September 23, 2007

G156: Devil Rays 5, Red Sox 4

Down 4-0 after five, the Red Sox scored three times in the sixth, fell back 5-3, got within one on Cora's eighth inning dong, then went meekly in the ninth against Gas Can Reyes.

New York beat Toronto 7-5, so the East lead is back to 1.5. The Jays and Chokers play tomorrow afternoon while the Sox head back to Fenway. (Tigers also won today, so NY's magic number to eliminate them is 2.)

***

Tim Wakefield (4.73, 96 ERA+) / Edwin Jackson (5.99, 77 ERA+)

This is Wakefield's sixth start against Tampa Bay this year. In 30.1 innings, he's allowed 29 hits, 8 walks (against 24 strikeouts), a 3.56 ERA and a .643 OPS. He's made two starts at the Trop this year (13 IP, 0.69 ERA).

Blue Jays/MFY (McGowan/Mussina) at 1 PM.

323 comments:

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Amy said...

Wow, I get to post first. My hopes/predictions for today: Mussina chokes because the rotation got changed on him and disturbed his sensitive soul; Wake's knuckler bounces like crazy in the Trop, causing its usual effect on the Rays, and maybe, just maybe, Tek again gets on base a gazillion times and drives in several runs. I'm already too psyched to sit still and read the Sunday paper!

allan said...

83.2% to win the East.

David said...

On my way to the Trop...expecting to come home with a 3.5 game lead!

Amy said...

I like those odds--especially now that we have some momentum going our way and the Yankees have played two extra inning games, depleting their bull pen.

andy said...

Yeah 10 pitchers used yesterday for the MFY. How many did they have left?
Not to mention the toll the long games are taking on the legs of the starting fielders. I really got to hand it to Toronto. They kicked our ass and now they are really pummeling the Yankees.

Lord Lynch said...

I had the pleasure of standing outside the Trop in February on my road trip round Florida (when I got to go to a training session at Fort Myers).

I was not impressed...

The photos can be found on my blog. If anyone cares.....

Let us hope for an implosion at Yankee land. I once saw Carl Pavano pitch for the Yankees against the Jays. Unlike most Yankee fans, I've seen Pavano pitch. They lost!

Hallelujah. A day game.

Colin said...

Let's hope Wake, like Stella, got his groove back against the Rays. Also for any New Englanders out there, let's also root for the Pats, who I'm sure will be great against Buffalo.

CaKeY said...

Red Sox
Ellsbury-LF
Cora-2B
Ortiz-DH
Lowell-3B
Drew-RF
Crisp-CF
Hinske-1B
Mirabelli-C
Lugo-SS

D-Rays
Iwamura-3B
Velandia-2B
Pena-1B
Upton-CF
Young-RF
Casanova-C
Homes-LF
Guzman-DH
Wilson-SS

s1c said...

why is cora batting 2nd?

allan said...

why is cora batting 2nd?

I was going to post the same thing, then figured why bother? Maybe Tito doesn't want to lineup too top heavy. Or Cora made out the lineup.

OBP

Cora - .288
Lugo - .295
Crisp - .332

Who do you want up before Tiz and the Dr.?

What the hell ... Mirabelli - .299.

allan said...

Yes, the Stud has a better OBP than Slugo this year. Sigh.

CaKeY said...

I think he just doesnt mind wasting a Cora at-bat sac'ing Ellsbury over to 2nd or 3rd.

s1c said...

It's more than just the fact that slugo, ocoC and belli having higher obp's. How many times over the last three years have we heard Francona talk about not wanting two LH bats in a row, and here he has three. I would have ocoC hitting second here today.

Colin said...

Well I also figured Dusty looks a bit tired as of late and not hitting nearly as much as he did, so maybe a day off might strain things offensively but I'm confident the rest of the lineup can pick up the slack.

Rob said...

I'm gonna give a nice, hardy, GO DETROIT! right about now.

It's now OK for you guys to win again.

Now do it!
(fleeting effort? probably. does it make me feel better rooting for the tigers again? yep.)

Rob said...

Well Pedroia really needs a rest, I think. And remember, tomorrow's an off-day. So it's doubley effective for him.

Rob said...

yankees magic number for the wildcard is 3.

Rob said...

Mow down them Yanks, Chops!

s1c said...

never thought about it but I think Chad Finn is correct this is who Orsillo resembles.

Rob said...

Play ball!

Rob said...

This is the final road game of the season. Current road record: 45-35

allan said...

I was checking the W-L contest and have whittled down the possible winners.

The Sox will win between 92 and 99 games. Dice's ERA will be much higher than almost everyone predicted (a nine inning shutout, which he will not achieve, in his final start will = 4.21) so I took the highest guess in each win total category:

99 - Tom Greff
98 - Thomas Chan
97 - Jeff Davis
96 - Paul H.
95 - Franco Baseggio
94 - Chris Jones
93 - Matt B.
92 - Matt Meltzer

(Actually, I have the highest ERA guess at 98 wins, but I'm not really a contestant.)

Rob said...

TOR 3, NYY 0, TOP 2nd

woo!

allan said...

FSN - MLBTV is run by assholes.

Rob said...

Rays had 5 outfielders but could not defend against a walk to Big Papi. Ortiz walks down to first with a huge smile and puts his arm around Carlos Peña.

nixon33 said...

hey everybody!
dammit i have FSN too, todat. ugh.
im liking what i see in the bronx.
make that magic # MOVE!

Rob said...

OAK 0, CLE 2, BOT 3rd.

KC 1, DET 4, Mid 2nd

allan said...

Tor 2nd

Stairs single
Hill double
Zaun 1-3
Lind double, 2-0
Thigpen single, 3-0
McDonald L6
Johnson P4

Rob said...

Mets 0, FLA 0, TOP 3rd
PHI 1, WSH 1, BOT 5th

CAT-LIKE REFLEXES.

Amy said...

Hi, all. Just sent the family back to NY so got here just in time to see Wake's nice grab of that ball.

s1c said...

1-2-3 first is a-ok with me, now its time for ON FIRE etal to score some runs.

why I will always like Bill Lee - "Our pain isn't as bad as you might think. Dead bodies don't suffer." - Bill Lee, Red Sox pitcher, after Boston lost a one-game playoff to the Yankees, 1978

allan said...

Anyone else hate seeing Belly hold his mask while he catches popups one-handed?

One day, he's gonna drop one that would be an easy two-hand grab. It better not be in an important game.

s1c said...

One day, he's gonna drop one that would be an easy two-hand grab. It better not be in an important game

Well counting today I really think that will only be for three maybe four more games in his career so the chances are probably small.

Rob said...

Anyone else hate seeing Belly hold his mask while he catches popups one-handed?

Yeah, that's kind of annoying, but I'll live.

nixon33 said...

ish said...
Anyone else hate seeing Belly hold his mask while he catches popups one-handed?

Yeah, that's kind of annoying, but I'll live.


also that funky glove he uses to catch wake is a like a vaccuum.

allan said...

I like Lee because he called Billy Martin a "Nazi" and the Yankees "Brownshirts".

Plus he hates the Gerbil as much as we do, probably more.

nixon33 said...

i cant stand that jose molina gets a lot of clutch hits in a yankee uniform.

Amy said...

SHIT

Amy said...

at least MFY also are trailing

nixon33 said...

Amy said...
at least MFY also are trailing

not for long 3-2 now...

s1c said...

well since I forgot to check yesterday before 8 p.m. there is no beer in the house. Looks like its margaritaville for me today.

3-2 in dah bronx and McGowan at 50+ pitches in the bottom of the 2nd.

allan said...

i cant stand that jose molina gets a lot of clutch hits in a yankee uniform

that's the aura of the uniform. it makes even crappy players hit like hall of famers.

(some nyy fans actually believe this)

allan said...

Down 0-2?

1. It is early.

2. These are the Devil Rays.

Amy said...

Get some runs, please.

nixon33 said...

johnson could make the dicing catch tied up in the bronx. 1st and 3rd two outs.

s1c said...

Plus he hates the Gerbil as much as we do, probably more.

He loathes the Gerbil.

allan said...

LOOK EVERYBODY -- EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A NO-HITTER!!!
LOOK EVERYBODY -- EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A NO-HITTER!!!
LOOK EVERYBODY -- EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A NO-HITTER!!!
LOOK EVERYBODY -- EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A NO-HITTER!!!
LOOK EVERYBODY -- EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A NO-HITTER!!!
LOOK EVERYBODY -- EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A NO-HITTER!!!

Amy said...

Arrgghh, I have to go out for a while. Hope things improve on both fronts. Keep the faith.

Colin said...

Great...MFY just don't know when to quit. Now it's tied. Pray to God Toronto does what it did the last two games and strike right back.

Come on Jays bullpen and come on Sox offense...get to it!

nixon33 said...

is young trying to steal away the rookie of the year award from pedroia?

s1c said...

since this seemed to work yesterday, will try it again today.

Dear Devil Rays -

You suck, now roll over and play dead.

thanks,
RSN

Jim said...

Goddam COGECO blows off Red Sox in progress for a junior hockey game. Only 4 MLB games, rest of channels choked with NFL, NASCAR and Junior hockey. BLAME CANADA!

Colin said...

Thank you God...Abreu strikes out.

allan said...

Lyndon gets the 1st hit.

No bunting, Einstein.

s1c said...

That is so like Willie Wilson. He beat a freaking pitch out.

laura k said...

Goddam COGECO blows off Red Sox in progress for a junior hockey game.

OMG

Busy at work, so I'm just checking in.

I see it's tied in NY. Go Jays!

allan said...

Rays TV sponsored quote:

Francona says Tek "wills himself to be a winner".

Not often enough, Terry.

Rob said...

LOOK EVERYBODY -- EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A NO-HITTER!!!

I said that about Jesse Litsch the other day. Next batter, he gave up a hit.

*HITTING MOJO*

laura k said...

Oh, good idea, Ish. Allan: you're on.

nixon33 said...

ok papi time.

allan said...

Wake gets Pain-Yer and the one-out double is wasted.

You're on

On what?

Colin said...

Dear Devil Rays -

You suck, now roll over and play dead.

thanks,
RSN


My thoughts exactly. And Young, just give the RotY award to Pedroia. You're good but he's done more to contribute.

Colin said...

Oh come on Papi...

Colin said...

Wow...Godzilla strikes out and Slappy caught stealing 2nd. Mad love Jays.

allan said...

who was the last team to be the first team to clinch a playoff spot and then go on to win the world series?

trivia

s1c said...

From Chad Finn again in his 26 reasons to strongly dislike the Yankees.
2. Derek Jeter's casual awareness of the camera, especially his "signature" fist pump. I'm not saying I hope he drowns in a vat of Driven, but I might do a celebratory fist-pump myself if he did.

10. Don Zimmer, the cherubic, Pedro-chargin', steel-skulled baseball lifer who contributed to several Yankee pennants, most notably 1978


still 3-3 in dah bronx though A-rod did get caught stealing.

allan said...

Come on, Sox, this guy's got a 77 ERA+ and a 6.00 ERA.

Colin said...

Dear Sox offense,

WTF?

Sincerely,
Red Sox Nation

nixon33 said...

too much "private partying" last night?

allan said...

i saw that finn piece -- some good ones, some stupid ones. lots of mfy fans commenting too.

s1c said...

I am really, really, starting to hate delmon young.

nixon33 said...

i didnt realize the scouting report on jacoby was "HE HAS NO FUCKING ARM"

Colin said...

Sorry Tim, time to leave, and possibly not return until you're out of your funk.

Rob said...

some updates scores for you:
OAK 0, CLE 6, TOP 5th
KC 1, DET 6, TOP 5th
TOR 3, MFY 3, TOP 4th
-----------
PHI 2, WSH 3, TOP 7th
MIL 2, ATL 1, TOP 6th
NYM 2, FLA 2, BOT 5th
PIT 0, CHC 0, TOP 2nd


The last play showed how important it is for the pitcher to backup plays at the plate. When people finish chastising Ellsbury, Mirabelli, and Lowell (no idea who chastises who), but give Wakey Wakey some props.

Good throw from Belly.

Rob said...

my turn:

EDWIN JACKSON IS THROWING A NO-HITTER.
EDWIN JACKSON IS THROWING A NO-HITTER.
EDWIN JACKSON IS THROWING A NO-HITTER.
EDWIN JACKSON IS THROWING A NO-HITTER.
EDWIN JACKSON IS THROWING A NO-HITTER.
EDWIN JACKSON IS THROWING A NO-HITTER.
EDWIN JACKSON IS THROWING A NO-HITTER.

allan said...

Umm, ish, LBJ got a hit.

Rob said...

Oh, wait.

They have a hit.

My bad.

EDWIN JACKSON IS THROWING A ONE HITTER!

Rob said...

I was just making sure you were paying attention, RS. :P

allan said...

No no no, son, you're doin' it all wrong (/foghorn)

EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A SHUTOUT!
EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A SHUTOUT!
EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A SHUTOUT!
EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A SHUTOUT!
EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A SHUTOUT!
EDWIN JACKSON IS PITCHING A SHUTOUT!

allan said...

jays have 2 on in the 4th?

allan said...

is dougie goin' deep today?

Rob said...

Sterling: Melky Cabrera is a defensive weapon.

milk dud cut down zaun trying to score on a mcdonald single, end of the inning.

nixon33 said...

zaun gets thrown out at the plate.
HEY JAYS DONT RUN ON THE YANKS OUTFIELD ARMS (except damon/matsui)
christ

Rob said...

is dougie goin' deep today?

i guess so... it'd be nice, if he's gonna jack one like that, to hit it to left field or right field. i hear it's closer to the wall those ways.

nixon33 said...

bullshit. molina never tagged him.

Rob said...

apparently the replays showed molina never was close to tagging zaun at home plate. waldman: molina must have been two feet away from zaun with his glove.

apparently if the ball beats the runner these days, you're out.

allan said...

Sterling: Melky Cabrera is a defensive weapon.

Of course he is.

Maybe the MFY will sign him to a huge-ass deal and have him in CF for the next decade. That would be nice.

He has a .738 career OPS.

Hinske's OPS this year is .742.

s1c said...

Umm, ish, LBJ got a hit

You can't really blame ish, that was probably during a Geffner inning so, if he blinked he missed it.

Yankees got a break a as Molina missed a tag on zaun at home but the umpire called him out. Unbelievable.

Colin said...

Hmmmm...I certainly hope we can prey on reliever meat like we always have fun doing.

Jim said...

Jays just got robbed at home. Zaun was safe. Molina missed the tag. But WTF are they doing sending these slow buggers on Milk Dud's arm? Have they not learned anything over the last 2 days?

Before the cable guy blew off the Sox game, I caught the Tampa graphic on their "Scouting Report" of Jackson. #1 was "Stay Tall", right beside his 4-15 record and .599 ERA. You don't want this guy to "STAY" on anything.

Rob said...

You can't really blame ish, that was probably during a Geffner inning so, if he blinked he missed it.

This is true. I actually hadn't switched the radio back to the tv yet, because I was cooking a couple of chicken quesadillas.

As Mirabelli has a passedballa moment, Jose Molina bunts with Minky at first and pops it up.

laura k said...

don't worry, we'll win the division despite the umps in the bronx.

nixon33 said...

well this sucks.

Colin said...

Yep...leave Tim. We love you and all, but it's for the greater good.

allan said...

Hmmmmm .....

steaming spinach: good

cooking chicken quesadillas: bad

Rob said...

the one thing i don't like about wakefield, is while chien-ming wang is always "one pitch away from a double play", wakefield is always one pitch away from a gofer ball.

can't really blame him. it's the way of the knuckleball.

laura k said...

4-0? this is getting annoying.

Rob said...

cooking chicken quesadillas: bad

well i'm done cooking them, thank god.

but they were tasty.

allan said...

passedbelli

allan said...

sucky thing is wakefield DID have a double play in this inning.

then BB, SB, 1B, BB, PB, BB ...

Rob said...

laz diaz had himself a phil rizutto moment. wasn't watching.

Colin said...

Oh thank God again.

allan said...

9-1-2 this inning

gotta break thru now ...

s1c said...

Dear Devil Rays,

Here's the thing, if you are going to refuse to roll over and die. Do us a favor and a refuse to quit this coming tue-thu.

That is all,
RSN

allan said...

lugo line single to left to start it.

NO BUNTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

nixon33 said...

rally.

Rob said...

notice that borderline pitch? looks like it should have been strike three. laz diaz might have called that one a ball as a make-up call, perhaps.

or maybe not.

Amy said...

I am back. Two on, no outs...let's go, goddammit

allan said...

will tito have einstein bunt here?

s1c said...

Francona - Do not bunt with Cora here, would like to see ORTIZ actually bat.

that is all!

nixon33 said...

RALLY!

Amy said...

bases loaded....COME ON, PAPI!

Rob said...

Cora has some very interesting swings. Quick, compact swing to get that low and inside pitch.

DUCKS ON THE POND for the big man!

s1c said...

Juiced for Tiz. Lets do some damage.

allan said...

hey, it's wily mo!!!!

nixon33 said...

EVERYBODYS SAFE!!!!!

Amy said...

INFIELD HIT FOR PAPI! Must be a first. Love it!

s1c said...

Juiced for mikey!

keep the line moving here boys.

Amy said...

Let's go, DOC!

nixon33 said...

COME ON DOC!

nixon33 said...

damn, ok JD yr turn

Colin said...

Come on Doc! Seriously!

Amy said...

At least drive in ONE run with a sac fly!

Amy said...

Full count...come on, at least WALK one in.

s1c said...

ON FIRE!!!

Amy said...

OK, at least he did the least he could do.

Rob said...

WHAT an at-bat by Drew! He was down 0-2 and walks!

nixon33 said...

YEEEEAAAHHHH!
JD "I LOVE YOU DREW" WITH THE GOOD EYE!

allan said...

Burning BB!

Rob said...

23rd run walked in for the Red Sox this season.

allan said...

at 101 pitches.

work it ococ

laura k said...

damn, i'm sorry i'm missing this game! and no game tomorrow. but i won't be selfish, all that matters is the W.

Amy said...

ocoC! DO IT PLEASE. This guy has exceeded his average pitch count---let's take advantage.

s1c said...

!!!!ocoC

nixon33 said...

HO LEE SHIT!
YEAHH OCOC!!!!!!

Rob said...

OCOCOCOCOCOCOCOC. My man with the FRO ACTION.

laura k said...

OCOC!!!!!

allan said...

Can I get a little FUCK YEAH from the congregation?

Amy said...

Gee, one of my posts didn't make it---the one where I told Drew I loved him and called him Mr. On Fire. Guess it got lost, but I did want you all to notice my changed attitude.

Rob said...

FUCK YEAH!

nixon33 said...

WEEEEEEEEE! THE MERRY GO ROUND!

Amy said...

FUCK YEAH!

Amy said...

Hinske just above the Mendoza line....

Amy said...

DAMN. He stays below the Mendoza line.

allan said...

8.04 ERA?

.333 opp bat avg

cool.

go eric.

Amy said...

I mean just above.

nixon33 said...

ugh. oh well good rally..but still fuck. and the yanks take the lead while all this is happening

allan said...

From FUCK YEAH to FUCK YOU.

Amy said...

ugh...just saw Yankee score.

Rob said...

1st and 3rd, 1 out, 1 in. Make that 2 outs. Milk dud K's against the Pitcher Formally Known as Chops (Brian Tallet), relieving Chops.

4-3 Yankees with Minky batting.

Lord Lynch said...

LL says "Hinske. Poor Show Old bean."

allan said...

sexy lips in.

Rob said...

little dribbler by minky, cued to third, adams fumbles it, it's called a hit. a-rod scores, it's 5-3

allan said...

I see a Border Patrol ad behind the plate.

NOW HIRING!

Rob said...

molina... more clutch hitting action. RBI single, 6-3 mfy

nixon33 said...

hey whattaya know, another clutch 2 out hit for molina, 6-3 yanks

Amy said...

Damn, Ish, you are a bearer of bad news.

s1c said...

At least hinske is consistent. .211 ba vs righties, .211 vs lefties.

Need SL to be quick and get the O going again.

Amy said...

Uh oh. Not liking this.

allan said...

dp pls

Rob said...

outta town:
OAK 2, CLE 6, TOP 8th
KC 2, DET 6, TOP 8th
---------------
PHI 2, WSH 5, TOP 9th
MIL 4, ATL 1, BOT 7th
NYM 2, FLA 3, BOT 7th
PIT 0, CHC 1, BOT 4th

Lord Lynch said...

The bottom of our order is hardly murderer's row. More like Suicide Street.

Amy said...

Yankees finally out. Thanks, Damon.

Rob said...

Damn, Ish, you are a bearer of bad news.

:(

allan said...

so as per the other two games, jays will come right back with at least 2, right?

allan said...

come on mets -- the times had a graphic comparing you to the 64 phils. start winning!!!!

nixon33 said...

Lord Lynch said...
The bottom of our order is hardly murderer's row. More like Suicide Street.


hahahaha

Amy said...

DAMN. I don't think Tavarez has it today. Can we get him out of there? We aren't trying to build his confidence, are we?

Rob said...

Tigers get another run. 7-2

Amy said...

So RS, you rooting for the Mets? My son in law is an avid Mets fan, so I am also.

allan said...

We aren't trying to build his confidence, are we?

Yeah, that's like Steibrenner's old "I have faith in x" bit. Manager usually fired within 2 weeks.

Amy said...

FUCK! What was that throw?

nixon33 said...

F.U.C.K.

s1c said...

dip me in butter and call me biscuit. Damn it Sl, that really, really sucked.

Rob said...

Phillies are rallying in the 9th. 2 on, 2 out, a run in. 5-3 Nats. Can they do it?

Amy said...

OK, at least he is yanking him now.

(BTW, I think my swearing has definitely gotten much worse since finding this blog. Or perhaps it's more due to the series of bad games the Sox had in the last week or so.)

Lord Lynch said...

Nothing like handing back any momentum you've created.

Getting rapidly fed up with Sundays.

allan said...

yeah. the pedro factor. plus if the mets do well, mfy fans get annoyed.

nixon33 said...

he defense he did show bunt on the first pitch, ya know

nixon33 said...

come on corey

allan said...

Gameday says "sac bunt"

no hit, no fielder's choice, no error -- WTF?

but an rbi??

Rob said...

PHI 3, WSH 5, FINAL.

Rob said...

safety squeeze, tavarez fielded it, threw home not in time. so everyone was safe.

Amy said...

Phew, got them. Now let's score three runs at least.

Rob said...

HEADS UP PLAY TO END THE INNING.

And look at Bryan Corey! Getting us out of the inning without further damage!

s1c said...

what a freaking wierd dp. now score some fragging runs.

allan said...

there's a dp -- that's why you practice those plays in spring training.

nixon33 said...

nicely done

allan said...

The ol' 1-6-5-2.

...

BATS!!!!!

Lord Lynch said...

Without tempting fate, with a current ERA of 0.00 in 6.1 innings pitched, can we go overboard on Corey like another team might with JtC?

No. Because sense prevails.

Bottom of the order. Unleash Futility.

Rob said...

mirabelli being mirabelli.

allan said...

Down 5-3 in the 7th ain't shit.

Let's go Lugo.

Amy said...

Two Ks in row. Come on, LBJ.

Lord Lynch said...

That looked bad - even on gameday.

Do we have an allergy to sweeping series?

allan said...

Why not have Tek bat for Belly with Wake gone? And then Tek can will himself to be a winner?

Nah, better to have Belly whiff.

Rob said...

NYM 6, FLA 3, TOP 8th

Amy said...

Abreu caught stealing. No more scoring in NY at least. Go, Jays.

nixon33 said...

i want to see pedroia lead off next inning.

Rob said...

Wright BB
Anderson single
Alou single, 3-3
Delgado DONG, 6-3

allan said...

Hell, why not have Tek bat and put Cash in if the captain needs the day off?

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