May 29, 2007

G51: Red Sox 4, Cleveland 2

The lay-off didn't bother Josh Beckett at all. He faced the minimum 18 hitters through the first six innings, allowing only one hit (Jhonny Peralta in the 1st) and one walk (Peralta in the 4th).

He gave up two runs in the seventh on a one-out single to Peralta (again!), a triple to Travis Hafner that eluded JD Drew in the right field corner, and an infield grounder. Those runs cut the Boston lead from 4-0 to 4-2. Brendan Donnelly, Javier Lopez and Hideki Okajima finished it off. (box)

Kevin Youkilis doubled in Julio Lugo in the first inning (21 game hitting streak), then hit a solo home run to begin the home sixth (9th consecutive multi-hit game). Jason Varitek also homered.

In Toronto, the Yankees lost 3-2, as the Blue Jays got one of their runs on a straight steal of home by Aaron Hill (only the second occurrence in Blue Jays history). Toronto scored in the first inning and the game stayed 1-0 until the seventh. The Yankees tied it in the top half, but Toronto went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the inning. New York tied it again at 2-2 in the top of the eighth, but the Jays scored in the bottom of the eighth to retake the lead. The Yankees went down 1-2-3 in the 9th. ... New York is now 14.5 GB.

***

Jeremy Sowers (6.29, 69 ERA+) / Josh Beckett (2.66, 167 ERA+)
             W    L    GB
Red Sox 35 15 ----
Orioles 24 27 11.5
Blue Jays 23 27 12
Devil Rays 21 28 13.5
Yankees 21 28 13.5
The Red Sox's 35-15 start ties the 1986 team for the second best in club history.

On June 3, 1986, the Red Sox were 35-15 and led the Yankees by 4.5 games. ... Fifty games into the 1946 season -- June 11 -- the Red Sox were 41-9 and led the Yankees by 10 games.

Manny Delcarmen, who pitched only one inning since being called up on May 21, was optioned to Pawtucket to make room for Beckett.

Redsox.com:
After beginning the season 0-4 with a 7.13 ERA in his first eight starts, Sowers had his best start of the year on Thursday against the Royals. He went seven strong innings and allowed one run on six hits -- all of them singles -- while walking one and striking out one.

36 comments:

Sean O said...

After beginning the season 0-4 with a 7.13 ERA in his first eight starts, Sowers had his best start of the year on Thursday AGAINST THE ROYALS. He went seven strong innings and allowed one run on six hits -- all of them singles -- while walking one and striking out one.

Emphasis might be from me.

I'm there with my girlfriend tonight, the Indians fan. It should be interesting. I have a seat in GS 32, and she has a seat in GS 3, so we'll probably end up standing together behind the plate. So if you see a 5'10 woman with an Indians cap strangling a tall irish kid with a Nixon shirt on, that'll be us.

She looks a good deal like Amalie Benjamin (the Tina Fey Prototype, aka the indie kid's dream), so I'm pretty happy with life right now.

Zenslinger said...

...so I'm pretty happy with life right now.

So we should remind you of your girlfriend to bring you down to earth after each Matsuzaka walk? Not trot out his career numbers or scouting reports?

Heh.

Sean O said...

I haven't even commented on Matsuzaka for almost a month now. Even when he was sick and getting pounded, I blamed Tito for sending him out there.

And I think I'm perfectly justified in fearing Papelbot now. Dude just cannot throw strikes when I'm there.

Why haven't they posted the lineups yet? I'm obviously bored off my ass at work.

allan said...

I think I'm perfectly justified in fearing Papelbot now.

Your bout of sanity was quite brief.

Jere said...

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070529&content_id=1992252&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Why don't they just come out and say it? "Clemens won't pitch in this Red Sox series under any circumstance."

Sean O said...

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

SP - Josh Beckett

Indians
1. Grady Sizemore, CF
2. Jhonny Peralta, SS
3. Travis Hafner, DH
4. Victor Martinez, C
5. Trot Nixon, RF
6. Ryan Garko, 1B
7. Dave Dellucci, LF
8. Josh Barfield, 2B
9. Mike Rouse, 3B

SP -- Jeremy Sowers

Don't get me wrong, I love seeing Pena, but I miss seeing Ortiz here. Papi and Pronk should be in the same game.

allan said...

Why don't they just come out and say it? "Clemens won't pitch in this Red Sox series under any circumstance."

I would say this series is a perfect time to resurrect that hit of yesteryear (1999, to be exact):

"WHERE IS RAH-GER?"

s1c said...

"WHERE IS RAH-GER?" Agreed!

Jere said...

Great call by TC: If Clemens doesn't pitch this weekend, that means they're paying 28 million for a number four starter.

Zenslinger said...

I could not help think of the "body language" comment of Joe Torre's earlier today. Watching Beckett induce a pop-up to end the 2nd, you have Pedroia, Lugo and Crisp converging. Crisp calls it, and the other two guys turn around and start jogging back to the dugout before it lands in Crisp's glove. It wasn't a tough play, but the fact that they have this confidence says something. If you're the Yankees right now, maybe the two infielders are anxiously watching him catch it, y'know?

Zenslinger said...

Quiet on this here blog. Too quiet.

Still Sox 1-0.

Sean O said...

Manny crushed that, shocked it wasn't out.

Donnelly in, so okaji will get the 9th.

Jere said...

Both teams* won at about the same time tonight. Another perfect night. 14.5.

The steal of home was awesome, as A-Rod scratched his butt.

*Sox, and Yanks' opponent.

thatdietcokegirl said...

loved the o-ka-ji-ma chant in the 8th ;D

loving all of this.

maybe it's quiet cause we've all died and gone to heaven? telepathy at this point...no need to speak :)

thatdietcokegirl said...

9th, rather.

allan said...

Watched away from the computer tonight, flipping to the Jays between innings.

(Thanks for ignoring the now-deleted spam.)

allan said...

Runs: Toronto 3, New York 2.
Errors: Toronto 3, New York 2.

Guess which two MFY made the Es?

Uhhh, CI and Slappy?

Ding, ding, ding!!!

These questions are too easy.

Jere said...

Those two also reached on consecutive errors in the eighth, leading to the tying run on a bloop hit. In the past, this was the key to another cheap Yankee win. In '07, the Jays just got the run right back and shut 'em down in the ninth.

laura k said...

I haven't even commented on Matsuzaka for almost a month now.

Mr Sock, can you run some numbers on this, please?

And I think I'm perfectly justified in fearing Papelbot now. Dude just cannot throw strikes when I'm there.

He got the save, and the Sox won. What else matters?

Oh yeah, I remember - what your girlfriend looks like.

laura k said...

TWELVE GAME LEAD

and

YANKEES 14.5 GAMES BACK

!!!!!!!!!!

laura k said...

we've all died and gone to heaven?

It's very possible.

This is turning into a magical season. I never use that word lightly.

allan said...

Mr Sock, can you run some numbers on this, please?

Since April 29, eh?

Stay tuned ...

s1c said...

Yankees are 0-3 vs Toronto and in 4 games will have faced Halladay 0 times. Meanwhile Sox have faced Halladay 3 times and are 2 and 1 against him.

L-girl said... This is turning into a magical season. I never use that word lightly.

I agree, it is turning into a special season.

allan said...

Tue May 29, 4:00 PM
Sean said: "I haven't even commented on Matsuzaka for almost a month now."


So that would be since about April 29?

Sean commented on Matsuzaka on May 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 14, and 15.

(I stopped at the 15th to go to bed.)

Allen said...

Aaron Hill stole home, Adam Lind scored the winning run on a SF.

...go Sox!

Jere said...

Did you know Babe Ruth stole home ten times? Actually, Allan probably did know that.

Benjamin said...

Amusingly, the A-rod butt-scratching came after Hill had advanced to third on an A-rod error. Fantastic.

Zenslinger said...

The looks on those faces in the Yankee dugout were just...just sad.

Sean commented on Matsuzaka on May 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 14, and 15.

My comment was purely poking fun, I promise, Sean!

allan said...

Hill -- corrected.

laura k said...

(I stopped at the 15th to go to bed.)

But now you're awake again. :)

allan said...

Sean on May 29: "I haven't even commented on Matsuzaka for almost a month now."

Since April 29, Sean has commented on Matsuzaka on May 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 24, 25.

May 25!

Maybe Amalie Jr. can buy Sean a calendar!

laura k said...

I'm no math genius, but I think May 25 is not "almost a month" from May 29.

allan said...

"Time passes slowly up here in the mountains
We sit beside bridges and walk beside fountains
Catch the wild fishes that float through the stream
Time passes slowly when you're lost in a dream."

tim said...

I'm no math genius, but I think May 25 is not "almost a month" from May 29.

i'm pretty sure sean meant the uber-criticism of DK. i think its really been tame lately, this whole debate is moot :p

tim said...

looking at the box...

Outfield assists: Crisp (Peralta at 1st base).

someone please explain. peralta didn't tag up?

allan said...

Hafner hit a ball to shallow CF. Crisp jogged in with his hands down as though the ball would fall. Peralta was running on the pitch. Coco then made a basket catch at his waist (gutsy move) and easily doubled Peralta off first. Duoble Paly.