Red Sox - 142 000 100 - 8 14 3Bill James would not approve. Tie game, bottom of the 9th. Who should you put on the mound? Your closer or the worst pitcher on the team?
Spiders - 124 000 101 - 9 13 0
Sadly, Terry Francona chose Option B. And the Red Sox's 11-game winning streak is now history. I can only assume that he hoped to squeak through the 9th (the 8-9-1 hitters were up), maybe get a run or two with FY-Flo-Yook-Drew in the 10th and go to Jonathan Papelbon to nail it down. The only problem with that strategy is you have to not allow a run in the 9th!
Javier Lopez gave up a single to Mark DeRosa (who had homered in the 7th to tie the game at 8-8) to start the final inning. Ben Francisco bunted the runner to second and Grady Sizemore struck out. Lopez went to a full count on Asdrubal Cabrera, who whacked a grounder to the right side.
Kevin Youkilis half-dived to his right, snared it, turned and lobbed an easy, underhanded toss to Lopez. The pitcher and the ball were at the bag in plenty of time, and Lopez's foot was on the base, but he looked down anyway, and the ball clanked off his glove and rolled into foul territory.
Lopez then fell down and Youkilis raced after the baseball, but it was too late. DeRosa was crossing the plate.
Lopez: From a LOOGY to a LWCGAOIHGDMFLDOI.
The Red Sox failed to score in the top of the ninth, with runners at the corners and one out. Nick Green was overmatched on three fastballs and Jacoby Ellsbury lined the ball right to Cabrera at second.
Toronto beat the Royals 8-1, so we are back in 2nd place. The Yankees broke a scoreless tie in Detroit with 10 runs in the seventh and beat the Tigers 11-0.
***
Brad Penny (7.80, 65 ERA+) / Anthony Reyes (4.76, 102 ERA+)
The first place Red Sox (13-6) -- by a slim .017 over the Blue Jays (14-7), but atop the East nonetheless -- continue their series in Cleveland.
Julio Lugo may get his first start of the season tonight. I somewhat fear Tito putting Lugo at leadoff, but I'm now confident that (a) Lugo will be eased into the lineup/regular playing time and (b) Ellsbury's hitting and overall play have improved enough to dispell Francona of that idea.
Only three Red Sox players have ever faced Reyes -- and one of them is Penny! J.D. Drew is 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and Jason Bay is 3-for-6 with a walk.
Of the five Spiders to have seen Penny previously, three are pitchers. Mark DeRosa is 8-for-27 and Tony Graffanino is 1-for-6 (but 0-for-his-last-5). (Graffanino has a -11 OPS+ in 24 plate appearances this year!)
***
Note: The Yankees' run differential is worse than that of the hapless Nationals, owners of the worst record in baseball:
W L PCT RS RA DIFFNew York's Phil "The Franchise" Hughes makes his 2009 debut (6.62 ERA in 2008) in Detroit at 7 PM. ... Jays in Kansas City.
Yankees 9 10 .474 102 126 - 24
Nationals 4 14 .222 85 107 - 22
610 comments:
1 – 200 of 610 Newer› Newest»Amalie Benjamin, 3:24 PM:
Yes, it's raining hard here in Cleveland. The tarp has been on the field since just after the final out last night, and it was needed today. It was just sprinking recently, but the rain has turned harder at this point. The radar shows that there should be a window in which the game can be played, but we'll let you know as we get any updates.
***
Lugo batting ninth:
Red Sox
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
5. J.D. Drew, RF
6. Jason Bay, LF
7. Mike Lowell, 3B
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Julio Lugo, SS
-- Brad Penny, SP
Spiders
1. Grady Sizemore, CF
2. Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B
3. Victor Martinez, C
4. Travis Hafner, DH
5. Ryan Garko, 1B
6. Shin-Soo Choo, RF
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Mark DeRosa, 3B
9. Ben Francisco, LF
-- Anthony Reyes, SP
Hughes is nothing to sneeze at. I think he'll be the real thing in the long run, and a surer thing than Joba (injury) and maybe even Buchholz (inconsistent?).
And meanwhile it's 93° here.
10 miles east at the beach around 11:30am it was 59° while here it was 90°. Wacky sea breezes and wacky April weather in New England. Party's over after today, though. Back to Spring.
Luuuuu-goooooo! :(
93 in maine, jeeezus. it was shit here in the morning but has since turned sunny and mild. but i wouldn't know since i'm cooped up in the office with a pile of tax returns on my desk
Snow and sleet ALL DAY! 34 and sleeting at the moment. 6 to 10 inches accumulation in the hills. Crazy day! Took the kid to see "Earth," went out to buy some new hiking boots, but couldn't find any Yaktrax, which I really need, got the kid a pair of pink Doc Martens (She is running around in pink Doc Martens and an oversized Alex Ovechkin jersey), and now we're going to go out to watch Caps and Rangers Game 7!, so even if the Sox play, we'll be missing it. Phew!
And Drew is still batting fifth why?
WHY?
Because he is ON FIRE!!!!!!
Nooz: "The New York Yankees slashed prices on more than 40 percent of their front-row seats by up to 50 percent Tuesday and announced many of those who bought tickets closest to the field for $325 to $2,500 will be eligible for additional free seats."
P.S.: Drew has the 4th highest OPS+ on the team.
Cleveland broadcast on EI, but Rogers cable comes through again! We are loving this Rogers Sports Net thing that keeps bringing us NESN.
DO with the rugged manly look!!!!
Wow, bad weather in Pepeville. Enjoy hockey w/ your kidlet! Sounds great.
Lookie here, back to red sleeves on the road.
full bore = DRINK!
FULL BORE sighting
FY!
I hate ads on foul poles
That wasn't even close... what the heck?
NICE slide, D-Ped :)
Woot.
ON FIRE!!!
ON FIRE, I tells ya.
1-0 us. Now Bay to make it 4-0.
FIRE!!!
Drew must be reading this.
Ouch... good pitch.
At around 8:00 I have to leave for an hour or so. (Phone date.) One reason I was happy there was a game last night. I hate having to miss any other weekday games besides Weds night.
JETERIAN!
WOW
Looking like Pokey Reese
who was that guy spanking bay?
Crazy Canuck!
bay risking injury - could have just stopped at the wall.
OMG AN ICE CREAM TRUCK JUST PULLED UP IN FRONT OF MY APARTMENT!!1 =-O
yes don shoppach is "getting the night off tonight" -- just like kottaras is. that's what backup catchers do.
Penny looking rather shaky.
We were just talking about ice cream trucks! When I was a kid, we would run after the truck screaming ICE CREAM ICE CREAM, frantically, afraid he might drive away without stopping. It never occured to us... why would he want to drive off, he was there to sell us ice cream!
but nesn told me penny is 2-0!
undefeated!
... with a 7.80 ERA
I was thinking earlier that Penny is the only reason we lose this game. I really hope lugo re-injures himself. Not too bad but enough to get him back on the bench full time. Come on he is still getting paid, MILLIONS.
I got a milkshake. Delicious. But also $4.50.
I tell you, these guys probably make a killing off college students.
way to flip your bat like it was a dong, prick
Bleh
Get the final out.
andy, i've been expecting more anti-rays invective from you.
29 pitches for each pitcher?
Alright.
Score runs.
The Rays have handled my problem for me. Flash in the pan bullshit of an operation. And their douche coach can kiss my ass too.
Lowell almost tripled
Also Lugo is back so I am distracted by his sucktitude.
that spider coach sounds just like tito? wtf?
watney wearing her cute conductor's cap
So I guess we have switched back to red underclothes/socks on the road from blue. Public outcry must've worked. But it seems to be a muted red.
Alright, Lugo, prove me wrong here.
too good to be true
Good evening, everyone. I will be in and out. Still getting organized. Tonight is our last night in our home for the last 25 years. Harder to leave than I thought.
Baseball will cheer me up.
Nice debut, Julio!
Fuck you Lugo. Nice hit. Rays suck.
Lugo OPS at a cool two grand
lugo - SMOKIN'
I am...pleasantly shocked.
"Fuck you Lugo. Nice hit. Rays suck."
Classic Andy!
run
Run(s)!
Nice sac fly, LBJ.
LBJ rbi and Tek run, a nice tandem for the womenfolk here tonight :)
Yes, Laura. Like Saturday's game!
Fuck yeah!
puh-droyer
FY 2-2!
Yeah Papi!!!
Good for Papi!!
woohoo Papi. gapper doobler
Ortiz with the half-dong
Papi!
More Run(s)!
love them baltimore dongs
goddamit
Effing gameday effing up.
"long wait for penny" -- GLUG
Kevin, I know I asked this before, but if you answered, I missed it. Why don't you get MLBTV or at least MLB Audio? The audio is very inexpensive.
yoooooooook
sweat powered ribbies!
sox pounding reyes's slop
Yes, YOUK! We are invincible!
I am so happy
NOW we have more run(s)
tiz went from 2nd to 3rd on that double??????????????
It was a ripped single to left by Youk scoring two, then Drew flies to left and the guy comes in and makes a diving catch to end inning. 5-1.
yook single? nesn had him on second and was distracted
Right now I have shitty AOL dial-up internet, so I don't think that's going to happen.
Quite frankly I'm amazed Gameday even functions with it.
now it's 5? so flo did score???
Damn. Damn.
penny pitching to contact ...
Yes, Ortiz did score.
Penny not impressing.
When will Smoltz be ready?
It was second and third after Ortiz' double, and 3-1. Youk hit one to left scoring both runners. But you're right, it was a double. Looked so much like a classic single I didn't even notice he got 2.
Ew dial-up, sorry to hear that.
fucxking nesn - good, do they have 3 year old running the bar on the screen?
wite out to the rescue!
Uch, bad throw.
god effing dammit. changes the whole inning.
Dammit Penny...
And yet, with the bats looking good, he's probably going to be 3-0.
Wait, Lowell error?
My bad there Penny.
Hughes one hit, one walk thru three. 0-0.
and his ERA will rise to 9.45
Yeah Lowell had a DP ball and threw it into right field.
still june 1 for smoltzy, i think
d-fooking-p pls
Throw strikes!
...
long wait for reyes??
More runs, please.
what does gdgd have for total pitches for each pitcher?
Penny on pace for a 256.5 pitch CG.
57 for penny, 63 for reyes
both guys go the distance, i say boston wins 37-28.
thanks!!!
21 minute wait -- gulp!!!
2 innings = 1:09
thought i might have missed some pitches, but i didn't!
both guys go the distance, i say boston wins 37-28.
I don't think Lopez can pitch that many innings.
We're so good at this game.
Tek!
Those unis look sharp
Donald and Gerald
Boo. We ran out of Reyes.
Tek---proving to be a surprise!
TEK!
sox 1/3 of the way to history
Tek has the nicest swing in baseball.
heidi has hacked grant's account
<3 Tek
Love that sweet stroke.
"2 innings = 1:09"
I thought we were done playing New York...
reyes batters faced and pitches
17 - 76
that's the spirit (/marxbros)
We've moved to the backyard with the radio. See you all later.
2 innings = 1:09
damn wakefield (/matthews)
Lugo is clearly back to his normal self.
And...the old Lugo returns.
he's hitting .500!!!!!
god, what's wrong with you guys?
I miss Reyes already.
I don't have the sound on. That kinda looked like runner interference.
garko cannot deal with slowell's wheels
go ahead, pitch me away
3-for-3 with hits to RF
FY
dong pls
P-P-P-P-Pedroia...
P-P-P-P-Pedroia...
P-P-P-P-Pedroia...
Pedroia The Destroya!
FY 3-3
FY on pace for a 9-9 game.
Just found out where my dorms are for Northeastern next year. Fenway Park is 0.6 miles away!!!!!!...my grades are going to suffer
bad news
Awww shit, this has to be the guy they'd least want up to the plate right now... :D
i want some sweaty salami
Youk's BA has dropped to a sad .423
Rut roh...
DAMN IT#@$%^
6 LOB in 3 innings BOOOOOOOOOO
Alright Penny, how about a scoreless inning?
My laptop is getting viciously warm... It's kind of making me nervous
101 pitches by clev pitchers in 3 innings
batters in inning: 6, 8, 8
This is going to go down as The Worst Baseball Game Ever.
For fuck's sake...
shitty shit
Do I have to say anything?
Lugo back to 2008 form.
Shitfuck.
I'm going to kill somebody in the balls.
FUCK!!!
This is going to be one long-ass game.
back to 0-0 for penny - he can still get a "win"
Oh, shit.
remy says jones warming asap
yeah - no reason to have any action in this inning before now.............
This is going to be one long ass-game.
Fixed.
no sense overreacting now -- this'll be a 19-16 final
hurry up with out #3 - i need some rally juice
What's with this dude and the Jeter Jacknife?
penny seeing his red sox career fading away into the mist
How many people are actually in here watching this abortion of a game?
About damn time.
abortion = we are down by 12
7-7 in the 3rd = something else
of course it FEELS like we are losing big
Not quite 1/3 of the way home.
2 hours of my life wasted.
I'm not even talking about the result, this is just a horrifyingly awful game to watch...
YAY!
So that's what an out looks like. I'd forgotten.
Well done.
Can we keep him and get rid of Lopez once Dice comes back?
it's keeping me busy, coloring in all the runs.
PC
penny: 29-28-32 = 89
reyes: 29-34-13 = 76
I'd say we should hope it gets rained out, but this is like starting over anyway.
jones > lopez for sure
dice returns and masterson replaces penny?
PENNY STILL UNDEFEATED!!!!
BBay
when someone like joe morgan cites W-L record as a measure of a pitcher's worth, just think of Penny waking up tomorrow morning with a 2-0 record.
(8.66 ERA)
\
Any bets on what time this game will end?
so much for history.
amy: friday?
Do they have a curfew in Cleveland?
even 4:30 = 11:30. seems about right.
Any bets on what time this game will end?
Honestly, probably like 10:30, the entire pace of the game is going to change completely.
yeah, sox will win 8-7 in 11.
Well, if we go only nine innings, 11:00 seems possible. But who knows? This could go into extra innings at this rate.
penny faced 21 batters -- retired two in a row only once.
Lugo cleanly fields one.
Runs please.
Pace definitely picking up. OTT
"Honestly, probably like 10:30, the entire pace of the game is going to change completely."
Yes 10:30
Tomorrow morning
OTT
And yes
Post a Comment