August 9, 2008

G117: Red Sox 6, White Sox 2

Red Sox   - 000 001 410 - 6 14  1
White Sox - 000 010 001 - 2 5 0
Dice did not pitch quite as well as his line might suggest (8-4-1-3-4, 106), but his infield mates turned four double plays behind him to limit any possible damage.

Matsuzaka retired the side in order only twice -- in the sixth and seventh innings. Yet he never faced more than five batters in an inning -- and that happened only once.

The big bat belonged to David Ortiz, who went 3-for-5, with two singles, a double, a run scored and three RBI. His bases-loaded (and bases-clearing) double to deep left-center was the key blow of the night as it increased Boston's lead from 2-1 to 5-1.

Jacoby Ellsbury was 3-for-4, with two singles and a home run; J.D. Drew walked three times from the leadoff spot; and Dustin Pedroia singled twice, giving him a hit in 28 consecutive road games. Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell also singled twice.

The Rays beat the Mariners 8-7 in 11 innings. The Angels scored eight runs in the eighth inning to pound the Yankees 11-4. We stay 3.5 GB, New York drops to 7.5 GB.

***

Daisuke Matsuzaka (3.04, 146 ERA+) / Jose Contreras (4.60, 97 ERA+)

Will Mike Lowell (.202/.265/.277 since July 1 and clearly playing hurt) get a day off?

Will Terry Francona move Jason Bay (.400/.471/.633 in a Red Sox uniform) up in the lineup?

Will Dustin Pedroia hit safely in his 28th straight road game?

Will the Red Sox find their bats and pound Contreras (just off the DL after right elbow tendinitis) as they did in their last meeting (7.1-10-10-3-2, including a Julio Lugo grand slam)?

Also: Yankees/Angels at 3:45 PM and Rays/Mariners at 10 PM.

235 comments:

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nixon33 said...

TITO, TIME TO MOVE BAY UP.

dice-k, don't be dice-bb, please.

Rob said...

PLEASE.

tim said...

Gah another missed game for me due to exam at 6:30.

Oh well, after this...one more to go then its party time until I go back to work in September.

Got a few concerts lined up for the last couple weeks in Aug, plus gotta clean out 3+ years of university shit from my house!

laura k said...

plus gotta clean out 3+ years of university shit from my house!


Tim, you should let me come over and do it - that's my specialty. You can come over here and write these stories for me.

I don't know if I can listen tonight, either. I'll have down-time at work, but that's also the perfect time to get my own work done. Hmm. Decisions.

laura k said...

Oh yeah: good luck Tim!

tim said...

Oooh sounds intriguing. I like stories :)

Except that you and my father would be at each other's throats within seconds.

laura k said...

Except that you and my father would be at each other's throats within seconds.

Pass. I've had enough of that for one lifetime. :)

tim said...

Ditto.

Rob said...

Anyone watching the MFY/MFA game?

allan said...

TITO, TIME TO MOVE BAY UP.

He didn't get your email.

According to NESN:

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

Rob said...

Nothing like having a cool breeze full of the smell of freshly cut grass coming into the house.

Rob said...

If the lineup is going to be as fluid as its been, why does he have a problem moving Lowell from 5th to 6th?

laura k said...

Ditto.

You too, eh? :)

tim said...

You too, eh? :)

Had to put up with that for 18 years, I'm surprised I didn't come out of it more screwed up.

allan said...

NYY: 000 - 0 2 0
LAA: 000 - 0 1 0

9casey said...

ish said...
Nothing like having a cool breeze full of the smell of freshly cut grass coming into the house.



How about actually going outside.

9casey said...

Will Mike Lowell (.202/.265/.277 since July 1 and clearly playing hurt) get a day off?


He just had one...8/4 I beleive



That whole post read like the end of a Batman episode .(Adam West Batman)

Rob said...

How about actually going outside.

It's true. But sitting here is the best of both worlds.

Rob said...

John Sterling: "Back to Back! Belly to belly!"

He makes the Hawk sound good.

A Conformer said...

Will the Red Sox find their bats and pound Contreras (just off the DL after right elbow tendinitis) as they did in their last meeting (7.1-10-10-3-2, including a Julio Lugo grand slam)?


7.1 innings pitched, 10ER... you don't see that every day. As for a Wholio grand slam... crazy.

nixon33 said...

LACJEY YOU MOTHERFUCKER>
I'LL KNIFE YOU THE NEXT TIME I'LL SEE YOU (READ: NEVER)

allan said...

NYY: 000 002 - 2 6 0
LAA: 000 00 - 0 2 0

Slappy and HGH with back-to-back dongs.

allan said...

How about actually going outside.

Overrated. Plus there might be bugs.

nixon33 said...

vlad is a drag.

tim said...

And now, who will help me bake this bread? Who will be the first to speak and leave complacency for dead, yeah? I've done all that I can on my own but stagnant minds persist to squeeze blood from this stone...

/random lyrical interlude.

exam time! i need all the luck i can get!

A Conformer said...

LAAA not playing small ball tonight.

nixon33 said...

AWESOME!

allan said...

NYY: 000 002 10
LAA: 000 001 2

allan said...

FUCK YEAH -- OFF CHOCOLATE RAIN!

allan said...

vlad dong in the 8th = LAA 4-3

allan said...

5-3 Angels!

allan said...

Vlad dongs C. Rain's first pitch!
Then a double, single, Cano error, stolen base, another double -- and it's off to the showers for E-Ram!

allan said...

LAA 7-3, guy on 2nd, still no outs in the bot 8th!!

allan said...

Robertson comes in and gives up a single to Napoli. First 6 batters have reached for LAA.

allan said...

And Figgins makes it 7 --- with a single to RF. 8-3! 1st and 3rd, no outs.

Rob said...

I step out for a half hour, talk to my grandmother on the phone, assume that the Yankees are going to win, and I come back and it's 7-3!

Sterling: "This bullpen is AWFUL today."

I think it's a great game. Dan Giese pitches a great game and it gets ruined by the bullpen.

A Conformer said...

It looks like this inning will never end.

Rob said...

9-3!

I love how earlier, Suzyn Waldman said it just demoralizes teams when they get a run back and then can't hold the next inning. Tex hits a dong to make it 2-1 and then the Yankees score to make it 3-1 when she says that.

Or, the other team's bullpen can suck balls and you can come back and beat the hell out of them.

allan said...

And a stolen base and error make sit 9-3!

Rob said...

That's what you get when your "big guys" are Chocolate Rain and Dave Robertson.

A Conformer said...

And Chocolate Rain's ERA went up almost a full run for his effort today.

allan said...

Not error, WP. Whatever. Yankees suck!

allan said...

Izturis = 8th straight man to get on base to start the inning!!!!!!!!!

10-3.

Rob said...

Of course, we root for the Angels now, but in the back of your mind you know just how much of a pain they're going to be in the playoffs.

allan said...

Ehh, we'll worry about that in 2 months.

Rob said...

Pile it on!

A Conformer said...

Any way to find out what's the record for batters getting on base without making an out?

Rob said...

So, the Red Sox would probably play the Angels in the ALDS, so you only have to win 3 games against the current WS favorites. That's not too much to ask.

allan said...

After an out, Vlad singles in a run. 11-3.

Now Hunter -- the 11th batter of the inning ...

allan said...

June 27, 2003
25-8
Gump apologized afterwards (asshole)

1st 11 batters reached. Not sure if that is the record though. 14 runs.

Damon batted 3 times in the inning: single, double, triple! That had never been done befor.

A Conformer said...

Damon batted 3 times in the inning: single, double, triple!

If I was the Marlins' pitcher, I'd tank it just to make it a cycle within one inning. Now that would be historical.

Rob said...

Ballgame over! Angels win!

laura k said...

Just popping in to say hi. Listening but working...

Rob said...

So, the Red Sox have OWNED Contreras in the past. Let's keep our ownership of him.

allan said...

Nice AB for flo!!!

Rob said...

He would have probably exploded if that ball was caught. Flo, I'm talking about.

Slow thread, to begin things, eh? Beautiful Saturday evening here. Wondering why I'm not out, but I'm not.

allan said...

Very slow last night too. L and I both had work and few others were absent. I have work also, but I can put it off until 8 and then maybe after the game, not sure.

allan said...

excellent beginning. do you WANT me to go back to work, dice?

Rob said...

Wonder if Patrick got someone to drive him to Manchester at 3 AM.

allan said...

Lowrie 2-out double, then LBJ with a chop to first. He races Contreras to the bag, Contreras bobbles the ball, LBJ safe, then Contreras goes down in a heap. Can't get up.

allan said...

Contreras stumbled a bit just before the ball his off his glove, no contact with Ellsbury. Limping off now.

Rob said...

No owning of Contreras tonight. Hate to see him get hurt. Owie.

Rob said...

When Ellsbury stopped he turned around and made accidental contact with Jose and that's when he fell.

allan said...

I refuse to turn on the sound on the Hawk, any idea what the injury might be?

allan said...

Hmmm, he did seem to stumble a bit when he was running to the bag, looked like his right leg/foot gave way a bit.

Rob said...

I refuse to turn on the sound on the Hawk, any idea what the injury might be?

The trainers were focusing mainly on his ankle.

allan said...

When Ellsbury stopped he turned around and made accidental contact with Jose and that's when he fell.

WHAT??? Ellsbury knocked an elderly man to the ground? ... STRING HIM UP!!!!

Tony said...

Evening all...Gameday tells me Dice had one of those frustrating 20-pitch innings again. Let's tag Carrasco for some runs!

Tony said...

Goddamn it, Tek.

Rob said...

Nice play all-around on the DP, but Dice-K gets over there and handles his end very cleanly!

Tony said...

There you go, Dice! That's the kind of inning I want from you (hit excepted, of course).

Tony said...

The streak's alive!

Let's break this baby open, Tizzle!

allan said...

28 straight road games for FY

allan said...

ugly fishing there, papi

Rob said...

28 straight road games for FY

Well, you got one wish...

allan said...

be nice to see bay up there now.

Rob said...

There's a guy you can hear in the background that's said "OH YEAH!!!" real fat-middle-aged-guy-like, after a couple of called strikes.

Tony said...

Okay, to get two men on in front of our 3-4-5 hitters, and to have THAT happen, is beyond frustrating.

Tony said...

A five-pitch walk to Uribe, Dice? Really?

Tony said...

Oh, cripes...

allan said...

why bother to bunt, ocab? he'll walk you.

Tony said...

Way to keep going to the well, Ozzie.

allan said...

Houdini is dreamy.

allan said...

Free outs from Ozzie are super-extra dreamy.

Tony said...

Whew! Big DP there.

Still...looking like one of those nights, isn't it?

Tony said...

Has the "Houdini" nickname been conferred to Dice now that Lester's worked out most of his issues, or did I miss something?

laura k said...

You guys hear? Contreras = ruptured achilles tendon.

OUCH

laura k said...

This was his 1st game back from the DL!

allan said...

well, that was quick.

dice has certainly earned it, but it seems to be a general nickname now.

laura k said...

John Sterling: "Back to Back! Belly to belly!"

He makes the Hawk sound good.


Nothing and nobody makes Hawk Harrelson sound good.

Tony said...

Sucks for Contreras. Come back off the DL, get hurt even worse. Ouch.

That half-inning stunk.

laura k said...

That's likely a career-ending injury at his age. Also super painful.

laura k said...

I can't believe it! Castig just gave the real reason Chicago is called the Windy City. (Hint: it's not because the weather is windy there.)

Rob said...

That really sucks for Contreras. :\

Tony said...

Rats...I just typed out an amusing (to me, at least) post about Plaschke eating animal penises in Beijing and Blogger ate it. Maybe that was a sign.

allan said...

Thome rhymes with Rome.

allan said...

4-6-3, but 1 out!

Tony said...

Does Thome rhyme with Jim Rome?

If so, that'd be...CLASSIC!!!!!

allan said...

Jason Being Manny down the line.

Rip him, CHB!

Tony said...

Just so nobody gets the wrong idea, I think Jim Rome sucks...I've just listened to him enough times to know a mannerism or two of his.

He called Manny Ramirez "ManRam". That tells you what kind of stain he is.

Tony said...

Another 1-2-3 inning. Sigh.

allan said...

Just passin' on how we say his name at home....

Rome
chrome
home
Shalom
Thome

Tony said...

Ah, gotcha. How about a few more?

dome
gnome
foam
loam
roam

This is WAY more fun that watching Dice walk people.

Tony said...

"bunt pop"? What happened there?

allan said...

went to bunt, little pop to the 3B side, hit the grass and rolled sort of towards the line, but it died. lowell just watched it. he must have been back aways, no play, just hoped it went foul

Tony said...

Ah, okay, gotcha, redsock. That sounds about right.

allan said...

wasn't a popup pop, just a little bloop thing.

effin ocab.

Tony said...

Thank God Dice got out of that with only 1 run allowed. Watching that inning was like having teeth pulled.

What is that, the 3rd inning out of 5 the White Sox have DPed themselves out of a potential big inning?

allan said...

DPs to end the 2nd, 3rd and 5th.

9casey said...

Tony said...
Thank God Dice got out of that with only 1 run allowed. Watching that inning was like having teeth pulled.



Most innings are like that with Dice, just get some dentures and save yourself the time...

allan said...

Maybe I should use my night mouthguard during Dice starts so I don't grind my teeth away.

9casey said...

Ozzie could careless about this guys arm 100 pitches total since Tuesday 4 th game this week...

allan said...

Big Man Wheels!

allan said...

stop hacking, bay!

Tony said...

A run! Yay!

allan said...

85 thru 6

Tony said...

Great inning from Dice there. Wouldn't it just be the bee's knees to get another one of those, maybe even two, out of him tonight?

Tony said...

Yeah, Bellsbury! Whatever's gotten into him recently, I hope it stays there!

Tony said...

TEK HIT!!!!!

allan said...

TEK follows.

Do NOT waste this.

allan said...

LOADED for FY!

Tony said...

Do it, FY! We CANNOT get out of this inning runless. We just can't.

Tony said...

FY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Big run!

allan said...

FLO giving us some GOOD TIMES!!!!!!!

Tony said...

Now THERE'S the Tizzle I know!

Greatest Hero in American History~!

allan said...

none out - we're doing our impression of the angels in their 8th!

Tony said...

How did Tizzle not move there? Did Cabrera bobble the grounder or something?

allan said...

Yook, Lowell, Bay = teh suck

allan said...

missed the play - was typing!

laura k said...

Holy shit, what did I miss?? I'll go find out...

Rob said...

Back after getting some ice cream. Had the radio on, and the game was on at the ice cream place.

I still managed to miss Ortiz's double!

Tony said...

Lowell's struggling. Bay, yeesh - not a good night for him. Thank the Lord Tizzle brought out his hitting stick tonight.

Do some work, Dice!

laura k said...

Look at the last three comments - we all missed stuff. :)

WHOO-HOO, we have offense!

Rob said...

Bay's struggling tonight, but he still manages to bat in the tying run - by RUNNING!

Rob said...

I feel like Amy, missing some big play because I'm out getting ice cream.

Rob said...

Lowell and Pawtucket both won their games at Futures at Fenway today.

allan said...

97 thru 7

not always pretty, but he's doing the job

Tony said...

2 K's for Dice this inning - good times!

Should Tito send him out for the 8th? I say yeah, but on a real short leash.

Amy said...

Just got back from celebrating the fact that my kitten is home and doing well. NOthing else matters right now, though I did hear the ORtiz double on the radio driving home, which made me smile even more.

No ice cream tonight, Ish. Just sushi and cosmos to celebrate Luna (the kitten) and life. And the Red Sox (me, not Harvey).

allan said...

With a 4 run lead (at least), def. send him out. I might even let him pitch with 1 guy on.

Rob said...

LAURA'S BOY HAS A DONG!!!

allan said...

LYNDON!!!!!!!!!!!

hot damn.

Amy said...

LOL, Of course he has a dong!

allan said...

Lyndon wants to win it for the kitten!!!!!!

Tony said...

BELLSBURY DONG!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Jesus, has he caught fire or what? Could it be that he smells October? :D

allan said...

3 walks for Werd.

Tony said...

Just another day at the office for Drew...3 walks, my goodness. Wonder if he's comfortable in the leadoff spot?

Amy said...

Yes, LBJ is a cat lover. Of course.

(Sorry, Laura, I know you are allergic, but these cats are like my babies!)

Tony said...

And here's Dice. Would it be insane to hope he gets through the 8th real quick and MAYBE head for the 9th?

Rob said...

If the Red Sox get more starts like this from Dice-K, the division will be OURS.

allan said...

i think we might see aardsmer.

Rob said...

LOL, Of course he has a dong!

Hey, I wasn't going to check...

Amy said...

I must admit that I am a bit intoxicated. So whatever I say tonight---just chalk it up to that.

allan said...

106

Tony said...

Yet ANOTHER Pierzynski DP. Good night for him!

Don't worry, Amy...it's a Saturday night, and your cat's okay, so a few pops is perfectly understandable. ;)

Amy said...

Thanks, Tony. A little support is always appreciated.

Rob said...

I am also very happy to hear about your kitten. Such a stressful time when you don't know what's going on and whether or not they're going to be okay.

Tony said...

Amy - :).

Wish I had some sushi right about now. A shrimp tempura roll, one of those fancy-pants Rock & Roll dealies...hell, even a good old fashioned California roll would be fantastic right about now.

Amy said...

Yes, Ish. Thanks. And I am glad you are okay. Even if the car isn't.

We have two on!

Tony said...

Hey, a hit for Youk! He was having a tough night, so good on him. Now we just need Bay to get a hit and the bingo card'll be all full.

Amy said...

The place we went to tonight has great sushi, and we started off with what they call a spicy tuna mango martini---basically, spicy tuna tartar with mango and avocado. It is unbelievable. We then had a regular salmon roll and something with smoked salmon, cream cheese and avocado---sort of bagel and lox without the bagel.

Tony said...

Darn it, Bay.

Amy said...

I can't believe they are talking about the wild card race already. (On NESN.)

I also can't believe I am typing and spelling correctly.

Damn, 2 LOB.

Tony said...

That sounds really good, Amy. The one with cream cheese is a Philadelphia roll, and I love those too.

Tony said...

All right, Tito, I'm not just asking for Dice in the 9th, I'm demanding it. Make it hap'n, cap'n!

Tony said...

Darn, Timlin instead. Ah well.

Amy said...

Timlin won't give up 5 runs. He has quite good lately.

(I am still holding my breath, though.)

Amy said...

One away, two to go.

Amy said...

One more to go, and the water is dirty.

Rob said...

It would have been too much to ask for a scoreless inning from the toast.

laura k said...

Ah sushi talk for the win. :)

Are Philadelphia rolls not common around those parts? Those are yummy, we eat them all the time.

Now for some dirty water.

Amy said...

Good thing we have that five run lead. Sheesh.

laura k said...

But not yet.

Rob said...

The water is dirty tonight!

Amy said...

We do have Philadelphia rolls, but do they usually have avocado? These were particularly good.

DIRTY WATER! A good night all around!!

Rob said...

"Heidi Watney is going one-on-one with Terry Francona"

JEALOUS.

laura k said...

Oh no, what happened to Amy's cats? I am leaving work now, but I'll catch up as soon as I get home.

allan said...

I like it.

Tony said...

Agua sucia!

Good win tonight. Dice walked in between raindrops, lots of hits up and down the lineup, Bellsbury's still on fire, FY continued his streak, and Tizzle had a breakout game. What more can you ask for, say I?

How about some good sushi? :D

allan said...

Dice's ERA down to 2.90.

laura k said...

Dirty water.

I hate avocados and never eat anything with them in it.

LAURA'S BOY HAS A DONG!!!

Duh. Most do.

Amy, I didn't know anything was wrong with the kitten! I'm so sorry I missed that - and so glad everything is ok!

Tony said...

2 more hits for Manny tonight. Could he REALLY be aiming for the NL MVP?

laura k said...

Running home now, but hopefully when I get there, Amy will have filled me in about Luna.

Amy said...

Laura, to catch you up----yesterday one of the two kittens came down with a fever. She was very lethargic, so I took her to the animal hospital around 30 miles from here. They kept her over night; we went back tonight to get her. Vet said that it was some viral thing, and she seems fine. But it was pretty much a sleepless night for all of us, including her litter mate, who was bereft without her for the first night in his 4 and half month life.

She seems fine now, but I am watching her carefully.

Amy said...

I am signing off. Tired after one sleepless night and two cosmos!

allan said...

was pretty much a sleepless night for all of us, including her litter mate, who was bereft without her for the first night in his 4 and half month life.

And of course he has no idea why she's gone or where she is. I'm sure he's glad to have her back!

allan said...

Looks like the FKR are about to start in the land of Grilled Salmon Sandwiches.

Tony said...

Taking off as well. See you all tomorrow at 11 AM PST!

A little night musing said...

Nice win. How's come only about 200 comments last night? And tonight?

Anyone who's not watching the Dodgers on MLB.TV, be glad. It's all Barry Bonds, all the time. (WHILE THE GAME IS ON, of course.) I've had to tie my hands to the keyboard so I don't punch out my monitor.

A little night musing said...

They could show Willie Mays a bit more, that I could go for.

But not while stuff is happening on the field, dagnabbit!

9casey said...

A little night musing said...
Anyone who's not watching the Dodgers on MLB.TV, be glad. It's all Barry Bonds, all the time.


Not a fan?


Weekends are usually slower around here..

laura k said...

Nice win. How's come only about 200 comments last night? And tonight?

As 9C said, weekends are usually slow. Friday night is generally the quietest thread of the week.

Allan and I both work weekends and often can listen to the game but not thread. Other people are busy doing weekend-y things.

laura k said...

Amy (since I know she'll see this tomorrow), I'm so relieved to hear it was nothing worse. I know (only too well) how nerve-wracking it is.

You *never* have to apologize for animal love here! Just because I'm allergic to cats doesn't mean I don't understand how much you love them. My dogs aren't "like" my babies - they ARE my babies. Allan and I both totally get it.

Hooray for good kitten news.

And hooray for dirty water! 2-0 Seattle right now, but I won't get my hopes up.

A little night musing said...

Thanks for responding. I wasn't really expecting an answer, just surprised at the contrast between 1000 comments a few days ago and last night... (I'm never online on Friday nights myself, so who am I to complain? ;>)

laura k said...

And of course he has no idea why she's gone or where she is.

That's the worst part. I wish there was some way to tell them!

A little night musing said...

What happened with Amy?

A little night musing said...

Yay Mariners! 4-0

allan said...

Well, the 1000 was highly unusual. I think we've had that many only once before -- for last year's ALCS Game 7.

Also, a lot of people were unavailable Friday (me & L for starters).

allan said...

FKR - 00
SEA - 22

SEA wins - BOS 2.5, NYY 6.5
FKR wins - BOS 3.5, NYY 7.5

allan said...

200

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