Papi gave the Sox a 1-0 lead with his 46th HR leading off the fourth. Boston got a second run with a bases-loaded grounder from Doug Mirabelli in the seventh. Orlando Cabrera thought he could get an inning-ending DP at second and ran to the bag rather than toss to Adam Kennedy (big mistake). Alex Cora beat him to the bag (so the play on Mirabelli at first was only the second out), Mike Lowell scored, and Boston took a 2-0 lead.
The Angels scored in bottom of the 7th, but Wily Mo Pena threw out Juan Rivera at the plate -- Mirabelli stood there, not moving, dekeing Rivera until the last second when he grabbed Pena's throw on the fly and quickly applied the tag.
Josh Beckett was superb (6-4-1-2-3, 71) but had to leave after walking the leadoff batter in the seventh because of a small cut on his right middle finger. Mike Timlin (20th hold) and Jonathan Papelbon (34th save) set the Angels down after that.
5.5 GB. Get on the bus!
***
The Globe reports that the MRI on Manny Ramirez's knee was negative (no structural damage) and diagnosed as patella tendonitis. ... Jason Varitek says he's a week away from playing, either on a minor league assignment or with the Red Sox.
Tonight's lineup:
Crisp, CF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Youkilis, 1B
Hinske, RF
Lowell, 3B
Pena, LF
Cora, SS
Mirabelli, CJosh Beckett (5.35) / Jered Weaver (1.95), 10 PM
Weaver is 9-0; no AL rookie has ever begun a season 10-0. He scattered three hits over seven shutout innings on Friday against Seattle.
Beckett has gone five straight starts without getting a win. Last time out, he allowed seven hits, nine walks and nine runs to the Yankees in only 5.2 innings. Was that the start that finally pushes Beckett to get his head on straight and start pitching? We'll see.
35 games remain. The Red Sox are 6.5 games back in the East and 4.5 back in the wild card (the White Sox pounded the Tigers 10-0 this afternoon).
No word on Manny's status for tonight.
Loretta back to back nights off?
ReplyDeleteCoco 2ab's 4 pitches way to work the count.
ReplyDeletePedroia saw 8 pitches in his 3rd inning AB.
ReplyDeleteAnd PAPI goes deep for #46!!!!!!!!
1-0.
And he looked at Weaver after he hit the ball, according to the Angels announcer, who stuck to his claim even as we watched a replay of Ortiz watching just the ball the whole time. (?)
ReplyDeleteI am watching the game on the computer did Beckett hit Vlad on purpose with first base open?
ReplyDeletefirst base was open, whether it was intentional, who knows?
ReplyDeleteseattle 4-1 over MFY after 3.
...
jere: are you the guy who said peralta's dog says "brak, brak"?
beckett pc thru 4:
ReplyDelete17-8-7 4 -- 36
jere: are you the guy who said peralta's dog says "brak, brak"?
ReplyDeleteYes I am. June '05 archives of my blog. Weird you mention this now, since another of my "pets" last season was the lampshade dog (which was just an optical illusion) behind the plate at the Seattle stadium, and I'm seeing "him" tonight as the Yanks are in Seattle. You know, between pitches of the Sox game.
Can you believe what this Angels announcer is saying? Telling us that the kid in the crowd who got a ball is doing what you should do if you're in Little League--throw the ball into your glove and take it out over and over again to get used to the exchange? I hope this guy doesn't coach Little League, because all the kids would quit: "No pizza til you've thrown the ball into your glove a thousand times!" "Awwww" "You wanna make it two thousand?!"
Cora had so much time to flip that ball normally! Come on!
ReplyDeleteBut Beckett gets the DP! Who is this guy on the mound for us tonight?
ReplyDeletejere: are you the guy who said peralta's dog says "brak, brak"?
ReplyDeleteYes I am. June '05 archives of my blog.
Brilliant stuff. ... I'm here to tell you that that's what you will be remembered for when you pass on.
You know what?
ReplyDeleteWe are doing this.
"Brilliant stuff. ... I'm here to tell you that that's what you will be remembered for when you pass on."
ReplyDeleteWowsers, Penny. I guess thanks.
jere: are you the guy who said peralta's dog says "brak, brak"?
ReplyDeleteYes I am.
That was the funniest thing I read all season. I still think of it whenever I see Jhonny.
Beckett throws well again with Mirabelli behind the plate. Don't wait 7 starts to pair them together again please.
ReplyDeleteI've been calling for Belli to catch Beckett since the last go around, when Beckett had arguably his best start of the season. Of course this means Tito won't do it again for at least a couple turns of the rotation.
L-Girl: Thanks. And thanks for not mentioning my mortality in your compliment, unlike someone else we know. ha.
ReplyDelete