August 28, 2010

G130: Rays 3, Red Sox 2 (10)

Red Sox - 000 100 010 0 - 2 10  1
Rays - 000 000 110 1 - 3 6 0
Dan Johnson, the first batter in the bottom of the tenth, homered to right-center off Scott Atchison to win it.

Boston scored first when Victor Martinez singled, David Ortiz doubled, and Adrian Beltre hit a sac fly to left.

In the bottom of the seventh, Carlos Pena was on first with one out. For some stupid reason, Buchholz tried multiple pick-off attempts. Pena, who didn't have much of a lead at all, has stolen only 10 bases over the last six years. HH's 14th throw over to first of the night sailed past Mike Lowell and rolled down near the right field bullpen. Pena raced uncontested to third, from where he scored two pitches later on a foul fly ball to Drew in right.

Victor rescued the Sox yet again in the top of the eighth, when he crushed another high fastball, this one courtesy of Joaquin Benoit, for a solo dong, giving Boston a 2-1 lead. Ortiz and Beltre followed with singles and moved up on a wild pitch, but Lowell popped to first to end the threat.

Terry Francona tried to get squeeze an extra out or two from Buchholz in the bottom of the eighth. Clay was at 107 pitches and Felix Doubront was ready. The strategy failed (as it seems to usually do). Buchholz threw ball 1, then B.J. Upton golfed a solo home run to left to re-tie the game. After a foul out, Tito brought in Doubront.

Even with Jonathan Papelbon questionable for the game after throwing 23 pitches last night, and Daniel Bard having tossed 15, this was poor management. Buchholz was probably not going to pitch the entire eighth inning anyway, unless he retired the side on four or five pitches. If he had allowed a single or walked someone, he likely would have been hooked. So why put him out there when it seemed like he was labouring in retiring the last two batters in the previous inning?

Two dumb decisions -- and they were both very costly.

The Yankees beat the White Sox 12-9, so we are right back where we were two days ago, with Boston 5.5 GB New York and Tampa Bay in both the East and WC.

Pre-game: Hideki Okajima is back in the bullpen and Michael Bowden has been optioned to Pawtucket.
Example
Clay Buchholz / Matt Garza
Scutaro, SS
Drew, RF
Martinez, C
Ortiz, DH
Beltre, 3B
Lowell, 1B
Nava, LF
Kalish, CF
Hall, 2B
Last six starts:

IP H BB K ERA AVG OBP SLG BABIP

Buchholz 43.1 31 12 30 1.04 .199 .263 .256 .232
Garza 44.1 25 10 36 1.62 .160 .214 .263 .186
(Team records in those games: Boston 6-0, Tampa Bay 3-3.)

Garza, however, leads Buchholz in TSI* 52.7 to 3.3.

* - Times Spat per Inning. According to Educated Cheese, even Garza's spit spits.

Buchholz leads in AL in ERA (2.26). He is the first Red Sox pitcher to lead the AL in ERA this late in the season since Pedro Martinez, in 2003. Buchholz has not allowed an earned run in his last 21 innings.

He has a 1.73 ERA over his last 16 starts, dating back to May 14.

Also at 7 PM: Yankees/White Sox
Example
August 28:

1909 - In the first game of a doubleheader at Chicago's South Side Park, Washington pitcher Dolly Gray walks eight White Sox in the second inning, including seven in a row.

1950 - The Red Sox trail 10-0 and 12-1 but rally and beat Cleveland 15-14 at Fenway Park. Cleveland blew a seven-run lead to the Red Sox the day before, losing 11-9.

180 comments:

allan said...

Jaso, C
Zobrist, 2B
Crawford, LF
Longoria, 3B
Pena, 1B
Joyce, RF
Johnson, DH
Upton, CF
Bartlett, SS

allan said...

PA:

"The Sox have won five of six because their pitchers have a 1.93 ERA in that stretch and opponents are hitting .183. The bullpen has thrown 15 scoreless innings in those six games, allowing four hits and striking out 16. ...

Weird stat of the day: The Elias Sports Bureau figured out that the team that scored first has won the last 18 games between the Sox and Rays. That's the most since a 20-game streak between the Tigers and Blue Jays from 1991-92. You know how many players or coaches on the two teams know or care about this? Not a one."

***

meunier said...

I went to the Sacramento River Cats last night, saw Dontrelle Willis continue to fail. He gave up a 3 run homer to Dallas McFeareson.

allan said...

And a Chris Carter sighting!

tim said...

Kill em hard! Kill em quick! But most of all, kill em till they're dead!!!!!!!

allan said...

Okajima up
Bowden down

Patrick said...

Now that the devil is exorcised, I like to imagine 'rays' to be rays of sunlight, because it's Flordia.

Maybe I should keep this kind of thing to myself.

meunier said...

Carter rolled his ankle during his 1st AB and was replaced by Travis Buck.

meunier said...

Forget my last post, that was wrong, he was actually hit by a pitch in the hip.

allan said...

There ain't nothing enlightening down in Florida.

laura k said...

I was looking for SPI (spints per inning) but TSI works, too.

laura k said...

They have sunshine in Florida? I thought they only had humidity, hurricanes and insects.

allan said...

SPI makes more sense.

Patrick said...

They have sunshine in Florida? I thought they only had humidity, hurricanes and insects.

I've actually never been there, but I get stuck behind old people up here in New Hampshire, sporting Florida license plates. Apparently, it's the sunshine state.

Kathryn said...

Ohhh nooo. Headache + Staats + Kennedy = MUTE.

allan said...

To White Sox: Feast on the Fat Man!

allan said...

Isn't it

Staats + Kennedy = Headache

?

laura k said...

Patrick, you're missing very little. I hear there are some nice areas, but I cannot confirm this rumour.

laura k said...

* spits

not spints

allan said...

pitch not that close, but marco hits the dirt.

allan said...

perfect example of a shit strike call of an actual ball outside on the 0-1 to drew.

meunier said...

No idea why V-Mart dosn't stick to hitting right handed.

allan said...

swisher dong, mfy up 2-0

allan said...

JESUS FUCK -- CALL A FUCKIN STRIEK YOU ASSHOLE

allan said...

wow - walks on strike 6.

Patrick said...

"no one runs more than the man digging in now, Carl Crawford, who has 41 stolen bases which is second in the league"

Something is wrong about that statement.

allan said...

Brooks has both ball 2 and ball 4 in the strike zone.

Bruce Dreckman.

allan said...

Crawford: 41 SB in 50 attempts.

Juan Pierre: 50 SB in 64 attempts.

Crawford does not run more than anyone else.

allan said...

flo liner!

MFY - 2
CWS - 1

meunier said...

I thought he had the double there.

allan said...

pinballed out of the corner quicker than usual, i think.

Kathryn said...

lucky kick off right to Joyce.

meunier said...

Obviously there is a storm outside the dome right now.

allan said...

That Umpire Camp commercial on MLBTV is so annoying. However, I like the on-screen graphic that says you can

"learn how the "big leagues" do it"

So you actually end up learning how semi-pro umps do it?

Costs between $950 and $1,650!

allan said...

AND A SOMERSAULT!!!!!!!!!!!!

WTF???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RedSoxDiehard said...

Now THAT was a catch!!!!

meunier said...

THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE TOP PLAYS!

Patrick said...

oooh, I can't wait til that highlight comes up on mlb at bat!

Kathryn said...

You won't break a rib that way!

Edward Lee said...

DID YOU SEE THAT CATCH KALISH MADE

allan said...

did i see that right? did he dive straight out and catch it and then go into a somersault while still in mid-air, complete it and roll once he hit the ground?

allan said...

And he leads off!

Of course.

allan said...

yes. that is a completely insane catch.

holy shit.

now hit a dong !

laura k said...

They don't say that anymore, do they? "How often does it happen that..."

First they used to say it seriously, then for a long time only sarcastically, now not at all. :)

Wish I had seen the catch!

Patrick said...

Highlight hasn't come up on MLB at bat yet, but I can't believe it won't come up eventually.

allan said...

MFY - 222
CWS - 10

Not a pattern I want to see.

Kathryn said...

Isn't it

Staats + Kennedy = Headache


Ha, yes.
And headache = limited threading.

Patrick said...

Konerko bomb, 6-3 Yanks.

allan said...

good times in the 4th!

laura k said...

Papi Half Dong!

Patrick said...

Gotta bring them both home, guys. All runs are huge.

Patrick said...

All runners in scoring position when Beltre is at bat (including himself)

laura k said...

whoo hoo!

allan said...

we score first, so we win, right?

laura k said...

I believe that's how it works, yes.

laura k said...

semi squander

laura k said...

Now 6-5 in Chicago

allan said...

garza yelling at the umps?

cue the whining from the rays tv guys.

allan said...

andruw dong for 2 more = 6-5.

Kathryn said...

Speaking of yelling at the ump. Was there ever a statement from MLB about Beltre's ejection?

laura k said...

V-Mart!!!!!

allan said...

GUNNED DOWN!

Patrick said...

ya done, son!

allan said...

MFY - 222 0
CWS - 102 2

No MLB statement that I know of.

laura k said...

OB: Upton blah blah blah not 100% blah blah nice kid but blah blah blah effort rumour innuendo blah blah blah

laura k said...

NYY goes ahead 8-5 / top 5

laura k said...

Make that 10-5 NYY

allan said...

don't fuck it up, garza!

allan said...

and ....... beltre fucks it up.

meunier said...

fuckit

meunier said...

Fan on Field?

laura k said...

HH is dealing!

Patrick said...

OH TEE TEE!

laura k said...

Now RSVP

Patrick said...

Castig can be a real curmudgeon, esp when talking about how loud Tropicana is.

Tom DePlonty said...

Downstairs watching game on TV chewing my knuckles. Clay is awesome. And Kalish! I loved that shit-eating grin on his face when he came up with the ball.

allan said...

we need a few more runs.

yesterday:
bard threw 15
bot threw 23

Kathryn said...

And I DO NOT want Jeemer coming into this game.

laura k said...

I sympathize with him, I'm a curmudgeon about that too. In Baltimore and Cleveland and NYY Stadium you need earplugs. I've never been to the Trop but I can relate.

allan said...

benoit up for rays

allan said...

doubront up

allan said...

goddamn it,c lay

Patrick said...

Damnit, Clay.

laura k said...

bah

Benjamin said...

Bleh.

meunier said...

HH does it again

allan said...

k, pls

Kathryn said...

I hate that cavernous foul ground and the stupid bullpen on the field.

laura k said...

fuckety fuck

allan said...

hmmm, maybe should have let it drop?

RedSoxDiehard said...

Drew should have let it drop.

Benjamin said...

Almost wonder whether he should've just let that drop.

Patrick said...

Bah! Can't begrudge Drew for that.

Amy said...

Damn. So should Drew have let it drop? Remy says no.

Back from babysitting. Got to see most of the game. Such a good baby!

Patrick said...

All the fault should be on HH.

allan said...

fuckin throw-to-first obsession

Kathryn said...

Drew had to catch it. You gotta get the out. (It was a nice catch BTW.) Damn it HH, he should NOT have been on third.

Amy said...

I even got to see the Kalish catch!

allan said...

top of the order. let's go.

allan said...

MFY - 222 040 0
CWS - 102 200

Benoit in.

laura k said...

Drew has to catch that.

Patrick said...

V-Mart, be a hero, try to do too much. Jack one out.

Amy said...

Thanks, Patrick! You got what you asked for!!!

Patrick said...

AHAHAHAH! EXTRA MART!

allan said...

CLEAN UP ON AISLE 8!

birthday present for his son!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

laura k said...

V MART WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

laura k said...

He is fucking awesome!!!!

Kathryn said...

VMART again!!!!!!!

meunier said...

SPECIAL!

RedSoxDiehard said...

Cleanup in aisle 8 of the V-Mart!!!

laura k said...

Patrick, you totally called that one!!!

allan said...

yeah, tamper, keep giving him those high fastballs right over the plate!

RedSoxDiehard said...

V-Mart, be a hero, try to do too much. Jack one out.

Beautiful. I love it.

allan said...

shift that.

Patrick said...

It's just safe to bet on V-Mart these days.

Amy said...

OK, so we need to keep Vmart. Can someone tell Theo?

Papi!

Amy said...

What is Beltre's contract with the team?

laura k said...

shit, i have to leave soon.

allan said...

Beltre is a free agent. He signed for one year to hit the market again.

Amy said...

Gotta love the two out rally.

Patrick said...

Beltre has a player option that he won't be picking up.

Amy said...

OK, so we have to re-sign Beltre and VMart. Any chance we will?

allan said...

Gotta love the two out rally

My fave.

allan said...

BEN WA BALLA!

laura k said...

Looking good! How about score a run or two before I have to take off?

RedSoxDiehard said...

Nice WP. Now we have to make them pay!

laura k said...

Or three.

Amy said...

Me too--love the edginess of it.

Amy said...

Oh well, I will take the one run.

laura k said...

A, call my cell if either team scores, ok?

Patrick said...

I think there is little chance we will re-sign all three of Ortiz (pick up option), Victor, and Beltre.

I think one of them is done here.

allan said...

clay at 107, tito tring to squeueze some outs.

bard up

allan said...

FUCK YOU TITO!

Amy said...

Oh, man, FUCK THAT>

Benjamin said...

Fuck. Gotta call Laura.

Patrick said...

ARGHHH!

Kathryn said...

Well shit!

meunier said...

Where is Bard? This is leaving HH in too long.

allan said...

Boo, Terry!

meunier said...

I started typing that BEFORE that happened.

Patrick said...

That one really hurt.

Kathryn said...

This is what happens when you have a limited number of bullpen arms you are comfortable with.

Amy said...

My thoughts exactly, MrsG. If we trusted the pen, HH would have been out.

allan said...

sometimes it works, but it seems like most often it does not.

allan said...

Seemed unlikely Tito would let HH go the entire 8th, though, unless he threw only 4 pitches or something. Even with a walk or single, he would have likely gone to Felix. So why not start the inning with him?

tim said...

Fuck!

(watching with fellow sox fan friend, ttyl)

allan said...

nava
kalish
hall

in the 9th

Patrick said...

I want Kalish to be a hero again.

allan said...

Jed.

Kathryn said...

Nice try Patrick, but it didn't work this time.

Amy said...

Hope for extras.

allan said...

that was too fuckin quick.

allan said...

L says Amy should text her updates!

allan said...

bard.

Patrick said...

Nice, Ratatat to open the inning on WEEI. Good sign.

allan said...

nastee!

Amy said...

OK will do. Got to find the phone.

Amy said...

Allan, email me her phone number. I seem to have lost it when I got my new phone. weird.

allan said...

not sure if she was serious. she first said it was too bad i could not text her. then she said, hey tell amy to do it!

she is likely at the bus station now and the bus leaves at 10:20 so she would like some news.

allan said...

i have no work and nowhere to go -- play on!

Amy said...

Happy to do it but I don't have her cell phone number. It must have been lost when I got the new phone.

Kathryn said...

Bard in the 10th?

Amy said...

Found it

allan said...

15 pitches last night
10 tonight

with fuckin lackey tomorrow, may not need him.

allan said...

soriano gone after 7 pitches and a guy with a 7.80 ERA comes in.

okay!

allan said...

atchison up

Joe Gravellese said...

Let's goooooooooooooooooooooo

Joe Gravellese said...

LOL

Benjamin said...

Nads.

Joe Gravellese said...

so it's up to Atchison and/or Okajima to prolong this game apparently. Time for me to go make myself a drink and pace a little while not watching the home half.

Bringing back some old habits from the 03/04 days this weekend. Minus the making a drink, I wasn't doing that when I was 15.

allan said...

attell in and jeemer up

hold on.

Benjamin said...

Oh well.

allan said...

fuckin shit

Amy said...

I hate our bullpen.

allan said...

treading water.

allan said...

CWS, down 12-9, have tying run at playe vs Fruitbat with 2 outs in bottom of 9th. Teahen.

allan said...

FU Teahen

MFY - 222 040 011 - 12 14 0
CWS - 102 200 022 - 9 16 1

tim said...

Soooo I'm assuming bard and pap were unavailable? I hope. Tito better not have been "saving" them for the 14th and 15th....

Fuck sakes. Esp with lack tmrw.

Tom DePlonty said...

That one hurt. It feels like TB didn't beat us, we beat ourselves. Clay's needless throw over to first that got away, and then Francona leaving him in one batter too long. Crap.

Rob said...

Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaack.