April 8, 2009

G2: Rays 7, Red Sox 2

Rays    - 001 040 011 - 7 13  0
Red Sox - 001 000 010 - 2 8 1
Lester started strong -- five strikeouts in the first two innings -- though he did clearly miss his spots on several pitches. After that, things were fairly rough.

Tampa threatened in the third, with two singles and a throwing error by Kevin Youkilis, but Lester houdinied his way out of trouble, getting a double play and a grounder to second. Lester's only 1-2-3 inning came in the fourth.

The Rays got to him in the fifth. Gabe Kapler walked and when he took off for second, Iwamura poked a single through the spot that Jed Lowrie had left on his way to the bag. Jason Bartlett dropped down a bunt and Lester's glove-shovel pass to Jason Varitek was of no use, as Tek was pointing to first base. Tampa took a 2-1 lead.

Carl Crawford blooped a single down the left field line. Evan Longoria GIDP (a run scored), and Lester fell behind Carlos Pena 3-1. Then, seemingly fearful of a walk, Lester tossed in a 90 mph fastball, which Pena drove out to deep center for a two-run dong. Rays 5-1. Lester: 5-8-5-4-2-5, 94.

Boston's only real shot at a comeback was in the eighth. Facing J.P. Howell, David Ortiz and Youkilis opened the inning with singles. After Rocco Baldelli struck out, Jason Bay doubled into the left field corner and Tiz scored. Howell hit Mike Lowell with a pitch, which loaded the bases and brought the tying run to the plate.

Grant Balfour came in to face Jed Lowrie. Home plate umpire Bob Davidson, who had been giving wide strikes to Tampa's pitchers all night (doing the same for Boston's pitchers only intermittently), called strike two on an outside pitch, putting Lowrie in a 1-2 hole. (The first two pitches of the at-bat were in the same spot; Davidson called the first one a ball, the second one a strike.) Lowrie fouled off a pitch, took a ball that was well outside, then whiffed on a 95 mph fastball for the third out.

The night was not a total disaster: the Yankees scored three times in the top of the ninth, but still lost to Baltimore 7-5. Wang went only 3.2. At 0-2, New York is alone in the AL East cellar.

***

Scott Kazmir (2008: 3.49, 127 ERA+; Spring 2009: 19 IP, 3.79 ERA) /
Jon Lester (2008: 3.21, 144 ERA+; Spring 2009: 19.2 IP, 1.83 ERA)

Rocco Baldelli will start in right field tonight against the lefty Kazmir.

The man he is replacing, J.D. Drew, had this to say about yesterday's game:
What you saw [in the first game] is a good example of what you're going to see a lot of this year.
Kevin Youkilis added:
Our offense has come into question and I don't know where it came from, but I tell you what: We've got a pretty good offensive team.
Terry Francona did not use Takashi Saito on back-to-back days during spring training and he will continue that plan during the season. I imagine we'll see Saito tonight.

Wrap-around Herald:

275 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   201 – 275 of 275
Joe Grav said...

A'ite boys. Bring in the next two, ehhhh?

nick said...

hellsyes! bayman!

tim said...

hey L!

Joe Grav said...

Two hundred and one!!!

nick said...

doh. so close to ol' 201.

allan said...

heal us, doctor

Rob said...

Quicker than an iBB...

Joe Grav said...

Lowrie smash?

pinch hit...? drew?

allan said...

TIE IT UP JEDI!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rob said...

We want a JEDI-SMASH.

andy said...

Pinch run for lowell.

tim said...

Use the force, jed-i!

andy said...

My vagina quakes for jed

A Conformer said...

Can anybody do some PbP? I can't even get GDGD on this computer

Joe Grav said...

1-1 count

Joe Grav said...

1-2 count, bad call outside

Rob said...

Balfour: "GOD DAMMIT SON OF A YUTE KANGAROO DONG ASS HAT FUDGE MONKEY."

Joe Grav said...

outside, 2-2

tim said...

Surprised the fuck didn't call that a strike.

tim said...

CUNTS

Joe Grav said...

BALLSUCKER

Joe Grav said...

well at least South Park is on... I'll bring the mojo when we get to the home half of the 9th. For now, yay south park

andy said...

So are we in agreement that the umpire is leaning to one dugout?

allan said...

ump fucks jed on strike 2, gets defensive and fans.

tim said...

O ya! South Park! Fuckin' eh, first one I'll see "live" this season - usually have to D/L them

Joe Grav said...

It's been a really good season, but last week SUCKED. God damn Canada Channel! lol

Rob said...

Seriously, NESN.... What the fuck? You won't show people running onto the field but you'll show this assclown... Now more and more ass clowns like this one are going to dance like this at Fenway. I hope you're happy.

tim said...

Yeah last week's was....interesting...

tim said...

Fish sticks...oh my.

Joe Grav said...

do you like fishtix?

Joe Grav said...

Let's see how long they can kill this for

tim said...

Rippin' on Kanye, beauty.

tim said...

I love how we degraded this game thread into a south park thread.

Joe Grav said...

you like to put fish dicks in your mouth?

Joe Grav said...

this has to be a parody of digital rights management or summat

tim said...

Mencia, hahahahahahaha

Joe Grav said...

Carlos Mencia sucks.

tim said...

yeh i hate him.

tim said...

Just flipped back to the game - wtf?

Joe Grav said...

EPIC lopez fail.

tim said...

Fuck beans.

allan said...

SHIT

Rob said...

Okay... Only 5 runs to tie!

tim said...

Nice play Mikey...time for a 6 run 9th!

Joe Grav said...

Ugghz.

Rob said...

April 8th Miracle?

allan said...

tek up first, so we got top of the order with 1 out. still doable.

and

tappen > watney

Joe Grav said...

Holy Thursday miracle.

nick said...

In high school I knew a guy named Dick Fish. ferreals.

playing some swell sludging about to kick some albert ayler.

Rob said...

tappen > watney

Hmmm... That would be an interesting poll question. Who would you rather........... Keep warm on a cold night?

tim said...

hahahahaha cartman

Rob said...

Nick there's a newscaster in northern Maine named Dick Palm.

allan said...

rally starts now

Joe Grav said...

i'd say Tappen

Joe Grav said...

A peek into Cartman's mind!

tim said...

yes ripping on mencia!

allan said...

elfin magic?

Joe Grav said...

we were just ripping on mencia's uselessness in one of my communications classes yesterday.

Rob said...

Cock and balls clean water.

Joe Grav said...

this episode is funny, but tedious.

sox time

tim said...

Wow.

Joe Grav said...

damn.

very clean water

Joe Grav said...

HAHA @ south park

nick said...

ah well. manana dumping shit in the river. flow my tears the policeman said.

tim said...

Well, that was #1 out of the 67 I predicted.

allan said...

chokers get 3 in the top 9th, still lose 7-5.

0-2. DFL.

Joe Grav said...

One of my Metro stories, for anyone who's interested

tim said...

This is fucking ridiculous.

Joe Grav said...

and also here

allan said...

andy's not gonna like this.

tim said...

HAHAHAHAHAH what an ending

Joe Grav said...

this is so ridiculous

Joe Grav said...

hopefully we get some DiceK magic tomorrow

Rob said...

hopefully we get some DiceK magic tomorrow

Heh. Dice-K magic. You mean like when he gets himself into a jam and then magically wiggles out of it?

Benjamin said...

The good news is the Israelites made it out of Egypt tonight. The bad news is the Sox didn't make it out of the fifth inning.

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