Red Sox - 010 311 011 - 8 12 1The calendar has turned over to September, the ball games are getting more important, and Terry Francona is getting into Playoff Assassin mode.
Rays - 100 100 020 - 4 11 3
Boston led 7-2 as Hideki Okajima began the bottom of the eighth inning. He had a rough time, however. Evan Longoria dropped a first pitch bunt single towards third. Carlos Pena worked a nine-pitch walk. Pat Burrell singled to left and Willy Aybar and Dioner Navarro followed with identical bloop singles into short right field. The lead was cut to 7-4, the bases were loaded, and there was no one out.
Francona went to Jonathan Papelbon. It was the correct move. With the game on the line in the late innings, you don't give a damn about "the book" or "saves", you go with your best pitcher. And despite Daniel Bard's success, the top gun in the pen is still Bot.
Papelbon struck out B.J. Upton. Jason Bartlett lined a ball to short center, but Jacoby Ellsbury (who made an astounding diving catch in left center off Pat Burrell in the fourth) came sprinting in and snared this sinking liner with a sliding catch. Burrell was stutter-stepping off third like Jeff Suppan circa 2004 and could not advance. Bot got ahead of Carl Crawford 0-2, but the count went full and Crawford fouled off the 6th, 7th and 8th pitches of the at-bat before finally lofting a fly ball down the left field line that Jason Bay caught in foul territory. Three batters, three outs (on 18 pitches) and no runs scored! That was the save!
With two outs in the top of the ninth, Alex Gonzalez singled and Ellsbury tripled him in. Boston led 8-4 and Takashi Saito got up. However, after Dustin Pedroia made the final out, Papelbon came back out for the ninth, with Manny Delcarmen and Daniel Bard getting ready to back him up.
Papelbon snuffed the side in order. Ben Zobrist lined out to first, Longoria struck out looking, and Pena struck out swinging. In total, Papelbon threw 28 pitches for a six-out save -- the first one by a Boston reliever since Mike Timlin on September 5, 2006.
Lester (6-7-2-2-9, 97) had only one perfect inning, but it never seemed like he was in any trouble. After the first inning, he allowed only one Tampa runner past second (Pena's solo home run in the fourth). Lester struck out the side in the second and fanned two in each of the fourth and fifth.
Dong Watch: J.D. Drew hit a two-run homer in the fourth, Jason Bay began the fifth with his 30th home run of the season, and Kevin Youkilis homered in the eighth.
The Yankees beat the Orioles 9-6 so the Red Sox are still 6.5 GB in the East. Texas swept a doubleheader from the Blue Jays 5-2 and 5-2, so Texas is now 3.5 GB Boston in the wild card. With tonight's loss, Tampa drops 6 GB in the WC.
![Example](http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn296/joyofsox/isglyph.png)
MLB calls this three-game series "crucial" for the Red Sox in knocking the Rays out of the wild card race, but since I still have an eye on the AL East, every game from now until October 4 is crucial.
Boston leads the wild card race by 4 games over the Rangers and are 6.5 GB the Yankees. They have won 10 of their last 13 games -- hitting .302 with a .921 OPS and a staff ERA of 5.23 (though subtracting the gruesome 20-11 loss to New York drops that ERA all the way down to 4.08) -- yet they have gained only one game in the standings.
Lester has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 15 of his last 16 starts, dating back to May 31. ... Sonnanstine -- 4.40 ERA in nine starts for AAA Durham -- is being recalled to take Scott Kazmir's spot in the rotation.
And: Yankees/Orioles at 7 and Blue Jays/Rangers at 5 and 8.
287 comments:
1 – 200 of 287 Newer› Newest»I agree that this series is crucial in knocking TB out, if we can get a sweep.
More importantly to me though, this series is crucial to see if Boston can carry the past week's success over to dominate teams that are actually good. Not like the Double-A caliber teams we've played the past week.
Get 'em, Sid.
Let's fucking win.
With Lester going up against Sonnastine, and the Rangers playing a doubleheader, today's a good day to increase the WC lead.
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Victor Martinez, C
4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Jason Bay, LF
7. Mike Lowell, 3B
8. J.D. Drew, RF
9. Alex Gonzalez, SS
1. Jason Bartlett, SS
2. Carl Crawford, LF
3. Ben Zobrist, RF
4. Evan Longoria, 3B
5. Carlos Pena, 1B
6. Pat Burrell, DH
7. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
8. Dinoer Navarro, C
9. B.J. Upton, CF
The Sox just need to start winning on the road again. A below .500 record on the road is just not good enough.
All you have to do is make sure you win 6 or 7 more games than the Yankees do in the next 31 games. That's not hard... right?
Watching sans computer tonight, at least for the first 5-6 innings.
Be wicked, Lester.
The last couple of games I have checked have not been available on atdhe.net. I wonder if there's any rhyme or reason to when they're there and when they're not.
I was hoping to the see the Jays/Sox last weekend, but nada. No baseball at all, actually.
G1
TOR: 000 101
TEX: 100 20
ugh - dave roberts.
fuckin' a.
better than kevin kennedy, but not by much.
I bet MLB snuffed them out and put the screws to 'em.
Plleeeeeeeeaaaasssseeeeeeee don't let Dave Roberts near NESN againnnn!
PAIN!!! My ears!!!!
You could have the stinkin' Rays' announcers. Ugh.
i know - we've had them before. it thought it could not get worse than migraine. but along came kennedy....
roberts talked to the red sox players -- they really want to win this first game. interesting .....
I don't like Kennedy on XM's Home Plate. He is a know-it-all blowhard. And, these guys will talk about a topic for-e-ver.
for years, staats and migraine complained about EVERY umpire's call that went against the rays. ... then kennedy came in -- and he got right into that whining mode.
i have to admit i was surprised. it's like it's a job requirement, to whine about "bad calls" for five innings in a row.
alright crawford, we got a new catcher now!
Was strike three to the Large Father as worthy of complaint as it looked on GDGD (clearly outside)?
alright crawford, we got a new catcher now!
Who has made multiple errors on throws to second.
Was strike three to the Large Father as worthy of complaint as it looked on GDGD (clearly outside)?
Almost same spot as strike 1, too close to take.
Tough first inning for Beavis -- solo HR, but two singles come to nothing and Baltimore over the Yanks by 1-0.
Texas getting run(s) after an error. 5-2 now.
Almost same spot as strike 1, too close to take.
Hm. Thanks.
"bluffs off the back side"
glug!
Zenslinger
Myp2p.eu has more games than that other site.
http://www.myp2pforum.eu/mlb-baseball/42656-baseball-today-tuesday-september-1-streaming.html
often they are a bit lagged but still a great site.
Lovely. Thanks very much, Iridesence.
Crap
i have to admit i was surprised. it's like it's a job requirement, to whine about "bad calls" for five innings in a row.
Yep, they were non-stop on the ball that got stuck in the equipment bag a few weeks ago. It was innings after Benjamin (I think) posted the rule here that their crackerjack research department found the rule and then they half-way explained it. They then berated the rule and kept talking about how the rule needed to be changed.
Carlos Pena has turned into Adam Dunn. .223 BA, but .353 on base with all that power.
Yargh.
Damn Pena
Alright, one run allowed isn't bad
Let's score some
E-wamura
When did Iwamura come back? I remember he led off the game I went to in Fenway with an HR.
DO waits until after the catch to tell us the infield fly rule was in effect. Seems like it would've been nice to know when it was called.
L B J!
Make them pay!
L B J!
Make them pay!
lbjrbi
TV guys never said it.
Wow, it's painful to watch Lowell run.
Lyndon!
Ha! Chanting = reality.
I will now become religious again.
In fairness to Sonnanstine, that pitch would have hit any other player in the ankles.
Lyndon nice!
Now they're talking about what an effective pitch that is and that they're surprised that more pitchers don't pitch FY like that!
Bleh.
I discovered stickbaseball.com today, by the way. Not as good as stickcricket.com, but it's an adequate time killer.
Sonnanstine: 47-26 on the pitch count.
Could been more runs, but I call it Advantage: Us.
Why doesn't NESN have radar gun readings? Am I missing something?
Rockies have snagged up Jason Giambi.
Is it just me or are post-July 31 moves more common this year?
Lester is wreaking of filth.
Sit, sit, and SIT!
Zen - I think they are also - especially bigger contracts (thome, giambi).
I love me a racist Mo Lester.
Crazy call
wow THAT was a bad call. jesus.
shift that
Not even close to being a strike
roberts: "as the season progresses, which it has ..."
:>)
Bleh
Wow, I am FINALLY able to watch a game and thread. This moving stuff kind of is overwhelming.
DOCTOR!!
Dr Doubles!
Anyone here? So quiet.
Fuck, I really want Lexus' sale ends already.
Rx
FIRE DONG!
MY DONG IS ON FIRE!!!!
(yay)
FIRE!!!!!!
ON FUCKIN FIRE!!!!
DREW!
Yeeeeaahhh uhhaaaaa this DONG is on fireeeeee
Anyone who knows of the song Sex on Fire by Kings of Leon, knows what I'm talking about.
keep pitchin' out, moron.
HA. Hot bullpen action in the FOURTH.
Foul scrotum.
LBJ wheels!!
Scuse me, Dionner. Ima just slip past you and score me a run! Hot damn.
That is one fast former President.
Sweaty scrotum!
'Scuse me while I kiss the plate.
Lester needs to continue to be filthy
That was not filthy. That was very clean.
WOW!
Ugh
DEEEEEFENSE!
gotta a late jump on that (which he often does) but speed helps.
Pena is the AL home run leader. Why can't we get players like that?
Sit
"the bacon beckons like a springboard to paradise"
now that's poetry!
Yay Bay!
30 DOUNGS!
THUNDER!!!
Right in his power zone
DOCTOR (again)
Dr. Doubles!!!
Time to knock stiney out of this game.
Doctor!
Nooooooo. Leave him iiiiiiiiiin.
MFY: 021 0
BAL: 102
G1
TOR: 000 101 000 - 2 6 3
TEX: 100 200 20x - 5 10 1
G2
TOR: 0
TEX:
SweetBay!
A storm rages on Thunder Bay.
Wow, I'm really behind...
Loaded!
I have a good feeling about this game
Strategic discussion to beg Shouse not to pitch like crap.
Maddon: "OK, guys, don't forget, 9=8, 17-5=23, and the square root of 7 is love."
Man, their D has been nice today.
Tyler Kepner of the New York Times tweeted that A-Rod gave an anti-steroid talk to kids today.
I can see it now. "You don't want to end up like me." Real convincing.
I tweeted this to him and he replied back, "Don't know what A-Rod said; that was the only statement the group released, and speech wasn't open to media. I'm OK with that."
I guess I am too. Better to give an anti-steroids talk to some kids than not to.
But seriously. "Don't do steroids." I hope he gives them some graphic story about his balls shriveling up or him getting really angry for no reason. Other than that, what's so bad about steroids? They might make you as good as A-Rod.
So, rules question: if Longoria drops the ball on purpose to be able to get the DP instead of only one out, is that allowed? I mean, if the ump thinks that was his intent?
So, rules question: if Longoria drops the ball on purpose to be able to get the DP instead of only one out, is that allowed? I mean, if the ump thinks that was his intent?
He's allowed to do that if they didn't call the infield fly rule. That's what that rule's for.
There have been line drives ruled infield fly.
But for the infield fly rule to be in effect, the ump has to call it at the time.
He's allowed to do that if they didn't call the infield fly rule. That's what that rule's for.
OK, cool. That ball was definitely not IFR worthy.
Oh, the bases apparently were never loaded, GDGD just sucks.
Dang, we should have gotten more than one run out of that
And since we're on the subject: when the infield fly rule is in effect, if you do drop the ball on an error, you would only be able to get one out, regardless of if you have time to get two, right?
Hmmm. Now that I look at it again, under 6.05(l) the runners get to stay at their bases even if an infield fly isn't declared.
If the infield fly rule is in effect, then the only out you make is the batter, unless one of the runners steps off the base or tries to advance and gets tagged out.
6.05 A batter is out when-
...
(e) An Infield Fly is declared;
...
(l) An infielder intentionally drops a fair fly ball or line drive, with first, first and second, first and third, or first, second and third base occupied before two are out. The ball is dead and runner or runners shall return to their original base or bases;
If the infield fly rule is in effect, then the only out you make is the batter, unless one of the runners steps off the base or tries to advance and gets tagged out.
Yeah, but what happens if the defender drops it? The runners are on their bases, so the batter doesn't have first base open.
2.00
An INFIELD FLY is a fair fly ball (not including a line drive nor an attempted bunt) which can be caught by an infielder with ordinary effort, when first and second, or first, second and third bases are occupied, before two are out. The pitcher, catcher and any outfielder who stations himself in the infield on the play shall be considered infielders for the purpose of this rule. When it seems apparent that a batted ball will be an Infield Fly, the umpire shall immediately declare "Infield Fly" for the benefit of the runners. If the ball is near the baselines, the umpire shall declare "Infield Fly, if Fair." The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it is treated the same as any foul. If a declared Infield Fly is allowed to fall untouched to the ground, and bounces foul before passing first or third base, it is a foul ball. If a declared Infield Fly falls untouched to the ground outside the baseline, and bounces fair before passing first or third base, it is an Infield Fly. On the infield fly rule the umpire is to rule whether the ball could ordinarily have been handled by an infielder_not by some arbitrary limitation such as the grass, or the base lines. The umpire must rule also that a ball is an infield fly, even if handled by an outfielder, if, in the umpire's judgment, the ball could have been as easily handled by an infielder. The infield fly is in no sense to be considered an appeal play. The umpire's judgment must govern, and the decision should be made immediately. When an infield fly rule is called, runners may advance at their own risk. If on an infield fly rule, the infielder intentionally drops a fair ball, the ball remains in play despite the provisions of Rule 6.05 (L). The infield fly rule takes precedence.
The batter is immediately out once an infield fly is declared. It doesn't matter what happens to the ball.
(Assuming the ball stays in play, of course. If it's foul and drops, then it's nothing.)
The batter is immediately out once an infield fly is declared. It doesn't matter what happens to the ball.
Huh. So the defender can just stand around and not even make the effort to go there and catch it. Interesting.
(Of course, he would need to be at least close to it so the runners wouldn't advance).
Man, that's a crazy dong leader board. Russell Branyan, Aaron Hill and Kendry Morales. Who would've thought?
Ofer, now try to explain it to the Russian dude. :)
V-Mart fisted that ball.
Ofer, now try to explain it to the Russian dude. :)
Hahaha. I couldn't even get through tagging up on a regular fly ball. I think that would be a required lesson before you can take the IFR course.
HAHAHAH!
Wow, their defense sucks tonight.
roberts defends crawford.
COME ON!
Third error they've had tonight and it's only the 6th inning
Loaded for the Dr
Yeah, make them burn through the pen. Want those boys tired out for the next two nights.
That is why errors are problematic. Bay wouldn't have even come close to touch it with his glove, so he wouldn't get the chance to get the error. It would be a routine single (or double).
Haha. Randy Choate. What an unfortunate name.
chadford's opp avg: .417!
"Another long wait for Jon Lester...."
Do these pitchers really mind waiting that DO always mentions this??
Scrotum fly!
Boy, I make a comment, and everyone disappears again.
Bruschi's SVLI commercials are still running after he retired.
Scrotum Doctor.
Too bad Choate wasn't a batter. Then when he hits a home run we could call it a fat dong.
DO specifies Choat was a "non roster SPRING TRAINING invitee". As opposed to the other kind.
It'd be a Choate choad.
One of those words that's proof that the English language has produced some very fitting names for things.
Man, just as I was going into B-Ref to check how many double-digit SO games Lester's had, DO says the answer.
"What's a choad?" Somebody tells you and you're like "Yup. Makes sense."
Score additional runs
NYY: 021 021
BAL: 102 030
6-6!
TOR: 000 0
TEX: 000 2
MFY have scored 3 in the top of the 7th and still no outs. 9-6
I like this Wagner guy.
Good 'ol Virginia boy.
Wagner no longer at 3 K's per inning...
bard up
5 K's per 2 innings though.. Pretty damn good!
Sit
This alpaca farmer is quite the dominant pitcher
The Wagner trade has the potential of being great. If he continues to pitch well, he will have given the Sox well pitched innings out of the bullpen, hopefully another power arm there in the playoffs, and some compensation picks.
Youk! Nice lead now.
SULTAN!!!!!!!!!!
of sweat!
Feels good.
YOUK!!!!
that score great sight to come home to!
mfy and tex, not so much.
Lifnei iver is the offense of putting a stumbling block before the blind. Surely there's a similar prohibition against laying down bunts in front of a gimpy thirdbaseman.
*tumbleweed*
*awkward turtle*
Oh, man. WTF? Good thing we have a nice cushion.
Feels like Okajima's had a rough few weeks lately.
Um, Oki, get it together here
Time for one of them fancy unassisted triple plays.
it's the non-dancing aybar.
Cut this shit out.
Get him out of there.
Is that where Apple employees go to unwind after a long day at work?
The iBar?
Hold on to your butts.
tying run at the plate. jeez.
I'm not a fan of this inning
Outs please
And I hate Navarro
Before tonight, the last 14 days (5 games): opposing batters have been hitting .385/.385/.462.
Shouldn't we be going with, like, Ram-Ram to try to get a DP here?
fucking nickling and diming jeemer to death.
The Tampa Bay Jeters.
Fuck. Get Jeemer out of there.
PLAYOFF ASSASSIN TITO? WHERE ARE YOU?
Where the fuck is playoff-assassin Tito?
Um, why no pitching change??
OK, finally...
Pull him
bot.
surprised to see bot over bard here.
Going with Bot? Why?
Bot?
Wow, going for the six out save
bot in the 8th, bard in the 9th
i love how we're all surprised at bot coming in.
but if bard had been coming in we would all be bitching, using the ol "fuck sakes bring in your BEST reliever when the game is on the line" line.
Are you all so sure it'd be a 6 out save? I think if Bot gets these guys here and the Sox stay ahead, it'll be Bard for the "SV"
Although the REAL save is right here.
The Tampa Bay Jeters.
Werd.
damn stupid little bloops! How lucky can you get?
P.A. Tito gettin' his James on.
I don't think Bard could survive the ultimate white-knuckle inning like this: Bases loaded with 0 out. Papelbon CAN. Will he? Let's see.
Yes TIm, we ask for it but rarely see it. I guess that's why we're surprised.
Let's hope it works.
Love this move :)
This inning is the save. No matter what the stupidest stat ever invented has to say about it.
I'm late with this comment, so I can fairly be accused of 20/20 hindsight now that Okajima is gone, but since Wagner threw only 13 pitches in the 7th, 9 of them strikes, why not bring him out for the 8th? Is he on a post-surgery pitch or inning limit?
I don't know if I can survive those fucking cowbells.
There's one.
Sit!
it's both -- a good move *and* surprising.
but is bot our best reliever with the sacks full?
Wagner's reportedly being kept to one inning per appearance and a couple days rest, perhaps as an informal condition of his trade.
Rays are just fucking lucky though. Jeemer should have a couple of outs here.
i prefer bot > bard, and glad tito did as well.
2 to go.
yeah, if wag can't go back to back days, he ain't going 2 innings a night.
dp pls
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