May 8, 2009

G30: Red Sox 7, Rays 3

Rays    - 101 100 000 - 3  9  0
Red Sox - 000 005 02x - 7 15 0
For the second straight night, the Red Sox came to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning, trailing in the game. And just like Thursday -- when Boston set a new AL record by scoring 12 times before making an out -- the bats came alive, giving them a lead that carried them to victory.

They sent a mere nine men to the plate in this sixth inning. The five runs came on two home runs: a three-run job to left by Jason Bay (on an 0-2 pitch) and a first-pitch, two-run dinger from J.D. Drew.

The Sox tacked on two more runs in the eighth. With two outs, Julio Lugo blooped a single to right, Jacoby Ellsbury doubled into the left field corner, and Pedroia single to center.

FY went 4-for-5 (his second four-hit game of the season; he also has five three-hit games). His one out came on a diving, sliding catch in right field by Gabe Gross. Mike Lowell had three hits, though he also made what will go down as one of the dumbest baserunning decisions of the year, trying to stretch a fourth-inning single off the Wall into a double. He stopped short of second base by 20 feet and tried to go back to first, but Akinori Iwamura ran him down.

Penny recovered from a 31-pitch first inning and settled down nicely (6.1-8-3-2-2, 91), though he did leave the potential tying runs on base with one out in the seventh for Hideki Okajima. Protecting a 5-3 lead with Rays on first and second, Jeemer retired Carl Crawford (who had singled, tripled and doubled up to that point) on a fly ball to center, then fanned Evan Longoria.

Okajima and Ramon Ramirez worked together in the eighth and Jonathan Papelbon took the ninth. He gave up a leadoff single, but got the next three, including strike outs of B.J. Upton (on a flithy slider) and Crawford to end the game.

***

James Shields (3.51, 139 ERA+) / Brad Penny (7.61, 67 ERA+)

The Rays have won six of their last eight games, going back to the beginning of the the series against the Red Sox on April 30. They have also won six of their last eight games at Fenway Park (including playoff games). Tampa Bay is currently in third place, ahead of the fourth-place Yankees by .003.

In four starts (16 innings) in Boston, B.G. Shields has a 9.56 ERA.

MLB's preview has an amusing headline: "Lugo Could Be Secret Weapon". ... Yes, but for which team?

***

Here are the Top ERA+ leaders in the AL:
                        ERA+
Zack Greinke KCR 1169
Erik Bedard SEA 195
Mark Buehrle CHW 192
Jered Weaver LAA 183
Dallas Braden OAK 178
Scott Richmond TOR 175
Jarrod Washburn SEA 173
Tim Wakefield BOS 173
Kevin Millwood TEX 173
Edwin Jackson DET 158
That is nuts. Greinke has pitched complete games in three of his last four starts, but has not thrown more than 111 pitches in any outing. (The modern record for a season is 291.) He pitches tomorrow night in Anaheim.

315 comments:

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nixon33 said...

Lets beat these mofos.

tim said...

I concur with Mr. Nixon.

laura k said...

I, too, desire this outcome.

Unknown said...

I'm a huge Zach Grienke fan. He overcame some serious depression and social anxiety issues to get where he is right now. He's a lot of fun to watch, also, great command, great movement, amazing curve ball, and a willingness to throw inside.

He'd look amazing in a Sox uniform.

laura k said...

"I'm a huge Zach Grienke fan. He overcame some serious depression and social anxiety issues to get where he is right now."

I think Allan blogged about this recently, or at least linked to the SI story about him. Quite amazing all around.

allan said...

Yook still out.

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Jason Bay, LF
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
6. J.D. Drew, LF
7. Jeff Bailey, 1B
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Julio Lugo, SS

1. B.J. Upton, LF
2. Carl Crawford, CF
3. Evan Longoria, 3B
4. Carlos Pena, 1B
5. Pat Burrell, LF
6. Gabe Gross, RF
7. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
8. Jason Bartlett, SS
9. Michel Hernandez, C

Anonymous said...

Starting to worry about Beardon.

9casey said...

What will Bay cost at the end of the year? 5 for 60 or more

laura k said...

Thank you Rogers! Here's Don, and some pregame, too. Nice.

9casey said...

There is one stat that amazes me about Bay , this year so far. Any ideas what it is?

allan said...

That he has reached base in so many of his games?

allan said...

4-for-4 in steals?


0 GIDP? (this one, i think)

laura k said...

I'm glad to see LBJ leading off and Secret Weapon batting last.

Rob said...

Dear, Brad Penny:

Please throw strikes.

Sincerly,
ISH and Joy Nation

Unknown said...

Three more walks than Ks?

A-Roid 3-run dong on the first pitch.

Fucker.

laura k said...

Unless he can pitch, it doesn't much matter.

Unknown said...

29 RBI in 29 games?

Rob said...

Kevin, that statement about A-Rod sounded so usual - I totally forgot this was his first game back! Don says first pitch he saw was gone.

Unknown said...

True.

Except the Orioles can't pitch either.

allan said...

fookin crawford

he said he was pissed that he did not know that 7 sb would be a new record. he would have totally ran again and got 7 last time.

maybe he'll do it tonight

laura k said...

Yeah Eck, Jason can't do much about all the steals, but a good catcher could.

Unknown said...

Oh no, not more of this 6 stolen bases in a game shit.

laura k said...

Ish, I forgot too.

Rob said...

Crawford better move it to third then if he wants 7.

Rob said...

Apparently the carrier pigeon I sent to deliver my message to Penny got sidetracked by someone's picnic and decided to stop off for some bread crumbs.

Unknown said...

DP please?

laura k said...

9C, we await the answer...

...........

allan said...

Yeah, Tito wanted to play Millar's corpse at first instead of Pena. One of his and the FO's bigger mistakes.

Unknown said...

Ha, the MFYs had to call up Ca$h since they can't keep any of their regular catchers healthy.

laura k said...

But Millar has funny facial hair and makes everyone laugh!

laura k said...

Thank you Ish's pigeon!

laura k said...

Eck making fun of pitchers wearing their socks up. "It makes you look like a tuna. It just does!"

Rob said...

Yeah but did they even know Pena would be that good? That's rhetorical. If they did they would have kept him. Seems like they just sort of looked over him and assumed he'd be an all-or-nothing type of hitter - he did have a very long swing and went after some crap pitches with his time in Boston...

Eck doesn't want to look like a tuna.

laura k said...

Fuck, that didn't take long, 1-0 them.

allan said...

Eck says he did not give up B2B HR as a reliever on 2 pitches.
Maybe not, but he did allow:

HR
ball 1
HR

Unknown said...

Penny...why must you disappoint us so?

laura k said...

But Millar was worthless.

Unknown said...

Runs please?

Rob said...

Watching NESN on one TV and NESNplus on the other... Just saw the replay on NESN of the Burrell hit while watching the game live on NESNplus. That was confusing for a minute.

allan said...

Everyone knew Pena would have a high OBP. And he was young.

And Millar was truly a corpse. Yet Tito trotted him out there every fucking day while Pena rotted on the bench. Pena also rotted in Pawtucket as Theo would not call him up. Maybe there's more to it, but I've never heard anything.

I don't think anyone thought he hit 46 dongs, but anyone who knew baseball knew he should have been playing over the Cabin.

allan said...

I know SoSH was high on him when he was with Oakland and Detroit. So we were thrilled when Theo grabbed him. Then --- nada.

Rob said...

What was his OBP in Pawtucket?

laura k said...

If he never played in Pawtucket or Boston, maybe there was more to it. But absent that, it was a bad move without knowing the future, only what they knew at the time.

Rob said...

I would be interested in figuring out what the deal was. I don't think it was that Tito and Theo were enamoured with Millar. You guys are right. Nobody saw 46 dongs. But you'd think they'd have seen a fair amount of potential in Pena.

allan said...

.523 OBPit was 2006, not 2005 as i thought.

laura k said...

Yeah, it couldn't just have been love for Millar. Theo is too good for that, mostly.

allan said...

it's an old story. team/FO/mgr/whichever likes its veterans (esp. from a year like 2004) and will give them every opportunity (and then some, sadly) to catch fire again.

laura k said...

Oh lordy not the comedy all stars again. Last year the ads were so annoying and went on for months.

Unknown said...

I certainly didn't think Pena would have a high OBP; his career major league OBP prior to his coming to Boston was .330. And he was 28, which isn't as old as Millar was, but it's not like anyone thought he had much upside at that point.

I think that was the year I was cage-rattling for Hee-Sop Choi, though, so what do I know.

Can we have Buchholz now, please?

allan said...

I was on the Choi bus for a bit, too.

allan said...

Yep, I loved the Choi pick-up.

laura k said...

The field has 7 for Dom DiMaggio? They showed it but I couldn't really see it.

Unknown said...

I won't miss NESN commercials at all.

However, I do see local commercials with Derek Jeter with alarming frequency.

Hey, whose the asshole who has to go get ready for work?

*THIS GUY*I'm working until 5:30AM, which wouldn't have been an issue a year ago but I've worked hard to become a 7AM riser and my body would not let me nap today (I think it was all the steroids in it).

Enjoy the game.

laura k said...

Have fun at work. Watch out, you might have quintuplets from the fertility drugs.

Edward Lee said...

Way to be casual, BJ.

allan said...

That's my Gumball!

Unknown said...

GUMBALL TRIPLE?!?!?!

laura k said...

Was Penny flapping his arms at Bay, or wondering if it was foul?

9casey said...

redsock said...
4-for-4 in steals?


0 GIDP? (this one, i think)



right , Tek as well

allan said...

Foul, I assume. I thought I saw it land foul.

Man, Eck sounds totally bored.

Rob said...

NESNplus is very very very choppy. Bad transmission problems.

laura k said...

Eck sounds like he can't get excited for any reason. Don says a school class made get well cards for Jerry and they show some of them. Eck says, that's sweet, like he's saying hi, how are you, and he barely says that.

It doesn't bother me, I get tired of all the yelling and fake enthusiasm. But he does sound bored!

laura k said...

Either that or he hates Remy!

laura k said...

Maybe Gummi Jeff will go for the cycle. Anytime someone hits a triple, I think cycle.

laura k said...

Shut up Eck, we do NOT want Lugo to play every day!

allan said...

Don asked him if he'd alter his pre-start routine (if in a slump, I think).

He could barely be bothered to talk, dragging the words out: "I don't know ...."

allan said...

FUCK THIS COMEDY SHIT

laura k said...

THEY ARE SHOWING A COMEDY CLIP DURING ELLSBURY'S AT BAT!!!!!

NESN I HATE YOU

laura k said...

WTF is wrong with them???? We don't turn on NESN for fucking comedy for fucks sake.

allan said...

And I don't think there's been one funny joke in that whole fucking run of shows -- if the trailers to get you to watch is any indication.

BASEBALL!!!!!!!!!!!

WE WANT FUCKING BASEBALL!!!!!!!!!!!

laura k said...

I have to remember to email a complaint. All these interviews and ads during at-bats. It's wrong.

laura k said...

The only thing Eck cares about is pitching.

paint
cheese
gas
hair

allan said...

Those clips show nothing but guys making faces, noises and contortions.

That is not comedy, people.

allan said...

Noises, faces and antics is what "comedians" do when they have no material.

laura k said...

Of course it's not funny, but if it were, I still don't want to see it during an AB.

laura k said...

I wonder if any threaders are at the game tonight.

Patrick said...

These Rays, they are so pesky.

laura k said...

They are pesky.

Rob said...

L, there are also two playoff games involving Boston teams tonight. Might explain some of it.

Rob said...

NESN is just... dead. The Red Sox broadcast portion. Bruins broadcast is fine. Red Sox is so choppy I can't watch it. Fuck you NESN and Time Warner. Whoever is responsible.

Unknown said...

When will Smoltz be ready?

allan said...

I blame Manny.

Patrick said...

I'm so psyched for that day our starters start going 7 innings. It will be so glorious.

Rob said...

Is everyone else having problems seeing the game?

Patrick said...

Argh, the monster taketh.

allan said...

mlbtv is fine.

allan said...

oh doctor.

w t f f

laura k said...

slowell *sigh*

Patrick said...

mal practice! Bad doctor.

Benjamin said...

WTF Lowell.

Edward Lee said...

Wow, that was embarrassing.

laura k said...

NESN via Rogers is fine. Maybe it's your provider.

Jere said...

"the last part of his game to return"

That would imply he ever had speed, Don.

Rob said...

Fuck you Time Warner.

allan said...

that was dumb. he knows he's slow.

now will the media bring this mistake up for the next 5 years?

allan said...

Don't waste the runner, Gummi Bail.

Benjamin said...

Fucking hell.

laura k said...

"Fuck you Time Warner."

Always a good decision.

allan said...

CC needs a dong for the cycle

laura k said...

"Look at this... look at this.... look at this..."

Eck watching Eck.

"That's some moss right there." x3

allan said...

don obsessed with eck's tight pants!

Benjamin said...

CC needs a dong for the cycle

You got me hopeful about the MFYs game for a moment.

laura k said...

Yes, I noticed Don noticing the pants!

laura k said...

Oh for godsakes stop saying "moss".

Anonymous said...

Dom DiMaggio has died..
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4151140

allan said...

just caught the tail end of him saying what people would rag on his hair with "it's the 80s", then "it's the 90s"

laura k said...

Menuier, there's a # 7 mowed into the outfield in his memory - and they did a piece on him during the pre-game.

laura k said...

And sorry for misspelling your name, I have trouble with it!

laura k said...

Yeah, Eck said it was his thing so he couldn't stop.

allan said...

... and I mentioned it in the first comment on the Manny post this morning. :>)

Anonymous said...

I didn't see it, I'm watching the Bruins and checking the GDGD during stoppages.

allan said...

everybody hacking now - on both sides.

Anonymous said...

Penny has done well, too bad it looks like it will be a wasted effort unless the Sox focus.

allan said...

come on, flo!

laura k said...

A, are you going to post about Dom DiMag? Anything interesting to say? Or not really your era?

allan said...

i have nothing to say.

allan said...

Time for Thunder Bay!

Benjamin said...

HOMRE!

allan said...

OH BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Patrick said...

I have to change my undies! That was insane!

Anonymous said...

Finally some action..

Benjamin said...

I miss seeing Papi do that to fastballs, but I'm glad someone's doing it.

laura k said...

Gee, too bad the Sox can't focus - another wasted effort. :)

bosoxer said...

Where the hell did Penny come from? Why do we have him? He sucks! And what's up with Big PopUP? He used to be so good, now he's an automatic out like the shortstop that sucked who went to Atlanta (what was his name?) and Lugo. And Eck...if you say "cheese" one more time...

Pepe Lepew said...

"I am the greatest hitter in all the land and I declare a feast of Tim Horton's doughnuts and poutine in my honour!!!"

Benjamin said...

Uh, yeah. Lucky Lowell.

allan said...

fucker - you ain't lyndon, slowell.

damn lucky the throw was crap.

Patrick said...

Forgive the good doctor. All he knows are doubles.

Anonymous said...

Doc doubles does it again

Benjamin said...

Where the hell did Penny come from? Why do we have him? He sucks!

How about you pick a game where he's actually sucking to say that.

Rob said...

Still no NESN.

Horns are growing out of my head. And you can't get a hold of someone at Time Warner this late who can actually do anything.

Benjamin said...

ON FIRE

bosoxer said...

Thank the lordy for Bay! Go Drew! It's about f-in time!

allan said...

ON FUCKING FIRE

Patrick said...

bwahahaha. I love JD HITS!!! I LOVE JD DONGS! IT"S MY FAVORITE!

allan said...

BIG GAME ....


MY FUCKING ASS

bosoxer said...

What's up with Lowell trying to take 2nd every time he's up?

Unknown said...

Holy crap, I look away for a few minutes and we score 5 runs!

laura k said...

Whoo-hoo! My computer keeps fucking up and keeping me from celebrating.

Patrick said...

That calls for a picture change --------->

Anonymous said...

Well Drew sure focused on that!

laura k said...

I was about to type "Focus? We have a rally going on and Bay up" when he hit it out - then by the time my computer let me type that - Lowell slid into second - tried to type that - and BOOM, we're ON FIRE!

Unknown said...

Damn, we're not going to score 12 runs without making an out this inning...

Tek gets a hit?!?

bosoxer said...

Looks like the 6th inning is the charm these days...

laura k said...

Where the hell did Penny come from? Why do we have him? He sucks! And what's up with Big PopUP?*
*


And where the hell did you come from? Big Popup? Go to hell.

allan said...

"3-run johnsons"?

bosoxer said...

See you there L-girlie ;-)

allan said...

bosoxer: don't come in here on day 1 with an attitude. not a wise move.

laura k said...

I live here, bud, watch your step.

laura k said...

3-run johnson, I caught that! Any relation to Unit?

allan said...

BIG GAME strikes out the side!!!!!!!

laura k said...

I guess a johnson is a dong after all.

laura k said...

I like your calling him B. G. Shields in this post.

Maybe nothing to say, but your public might like some little known factoid you dig up.

bosoxer said...

Hey, I was just asking questions after being a frustrated fan vs. Rays and I get attacked...not cool. Just wanting to commiserate...didn't think this was going to be like a clique with only certain people able to voice opinions/frustrations.

9casey said...

Bay is LOCKED IN!!!!!!

laura k said...

profile started in may, 3 views...

allan said...

Where the hell did Penny come from? Why do we have him?*

He was with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year. He signed a contract with the Boston Red Sox in December 2008.

Benjamin said...

Ortiz is at least having a mediocre game. Penny has pitched 6.1 innings on 83 pitches.

Benjamin said...

(with 3 ER.)

That's a quality start.

laura k said...

"Big Popup" is not an opinion or a frustration. It's slagging on a player who deserves your undying respect and support.

bosoxer said...

I'll admit Penny is doing good tonight but generally he's not fun to watch. And I love Papi, just pissed that he's not all there anymore, like Lowell.

laura k said...

And what are you commisserating about, anyway? Have you looked at the scoreboard?

allan said...

You signed up for Blogger. You had one profile view when I looked -- so that ONE was me.

Most people don't walk into a strange group and start mouthing off, insulting theteam's players and being a wiseass to other posters.

There are places on the net where that is the norm. This is not one of them.

Patrick said...

Not to mention that whiny post came in after the J-Bay dong. A time reserved for rapture and celebration.

9casey said...

bosoxer said...
like Lowell.


He is close to .300 and has 26 rbi's
and 6 hr's

Benjamin said...

So, ummm, let's leave this one a quality start.

allan said...

And I'm in no fucking mood right now to explain why I expect people to act like fucking adults on my blog.

Anonymous said...

Might be time for a pitching change

laura k said...

Well, I hope you'll explain anyway.

9casey said...

I'm sorry Lowell is at 302

laura k said...

Oh never mind, I see you did already explain.

laura k said...

It's probably just Mags.

9casey said...

L-girl said...
It's probably just Mags.



L, what are you talking about?

allan said...

huh. i didn't think crawford made outs.

A Conformer said...

Evening.

Was hoping for one of those "one pitch, two outs" out of Oki. Am I wrong if I remember him doing that several times?

9casey said...

Finally got him out

Pepe Lepew said...

Finally! Man that Crawford guy is a pest.

laura k said...

Mags is a nickname for our infamous trolls. He posts under a lot of different names, but he always lets me know it's him, somehow.

Jeemer!

Edward Lee said...

Siddown, Schlongoria.

allan said...

Jeemer to the rescue!

Unknown said...

Sit

9casey said...

Longoria's numbers are amazing, and he was never drafted out of high school....

laura k said...

Ofer, where are you? I like to know. :)

Patrick said...

Like Drew, I really like it when Oki is pitching good.

9casey said...

L-girl said...
Ofer, where are you? I like to know. :)



He is your own personal Waldo

Benjamin said...

And I'm in no fucking mood right now to explain why I expect people to act like fucking adults on my blog.

I thought this was Laura's blog and she just let you hang out on it.

A Conformer said...

I think Oki's getting his groove back. Four straight scoreless appearances (he's probably gonna go out for the 8th, so this might be premature). And he's halved his ERA in those, whatever that means. Early season reliever ERA is not exactly a telling stat.

Anyway, I'm hopeful.

Patrick said...

They Might be Giants opening inning music on WRKO. (They call me Dr. Worm)

9casey said...

Benjamin said...
And I'm in no fucking mood right now to explain why I expect people to act like fucking adults on my blog.

I thought this was Laura's blog and she just let you hang out on it.



Ben, NO MOOD.........even though I am laughing my ass off..

allan said...

I thought this was Laura's blog and she just let you hang out on it.**

I have a very funny story to tell about that.

laura k said...

Eck: "I knew he had gas, but he couldn't control it."

:>)

laura k said...

"I thought this was Laura's blog and she just let you hang out on it."

LOL

This is even funnier considering something that happened this week while I was gone. A will explain.

9casey said...

L-girl said...
Eck: "I knew he had gas, but he couldn't control it."

:>)


You have to admit he is funny, even though he may not be trying to be....

A Conformer said...

Ha, I just realised I never said anything about it: I'm back in the US. Have been for two weeks now. I've been in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Asheville, NC and now I'm in Missouri, near Branson. Back in the rollercoaster business for a month or so.

laura k said...

"He is your own personal Waldo"

Exactly.

allan said...

Tito going Ram/Bot or more Jeemer in the 8th?

Unknown said...

FY has three 3-hit games already this month.

allan said...

"left-central"?

allan said...

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
**


!!!

laura k said...

Back in the US, but you still manage to be someplace I want to go. I've never been to the Great Smoky Mountain region and want to go there. Don't know if I ever will at this point, but Asheville is the jumping off point.

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