Manny, again in the second spot, went 3-for-3 with a walk, Pedroia scored four times with a walk, two doubles and a home run, Ortiz smacked three hits, including two doubles off the LCF wall (he has 50, the 7th Sock to do so), Lowell singled three times and drove in five, and the Red Sox cruised to victory.
Magic number is 2.
Lester struck out nine in 4.2 innings, though he also allowed seven hits, three walks and five runs. Synder, Lopez, Timlin, Gagne and Tavarez relieved.
We had the computer/GDGD outside and once the sun went down, L got WTIC on the box. I think Pedroia's sixth inning dong was when we tuned in. I brought out a lamp to plug in so I could keep scoring in the autumn chill.
***
Joe Blanton (3.84, 114 ERA+) / Jon Lester (4.45, 102 ERA+)
Early start -- 5:00 PM! At ThreadSox.
From the Globe:
ReplyDeleteManny Ramirez was back in the lineup, hitting in the No. 2 spot for the second time since his return Tuesday from a strained left oblique that kept him out of the lineup since August 28. To the lineups we go ....
BOSTON
2B Dustin Pedroia
LF Manny Ramirez
DH David Ortiz
3B Mike Lowell
RF J.D. Drew
1B Kevin Youkilis
C Jason Varitek
CF Jacoby Ellsbury
SS Julio Lugo
SP Jon Lester (4-0, 4.45 ERA)
OAKLAND
LF Shannon Stewart
1B Daric Barton
CF Nick Swisher
DH Mike Piazza
RF Jack Cust
2B Mark Ellis
C Kurt Suzuki
3B Jack Hannahan
SS Donnie Murphy
SP Joe Blanton (14-10, 3.84 ERA)
Autumn chill... Heh.
ReplyDeleteIt's 72° right here at 11:00, and I was just in town (Portsmouth, NH) about 20 miles ago and it was 78° there.
Ah, well. You two are behind a cold front that we're in front of.
1:42 AM: Indians lose! Hard shot right to--Jhonny Peralta, and he misses it. Winning run scores in 10th, after the M's tied it with two outs in the ninth on a HR.
ReplyDeleteIt's in our hands now! If the Red Sox win every game, it's home field throughout the playoffs. Brak brak!
MAGIC NUMBER = TWO!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am really hoping they clinch tonight, since it's the last regular season game Allan and I can watch together this year - Friday night he'll be at work, and we'll both be working over the weekend.
When we get home, I'm putting champagne in the fridge, just in case.
So will you two be home in time for the game tonight, or are we still at Threadsox? Hope you have enjoyed your time away.
ReplyDeleteWith Beckett pitching, I am optimistic about getting a W, but can we count on the Yankees to lose to the Rays twice in one series? I hope so because I also will not be able to see the Friday night or Saturday night games. Stupid bar mitzvah...
We're leaving the cottage at noon, so we should avoid traffic and be home around 3, at the latest.
ReplyDeleteGame Thread here.
You mean 1:30, right? Cause, ya know. It should only take 1.5 hours.
ReplyDeleteOn Monday, it took about 2 hours from Toronto (north and east), though we did make a quick stop for food. But we are also about 20-30 west of Toronto, so we had to travel that distance also.
ReplyDeleteI'll let you know how it goes!
But of course Ish is correct. When you live in Toronto, no matter where you go, it's 1.5 hours away. So convenient!
ReplyDelete