May 19, 2011

G43: Red Sox 4, Tigers 3

Tigers  - 010 000 020 - 3 10  0
Red Sox - 010 100 101 - 4  8  1
Boston has played 12 games at Fenway Park in the month of May, and won nine of them. Three of those nine victories have been courtesy of a walk-off hit from Carl Crawford.

Crawford did it again on Thursday, as he had done on May 1 and May 9, lining a single over the head of Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson, who was playing shallow because the Red Sox had the bases loaded with only one out.

Josh Beckett left after six innings (6-5-1-2-3, 83) with neck stiffness, and Boston led 3-1 after seven innings, thanks in part to solo home runs from J.D. Drew and David Ortiz. Daniel Bard began the eighth inning and things took a turn for the worse when Brennan Boesch and Miguel Cabrera hit back-to-back home runs. Bard retired the next three batters, but the game was tied 3-3. (It was the second time in his career Bard had allowed two homers in one outing; the first instance was at Yankee Stadium, on August 9, 2009, when Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira went back-to-back.)

In the top of the ninth, Jonathan Papelbon got the first batter, making a quick play on a line drive that drilled him in the right thigh. Then Brandon Inge lined a single to left, Jackson singled to right-center, and Scott Sizemore walked, loading the bases. The next batters? Boesch and Cabrera.

Bot gave Boesch nothing but gas, getting three swinging strikes on fastballs at 96, 94, and 96. Cabrera gave him more of a battle, but Papelbon fanned him, too, on a 2-2 heater.

Facing Al Alburquerque in the bottom of the ninth, Kevin Youkilis worked an eight-pitch walk and Jose Iglesias pinch-ran. Ortiz singled to right-center (his third of the night) and Iggy raced to third. The Tigers intentionally walked Drew, loading the bases for Jed Lowrie, who fell behind 0-2, then stayed alive by fouling off five pitches before blooping the 10th pitch into short left field.

The outfielders were shallow and the Iglesias had to make sure the ball would not be caught. It fell in safely -- but Andy Dirks, who made his major league debut on Monday, grabbed the ball and fired it home, and forced Iglesias at the plate 7-2. The bases were still loaded, though, for Crawford, who looked at ball one, fouled off the second pitch, then sent everyone home happy with a single to center.

The Red Sox have won six in a row, are 9-2 since May 6, and trail the Rays by only 1.5 games in the East.
Example
Justin Verlander/ Josh Beckett

Verlander followed up his May 7 no-hitter against the Blue Jays with eight innings of two-hit ball against the Royals last Friday. He has allowed only three hits to the last 68 batters he has faced (!) and has allowed no more than three earned runs in any of his nine starts this year (!!).

Beckett has pitched equally well, having allowed two or fewer runs in six of his eight starts. He has a current streak of 19 scoreless innings, and has not allowed a run since April 27.

Beckett leads the AL in ERA (1.75) and has the 4th lowest WHIP (0.896; Verlander is #5). Beckett also has allowed the fewest H/9 of any MLB pitcher (5.4; Verlander is #2).

AL East: Yankees/Orioles and Rays/Blue Jays at 7 PM.

160 comments:

allan said...

Ellsbury, CF
Pedroia, 2B
Gonzalez, 1B
Youkilis, 3B
Ortiz, DH
Drew, RF
Lowrie, SS
Crawford, LF
Varitek, C

tim said...

So after that 1-0 game last night, with these two pitchers going are we going to see a 12-10 game?

Amy said...

Another soggy night at Fenway? I still can't believe they got in all nine innings last night. And that there was a pitching duel with that kind of weather. Ready for another one!

laura k said...

Detroit announcers... Allan on the phone with Rogers now...

laura k said...

Nice DP!

laura k said...

The sun actually came out this evening. Amazing.

allan said...

started with nesn, saw a minute, then it flipped to detroit tv. supposedly, there was a problem with nesn transmission and in order to have something while the problem got fixed, they switched to the tigers feed. they are supposedly switching back soon.

Amy said...

I sure liked it better when VMart was on OUR team. Too bad we couldn't keep him as our catcher instead of Salty.

Amy said...

Uh oh.

Maxwell Horse said...

Over the last few years I've seen Drew occassionally do dramatic things to catch a ball, such as sliding or diving. I don't think in one of those times he actually ended up catching the ball.

Man, they're hitting rockets off of Beckett this inning.

laura k said...

Chances are you just don't remember the catches. If he *never* caught the ball when sliding, I'd like to think he'd stop sliding!

laura k said...

out pls

Kathryn said...

Well this isn't the situation I wanted to walk into.

Amy said...

Finally!

allan said...

i think you can draw a fairly straight line between letting victor go and signing bert. victor was not going to catch much more than 2011 anyway, so then he'd be a DH/1B.

but letting victor go and signing the much-sought after bert lets us move yook to 3B and lowrie to SS. they hoped salty would hit a bit more, and he still may do so, but i can't see how salty is any worse than a wash re victor behind the plate.

Maxwell Horse said...

Actually, the only "dramatic" catch I consciously remember Drew successfully doing was when he practically broke his back on the bullpen wall to save a homerun. I think he made the catch, but I always got the impression that wasn't intentionally dramatic, but rather he didn't realize where he was.

Amy said...

I know, Allan, that what you say is right, and I certainly would not trade Bert for VMart. But it would have been really nice to have had BOTH, no? (I realize that was NOT a practical alternative, but a girl can dream, can't she?)

laura k said...

Here we go!

allan said...

flo threads the needle!!!

laura k said...

Yes, tied!

Amy said...

Wow, Youk was not too fast there. Good thing it was not a great throw.

Benjamin said...

JD Scrot.

Kathryn said...

Re VMart. My husband and I had that same conversation last night. I was dreaming and he said the Sox wouldn't have made the signings they did with him here due to money.

A Scrotum!!!!

Maxwell Horse said...

Prediction: Lowrie will strike out on a changeup.

Benjamin said...

Prediction: Lowrie will strike out on a changeup.

Close -- on a bad call.

Maxwell Horse said...

I was wrong. Curveball.

Kathryn said...

TAKES WITH HIM

Amy said...

Well, at least we tied it up!

allan said...

the sox loved victor (and his son), but no way would they give him 4 years when he wasn't going to catch. so they would have to get a catcher anyway, plus they had rizzo in the minors (and lars) as possible future DH/1B guys. (they used rizzo in the bert deal.) letting him go was a very smart decision. (they made that 2 year offer which they knew he would refuse; i think i was against even that.)

Amy said...

Kat, glad I am not the only impractical dreamer!

Kathryn said...

It took Don three tries to correctly pronounce "brick."

Amy said...

Allan, you are just being rational!

allan said...

maybe tito will still be managing when victor jose makes his debut for us!!

laura k said...

OTT!

laura k said...

Look! A Tek hit!

Jere said...

The Watney Snuggie?

Jere said...

fuckin' O's. 5-0 Yanks in the 1st

Benjamin said...

Not very impressed with Cederstrom's pitch calling.

laura k said...

Rish and Castig just said you can turn off the NYY game, it's over. Geez, they ought to know better than that.

allan said...

just a few nights ago, the sox came back from six down with 4 innings to go

why can't the orioles come back from five down with 9 innings to go?

laura k said...

serious fog there

Benjamin said...

They're giving Drew a workout tonight.

Amy said...

I missed a Tek hit? Damn.

allan said...

i'd be surprised if most red sox fans want rish/castig to act like arrogant mfy fans and say the nyy game is over. better to know who your audience is (hint: not mfy fans!) and pitch the score as something that should be easy to overcome because of a, b and c.

Jere said...

I'd like to know more about who instigated the comment. I hope it was the "just some fill-in" Rish over the decades-in-the-booth Castig.

Benjamin said...

!!!!

laura k said...

J.D.Ong!!!

allan said...

FIRE IN THE FOG!!!!!!

Maxwell Horse said...

Drew reminds me of the Edward Norton character in the Painted Veil.

Amy said...

On FIRE!

Kathryn said...

FIREman!!!

Kathryn said...

That was a fat pitch. He did not miss it.

Jere said...

Drinkwater was overly emotive on that one knowing he's got two Tigers fans right next to him.

laura k said...

I love Edward Norton but I didn't see that movie.

Maxwell Horse said...

Laura, you should check it out. It's got great cinematography. (And I don't say that about a lot of things these days.)

laura k said...

Thanks, MH, I'll put it on my list! (Post-baseball season, of course.)

Jere said...

yeah except he's got the wrong foot on the bag, remy

Amy said...

Let's not blow the lead.

Jere said...

Allan, are you psyched for the 1918 unis on Saturday?

allan said...

it's the first i have heard of it.

Jere said...

I'll be takin' some serious close-up pics of those!

allan said...

i'm very curious if they will be accurate.

Jere said...

by way of the k

Jere said...

The Cubs' 1918 roads are way more interesting than the Red Sox' 1918 blank homes.

tim said...

re: 1918 unis: maybe they'll have names on the back (lol)

amy bugged me on facebook so i am making an appearance here, mainly to comment on allan/L's posts about the EI feed.

VERY interesting. when i talked to rogers they assumed no responsibility for the MLB channels and said its whatever they are given by MLB. we're going to have to escalate this.

now, back to being locked out of my apartment, sitting on the patio drinking beer and watching the bruins.

Amy said...

Hey, I didn't bug you, Tim! I "liked" your comment---of course, I thought you were watching baseball, not hockey! :)

Amy said...

Home base? Don't we call it home PLATE?

tim said...

haha, you totally made a comment about threading on the roof! anyone whose never heard of game threading that reads that probably things we're part of the same sewing circle or something.

Amy said...

LOL, Tim! Hope your masculinity won't be threatened. :)

Kathryn said...

I like Beckett 2011

laura k said...

Oh come on, Amy, you know you are always bugging Tim on FB. And Tim is always talking about his sewing circle. Allan is old, and don't ask what I'm doing! It involved cookies!

(Thank you, troll!)

tim said...

I don't care about that, but if word got out that I know how to sew, all sorts of people would be wanting alterations and hemming!

Benjamin said...

Albers in after only 83 pitches?

laura k said...

I could use a few things done, Tim. If your prices are competitive.

Maxwell Horse said...

Beckett must be hurt.

tim said...

It may not work out then, L. Sorry...you'll be paying accounting rates for tailoring!

tim said...

May as well put him on the DL, we still have a solid, healthy rotation to back him up.

Jere said...

This doesn't fit into the 330 pitches over three games either. He threw 105 and 108 before this, and 83 tonight.

Amy said...

Laura, I won't even try to figure that one out.

Tim, I never learned to sew or knit or quilt, so I can't be part of any such circle.

laura k said...

I can't sew but I do my own taxes. I can't afford you accountants.

allan said...

i also mentioned ortiz threading the needle earlier.

beckett could be cold/fog/rain related. plus, he would have gone only 1 more probably, so i don't see this as anything to worry about -- yet.

allan said...

beckett pc:

11-24-8 5-14-21

(increased pc in those last 2 innings?)

Jere said...

nah nah nah gonna have a good time

Kathryn said...

Hey hey hey

Benjamin said...

PAPI

allan said...

BEDAZZLED!

laura k said...

QUADRANGULAR!!!

Jere said...

Papi knew it! Over the pen dong!

Amy said...

PAPI!!!

Maxwell Horse said...

Very well hit. (Why can't anyone ever be on base for those?)

Benjamin said...

I can sew and do my own taxes.

Kathryn said...

PAPI DONG!!!!

tim said...

Flo!!! Getting caught up on gdgd now that I'm inside.

Benjamin said...

Left-handed Lowrie isn't very good.

allan said...

MIllwood agreed to minor league deal?

laura k said...

But Benjamin, can you do them at the same time?

laura k said...

Did Steph show up with her keys or you broke in?

Benjamin said...

I can also knit both a scarf and my brow, simultaneously.

Amy said...

Poo.

laura k said...

Benjamin, I am impressed. Tell us more.

Benjamin said...

How about you stop doing that, Bard.

laura k said...

fuckety fuck

Jere said...

Bard looking like Mark Wohlers in the '96 Series

Benjamin said...

I can also lift things up and put them down.

Kathryn said...

Well this sucks. What are you doing Bard?

Kathryn said...

I would prefer that our opponent get more outs than home runs in an inning.

Amy said...

Looks like we need another walkoff.

Jere said...

safe

Amy said...

I knew he was safe. Lucky call for the Sox.

Amy said...

Score runs.

Jere said...

or another 8th inning go-ahead run like last night

Benjamin said...

Makeup call?

allan said...

hard to tell, but that's just what i said, benjamin.

Jere said...

Beckett was "having trouble getting loose" between innings, I guess....?

Jere said...

that's from cafardo

Amy said...

Giambi hit three HRs tonight. I didn't even know he was still playing baseball.

Jere said...

good recovery Pap

Benjamin said...

Injured neck for Beckett, eh.

allan said...

beckett - neck stiffness

Jere said...

if they weren't at DP depth it's a looping line-out. Then again he shouldn't be throwing a ball there on 0-2

Jere said...

keep climbin that ladder

Jere said...

thank you.

Dr. Jeff said...

OK. I'm calling F8.

Dr. Jeff said...

But I'll take a K!!!!

Jere said...

i'm calling big k

Maxwell Horse said...

Whew. Papelbon was hitting 97 more than once as well.

laura k said...

Bot Being Bot!

(Please note Tigers LOB)

Jere said...

okay, it's Wall Cough time

Benjamin said...

Al Alburquerque. Seriously?

Let's give him a wrong turn.

meunier said...

In a hotel in Pheonix with the espn pbp page behind the Bruins game.

laura k said...

Papi half dong!!

allan said...

winning run on 3rd with 0 outs.
run MUST be scored.

Kathryn said...

Papi...what a night!

meunier said...

Yeah Papi.

laura k said...

yes MUST

Kathryn said...

We need a scrotum, any kind of scrotum.

Amy said...

Bring that run home!

Dr. Jeff said...

This is tense.

Amy said...

That's a lot of fouls.

Amy said...

Damn.

Benjamin said...

Damn.

laura k said...

damn! nice play tho. still alive, still can win it here.

Amy said...

Can we please score a run? Jeez.

meunier said...

Arrgh

Benjamin said...

Too shallow for Iglesias to tag up. Why wasn't he off the bag further (besides rookie error)?

Amy said...

A third possible walkoff for CC, right, Allan?

allan said...

Yes, ma'am.

Benjamin said...

WATER

laura k said...

DON'T DRINK THE WATER!!!

Amy said...

YES!!! A third walkffo for Crawford. Now I will remember!!

Maxwell Horse said...

Good for Crawford.

laura k said...

I fucking love this team!!!!!

Dr. Jeff said...

MR. WALK OFF!!!!

meunier said...

Why pr for him NOW?

laura k said...

TB already lost tonight - we are 1.5 out.

allan said...

NOT CRAW

CRAW!!!!!!!!!

meunier said...

WALK OFF HAT TRICK CC

laura k said...

6 W in a row

Kathryn said...

Love that dirty water!!!

CC, my man.

Benjamin said...

Crawford: "All the pitching is, uhhh, pitching better."

Heidi: "Plus all the nice weather, right?"

Crawford: "Heh, uhhh, heh heh."