July 11, 2010

G88: Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 2

Red Sox   - 000 003 000 - 3  6  0
Blue Jays - 000 000 200 - 2 8 0
Matsuzaka was magnificent through six innings, allowing only four hits (no walks!), while striking out five -- on only 86 pitches.

His only jam came in the third when he allowed two singles to start the inning. Facing the top of the order, he struck out Fred Lewis, got Alex Gonzalez to fly to right and struck out Jose Bautista. Dice had only two 3-ball counts: Seabass in the first (he doubled) and Edwin Encarnacion in the 3rd (single).

Matsuzaka's first two pitches in the seventh, however, were hit for a single (Adam Lind) and a home run (Aaron Hill). That cut Boston's lead to 3-2 and Terry Francona went to his well-rested pen. Thankfully, Toronto's hitters were as hack-happy as ever -- they lead all MLB clubs in swinging at first pitches (34%*) and in swinging at all pitches (48%), and they are 23rd in P/PA.

* The Jays lead MLB by a huge margin. The Cubs and Reds are at 31% and the Tigers are at 29%. The MLB average is 26%. The Red Sox swing at the fewest first pitches: 19%.

Daniel Bard was able to pitch two innings, needing only eight pitches to get three outs in the seventh, and eight more to retire the side in the eighth. Jonathan Papelbon allowed a two-out single in the ninth, but he also finished his assignment on eight pitches.

Dice (6-6-2-0-5) threw only 88 pitches, his fewest since June 19 of last year.

Litsch retired the first 11 Boston hitters and did not allow a hit until there were two outs in the sixth. He had struck out Daniel Nava and Kevin Cash, but gave up a double to right-center by Marco Scutaro. Darnell McDonald clubbed a 3-1 pitch to deep left for a two-run dong and David Ortiz followed with a solo shot to right. Litsch finished with a 7-4-3-1-5, 99 line.

The Rays beat Cleveland 6-5 in 10 innings and the Yankees beat the Mariners 8-2.
Example
Daisuke Matsuzaka / Jessie Litsch
Scutaro, SS
McDonald, CF
Ortiz, DH
Youkilis, 1B
Beltre, 3B
Drew, RF
Hall, 2B
Nava, LF
Cash, C
Since Dice returned from his second stint on the DL this year, he has made three starts: 16 innings, 17 hits, 12 walks, 5.06 ERA. ... Litsch has made five starts this season (all since June 13), with a 7.30 ERA in 24.2 innings.

And:
Spiders/Rays, 1:30 PM
Yankees/Mariners, 4 PM
Example
July 11:

1914 - Babe Ruth makes his major league debut, pitching seven innings in Boston's 4-3 win over Cleveland at Fenway Park. (Link has entries for Ruth in 1916 and 1917, too.)

1976 - At Fenway Park, the Red Sox beat the Twins 6-4. In the fifth inning, Twins center fielder Lyman Bostock drops Carl Yastrzemski's long fly ball after a bucket of popcorn falls in his eyes.

79 comments:

allan said...

Bob Sheppard died today at 99.

laura k said...

I assume everyone saw that Bob Sheppard died today. 99 years old! Can't imagine there's much nostalgia for him around here. :)

allan said...

His wiki page says his voice is in three episodes of Seinfeld, but I think it is really Larry David, who does a great impersonation.

("Will Joel Rifkin please report to the stadium office?")

laura k said...

Larry David is definitely doing the voice at Giants Stadium re Joel Rifkin.

But Sheppard's voice was used in Yankees-related episodes, I believe.

laura k said...

But I'm not positive. Those could be Larry, too. It's only Wikipedia, after all.

allan said...

Maybe the DVD extras explains it all.

allan said...

okay daisuke: perfect game -- let's go!

allan said...

1

allan said...

oh well, maybe next time.

allan said...

speaking of perfect games, litsch is pitching a dandy.

allan said...

seabass makes a nice play and ...

ob: "he looks like an all-star to me"
castig: "sure does"

yes, let's judge all-star selections based on a random play in one game.

(... actually, that might be better than the way it is done now)

laura k said...

Castig the theatre critic

allan said...

castig telling ob about the musical "rock of ages":

"you'd love it too -- journey, foreigner, styx ..."

laura k said...

Castig loves TO. He always says what a great city it is - which it is.

allan said...

TEK WAS ON THE FIELD THIS MORNING -- WORKING OUT!!!

AND NOT CRYING!!!

laura k said...

Yup, they keep repeating that.

They also keep repeating how guys on the DL are in the dugout cheering on their teammates.

I guess everyone has their marching orders.

allan said...

it is a bit more subtle than other campaigns, but it is unmistakable. again, it would be good if we could compare what they have said over the last three months.

allan said...

Or they can clearly see what the team's script is and understand that it probably would be best if they went along with it (and, who knows, maybe the team is right).

A "team source" spewing crap is another matter.

Amy said...

Good afternoon. Been watching the game on mute while on the phone with my daughter. I am sure once I turn on the sound, DiceK will have a meltdown.

laura k said...

Right, whether subtle pressure or a direct order, either way, the outcome is the same. This is the company line and we're going with it.

Most announcers do this, IME. Why should they take the side of someone the organization is bashing? Ellsbury will be shipped out and Castig & OB will still have their jobs.

allan said...

Especially someone like OB, who will come and go on his way to another announcing gig.

mattymatty said...

Sox don't have a hit through five, but its been five pretty unimpressive innings for Litsch, if you ask me (which nobody did).

Amy said...

Great...Beltre bothered by his hamstring.

allan said...

Joe Pos has a great column explaining why Yook is a *far* better player this year than Konkero. And says someone should put a bookmark to Fangraphs on Girardi's computer!

mattymatty said...

OK, jokes over, time to put the wiffle ball bats down and do some hitting.

allan said...

It sounds really bad when OB says the Red Sox do not have a hit against the former Rays batboy.

Kathryn said...

Toronto announcers pulling for Alex Gonzalez to take Beltre's place on the All-Star team.

allan said...

Toronto announcers pulling for Alex Gonzalez to take Beltre's place on the All-Star team.

Well, he did make a very nice play on a ground ball in the third inning.

laura k said...

A HIT!!!

YAY

laura k said...

Mrs G, the Sox radio announcers have been doing the same thing all weekend.

Kathryn said...

L- with Youk you mean? Yea, I heard that.

allan said...

beckett for paw:
4-2-1-0-4, 68 (42 strikes)

run came on a dong

laura k said...

No, with Alex Gonazalez. Sox radio announcers.

allan said...

INSTANT RUNS IN THE MICROWAVE!

laura k said...

MICROWAVE HEATS THINGS UP!!!

Kathryn said...

And there goes the shut out.

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!

Amy said...

Yes, Microwave!

Kathryn said...

L--oh. Were they talking about him replacing Beltre? Why?

Amy said...

B2B Papi!

Kathryn said...

PAPI!!!!!!!!!! He's getting ready for the derby.

allan said...

LE QUADRANGULAR!!!!!!!!

flo, good times, tizzle, etc., etc.

Benjamin said...

Haha.

laura k said...

LARGE FATHER GOES B2B DONGULAR

laura k said...

Sorry, no, they are just going on and on that Alex Gonzalez should be on the All-Star team.

allan said...

Portland lost with RSDH in attendance.

Amy said...

Shit. Time to take our chances on the bullpen.

allan said...

whatever the advice was, it was not good.

Kathryn said...

I really was ready to post something fairly positive about Dice-K.

allan said...

beltre - left hamstring strain

Amy said...

Left hamstring strain for Beltre. :(

allan said...

NASTY!

Amy said...

Why are the baseball gods hating the Sox this year?

RedSoxDiehard said...

Portland lost with RSDH in attendance.

Yep, but we had a good time. I was just happy they played the game (even though we had to wait out a 90 minute rain delay) because I didn't want to have to find a time to reschedule. Weather was nice during the actual game.

Weiland gave up 5 runs in the first (I felt like I was watching the Lackey game again) but settled down nicely. He ended up going 5 and didn't allow another baserunner. We wondered if maybe he had already warmed up when the delay was announced or something and that threw him off.

In that time while he settled down, the Sea Dogs rallied on homers by Nate Spears, Anthony Rizzo, and Yamaico Navarro and took the lead. (Rizzo's was deep to right, one pitch after he had hit one in the same direction also home run distance that went foul.) Matt Sheely had a double and an RBI triple. Eammon Portice did well in relief, but coughed up the lead in his 3rd inning of work. Sea Dogs got 2 runners on in the bottom of the 9th but fell short.

allan said...

palindrome attendance

26062

RedSoxDiehard said...

So can Youk replace Beltre at the ASG?

allan said...

I hear Girardi is taking Ramiro Pena rather than Yook.

Amy said...

Don making reference to LBJ in dugout with NO reference to all the controversy.

RedSoxDiehard said...

Beckett went 4 innings for the PawSox today: 4-2-1-1-0-4, 68.

allan said...

very nice of the jays to hack so much that bard went 2 innings:

7 BF

3 saw 1 pitch
2 saw 2 pitches

1 saw 4 & 1 saw 5

allan said...

Amy: DO will be spoken to about that.

allan said...

Don often avoids all that shit, much to his credit, but when he decides to get going with the MU*S, he can be really offensive.

Amy said...

I imagine so, Allan.

RedSoxDiehard said...

I hear Girardi is taking Ramiro Pena rather than Yook.

Ha ha.

allan said...

Had to go find a MFY with a very low OPS (Pena at a robust 24).

allan said...

CLE - 300 002
FKR - 100 13

allan said...

OPS+, that is.

Bot time.

laura k said...

Here we go...

allan said...

Bard: 16 pitches to 7 batters.

Bot: 1 pitch, 1 out

laura k said...

One down!

Good to hear that about Don. He's usually very good that way, something I appreciate about him.

laura k said...

Two pitches, two outs!

allan said...

2 pitches, 2 outs

laura k said...

I wonder how many of Papelbon's bad outings have started with 2 outs.

allan said...

fear not - he's just getting some work in.

allan said...

2 outs - not many, i'll bet. feels like he gets into trouble before that.

allan said...

The water is Muddy!!!
(And it'll be stagnant until Thursday evening.)

51-37

Amy said...

OK, I am breathing.

Dirty water.

laura k said...

And three!

Water is dirty and the All Star Break is here!

laura k said...

Very nice outing for Dice, too. Cool.

RedSoxDiehard said...

Dirty!

Enjoy the break, everyone!