LOB-otomy!Red Sox - 222 202 32x - 15
It was a night of squandered opportunities -- 13 hits, 5 walks, 1 Devil Ray error -- but Boston prevailed, because, well, Tampa Bay sucks.
Josh Beckett was strong (6-4-0-1-7) but threw 101 pitches in six innings. Keith Foulke pitched a clean seventh, Mike Timlin struggled in the eighth (one out, then three straight singles and a force play), and Jonathan Papelbon jogged in for a four-out save.
He struck out Ty Wigginton to end the eighth -- and then seemed a bit off in the ninth. He threw nine pitches to Greg Norton (not this cool guy) (single) and eight pitches to Toby Hall (pop to right). After his sixth pitch to Hall, Papelbon shook off Jason Varitek three times before the catcher called time. Then Papelbon shook him off again, before delivering a pitch. Papelbon was not throwing his split as much, relying much more on fastballs, which were not up to his usual velocity. (Of Pap's 17 pitches to the first two batters in the ninth, nine were fouled off.)
Papelbon regained some control and got Russell Branyan looked at a 96 mph fastball, then got Dave Hollins to ground to second. ... And the water was dirty. ... 16 saves in 16 chances for Mr. 0.36 ERA.
Also: While the Sox were batting in the bottom of the eighth, many fans were doing the wave. If I were president of the Red Sox, any fan doing the wave at any time during any game would be subject to a lifetime ban from Fenway Park. ... John Henry, I suggest you introduce such a scheme.
****
Beckett (4.19) / Waechter (6.63), 7 PM
Redsox.com says Doug Waechter
made his first start out of the bullpen on Saturday ... He allowed three runs over six innings on six Marlins hits, walking three and striking out two. It was a big improvement from his last outing, in which he allowed seven runs on 11 hits over seven innings in his longest outing of the year. Waechter lasted just 2.2 innings at Boston on April 19, surrendering seven runs (six earned) on five hits and three walks for his first loss of the season.
10 comments:
aw yeah! great strike-out to end the 8th from pap. love that splitter ;D
They do the wave at every game at Fenway...
And that A-Rod thing was definitely phony--like everything else he does.
Yeah, I can't stand the stupid wave either. Just watch the d@mn game, you morons.
They do the wave at every game at Fenway...
Get 'em out!! OUT!!
...
(And these fans bitch about Manny's supposed lack of attention? ... Ooooh, look, it's coming around again! Wheee!! ... Assholes.)
No self-respecting baseball fan should ever do the wave. In Fenway of all places...! An abomination.
I absolutely can't comprehend how someone will stand up and start yelling for everyone to start a wave DURING, say, a Manny at bat. (Which actually happened in section 23, when I was there last Monday against the yanks!
Beckett did look like the ace he was made out to be last night. He should feast on these TB type teams.
Lasting only six puzzled me though. Some TB batters did have long at bats with a lot of fouls.
He can go more than 101 pitches, can't he. I'd like a portal into Tito's mind, sometimes.
Let's hope Beckett can maintain consistency.
Even with half a brain, like someone said on NESN, he can't help but profit by the company he's been keeping, Schilling, Nipper and Varitek. Seems like he's listening and learning, and you can only give credit to someone willing to keep on learning.
We will learn somewhat what to expect from David (Foot-in-mouth) Wells tonight, but the thought of relying on him every 5th day is kinda scary, because you know that knee can go at any time, and who doesn't think it will and soon.
I guess we can look forward to Lester joing the Big Club at some point in the season if he keeps on track down in Pawtucket. We will need help in the rotation, from somewhere, that is for sure.
THE WAVE
The wave doesn't bother me too much, but I think it does point up the fact that many people go to Fenway simply because it is a hot ticket, prestigious, and not because they are passionate baseball fans.
That idea irritates me more than the wave does.
Lasting only six puzzled me though. ... He can go more than 101 pitches, can't he.
Beckett told the press that it was a tough 101 pitches. Tito says he thought about extending him, but he decided to go to the pen.
Wise move. No need to overwork Beckett's arm in May. And it gave Foulke more work, after his Yankee debacle.
Wells: At least we know that when his knee goes, he'll go. He will retire rather than do any more rehabbing.
Lester: Chris Snow also had some stuff on him in his Minors notebook today.
I'm the only purist in America who likes the wave. It distracts the pitcher. And you can absolutely, positively, continue to watch a game while standing up occassionally. You can even keep score while the wave's going on. I know.
Jeez -- there's 20 seconds between pitches and standing up/sitting back down takes three. What am I missing here? And am I alone in thinking that it's LOOKS cool? WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU PEOPLE? HEY! LET GO OF ME! THE NSA GOT TO YOU, TOO?! AH-YEEEEEE!
I like how the wave has become unique to Fenway. However, the only official wave starts in section 34/35, is started between innings or during a blowout, and goes clockwise. All other waves are unauthorized, and are usually started by drunks who are literally missing pitches to turn around and tell the crowd to start the wave.
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