out allowing him to score and extend the lead to 4-2. In the bottom of the fifth, it looked like things could get disastrous. Taylor Teagarden led off the inning with an infield single that could have easily been an error, then nate Mclouth reached on an error, and what should have been two outs with nobody on, was actually 1st and 3rd with no outs. Mclouth was caught stealing for the first out, then Lackey buckled down to get the next two outs without allowing the runner on 3rd to score and the lead remained at two.
In the sixth, Jonny Gomes extended the lead with a solo shot, his fourth of the season for a 5-2 lead, which would remain until the ninth inning.
Andrew Bailey came on to save the game in the ninth, and gave a couple runs, we wont get into the dirty details because he averted disaster and the Sox hung on by their fingernails for what should have been an easy win, but a win is a win. The lead in the division is back up to 2.5 games, and the Yankees just keep losing so the lead over them has swelled to 4 games. Tampa continues to stay at a comfy 5 games back.
The finale of this four game set comes tomorrow at 1:35. Will the Sox extend their division lead to 2.5 games? or will it shrink back to 1.5? thats a big difference so tomorrow is certainly a big game.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Friday Night recap: Bats go silent as Sox fall to Os for second straight night, 2-0
Well it was bound to happen eventually. After the offense lit the world on fire the first ten games or so of June, it was inevitable they were going to come crashing down at some point. A team cant sustain a .300+ batting average for more than a couple weeks, and even thats incredibly hard to do. The Red Sox would only manage three hits in this game, one from Shane Victorino, and two from who else but Jose Iglesias, who is now hitting .451 on the season. Iglesias is a guy I have neglected to talk about, bt considering he was the only bat that showed up for this game, now is a good time.
Jose Iglesias is not some young phenom, he has been around for a while. In well over 200 career games in the minors, he has hit an even .200. After it was apparent the Sox wouldnt make the playoffs last year, Iglesias was promoted to the majors to see what he could do. The answer: not much. In 25 games last season, Iglesias managed just 8 hits, hitting .118 in those 25 games. Any chance Iglesias had at being a mainstay in the majors appeared gone after that performance. After an injury to Stepehen Drew in spring training, the Sox had no chance but to give Iglesias a second chance to play until Drew recovered. Iglesias shockingly took off, and no one really knows how in the world this guy has improved so well in such a short time. In 25 games this year, same sample size as last season, iglesias has an eye popping 37 hits and is hitting .451. He always plays incredible defense, always making amazing plays with the glove. When the season started, everyone thought Iglesias was here temporarily, but now it appears hes here to stay.
The MVP of the game has to go to Ryan Dempster, who took the loss but it was by no fault of his own. Dempster went 7.2 innings, allowing just five hits and two runs, an ERA of 2.50 for the game.
Chris Davis got the Os on the board with a solo shot in the second innings, his 22nd of the season, most in the majors. Adam Jones infield single with two outs in the third made the lead 2-0, and that would be all the offense they would need.
Just chalk this one up as cant win them all, one of those tough games that are inevitable in a long season. This offense is to good for them to play like this every night, so expect a bounceback, hopefully in the next game.
Jose Iglesias is not some young phenom, he has been around for a while. In well over 200 career games in the minors, he has hit an even .200. After it was apparent the Sox wouldnt make the playoffs last year, Iglesias was promoted to the majors to see what he could do. The answer: not much. In 25 games last season, Iglesias managed just 8 hits, hitting .118 in those 25 games. Any chance Iglesias had at being a mainstay in the majors appeared gone after that performance. After an injury to Stepehen Drew in spring training, the Sox had no chance but to give Iglesias a second chance to play until Drew recovered. Iglesias shockingly took off, and no one really knows how in the world this guy has improved so well in such a short time. In 25 games this year, same sample size as last season, iglesias has an eye popping 37 hits and is hitting .451. He always plays incredible defense, always making amazing plays with the glove. When the season started, everyone thought Iglesias was here temporarily, but now it appears hes here to stay.
The MVP of the game has to go to Ryan Dempster, who took the loss but it was by no fault of his own. Dempster went 7.2 innings, allowing just five hits and two runs, an ERA of 2.50 for the game.
Chris Davis got the Os on the board with a solo shot in the second innings, his 22nd of the season, most in the majors. Adam Jones infield single with two outs in the third made the lead 2-0, and that would be all the offense they would need.
Just chalk this one up as cant win them all, one of those tough games that are inevitable in a long season. This offense is to good for them to play like this every night, so expect a bounceback, hopefully in the next game.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Bats go cold as Sox lose 13 inning game 5-4
Baltimore blooped their way to a victory Thursday night, walking off to a 5-4 win, just the second time this season the Red Sox have been walked off on.
After Felix Doubront looked impressive for the Red Sox in the first two innings, not allowing a hit, things unraveled a bit in the third. Danny Valencia led off the inning with a home run to give Baltimore the early 1-0 lead. The Ryan Flaherty blooped a double that barely dropped signifying this may be a night where Boston may not get any luck. Then three straight singles, two of which were weak ground balls that barely got through the infield, and all of a sudden the lead balooned to 3-0.
In the top of the fourth, the Red Sox began to chip away at that lead, with back to back home runs From David Ortiz and Mike Carp to cut the lead to 3-2.
The lead would be increased back to 4-2 when Matt Wieters squeezed out a two out single in the fifth inning, another rough luck moment.
The Red Sox put their rally shoes on in the top of the seventh inning, starting off with three straight singles to load the bases with nobody out. Stephen Drew would follow up with a deep ball in the left field power alley, initally looking like it would get down for a double, but ending up hanging up long enough to be caught for a sacrifice fly, to cut the lead to 4-3. Then Jacoby Ellsbury barely beat out a double play, allowing the tying run to score. Unfortunately from the 8th-13th innings the Red Sox would not get a single hit, and only one baserunner, on a catchers interference call.
It would be a bullpen duel until the bottom of the 13th, when it looked like it may be an easy innings, Alex Wilson walked JJ hardy with two outs and nobody on. Then a single by Adam Jones moved Hardy to second, and a bloop single that barely fell from Chris Davis allowed Hardy to score and the game ended 5-4.
My MVP of this game for the Red Sox is going to be Andrew Miller. Miller threw two full innings, striking out four, and looked downright filthy his whole time out there. If he can continue to pitch that well, it will really go a long way to bolstering the pen.
Will Middlebrooks was the only player to record more than one hit for Boston, and one of his hits was pure luck, so it was not a flagship night for the Sox offense. Aside from back to back jacks, and three straight singles, it was actually a non existant night for the offense.
One positive from the offense, Mike Carps home run was his seventh of the year, making him to be on pace for about 20. I am shocked that Mike Carp has made such an impact on this offense. He is now hitting .330 on the season, and .441 in the month of June. Hes one example for why this team has been so good, guys not expected to produced have gone above and beyond.
With the win, the Orioles move into second place in the division, bumping the Yankees down to third.
After Felix Doubront looked impressive for the Red Sox in the first two innings, not allowing a hit, things unraveled a bit in the third. Danny Valencia led off the inning with a home run to give Baltimore the early 1-0 lead. The Ryan Flaherty blooped a double that barely dropped signifying this may be a night where Boston may not get any luck. Then three straight singles, two of which were weak ground balls that barely got through the infield, and all of a sudden the lead balooned to 3-0.
In the top of the fourth, the Red Sox began to chip away at that lead, with back to back home runs From David Ortiz and Mike Carp to cut the lead to 3-2.
The lead would be increased back to 4-2 when Matt Wieters squeezed out a two out single in the fifth inning, another rough luck moment.
The Red Sox put their rally shoes on in the top of the seventh inning, starting off with three straight singles to load the bases with nobody out. Stephen Drew would follow up with a deep ball in the left field power alley, initally looking like it would get down for a double, but ending up hanging up long enough to be caught for a sacrifice fly, to cut the lead to 4-3. Then Jacoby Ellsbury barely beat out a double play, allowing the tying run to score. Unfortunately from the 8th-13th innings the Red Sox would not get a single hit, and only one baserunner, on a catchers interference call.
It would be a bullpen duel until the bottom of the 13th, when it looked like it may be an easy innings, Alex Wilson walked JJ hardy with two outs and nobody on. Then a single by Adam Jones moved Hardy to second, and a bloop single that barely fell from Chris Davis allowed Hardy to score and the game ended 5-4.
My MVP of this game for the Red Sox is going to be Andrew Miller. Miller threw two full innings, striking out four, and looked downright filthy his whole time out there. If he can continue to pitch that well, it will really go a long way to bolstering the pen.
Will Middlebrooks was the only player to record more than one hit for Boston, and one of his hits was pure luck, so it was not a flagship night for the Sox offense. Aside from back to back jacks, and three straight singles, it was actually a non existant night for the offense.
One positive from the offense, Mike Carps home run was his seventh of the year, making him to be on pace for about 20. I am shocked that Mike Carp has made such an impact on this offense. He is now hitting .330 on the season, and .441 in the month of June. Hes one example for why this team has been so good, guys not expected to produced have gone above and beyond.
With the win, the Orioles move into second place in the division, bumping the Yankees down to third.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Daniel Navas two run home run enough offense for Sox to hang on for 2-1 win.
Two months ago, Alfredo Aceves famously blamed the offense for a loss in which he pitched awfully in a 13-0 loss. After that game, Aceves was sent to the minors, and many Red Sox fans had hoped they would never have to see him on the mound in the majors again. But baseball is funny, it often provides second chances, and after a 14 inning game Monday left the Sox short on rested pitchers, they really had no other options but to give Aceves a start tonight.
Aceves ran with the opportunity, pitching 6 strong innings, allowing only one run, a homer from Evan Longoria, who homered in every game in the series. It wasnt without trouble. In the second, the Rays had the bases loaded, but Aceves got out of it. In the third, it was first and second for the Rays with zero outs, but Aceves got a double play and got out of that with zero runs as well.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox only offense of the game came about in an unlikely way. With two outs and nobody on in the third, Jacoby Ellsbury cracked a single. Two out singles are usually harmless and doesnt bother pitchers much, this one however would be different. Nava worked a long at bat before finally cracking a two run home run for a 2-0 lead. Twice in the inning the Rays were one strike away from the inning ending, and if they had done it, we may have seen a 1-0 game. For that two run blast, Daniel Nava earns MVP of the game.
Tonight was another example of why Daniel Nava should be an all star. This guy has become my favorite red sox player this year and one of my favorites ever. Nava is 30 years old, and just recently working as a fast food attendant. He had a minor league contract with the Indians, but the Indians cut him, and, after 28 other teams passed on claiming him, the Red Sox bought out his contract from the Indians for one dollar. Yes, one dollar!! He made the team this year mostly because of injuries, and has shown he should have been a major leaguer all along. Hes hitting .300 this year with nine home runs, and has the highest on base percentage on any outfielder in the entire league. He is the Sox second best hitter to Pedroia, in terms of grinding out at bats, working counts, and he draws a ton of walks. Hes also good with the glove, as he is pretty good out in left field. I love this guy.
So the Sox take a pretty sizable 5 game lead over the Rays in the standings. Up next is a four game set in Baltimore, against whom the sox currently own a 3.5 game lead against.
Aceves ran with the opportunity, pitching 6 strong innings, allowing only one run, a homer from Evan Longoria, who homered in every game in the series. It wasnt without trouble. In the second, the Rays had the bases loaded, but Aceves got out of it. In the third, it was first and second for the Rays with zero outs, but Aceves got a double play and got out of that with zero runs as well.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox only offense of the game came about in an unlikely way. With two outs and nobody on in the third, Jacoby Ellsbury cracked a single. Two out singles are usually harmless and doesnt bother pitchers much, this one however would be different. Nava worked a long at bat before finally cracking a two run home run for a 2-0 lead. Twice in the inning the Rays were one strike away from the inning ending, and if they had done it, we may have seen a 1-0 game. For that two run blast, Daniel Nava earns MVP of the game.
Tonight was another example of why Daniel Nava should be an all star. This guy has become my favorite red sox player this year and one of my favorites ever. Nava is 30 years old, and just recently working as a fast food attendant. He had a minor league contract with the Indians, but the Indians cut him, and, after 28 other teams passed on claiming him, the Red Sox bought out his contract from the Indians for one dollar. Yes, one dollar!! He made the team this year mostly because of injuries, and has shown he should have been a major leaguer all along. Hes hitting .300 this year with nine home runs, and has the highest on base percentage on any outfielder in the entire league. He is the Sox second best hitter to Pedroia, in terms of grinding out at bats, working counts, and he draws a ton of walks. Hes also good with the glove, as he is pretty good out in left field. I love this guy.
So the Sox take a pretty sizable 5 game lead over the Rays in the standings. Up next is a four game set in Baltimore, against whom the sox currently own a 3.5 game lead against.
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