April 28, 2011

G24: Red Sox 6, Orioles 2

Red Sox - 101 000 130 - 6 13  0
Orioles - 100 001 000 - 2  4  0
Jacoby Ellsbury's two-run single in the eighth inning boosted Boston's lead from 4-2 to 6-2, giving the team some breathing room over the last two innings.

It was Ellsbury's third hit of the night - he doubled and scored in the first and singled and scored in the third. Ellsbury collected three hits in last night's game, as well. In his last five games (all as the leadoff hitter), LBJ is 11-for-24 (.458), with four doubles and six runs scored.

Ellsbury was knocked in both times by Adrian Gonzalez, who also had three hits, including two doubles to the opposite field. Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz had two hits, and Carl Crawford hustled his way to a double in the seventh.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia flew out to deep left-center with the bases loaded to end the sixth, but when he batted with the sacks full in the eighth, he (after fouling off three 2-2 pitches) lined an RBI single to center. That put Boston up 4-2, and two outs later, Ellsbury padded the lead.

Lester (8-4-2-3-5, 108) began his night by allowing a walk and two singles. But after that, it was vintage Sid. After the second single, he retired ten in a row. After issuing two two-out walks in the fourth, he dismissed 10 of the next 11 Birds, the one blemish being Vlad Guerrero's solo home run. Lester allowed a leadoff double in the eighth, but stranded him there by getting the next three hitters. Jonathan Papelbon worked a quick and easy ninth.
Example
Jon Lester / Brad Bergesen

Two losses at Camden Yards have dropped the Red Sox (10-13) back into the AL East basement, 4 GB New York. Boston is hoping to avoid a sweep, and hoping this afternoon's rain in Baltimore clears up by evening.

FWIW: Lester is 13-0 in 16 starts against men dressed in Baltimore Orioles uniforms. That unbeaten streak goes back to August 2006, when Lester faced Jay Gibbons and Kevin Millar, among others. What Lester remembers about pitching to those guys -- or to Tike Redman and Freddie Bynum in late 2007 -- is unlikely to help him tonight. Still, 13-0 sure looks impressive. [Sox vs Bergesen; Birds vs Lester]

Note: The April 13 game against the Rays, which was postponed, has been re-scheduled as the first game of a day/night doubleheader on Tuesday, August 16. ... On July 25, 1956 -- 20,000 days ago -- Roberto Clemente hit the only inside-the-park, walk-off grand slam in baseball history, giving the Pirates a 9-8 win over the Cubs.

AL East: Blue Jays/Rangers at 2 PM; White Sox/Yankees at 7 PM; and Rays/Twins at 8 PM.

126 comments:

Benjamin said...

No Lowrie tonight.

RED SOX (10-13)
Ellsbury-CF
Pedroia-2B
Gonzalez-1B
Youkilis-3B
Ortiz-DH
Drew-RF
Saltalamacchia-C
Crawford-LF
Scutaro-SS
Lester-SP

Pitching: LHP Jon Lester (2-1, 2.59)

ORIOLES (10-12)
Roberts-2B
Markakis-RF
Lee-1B
Guerrero-DH
Jones-CF
Wieters-C
Reynolds-3B
Fox-LF
Andino-SS
Bergesen-SP
Pitching: RHP Brad Bergesen (0-3, 5.40)

allan said...

Zobrist set a Rays record with 8 RBI in Tampa's 15-3 win over the Twins this afternoon. He went 4-for-6 (single, two doubles, 1 dong, and a SB for good measure).

The Blue Jays also won already, so could we pound these fucking Orioles, pls, and keep pace?

allan said...

NESN!

laura k said...

Whew, NESN.

allan said...

don by himself tonight?

laura k said...

Early lead! "Fox on the run"?

Amy said...

We have the lead!

Kathryn said...

EB!! Way to go.

Kathryn said...

An out would be nice.

Amy said...

Jesus...

allan said...

We don't have the lead!

Kathryn said...

Much needed double play.

allan said...

I don't know if this is EI or NESN, but we have missed the first pitch of the last two half-innings (thus also missed drew's flyout).

allan said...

missed ball 1 to weiters too. came in during lester's windup for pitch 2.

Kathryn said...

My attention has been diverted, but I think I saw Drew's popup.

allan said...

we saw it just as it was caught.

laura k said...

I mean, how difficult is it to SHOW THE GAME? I know it cuts in to advertising time, but have a little respect for your viewers, NESN!

laura k said...

OK, I apologize to NESN. It could be Rogers cutting us off.

But still.

Kathryn said...

What did you get that time? Interesting, mlb.tv came back early, but Don didn't start talking until AFTER the first pitch.

allan said...

totally missed the first pitch, came in as bergesen was throwing pitch 2.

Kathryn said...

Considering that's when Don started talking, it could be NESN.

Yay, we have the lead.

allan said...

and don *was*talking as if the inning was beginning, so seeing the count surprised me.

it's the lyndon and bert show!

laura k said...

LBJ + EB = RUNS

allan said...

back in my day ... i remember seeing the pitcher's last 2-3 warmup pitches and the catcher's throw down to second base ... and you could get a steak dinner for a dime ...

allan said...

missed the first one to andino, too. so that is every half-inning with the exception of the top of the first (i.e., the start of the game)

Kathryn said...

Yep, same thing again. mlb.tv back in plenty of time. First pitch thrown to no commentary. It is clear that Don is not starting to talk until after the first pitch. How strange is that?

Kathryn said...

Quick OTT

allan said...

i assume that means he has not gotten the cue from the truck that nesn is on the air.

allan said...

i think strike 3 was further outside than ball 2

laura k said...

While we are watching this game, our dogs are going insane, play-fighting, in the space between us and the TV. It is SO noisy! We are just ignoring them. It's very cute. But I think Allan is getting annoyed.

Kathryn said...

We had crazy storms again last night. Another tornado warning, but this time in the middle of the night and I didn't know about it. The storm woke us up, but we didn't know we were in a warning.

laura k said...

Mad wind here too. No tornadoes but things flying around. A man was killed by a door that blew off a building.

Kathryn said...

I love it when dogs do that. I guess Diego is fitting right in (and livening Tala up some).

laura k said...

They are getting along great. Tala didn't need any livening - she always has squirrels to chase - but she seems to be having a great time.

allan said...

and rain. we are getting so much fucking rain. ...

Kathryn said...

It's been a crazy spring. We live on a river and it has already been out of its banks, with lots of farm shit (literally and figuratively) floating by.

laura k said...

Oh I can imagine. There's been historic flooding in always-flooded Manitoba.

Kathryn said...

The dishes are calling and I have to make some chicken salad. I'll be watching, but not threading.

allan said...

come on salty.........

Zenslinger said...

Very windy in San Francisco as well, but that's not so unusual.

I promise I won't make too many fantasy baseball comments, but I have Ben Zobrist. I checked this afternoon, saw the 8 RBI, and figured the Rays had already played two games. Nope -- as I'm sure the announcers have mentioned, he went 4/6 in the first game: RBI single, 2 2-R 2B, 3-R HR.

And he has a 2-R HR in the second game. 10 RBI today...and counting.

I don't have the Sox game at home. Yoga is winning out over The Bar (for the time being), so I have the Yanks on low volume.

Kathryn said...

At what point are we going to start scoring guys who are at 2nd & 3rd with NO OUTS?

Kathryn said...

Chicken salad is made. T loves the scraps.

Kathryn said...

Zens...yoga??

Zenslinger said...

I have an intermittent relationship with a Bikram yoga practice. The "hot yoga". I am turning 40 this year and trying to have a better exercise-to-intoxicant ratio.

Kathryn said...

Yoga to intoxicant ratio, ha.

I am turning 50 this year and my goal is a tattoo (I think). I might have to take a JoS poll at some point.

laura k said...

Hey, I am turning 50 this year, too. In about 6 weeks, as a matter of fact.

laura k said...

In other news, our federal election is in 3 days and it has gotten verrrry interesting.

Amy said...

Yay, yoga!

Amy said...

50 was a big turning point for me. I found I no longer worried nearly as much about pleasing anyone. I figured I am who I am, take it or leave it.

Zenslinger said...

Yoga feels good.

So does being able to beat Baltimore. I mean, I'll bet it feels good. It's been a while.

Off to faculty dinner.

laura k said...

Good for you, Amy.

I did that at around 25. It's an important thing to learn.

Amy said...

You were twice as fast as I was, getting to that point!

allan said...

fuck the bunt

laura k said...

My life path gave me a lot of incentive. If you're not doing what you are supposed to do, you'd better stop caring what people think! :)

Jere said...

Lead

laura k said...

A lead!

Kathryn said...

Infield hit and RBI!

Kathryn said...

Re the election. This is a national election, right? I remember you threading about it earlier during the debates.

Jere said...

Can confirm NESN missed beginning of innings earlier. Drew's fly out was almost in the glove.

Amy said...

Yes, I followed the safer, more conventional route so did not test those waters much. Not that I have regrets. That's part of who I am.

Amy said...

NOW KEEP THE LEAD.

laura k said...

Yes, federal election. Things are shaping up very differently from what was expected. Our left party, the NDP, is surging way way ahead of expectations. They will not form the government (win the most seats) but they stand to really change the balance of power here.

And other crazy things will happen from that, maybe like the end of Stephen Harper's political career.

We hope.

Amy said...

So are you still voting strategically or can you switch to the NDP? I assume you still have to protect against the Conservatives in your district (riding? I love that term---where did it come from?).

laura k said...

Oh no, you can't have regrets if you are living your own life, doing what you want to do.

laura k said...

Since we can only vote in our riding, I am forcing myself to vote strategically for the Liberals. Who I hate!

I am very disappointed to miss out on the NDP surge. But they will not win in our riding, and the Conservatives might, so... there you are.

I didn't know you were reading my Cdn election posts!

Amy said...

I read a lot more than I comment on! I try not to say stupid things on topics where I know how poorly informed I am...but I like reading so that I can be LESS poorly informed!

laura k said...

Cool. :)

Kathryn said...

I'm still working on not caring what others think...and making good progress. My mom, at age 74, still hasn't broken that one so I had a long way to go.

And, like Amy, I followed the safer, more conventional route. Maybe that's why I want a tattoo now?

laura k said...

It's worth working on. It's incredibly liberating.

laura k said...

Naturally I had plenty of other things to work on. When Zen said intoxication to exercise ratio, I was thinking, it took me a long time to get that intoxication thing figured out!

laura k said...

a sweaty stroll

Jere said...

i want an 8-run 8th

laura k said...

That would be fun.

allan said...

missed the first TWO PITCHES to flo..

Jere said...

shoulda shifted, Buck

A Conformer said...

Heya,
Things are looking quite ok, for tonight.

Kathryn said...

So why does mlb.tv come back before NESN does?

Jere said...

okay, that's interesting, because my NESN actually cut off Wilford Brimley talkin' bout diabetes to get to the inning in time.

I guess each provider flips that switch? How could this issue possibly exist?

Amy said...

Bases load, no one out...PLEASE SCORE!

allan said...

nesn is "back" too, but there are commercials running, so they could be on the air, but are not ...

laura k said...

RUNS PLS

Amy said...

Hey, Ofer---a little late in your part of the world, no?

laura k said...

try not to make all three outs, saltala

A Conformer said...

It is my personal belief that when you have a bases loades, no out situation, you should score some fucking runs. Right?

allan said...

i think you should expect to score about 2.3 runs.

laura k said...

That is a reasonable belief.

A Conformer said...

Hey Amy- it's a bit past 4 around this parts. Just in time to hear the first mouazin of the day...

Jere said...

there ya go Salt!

Amy said...

OK, that's ONE. BUT I WANT MORE.

laura k said...

A hit! A hit!

Kathryn said...

Woo Hoo. Salty Rib Eyes!

laura k said...

one - but an important one. and still no outs. yay.

Jere said...

another .15 runs and we'll be halfway to the expected amount!

Amy said...

So...you are just waking up?? :) A little too early for royal wedding, but in time for baseball.

(I assume you just have not yet gone to bed.)

Amy said...

OK, better than a DP...or a TP.

Kathryn said...

I made the wrong assumption that two would score on that.

allan said...

"royal wedding"

These words are not allowed.

Jere said...

Hey, we're a Neilsen family this week. So I'm literally upping NESN's ratings. (So they should give me every pitch!)

A Conformer said...

Hahaha, nah, just come back from a night out at downtown Jerusalem. There's few things more gratifying than coming back from your night out and hearing the calls for dawn prayers in the nearby mosques. It just makes you feel, well, lazy- in the best way possible.

allan said...

marco hacking - would have been nice to see jed.

Amy said...

LOL, Allan. I thought as loyal subjects you would for sure have set your DVR.

Amy said...

YES!

laura k said...

You can say each word separately. Like, "we are playing the Royals tomorrow". Or "I can't watch the game, I'm going to a wedding." But not together in that order.

If anyone knows the movie "Lost In America," this may sound familiar.

RUNS!!!! LBJ I LOVE YOU

Amy said...

LBJ showing his stuff!!

allan said...

THAT'S HER BOY!

Kathryn said...

LBJ!!

A Conformer said...

OK, LBJ, better make something happen here- one run is just not enough from this situation.

laura k said...

I see Ofer is on a delay

A Conformer said...

Yep, that's what I was talking about.

Amy said...

Ofer, I cannot remember the last time I was up at 4 am except when I had to wake up at that hour to catch a flight! And I had gone to sleep at 11 to get my 5 hours of sleep in...

A Conformer said...

I see Ofer is on a delay

Always...

Amy said...

Hey, we have two on and one out. Why is everyone so quiet? :)

laura k said...

It was super quiet before you got here.

Amy said...

I've been told that before. I guess I just talk a lot. Professional hazard.

laura k said...

It's a compliment! You livened things up.

Amy said...

Who will pitch the 9th? Not a save situation. But Bard pitched last night.

Amy said...

I took it as one. I do get myself in trouble at times with my big mouth, but it's also one of those things I no longer worry about. Today at work I used the F-word at a faculty meeting. That is just not done. Except by me.

Amy said...

Hmm, Pap in even though it is not a save.

Kathryn said...

1

laura k said...

Vlad: Must swing. Must swing at everything.

laura k said...

I do get myself in trouble at times with my big mouth

I know the feeling :)

Kathryn said...

2

Kathryn said...

3. Dirty again!

laura k said...

Don't drink the water! It is DIRTY!!

Amy said...

Finally dirty water in Maryland!

Good night, everyone!

allan said...

I like wins.