April 18, 2008

G18: Red Sox 11, Rangers 3

Rangers - 001 002 000 -  3  6  1
Red Sox - 004 500 02x - 11 11 0
First things first: that 4 in the third inning? A first-pitch grand slam from David Ortiz! Good Times!

Mendoza had retired the first eight batters, but Lowrie ended the perfect-game bid with a two-out double to left. Ellsbury walked on four pitches, Pedroia walked on five, and Ortiz unloaded his bomb over the Wall in left. Love those rallies that start from nothing and two outs.

Boston put the game away in the fourth: Drew walked, Varitek doubled (5-1), Casey singled, Rupe replaced Mendoza, Lowrie hit a sacrifice fly (6-1), Ellsbury tripled to center (7-1) and Pedroia homered to left (9-1).

Mendoza recap:
First 8 batters: 0-for-8, all outs in the infield, 2 K

Next 9 batters: 8-for-9 in reaching base, 3 BB, 2 singles, 2 doubles, one grand slam HR, 7 runs
In the ninth, Casey doubled and Ellsbury walked (his third tonight). Ortiz's single to right brought in Casey and Ellsbury raced home when the relay throw was bobbled at first base.

Dice threw a lot of pitches once again (24-13-25 19-14-6) and was pulled after giving up a two-run dong to Blalock in the sixth. Lopez did well in his 1.2 IP, Aardsma left the bases loaded in the eighth (a single, two walks and 30 pitches), and Timlin got three quick outs in the ninth on 11 pitches.

Baltimore beat New York 8-2, dropping the Yankees (9-9) 2 GB the Red Sox.

***

Luis Mendoza (1.80, 237 ERA+) / Daisuke Matsuzaka (2.70, 166 ERA+)

It's the start of a seven-game homestand (Rangers and Angels). Time for Flo to start hittin'.

Mendoza was originally signed by Boston as a free agent in June 2000. He was sent to Texas for Bryan Corey at the 2006 trade deadline. Speaking of Corey, he has decided to become a free agent rather than accept a Pawtucket assignment.

Don't be fooled by Mendoza's ERA: in his five innings of work this season (April 12 against Toronto), the 24-year-old right-hander gave up eight hits, three walks and four runs (but only one earned run). He pitched in six games (16 IP) with Texas last season.

Mendoza's got a good sinker (low 90s) and an average changeup and curve. Lay off the sinker, and wait until he leaves his other pitches up the zone -- like we so often did with Jose Contreras -- and we should be off to the races.

Mike Lowell, who sprained his left thumb on April 9, is antsy:
I can't eat any more gum or chew any more seeds. ... The swelling is almost entirely gone. Grip strength is another issue. I think that's what we're tackling now. I figure if in eight or nine days the swelling has gone down this much, hopefully I can make the same progress in movement.
Before last night, Jonathan Papelbon had pitched 29.2 innings of scoreless relief in 27 career April appearances, allowing only 11 hits while striking out 42 batters.

586 comments:

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allan said...

SoSHer SoxScout, 4:48 PM:

"Lowrie - SS
It has begun..."

s1c said...

The Oatmeal is out. All hail Sox Scout!

allan said...

Kinsler, 2B
Young, SS
Hamilton, CF
Bradley, RF
Blalock, 3B
Murphy, LF
Catalanotto, DH
Laird, C
Broussard, 1B

Ellsbury, CF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Ramirez, LF
Youkilis, 3B
Drew, RF
Varitek, C
Casey, 1B
Lowrie, SS

[Globe did not list 1B, so I'm guessing Casey will play first and bat 8th]

Sarah Haendler said...

I'm sorry that we've got this run on the DL lately (and Lowell is so frustrated by it), but it's great to get to see all these other folks doing so well!

allan said...

Trying to plow through some work by 7.

allan said...

... and done!!!

laura k said...

Tala and I are ready for the game.

Jere said...

L: Still no update on D?

laura k said...

Gamethreads are usually slow on Friday nights. Sometimes just me and Allan!

Jere said...

Orsillo leads off by saying Texas is a team we don't see a lot. Three series with 'em every year for the sixth year in a row, Don, as opposed to two for some of the Central teams...

laura k said...

Oh hi Jere, didn't see you there. :)

Nothing. No call, no email. I am very worried! Thank you for asking.

allan said...

gameday:
69 and clear
wind 10 mph R to L

nixon33 said...

LETS GO!

Jere said...

You really think it's more than a "doesn't wanna do it anymore so I'll just disappear" deal?

allan said...

Home Ump: Jerry "Gets His Own" Meals

:>)

Rob said...

Evening, chaps.

What an absolutely beautiful day today. Great evening for baseball. 70s in April.

Jere said...

Dice: 27 up, 27 down. Do it.

laura k said...

Jere, I don't know. That just seems so unlike her.

I am wondering if maybe she has a drug or drinking problem. That can cause people to disappear and bail out on commitments. And you can never tell if someone does unless you are with them 24/7.

Nice K!

Jere said...

Crazy neon pink Japanese K signs on black circles behind the plate there

laura k said...

Plus she really really needs the money, so she would do everything she could to keep the gig (or so I thought).

laura k said...

gets his own meals, ha

laura k said...

There goes the perfect game.

Jere said...

I used to be a volunteer coordinator. People loooove to disappear. Dice needs a line-out double play to face the minimum.

allan said...

wow -- major delay -- i'm going to be VERY behind the game tonight.

i'll be all DONG!!! and everyone else will be all that was 10 minutes ago!

laura k said...

Totally. But she is not a volunteer. She is a single mom on public assistance, really needs money.

Rob said...

That was sooo ten minutes ago.

laura k said...

That's me all weekend, huge delay. But if Allan keeps modding off, then I can at least listen before I see the comments. That will help.

allan said...

so nix says the mfy called up chocolate rain - who'd he replace?

Jere said...

I STILL can't believe there's a guy in MLB named Milton Bradley.

laura k said...

I know, it's too funny. He's on the all-games team.

The Cards, I guess.

Rob said...

Albaladejo optioned to Scranton

Rob said...

23/12 the pitch count for dice.

Jere said...

I went to retrosheet to check Parkers to find two brothers. First one I checked: Doc Parker. And he's the brother of Jay Parker.

Jay pitched in one game, didn't get anybody out. ERA: Infinite.

But hey, he's on the all games team with his bro...

Rob said...

Good play by Casey! Bailed out Dice-K! Backhanded nicely outside of first.

laura k said...

"the rangers strand a pair"

allan said...

What about that guy -- Par Cheesey?

laura k said...

Parker Bros, cool. Any other games?

Must be Chess, right? Checkers?

Lots of Jacks, but any actual Jacks? Like Jacks is the name, not plural of Jack.

Probably no Parchisi or Backgammon. Or Chutes and Ladders. Or...

laura k said...

Allan thought of Parchisi too. Did anyone actually play that game? We had it, but none of us knew how to play it.

laura k said...

Why do dog farts smell so bad????

Jere said...

I played lots of parchisi. Not that hard for me when I was like 6 so you should be able to figure it out.

Jere said...

No Chess or Checkers. In MLB.

Jack Chess-bro?

allan said...

castig being orsillo, telling mendoza's life story number by number.

Jere said...

Do "Donnie Baseball" and "Teddy Ballgame" qualify?

laura k said...

Oh well. We had no instructions and I guess no one showed us how.

Six, really? I was under the impression it was complicated. Or maybe we were just dolts.

allan said...

why do dogs turn around and look at their asses in surprise when they fart? can't they feel it come out?

allan said...

Do "Donnie Baseball" and "Teddy Ballgame" qualify?

noooooooooooo.

laura k said...

Not one Chess or Checkers? Wow. I would have thought so.

Do "Donnie Baseball" and "Teddy Ballgame" qualify?

Nah.

allan said...

what about a castig drinking game?

"high rider"


...

laura k said...

This game team isn't going very far.

Jere said...

My mom had me playing a lot of board games when I was really little. 'chisi wasn't that hard to pick up.

allan said...

Reggie Jax?

Jere said...

Oooh, I could give ya lots of Castig from through the years.

Rocks, kicks, and deals

Where the boxes jut out

But he'll need a ticket!

He staggers!

laura k said...

I was always teaching my parents to play board games. No one could retain backgammon. I must have taught it 20 times. To the same parents.

laura k said...

Duh!! DICE-K

Jere said...

Backgammon I never figured out!

Jere said...

"old friend" another Joe C. As in "old friend Scott Hatteburg"

allan said...

Back Gammons?

laura k said...

I used to be a backgammon addict. Could play endlessly. I still would be if anyone got me started.

Zenslinger said...

STRATEGO

Jere said...

"this is trouble"

"you can forget about this one"

laura k said...

I think everyone says "old friend" for former players on the team. All the radio announcers I've ever heard use that.

Rob said...

"old friend" another Joe C. As in "old friend Scott Hatteburg"

or old friend roger clemens.

allan said...

"wall ball single/double"
or
"plays wall ball with that fastball"

Jere said...

STRATEGO. Is he like Cher?

laura k said...

I used to love Stratego. Somehow I doubt there are any players named Stratego.

Jere said...

Ed "Candyland" Chambers

Jere said...

Ooh!

David Riske!

laura k said...

Riske - excellent!!

laura k said...

I even thought of the game Risk but didn't put it together with a name.

allan said...

So did everyone miss "Back Gammons" or did no one think it was clever?

:<(

Jere said...

Dick Harley of the '05 Boston Braves: his birth name is Henry Risk Harley.

Jere said...

Liked Back Gammons

laura k said...

Hey, no one commented on my DICE-K either, which was right in front of our faces.

And yes, Back Gammons was clever.

allan said...

Dick Harley -- also on the Motorcycle Team.

Jere said...

Tinsley Ginn.

As in Gin Rummy

laura k said...

Or it could be the vehicle team. So you could get Whitey Ford, among others.

Jere said...

The Candyland guy was fake if anyone was wondering/cares.

Jere said...

This is it, Manny. This is the Meals.

Rob said...

"He's very shallow in left."

drinkism.

laura k said...

Candyland, I assumed. It seemed unlikely.

Jere said...

Chuck Carr.
Bernie Car-bo.

Jere said...

And Virgil Trucks, of course.

laura k said...

Oh great, there has to be a promo featuring gourmet thin crust pizza.

laura k said...

Scooter

Jere said...

And the Scooter.

laura k said...

Connie Mack (truck)

allan said...

gameday sometimes 2 pitches ahead of radio -- and gdgd is actually behind the live action.

laura k said...

Simultaneous Scooters

Jere said...

Scooter was played on pre-game tonight--Manny's first dong at Yankee Stadium in '93, and they played Scooter's call. It was classic Scooter: Ball goes over wall, Phil calls the play, and then says, "who hit that?"

allan said...

The whole "rag arm we have never seen totally shutting us down" syndrome has gone on TOO LONG! ENOUGH!

NYY at BAL: 0-0, bot 2nd

laura k said...

Ha, that's cool.

Jere said...

Hughes pitching a NO-HITTER. Through 1 2/3rds.

laura k said...

Game team - Bridges?

Must be somebody named Bridge or Bridges?

Jere said...

Nice job, Lowrie.

Jere said...

Plenty of Bridges.

Jack Robinson of the 1902 NYGiants was actually nicknamed "Bridgeport."

Zenslinger said...

To be honest, I am a little hung over.

Jere said...

And Hughes' no-no is broken. It really did work.

laura k said...

I hope it was a fun night, Zen.

Jere said...

yanks 0-0 after 2 in Balty.

laura k said...

Bruce Bochy (bocce)

Jere said...

"Pig" House played in the 50s. I remember a card game called Pig. But he's also on the structure team and the dwelling team. And the politics team.

laura k said...

Oh come on Dice.

allan said...

dp pls

Jere said...

haha, bocce

"Bocce balls!" -- name the movie.

laura k said...

And of course the animal team.

That's a good one for the structure team, tho. We did that last year with Matt Stairs, Jose Mesa and some guy Wall.

Jere said...

When I was little there was a Bochy and a Bochte I think.

allan said...

And the Bacon Team.

... with Ham Hyatt.

Jere said...

Yeah I remember that team.

Zenslinger said...

It was, Laura. The Bar was full of relatively good-natured Yanks/Sox energy. I just stayed one drink too long.

Is going out and drinking in Toronto expensive?

allan said...

Josh Hamilton - size 18 shoes.

laura k said...

Zen, that sounds good.

Toronto: Yes. Not to a New Yorker and probably not to you, but generally, yes.

A friend I met here who is from Seattle is having complete sticker shock. He and his partner never go out because they can't deal with the prices.

laura k said...

The bacon team! We're getting a tad specific there. I'll put Ham Hyatt on the food team, but Jere won't play on it. I must admit, much of my animal team doubles as a food team (Lamb, Salmon).

laura k said...

Meals eating a little late.

Zenslinger said...

Coco's on the food team, and the sole player on the breakfast cereal team, I suppose.

laura k said...

Jere, what was the movie?

Jere said...

Dice gets Milton Bradley with the Twister.

Oh, I just got it. DICE-k.

laura k said...

Oh yeah, Coco's on the breakfast team, the hot beverage team and the food team too. Multi-talented.

laura k said...

Finally! :)

Twister, very good.

Jere said...

Okay, Allan has to know this. But I didn't. I typed in Craps into Baseball Reference. Nothing. Then I shortened it to Crap. And do you know what happened?

allan said...

dice pc: 24-13-25 = 62
mendozer: 13-14 = 27

Hey, did you hear -- LUIS MENDOZA IS PITCHING A PERFECT GAME!!!

Jere said...

Oh, the movie was Splash. When the tour guide at the Statue of Liberty sees the naked Daryl Hannah.

laura k said...

Bot has the Cheerio's mouth, but I guess that doesn't count.

Isn't there a player they call Special K? Wait, that's a different sport.

allan said...

Then I shortened it to Crap. And do you know what happened?

Mirabelli's page came up?

laura k said...

Splash, I wouldn't have known that.

Crap, what happened?

PERFECT GAME FUCK THAT

laura k said...

Mirabelli, low blow.

allan said...

radio guys giving random tidbits of the 22 inning game.

i printed out the pbp and await jayson stark's column!

Jere said...

A screen with a million pictures of a kid with soap in his mouth came up.

I guess that's what they do if you type in a bad word.... and to think, I just meant the card game.

(The kid is not Dougie.)

Lowrie: Half-dong!!!!

laura k said...

LOWRIE!! Breaks up the no-no, first hit at Fenway, and a two-bagger. Love it.

allan said...

If you go to Yook's BR page and look very carefully at the url ...

Jere said...

Hey! I typed shit and a brown screen came up.

THese BR people have a sense of humor.

allan said...

and lugo sheds a tear.

Zenslinger said...

Mirabelli's page came up?

Haw haw haw.

Leaving work. Go Sox. No Perfect Game.

heng brothers said...

It begins! JEB!

Zenslinger said...

Hm. Never seen a double post here before. Anyways.

Jere said...

EllsBBury

laura k said...

That's my boy!

nick said...

Hi, all. popping in...still at work!

don't know if you've mentioned previously, but oCoC fits in some other food categories... dessert (like a fruit crisp), snack foods (crisps, like potato chips).

laura k said...

Zen, double post? Is that a code word?

Jere said...

I don't see it. The Youk thing.

Jere said...

So far bitch, crap, and fuck get you the mouth-washed-out kid.

laura k said...

Coco Crisp is a highly versatile name.

Jere said...

Shit and fart give you the all-brown screen.

allan said...

HA! They changed it!

Now it is:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/y/youklke01.shtml

It used to be (correctly):
http://www.baseball-reference.com/y/youkike01.shtml

Jere said...

"Loaded, loa-ded." name THAT movie.

laura k said...

Somebody tell me the Yook thing? I'm not going to BR to look.

heng brothers said...

Load it up for Flo?

allan said...

time for tiz to break out -- with champs on the pond.

laura k said...

Oh yes, I remember the KIKE url. Hmmm.

Patrick said...

DONG DONG DONG DONG

Jere said...

oh right... I looked at Farnsworth's page today and thought it was funny that --PAPI GRAND DONG!!!!!!!!!

laura k said...

HOLY SHIT PAPI GRAND DONG!!!!!!!

WELCOME BACK PAPI WE LOVE YOU!!!!!

Amy said...

OMIGOD! I got here JUST IN TIME!!

Jere said...

And Papi proves something to the zero fans who booed him and the zero fans who were "worried."

allan said...

ALL YOUR COOKIE ARE BELONG TO ME!

Patrick said...

I hope you were watching that American League. No pitcher is safe!!!

laura k said...

Radio listeners: they gave Papi the ignore treatment in the dugout, then they totally mobbed him. Like a rookie 1st hit.

heng brothers said...

Haha! Breaks out indeed! Papi salami!

Rob said...

Finally we see his huge dong, in a grand way!

allan said...

o'brien saying before the dong that tiz was booed during the mfy series last weekend

i don't believe it.

laura k said...

Amy, excellent timing! You're the good luck charm!

(And those zero fans are properly called "fans" with quotes BECAUSE THEY SUCK.)

MBM!

Rob said...

They had been talking about some boos on WEEI, but people called who were at games and called bullshit. Nobody was booing him. Why the deuce would you boo Papi?

laura k said...

He was probly booed by Yankees fans.

Jere said...

finishing pre-dong thoughts: Farnsworth's thing is FarnsKy.

And the movie was Taxi Driver.

laura k said...

Would you look at all that future greatness in the dugout right now??? Very exciting.

allan said...

Papi Salami!

laura k said...

Taxi Driver... what was? I missed it.

Patrick said...

Side retired, yes, but you score one, we score four. Maybe you'll think twice before making our Dice-K look foolish next time.

Jere said...

"but people called who were at games and called bullshit."

I actually did bring that up here, along with adding to it, since I also was at 4 of the 6 home games: no booing. Or worrying.

Jere said...

"Loaded, loa-ded...." -- Charlie T in Taxi Driver when Travis is taking out the 5 bucks he owes him.

allan said...

also nice -- it all started with 2 outs

tek - PF5
casey - L6
jed - double
lyndon - walk
fuck yeah - walk
god - dong!

laura k said...

Loaded - check.

Fans who were at the game - check.

Good to call bullshit on that. Reality check.

Amy said...

I was doing the pre-Passover thing. Now ready to sit and watch the game.

I see I missed some fun game games talk. Oh well. And what do I type dirty words into to see a brown screen? Or a kid with soap in his mouth?

You guys covered a lot of territory in three innings.

allan said...

mendoza pc revised: 13-14-29 = 56

allan said...

birds batting in bot 4th, lead mfy 1-0

Jere said...

Amy called up to replace Jere, who's DFA'd to the kitchen to make pasta.

laura k said...

Remy is telling Don to be a hand model. Orsillo says there is little calling for "fat guy stubby fingers".

(Gotta watch out for irons.)

Now Don says Jerry has great feet. He has seen them at the pool. Here they go...

Patrick said...

How many Jews are in here? I think phrinelle mentioned he is too. I am as well....

Amy said...

Jere, how could I ever replace you?

Enjoy the pasta, and I will do my best.

allan said...

jere thumbing thru baseball-reference.com like a 3rd grader with the dictionary in the library -- looking up all the swear words!

Rob said...

Remy: Speaking of body parts... Sox Appeal is coming up soon.

Amy said...

Patrick, you are Jewish? I never knew a Jewish Patrick!

We sneaky Jews are everywhere....

Patrick said...

Tell me if they start making out Laura

laura k said...

Allan, you would love this one.

Remy says, There's a lot going through my mind right now, but I can't say any of it. Or I could, but I won't be here tomorrow and I need the job. ... Too bad I need the job, because it would be fun to just let it fly.

allan said...

"Don't worry about me. I won a contest."

Jere said...

Thanks, Amy. Looks like I'm leaving just in time for Jew Day-ica. Nice lil' jump for Jed.

Patrick said...

I get my name from my irish father.

Amy said...

Looking up dirty words---that used to be quite thrilling. I miss being thrilled by the simple things.

Rob said...

looking up all the swear words!

strawberry, daryl
everett, carl
kent, jeff

heng brothers said...

Oh Jeb, how adorable you are.

Remy: He's done nothing wrong in the two games he's played.

laura k said...

Me, Jew. By birth, but not practice.

I knew Patrick must be Jewish, cause he made a Jewish joke the other day, something about "hidden Jews", and only a Jewish guy would do that.

Sosock is also Jewish.

Rob said...

i loved looking up swear words in a german-english dictionary.

Jere said...

yeah, when I get back, someone tell me what they discovered in the swear-world of BR..... there have to be more.

allan said...

"Stress is very damaging to the epidermis!"

Jere said...

Jeff Kunt. Okay, now I'm really leaving.

Amy said...

Not Manny's finest moment in the field there.

Well, Shawn Green and Ryan Braun have Irish sounding names also, and yet are Jewish.

nick said...

I'm a hemi-heeb, but on the "wrong" side. mom was raised irsh/italian catholic.

laura k said...

Enough Jew-Dayica if you ask me.

That "body parts - sox appeal" comment was hilarious. I will def'y let you know if they have at it.

Patrick said...

Sigh, I wish Matsuzaka were just a tiny bit sharper. Enough to get that 3rd strike more often.

heng brothers said...

Just as an aside, David Murphy has been tremendous as an everyday player for the Rangers since the Gagne trade.

Amy said...

Westcoastsox is Jewish and Ofer, but they have not yet made an appearance in 08.

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