April 7, 2007

G5: Rangers 8, Red Sox 4

One way to tell your night is not going well: it's the sixth inning and the opposing team's leadoff hitter (Kenny Lofton in this case) has already batted five times.

Tavarez retired the first five Rangers -- three grounders and two strikeouts -- but then imploded. Nine of the next 12 Texas batters reached base; four of them scored, wiping out a 2-0 Red Sox lead.

In the top of the sixth, Jason Varitek's RBI double made it 4-3 (scoring JD Drew, who had two more hits), but in the bottom half, Kyle Snyder allowed a double, then JC Romero -- pitching for the 4th time in five games -- allowed five hits to five batters, including a first-pitch two-run home run to Sammy Sosa. And it was 8-3.

Everyone in the bullpen not named Papelbon pitched. Eric Hinske took over at first base in the seventh and singled in the ninth.

And we drop to 4th with a 2-3 record. Tampa Bay, Toronto and New York are all 2-2.

***

Julian Tavarez (with snake oil smeared on his arm) / Kevin Millwood, 8 PM

David Ortiz -- only 2-for-15 so far this year -- is 5-for-9 with three homers and seven RBIs against Millwood.

Millwood pitched five innings against the Angels on Opening Day, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks. Texas lost 4-1.

6 comments:

s1c said...

The question is will we see Hinske at first? Eric is 4 for 8 against Millwood while Youkilis is 1 for 4. Surprisingly Varitek is 7 for 18 against Millwood. More at the usual places.

allan said...

Yanks trail O's 7-3 after 7 innings.

Then Giambi hits a 3-run HR in the bottom of the 8th. 7-6.

Slappy hits a walk-off grand slam -- into the black -- in the bottom of the 9th. 10-9 win.

I guess he's a True Yankee now.

allan said...

The GS was also with 2 outs in bottom of the 9th.

allan said...

No Hinske.

1. Julio Lugo, SS
2. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. J.D. Drew, RF
6. Mike Lowell, 3B
7. Jason Varitek, C
8. Coco Crisp, CF
9. Dustin Pedroia, 2B

1. Kenny Lofton, CF
2. Jerry Hairston, 2B
3. Michael Young, SS
4. Mark Teixeira, 1B
5. Sammy Sosa, DH
6. Hank Blalock, 3B
7. Brad Wilkerson, LF
8. Nelson Cruz, RF
9. Gerald Laird, C

Cora may start tomrrow, though.

Unknown said...

Snake Oil.. 2007's bloody sock?

s1c said...

was working on my preveiw for tomorrow nights game and had that Cora should start. He is batting .385 against Padilla. Also, a lot of times I have noticed that Tito likes to rest at least one starter on night games leaving a city so am not really surprised that Cora will probably start.