September 20, 2008

G154: Blue Jays 6, Red Sox 3

Red Sox   - 003 000 000 - 3  7  1
Blue Jays - 140 000 01x - 6 9 1
Each starter struggled early -- and the Red Sox wasted three scoring chances.

In the first, Boston had runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs, then 1st and 3rd with one out, but could not score. They loaded the bases against Halladay (6-6-3-3-3, 106) with two outs in the fifth, but Jed Lowrie struck out. And facing Brandon League in the eighth, they had men at 1st and 2nd with one out, and came up empty yet again.

Toronto batted around in the second against Lester (7-8-5-3-4, 102). After that rough inning (he also allowed two hits and a run in the first), he settled down. Over the next five innings, he allowed only three singles and a walk -- and no Blue Jay runner got past second base. However, his teammates' bats could do much with the Toronto staff.

With one out in the third, Dustin Pedroia doubled and David Ortiz singled him home. One out later, Jason Bay homered to left to cut the score to 5-3.

The Yankees scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to beat Baltimore 1-0 and stave off YED for another 24 hours. Tampa Bay beat Minnesota 7-2, eliminating the Yankees from the AL East race.

***

Jon Lester (3.15, 145 ERA+) / Roy Halladay (2.77, 155 ERA+)

It's a rematch of last Sunday's game, which Boston won 4-3 behind a strong showing from Lester (8-4-1-2-6, 103).

J.D. Drew wonders if he will be able return at all this season.
I took some swings today [Friday] and it tightened up. ... [I'm] just wondering if the injury is healed, or if you just keep scratching at it like a scab and picking at it and it's not fully healing ... One day it's going to get better. I don't know what day it's going to be.
Bartolo Colon has been suspended without pay. Ian Browne, MLB:
Colon went to the Dominican Republic earlier this week to tend to a personal matter and expressed a preference to stay there, rather than return to the Red Sox and serve as, at most, a long reliever or spot starter for the rest of the regular season.
Jacoby Ellsbury has a 10-game hitting streak (.351/.368/.486).

***

Today could be Yankee Elimination Day. If the Red Sox win and the Yankees lose (in the penultimate game at the 33-year-old "Yankee Stadium II"), then New York will be officially eliminated from both the division race and the wild card race.

In the YED contest, Joe Grav, redsauce04, and Bruce B all picked 0920. (However, Bruce picked 81 NYY wins in the tiebreaker and they have 83 right now, so he cannot win the tiebreaker; Joe has 88 and redsauce 87.)

(It could also be BJED, if Boston wins.)
Orioles/Yankees at 1
Twins/Rays at 3:45
White Sox/Royals at 7
East                     Magic #
Rays 91 61 ---
Red Sox 90 63 1.5 9
Yankees 83 71 9.0 1
Blue Jays 82 72 10.0 E
Orioles 67 85 24.0 E

Wild Card Magic #
Red Sox 90 63 ---
Twins 83 71 7.5 2
Yankees 83 71 7.5 2
Blue Jays 82 72 8.5 1

154 comments:

Rob said...

Finally Bay is hitting 5th.

Cojasex Corisptek bottom of the lineup.

allan said...

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, RF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
5. Jason Bay, LF
6. Jed Lowrie, 3B
7. Coco Crisp, CF
8. Alex Cora, SS
9. Jason Varitek, C

1. Marco Scutaro, 2B
2. Jose Bautista, DH
3. Alex Rios, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Lyle Overbay, 1B
6. Scott Rolen, 3B
7. Kevin Mench, LF
8. Curtis Thigpen, C
9. John McDonald, SS

A Conformer said...

I'm hoping for a Yankee win tonight. YED should be Toilet elimination day too- tomorrow. That will be the most poetic ending.

allan said...

Maybe in the last game, CI can make a horrible error that allows the O's to take a one-run, 9th-inning lead, then strikeout with the bases loaded to end the game/season/stadium.

allan said...

Strike 3 called!
Ball game over!
Any chance at the playoffs over!
Yankee Stadium over!
Orioles win!
THUUUUUUUUUUUU Orioles WIN!

A Conformer said...

I think it's a shame that Thigpen and Inglett (AKA Pigpen and Piglett) are not both playing.

Patrick said...

Cojasex is a pretty decent bottom of the order. I look at the top six and have to wipe the drool off my chin. This lineup looks potent without Lowell and Drew!!!

BTW I love me some Jon Lester. I think this is the third time Halladay and Lester have dueled this year, and all of the games have been excellent!

Best of luck to Jon and his family.

Rob said...

So you guys wouldn't rather see the Yankees be eliminated tonight and have the final game of Yankee Stadium be their first meaningless game since 1993?

allan said...

I want them to have as many losses as possible. I want the afternoons of those people who shelled out $$$ for the last 2 games up there to be totally ruined and miserable.

allan said...

Tentative playoff schedule

Rob said...

Nothing like a leadoff double!

Devine said...

MLB.TV hates Canada's national anthem; they cut away soon after the transtition from "Star-Spangled Banner" to "O Canada" to shots of Toronto with the singer's audio greatly reduced.

allan said...

Motorin'!

Rob said...

They still have that stupid off day between ALCS 4 and 5... DON'T THEY LEARN!!?

Rob said...

(NO overshift)

Rob said...

I'm going to keep calling Curtis Thigpen Bobby because of how SO many times I keep hearing Bobby Thigpen's name. Thanks K-Rod.

Rob said...

Makes me wonder, if you can play small-ball against Halladay - why can't you play small ball against anyone else?

allan said...

Not crazy about Castig calling Lyndon "Ells".

Rob said...

Yuck.

Rob said...

Squander.

allan said...

LOBotomy.

laura k said...

Not crazy about Castig calling Lyndon "Ells".

Sure beats Buffy calling him Elspery.

Rob said...

I had such a long day yesterday that I barely lasted three innings for the game in the thread before I moved to the recliner, which really sped up the game. Fourth inning, a pitch later it's the fifth inning, then another couple pitches later it's the 8th, then the 9th. I liked the scoreboard though.

Rob said...

First round of dirty water would've been on me if I was more awake...

Rob said...

So Lyndon singles and immediately steals second. Pedroia walks... and they can't score the run.

Leadoff single for Scutaro and they manage to score the run.

laura k said...

Makes me wonder, if you can play small-ball against Halladay - why can't you play small ball against anyone else?

Well, you can, of course. But with some pitchers, you have to.

Rob said...

Vernon was close to interfering with Tek.

laura k said...

Radio guys talking about the reserve clause... I'm waiting to hear if they bash the players or the union.

laura k said...

Nope. Only "shoe is on the other foot now" and "amazing how things have changed". Good for them.

allan said...

Nice how when OB said anyone holding out back then had better have some clout, Castig right away mentioned when Drysdale and Koufax held out together -- and still had to cave to the LA front office. So much for the clout/talent angle.

Also, in his 3rd(?) season, DiMaggio held out for more $ for most of spring training. He had to come crawling back to the Yanks and the hometown fans booed him the entire season.

laura k said...

And the story started with someone trying to get more money and being released.

Marvin Miller for HoF!

Rob said...

Anyone watching NESN... That hit was cool! The ball flying almost directly toward the left-center field camera then tailing away toward left field. Looked cool.

laura k said...

Efd and Efdette are at the game today. I think Redsock is meeting them later.

Anonymous said...

You going to WORK with that thing in your hand Tek?

laura k said...

You going to WORK with that thing in your hand Tek?

He tries not to.

laura k said...

Dear Castig and OB:

Please shut up about college football.

Signed,

Someone listening to a baseball game

Rob said...

Oh I know, L. If I wanted to listen or watch college football, I WOULD.

Rob said...

I mean, it is on today. I am demonstrating my NOT wanting to watch or care about college football, by watching baseball.

Big trouble.

laura k said...

Oh, here's the big trouble Ish mentioned. Crap.

allan said...

Castig and Trupe would go ON and ON and ON and ON about college sports ......... One big reason why I could not stand them.

Benjamin said...

FFS.

laura k said...

Ouch. 4-0 is a lot against Halladay.

allan said...

aaaaaaaaaardsma up

laura k said...

No matter how loud I turn up my headphones, I can still hear my stupid coworker.

Only 10 more minutes.

laura k said...

And 5-0 is worse.

allan said...

13 batters and 4 outs = not good.

allan said...

that could have been much worse. but it may have been enough.

Rob said...

Oi. This one's gotten ugly fast.

But that was a big DP. Gives the Red Sox at least a chance to claw back against Halladay.

Gotta get one run across the plate before you can get five, though.

laura k said...

Not crazy about Castig calling Lyndon "Ells".

Hey, maybe he's saying "L's". :)

laura k said...

Shift this! There's that single.

allan said...

there's flo's first single since sept 7!

allan said...

DOUNG BABY!!!!!!!!!!!

laura k said...

DOUNG!!!!!!!!

Zenslinger said...

Back in it?

Benjamin said...

Look, runs.

Pepe Lepew said...

Polar bear dong!

Pepe Lepew said...

Tim Horton's jelly donut dong!

laura k said...

must buy volvo... must buy...

allan said...

Halalday PC: 22-15-20 = 57

57 - that's usually about 5 innings worth for him!

allan said...

Added "doung" to the glossary.

allan said...

just saw the video of bay's doung at gdgd -- huge amount of cheers thru the tv feed!

allan said...

and it was the canadian feed, not nesn

laura k said...

Added "doung" to the glossary.

I'll go look.

allan said...

Lester also at 57 thru 3: 19-26-12

laura k said...

"Do like me and Carlton do..."

Would it have killed them to use correct grammar?

allan said...

BAL: 000 00
NYY: 000 00

allan said...

tying runs on for bay, let's go birthday boy

Rob said...

Not such a pitcher's duel today.

allan said...

Loaded the bases are for Lowrie.

Rob said...

So many pitches... I don't think they score a run. We'll see.

I hate being right sometimes.

allan said...

SHIT

33 pitches that inning tho - halladay at 96

Rob said...

9 more outs. 2 runs to get.

A Conformer said...

OK, the options for this inning are:
Get some runs.
Knock Halladay out of the game mid inning.
Both.

Choose.

Rob said...

And Halladay's done.

A Conformer said...

That means the only option left is get some runs. I can live with that.

allan said...

Scoreless after 7 at the Terlit.

Rob said...

Mississaugan!

Rob said...

Such as our gracious hosts.

allan said...

hey sox: i'm pretty sure efd and the efdette would like a couple more fucking runs.

laura k said...

Mississaugan!

I had to stop listening for a few while I transcribed a tape. How did Mississaugan come up?

allan said...

foul ball dropped by fan

OB: or as joe likes to say "torontonian" (which is correct btw)

castig: he could be a mississaugan (last part said like "gwynn")

OB: said something like that would get him in trouble -- ???

allan said...

castig and ob doubting the announced crowd of 40,000+. say that they are always questioning the toronto numbers.

why don't they know that AL teams count tickets sold and not fans in the park?

laura k said...

Mississauga makes Sox radio! Hazel would be proud.

(Mayor Hazel McCallion, former hockey player, now 83 y/o, the only mayor the town has ever had.)

allan said...

time to atone jed.

laura k said...

why don't they know that AL teams count tickets sold and not fans in the park?

I think they know but they are telling listeners that there really aren't that many ppl there.

Rob said...

Error!

nixon33 said...

LETS GO!


p.s. i hate buffy vision! these motherfuckers are assholes

nixon33 said...

COME ON FUNIX.

Rob said...

How about a grounder up the right field line.

Rob said...

I'd be PHing someone for Cora here. Kotsay I'd try.

Rob said...

But that won't happen.

Rob said...

And that... didn't happen.

nixon33 said...

FUCK

allan said...

Thanks, Genius.

Worthless crap.

Rob said...

0-0 bottom of the 9th in the Toilet.

Jeter gets HBP. Bent over in pain after he danced all the way toward the Oriole dugout.

Rob said...

Could that knock Jeter out of the final Yankee Stadium game???

Rob said...

He's coming out of the game now...

laura k said...

Good thing Nix showed up to inject some cursing into this sleepy thread.

Rob said...

Hit his wrist.

allan said...

In the 9th:

Tek
Lyndon
FY
Flo
Yook

Rob said...

Gardner, running for CI, steals second

nixon33 said...

fuck me i woke up late and misssed this shit but showed up just in time to see cora not ph for and fuck up our rally. nice work tito.

Rob said...

Would you PH for Tek?

Rob said...

BBI to Abreu...

Rob said...

FUCK.

nixon33 said...

ugh.

laura k said...

Ohboy. Not good.

Rob said...

Jack Cust tied and then broke Rob Deer's AL record for strikeouts in a season... 186 was the old mark - Cust struck out for the 187th time.

laura k said...

Why are people following the NYY game? Hard habit to break?

Rob said...

Why are people following the NYY game? Hard habit to break?

Just trying to see when Yankee Elimination Day will be.

laura k said...

Oh right, forgot about the contest.

allan said...

Why are people following the NYY game? Hard habit to break?

Second greatest rivalry in sports!

...

Plus we like it when they lose.

allan said...

at least tek is batting rh.

Rob said...

Didn't matter.

laura k said...

Plus we like it when they lose.

Do tell.

nixon33 said...

fox game of the wekk here in ny : brewers vs. reds...

are you fucking kidding me?

allan said...

rally not looking likely.

Rob said...

A-Rod grounded into DP but the throw was wide to first... HGH struck out and A-Rod stole second.

allan said...

an epic meltdown from ryan would not displease me.

Rob said...

The water is clean.

Rob said...

I hate that fucking hockey horn.

Rob said...

Yankees win.

nixon33 said...

fuck.

laura k said...

Very clean water.

Rob said...

Everyone at the Toilet going absolutely crazy because of the walk-off win.

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Unfortunately, though, the Yankees are not eliminated today.

nixon33 said...

cano walk off hit... celebrating like they clinched a playoff spot.
hahahaha

nixon33 said...

lets go twins.

Rob said...

Sterling: "There is one more game to be played at the greatest sports venue in the history of the world, Yankee Stadium."

lol.

Rob said...

That Twins/Rays game should be starting any minute.

allan said...

MFY only 6.5 GB in the WC!!!!!!!!!!!

Oooo NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

nixon33 said...

a yankee loss tomorrow wouldnt bother me.

Rob said...

I REALLY want the Yankees to lose tomorrow. More than anything (other than the obvious things I want)...

Rob said...

I will be a big fan of the Orioles tomorrow. Chris Waters ftw.

allan said...

If the Yankees' game tomorrow could be something like THIS, it'll be great!

Rob said...

"Sure, we got punished badly last night, but winners never quit and quitters never win," Steinbrenner said. "New Yorkers never quit, and we reflect the spirit of New York."

Rob said...

Is that Migraine on Fox?

Rob said...

Wow. I think that's a Nascar announcer doing the Rays/Twins game with Migraine.

Could be wrong.

Hilarious, if true.

nixon33 said...

you guys are getting rays/twins for yr fox game? FUCK

Rob said...

What are you getting? Mets?

Jeannie I can't spell her name from FOX, said Robinson Cano singled home the winning run to keep the Red Sox out of October.

Rob said...

Red Dot's losing the plate. Twins have first and second, 1 out in the second.

nixon33 said...

im getting brewers/reds (FUCKFUCKFUCK)

Rob said...

I think they look at interest. Hard in New York because of the Yankees and Mets. But Mets fans are more interested in what the Brewers are doing than Yankees fans being interested in what Tampa's doing. Or Minnesota.

Rob said...

All those Mohawks... Even the mascot's sportin' one.

Rob said...

Fat MDC raked one into the RF corner but was held to a single because he's fat. Navarro, I speak of. Looks like a fat Delcarmen.

Rob said...

Bases loaded, 0 out for Minny

Rob said...

With the Rays leading 2-0.

Rob said...

Mets ran into an out... Perez had a strong throw to keep Mauer at third, but Morneau at second strayed too far away... Pena intercepted the throw, threw to second and gunned down Morneau.

Corners with 1 out for Harris.

Rob said...

Giant fucking squander by the Twins. Gross flies out to right and a bases loaded, 0 out situation turns out to be harmless for the Rays.

Rob said...

Still 2-0 Rays in the 5th...

nixon33 said...

so.... wild card.

allan said...

"Sure, we got punished badly last night, but winners never quit and quitters never win," Steinbrenner said. "New Yorkers never quit, and we reflect the spirit of New York."

Billy Ocean, baby!!!

allan said...

so.... wild card.

Huh, plenty of seats on this bus.

nixon33 said...


Huh, plenty of seats on this bus.


are you on the bus? yay on nay (or bay)?

A Conformer said...

7-0 Rays in the 7th. It's actually better to win the WC. I just didn't figure out why yet...

BTW, even though I hate paying full price for a book (I'm a used book scavenger, myself), I bit the bullet and bought Supposedly Fun Thing for 15 bucks. Lord have mercy. Looking forward to reading it, once I finish with the Brothers K.