David Heuschkel, Courant:
Add shortstop Alex Gonzalez to the growing list of injured Red Sox. He was not in the lineup because of a sore right knee. Gonzalez hurt it leaping for a line drive on the last road trip.Steve Buckley, Herald:
Gonzalez acknowledged his left knee has bothered him, but not so much that he has to be out of the starting lineup. ... Francona explained the shortstop's ailing left knee needed a rest.Ian Browne, RedSox.com:
Shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who has had his right knee taped heavily the last few days, was replaced by Alex Cora in Wednesday's lineup.Yesterday afternoon, in the Globe's Extra Bases blog, Kelsie Smith:
Francona, uncertain which knee is hurting the shortstop, said Gonzalez has been limping a bit and could play but would be uncomfortable.??? (I hope it's not both knees.)
Gonzo, who is hitting .094 (3-for-32) in his last nine games: "I'm fine with my knee. I can play with my knee like that." ... Which knee, Alex? Arrrgg.
David Ortiz thought Magglio Ordonez had caught what turned out to be his 42nd home run of the season. "This right field has got me all [messed] up." ... From the bullpen, Kyle Snyder said, "It was definitely capable of being caught. If [Ordonez] had a split-second better jump, I definitely think he would have had a shot."
Coco Crisp is batting .333 in August and .345 (10-for-29) during the current homestand, raising his batting average to .281.
Two possible relief pitchers are off the market. Scott Schoeneweis was traded to the Reds and it looks like Baltimore will hang onto LaTroy Hawkins. ... Keith Foulke likely will be activated Friday.
Trot Nixon will probably return during the Sox's next homestand, which begins on August 31. ... Tim Wakefield may return a few days before that, in Seattle on August 27.
Last night's game was the 5,000th of Bruce Froemming's 36-year career. Only the legendary Bill Klem has umpired more games (5,374). Froemming's first game was at Shea Stadium in 1971, when a Mets/Expos was called after five innings because of snow.
Francona said that Wells's performance -- allowing Boston to avoid a sweep -- "quieted things down a little bit". ... Heh. That won't last long.
Not apropos of the thread, but...Yanks down 7-2 as Markakis hits a 3R HR. Off of Villone no less, who replaced an ineffective Wright.
ReplyDeleteToo early to celebrate, but it's nice when the wind blows the other way. Yanks have gotten WAY better pitching than they should have been able to expect this year. But the staff is very welcome to fall apart if it wants to.