June 24, 2011

G75: Pirates 3, Red Sox 1

Red Sox - 100 000 000 - 1  9  1
Pirates - 002 001 00x - 3  9  0
It was a soggy, squanderific night in the City of Bridges. Lester (6-8-3-1-5, 107) was not sharp, but the bats offered no assistance. The Red Sox left 11 men on base (including two each in the seventh and eighth innings) and were 0-for-8 with runners at second and/or third.

Boston took a 1-0 lead when Jacoby Ellsbury walked to start the game, took third on the first of Adrian Gonzalez's two hits, and scored on Kevin Youkilis's grounder to third.

With two outs in the third, Dustin Pedroia and Gonzalez singled, and Yook walked to load the bases, but Darnell McDonald grounded out. McDonald also ended the fifth inning with men on first and second. In between those rally-killing at-bats, Lester lost the lead, allowing a single, double, walk, and single (plus a run-scoring DP) to begin the bottom of the third.

Josh Reddick singled to open the seventh and Pedroia walked with one out, but Tony Watson got Gonzalez to foul out to the catcher and Daniel McCutchen came in to strike out Youkilis.

In the eighth, facing Jose Veras, McDonald and pinch-hitter J.D. Drew singled. Jason Varitek bunted the runners to second and third. Marco Scutaro flinched and turned away from at least two of Veras's breaking balls (NESN said sliders; Gameday says curveballs) and struck out looking. As the rain poured down, David Ortiz came out as a pinch-hitter and, with so much rain dripping off his helmet he had to quickly take his hand off the bat handle to wipe it off as Veras was going into his motion, fell behind 1-2, fouled off three pitches, and finally grounded out to shortstop, ending the Sox's last threat.
Example
Jon Lester / Paul Maholm

Maholm has pitched at least six innings in nine of his last 11 starts. His ERA at home (2.12) is more than two runs better than his road mark (4.63).

Scott Atchison has been recalled from Pawtucket and will be available tonight. Michael Bowden was sent down.

The May 17 game against the Orioles (postponed due to bad weather) will be made up as the first game of a day-night doubleheader on September 19.

AL East: Rockies/Yankees at 7 PM; Rays/Astros at 8 PM.

170 comments:

allan said...

AG at 1B, no Flo

Ellsbury, CF
Pedroia, 2B
Gonzalez, 1B
Youkilis, 3B
McDonald, LF
Cameron, RF
Varitek, C
Scutaro, SS
Lester, P

Tabata, LF
d'Arnaud, 3B
McCutchen, CF
Walker, 2B
Diaz, RF
Overbay, 1B
Cedeno, SS
McKenry, C
Maholm, P

Rob said...

This is now a low-Flo situation, it's a No-Flo.

laura k said...

DH? We don't need no stinkin' DH! Beat these Bucs!

9casey said...

Allan there is a converstion we had about LBJ about 3 years ago . I wish I could find it.

If I recall , it makes us both look like geniuses.

Which in my case is hard to do......

Lord Lynch said...

The road trip starts tomorrow - Harrisburg Senators v Altoona Curve, then Sunday its Sox at Pitt, then Monday it is Buffalo Bison v Norfolk Tide.

Going to be terrific. Assuming all goes well.

Looks a top park, PNC....

Kathryn said...

That stadium looks a lot nicer than the old stadium I went to about 20 years ago.

Kathryn said...

Bad decision Tek.

Kathryn said...

Lord, are you going to be in Philly on Tuesday? I think I remember you saying it was a possibility.

laura k said...

Yeah, Three Rivers was a wreck. The one game we saw there was fun, though - a very good atmosphere.

laura k said...

We went out last night with our friend whose dad (now age 92) was the first GM of the P'burgh Penguins. He was telling us about some very cool fan-friendly things the Penguins do - a few things the Red Sox could learn from and improve on. I'm thinking Allan could post about this...

laura k said...

LL, you will be in Buffalo or in VA?

Kathryn said...

It was fun. Our daughter was almost two. She still remembers the trip and Bucky (the mascot).

allan said...

wow - the booth is in the clouds.

laura k said...

Neat. For us it was the first stop on our Rust Belt Baseball Road Trip, 1999. An amazing trip, until one of our dogs became suddenly ill, and we were a 17-hour drive away. She held on just until we got back.

laura k said...

Oh Geez, sorry about that. I seem unable to talk about that 99 road trip without mentioning our little Clyde's death! Sorry.

allan said...

Allan there is a converstion we had about LBJ about 3 years ago . I wish I could find it.

I wish comments were searchable.

Could it have been when he first came up? During a game or a non-game post?

Lord Lynch said...

Buffalo - going to Niagara Falls. As soon as the game finishes we start off on the way home - staying in Batavia on Monday night.

Will be in Philly, but at my brother-in-law's, not the game.

I have to go to the doctors soon after for some shots as I am off to Yankees v Rays on 10 July.

Kathryn said...

I wish comments were searchable.

I sometimes have good luck with a google search. If you can remember something unique that you said.

Kathryn said...

Re Clyde. That's okay. Association is how our memories work. You will always associate that trip with her death.

laura k said...

1999 trip, good version:
Pittsburgh
- Fallingwater, Andy Warhol
Cleveland
- RR HOF (yuck)
Detroit, Tiger Stadium
- Nomar autograph
- African American History Museum (awesome place)
- Diego Rivera Industry Frescoes
Chicago NL
Chicago AL
- Mariano Rivera autograph
- Frank Lloyd Wright home/studio, blues, ribs, Hemingway, etc.
Milwaukee

Am I missing anything?

Kathryn said...

LL, too bad. Jonny and I will be at the game on Tuesday.

It looks like a good pitching match up, that is if the slacker decides to play.

laura k said...

LL, that's great! We live near Buffalo, about 2 hr drive away. Western NY State is beautiful.

I hope you will go to the Canadian side of the Falls. Much more impressive. (Although the Falls are about 1/3 of what they once were, mostly diverted for power now.)

Re shots, I used to say that about going crosstown in NYC, needing shots and papers to go from East to West Side. :)

allan said...

.363 avg for the evil one.

Kathryn said...

Wow, those are some awesome memories.

Two-out rally time?

laura k said...

Kathryn, that's exactly it. That trip is always tinged with pain and sadness, I cannot separate it. We had lost our first dog only 6 months earlier. It was very very hard - even thinking about a game in Pittsburgh triggers it!

Amazing how that works.

laura k said...

squanderooney

Kathryn said...

Did y'all see the news about Riggleman, the Nationals manager? The team wins 11 of their last 12 to go above .500 and he resigns.

allan said...

I am glad I can separate it (even though she was my little sweetheart).

Lord Lynch said...

It looked for a while as though I was getting Beckett. But now it is Miller but it is just a pleasure to be there. Hope they don't rest Gonzalez....

Meanwhile, how is Darnell McDonald batting 5?

allan said...

did nesn miss the first pitch and the bunt? mlbtv came in a tad late.

fusionmouse said...

Microwave instead of Large Father...
not fun.

Microwave having trouble melting a marshmallow these days.

Zenslinger said...

At least Maholm's at 58 pitches.

Kathryn said...

Nope, NESN came back just in time. If that was the first pitch.

Zenslinger said...

Beavis in trouble vs Rockies.

Kathryn said...

Oh, I'm on mlbtv.

allan said...

don finally mentions that mckenry was traded by the sox very recently.

you ever notice how little don talks about other stuff in baseball, like riggleman or any games of the previous day, like a normal fan would do? i find it odd.

allan said...

ortiz would have had that.

Kathryn said...

Who does he think he is, LBJ?

Kathryn said...

Tough day for the wave, so far.

fusionmouse said...

EEI nearly missed the first pitch and bunt, too.

allan said...

jesus, just pour in strikes to the pitcher (.111 avg).

laura k said...

Why did he resign?

Kathryn said...

Walk the pitcher??? C'mon Lesterini.

laura k said...

Come on, Houdini

allan said...

i think because the nats were not going to renew his contract at the end of the year. or something.

fusionmouse said...

Hmm, Dice K would've wiggled out of a bases loaded no out jam.

allan said...

at least there was an empty base for him.

allan said...

is lester trying to make lackey feel better by having a similar inning?

fusionmouse said...

Who is this guy? And what did he do with April Lester?

fusionmouse said...

Papi's says "he's learned a lot from EB", maybe Lester's been talking to Lackey too much?

Kathryn said...

story here

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/jim-riggleman-resigns-as-nationals-manager-immediately-after-a-win/2011/06/23/AG7yl9hH_story.html


He asked them to make a decision on his extension now and they said they weren't ready. So he resigned, saying, "I'm 58, I'm too old to be disrespected."

"Riggleman’s unhappiness over his contract situation had been an open secret around the team almost since the day it was signed, Nov. 9, 2009. Although the Nationals called it a three-year deal at the time, it was more accurately a two-year guaranteed deal with a low buyout after the first season and a team option for 2012 — effectively keeping Riggleman on a year-to-year basis, and at a salary, $600,000, that ranked among the lowest in the game."

Kathryn said...

That was an ugly at bat from Cameron.

laura k said...

Thanks Kat. Not like I actually keep track of goings on in the NL.

fusionmouse said...

Posnanski wrote about Riggleman today

http://joeposnanski.blogspot.com/2011/06/wriggling-for-riggleman.html

Doesn't appear that Riggleman deserve much sympathy. 11 wins in the last 12 for a team that was previously at Riggleman's carreer historic winning percentage of .420?!? At least he's got some balls to try and squeeze out a contract extension right then.

fusionmouse said...

How long does Tito keep running Cameron out there instead of Reddick or Kalish?

Kathryn said...

And why is Cameron batting 6th?

allan said...

someone's gotta hit 6th.

fusionmouse said...

Yeah exactly someone gotta hit! not K :-P

Kathryn said...

Have something going

allan said...

COL - 011 1
MFY - 101

Rox still hitting in thr 4th. Cletus has walked 2 guys with 2 outs to load 'em up.

allan said...

FC ends the inning. Rockies up 3-2.

Kathryn said...

Nice call, Youk.

laura k said...

Guy wants to resign, he doesn't need anyone's sympathy or permission.

laura k said...

YES! Nice dp

Kathryn said...

Maybe now is the time for the 2-out rally.

Kathryn said...

Ha, funny to see Wake so young. He still makes the same face when he throws the ball.

allan said...

mccutchen ketch(es)up with that fly ball.

allan said...

yeah, i'd like to see much longer clips.

laura k said...

First ML hit a triple?? That can't be too common.

Darnell looks so crappy out there.

Kathryn said...

The duo of McDonald & Cameron not looking too good out there.

laura k said...

He still makes the same face when he throws the ball.

Funny how those things never change! I'd like to see more of that, too.

allan said...

triple as the first hit of his career, in his debut - nice.

now strand him, pls

Kathryn said...

Stranded!

allan said...

First ML hit a triple?? That can't be too common.

They are playing my song ...

Since 1919, 114 players have tripled in their first major league game.

For 57 of them, it was their only hit, so it was their first MLB hit. For the others, you would have to check.

allan said...

Pesky, Damon, and McCovey among the 114.

allan said...

And the Gerbil and the real Boomer.

allan said...

Jackie Mayo on the All-Condiment Team.

(We'll force Michael Kay to manage them!)

Kathryn said...

My husband is yelling, 'single' at the TV.

fusionmouse said...

If Scuturo gets on does Papi pinh hit for Lester?

allan said...

mlbtv comes back early, and we get to watch heidi getting ready for her bit.

laura k said...

They are playing my song ...

Indeed I was.

All-Condiment Team, I like it! Or should I say I relish it.

Gerbil triple? I guess he was slimmer then.

Please, no pics.

allan said...

i heard resop was a good pitcher, but i think it was a fable.

allan said...

feels early for papi.
and lester at 87

Kathryn said...

Will they pinch hit for Lester if Scutaro gets on?

laura k said...

*eye roll*

*but laughing*

allan said...

let lester bunt them over and lyndon will drive them in.

Kathryn said...

*eye roll*

*but laughing*


Yeah, me too.

allan said...

they did not follow my plan.

fusionmouse said...

True, but it's not like Lester's been cruising. I want playoff Tito, pull Lester, for Papi, and swap out either Cameron or McD for Reddick.

Kathryn said...

Well, I guess that makes the Lester question moot.

fusionmouse said...

Nevermind. All Hypothetical now, crap.

allan said...

Now I guess you hit for Lester to start the inning, since he will be around 100-105, probably.

See? Strategy!!

allan said...

Rockies building a picket fence at Stade Fasciste.

COL - 011 11
MFY - 101 00

fusionmouse said...

Ok. Double switch to start the 7th. Reddick hits for Lester and stays in for Cameron. Papi hits in Camerons spot after the sox put even more men on.

Please.

allan said...

did yook play that off his glove and then his face?

Kathryn said...

Youk is struggling tonight. What gives? Lots of breaks going the Pirates way.

fusionmouse said...

Arrrgh.

allan said...

hey, ooooooooooooverbay!

fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck
youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!

laura k said...

The player formerly known as Lyle Ooooooverbay. Related to Orlandooooooooo Hudson, of course.

allan said...

An out! Yay!!

allan said...

Fatt Albers up

Kathryn said...

Nice Tek.

laura k said...

I guess everyone's entitled to an off night. Yook is having one tonight, it seems.

Jere said...

"All-Condiment Team"

It must be impossible for a Spanish person to order Seitzer, and not get Salas.

Kathryn said...

Yep, maybe he'll take care of things at the plate.

allan said...

"Yes, I was very wise to hitch my wagon to his star."

9casey said...

That pitchers name(Maholm) was said Ma-Home right , I swear Don was calling him MA-HoLLM

allan said...

Once I mention the Rockies, they stop scoring ... 4-2, top 7th.

Jere said...

O'Brien's been saying "ma-HOLL-um"

allan said...

don't you dare, bunt!!!

Kathryn said...

Okay, step one of mouse's prediction.

fusionmouse said...

Yeaaaaa. Josh!

allan said...

Allow hits, Watson!
Allow hits, Watson!
Allow hits, Watson!



(only L will understand)

fusionmouse said...

"He really brings a lot of energy"-Castig on Reddick

as opposed to Cameron who strikes me as sucking the life out of the room these days.

fusionmouse said...

Com'on EB! RBIs awaitin!

9casey said...

it is amazing that Reddick can hit here but not in AAA . It is amazing he is only 24.

Is there a chance he is our starting RF next year?

allan said...

yook needs to atone.

fusionmouse said...

There's a quite good chance Reddick or Kalish will be the starting RF next year. Drew's in his last contract year and unless he really turns it around he won't be back.

allan said...

they have 2 guys named mccutchen?

allan said...

drew has also said he may retire. ... he ain't coming back regardless.

allan said...

Strikeout of Sweat.

Kathryn said...

Wow, another one of these games. 7 hits and 1 run. I'm not complaining, given our offensive power of late. It's just frustrating.

allan said...

i guess tito didn't want to double switch reddick into the field because mcdonald and cameron are hitting 1-2 next inning -- but was albers going to go more than 1 inning anyway?

allan said...

Speaking of hitting a triple in your first game, I wonder how many players have hit an inside-the-park home run in their first MLB at-bat?

laura k said...

Watson! Watson! That little dog and his annoying owners will live on forever.

(Not to be confused with Tim's Winston, who we love.)

allan said...

Johnnie LeMaster hit the only inside-the-park home run to be recorded in a first MLB at-bat on September 2, 1975 off Don Sutton.

***

Ed Delahanty of the Philadelphia Phillies, on July 13, 1896, hit four home runs in one game, two of which were inside-the-park home runs. This is the only time any homers in a four-homer game have been inside-the-park.

Jimmy Sheckard hit inside-the-park grand slams in consecutive games on consecutive days in 1901 with the Brooklyn Superbas, the only person in MLB history to do so.

Pete Milne hit an inside-the-park grand slam for his only career home run on April 27, 1949.

On July 25, 1956, Roberto Clemente became the only player to have ever hit a walk-off inside-the-park grand slam in a 9-8 Pirates win over the Cubs, at Forbes Field.

laura k said...

Thank you for asking and answering that question.

Kathryn said...

rifles it foul

laura k said...

Nice ITP HR stats, especially Clemente.

laura k said...

Pete Milne hit an inside-the-park grand slam for his only career home run on April 27, 1949.

This is pretty cool too!

allan said...

More ITPHR fun from Wikipedia:

Kyle Blanks of the Padres (285 pounds) became the heaviest player to hit an inside-the-park home run (August 18, 2009 against the Cubs).

Adam Jones of the Orioles hit a two-run inside-the-park homer against the Nationals on May 22, 2010 after Nationals center fielder Nyjer Morgan threw down his hat and glove in disgust upon believing the ball cleared the wall on a failed jumping attempt to catch it.

On July 18, 2010, Cleveland's Jhonny Peralta hit a three-run inside-the-park home run when Tigers outfielder Ryan Raburn crashed through the bullpen fence while trying to catch the ball. Peralta took 16.74 seconds to round the bases, which was, at that point in the 2010 season, the slowest of any inside-the-park home run and slower than five regular home run trots.

laura k said...

I love the dog in this Dunkin Donuts ad.

laura k said...

Rifles it foul - good one for the list!

Kathryn said...

ITP GS in consecutive games? Amazing stuff.

Watson? It might be like our neighbor's dog. We swore that her full name was...Mindy you get back here this second.

allan said...

Note to Ellsbury: No player has hit an ITPHR in a World Series game since 1929.

laura k said...

And said in this annoying shrill voice: WATson! WATson! WATson!

And

Go pee Watson! Go pee Watson! over and over and over.

Ah, neighbours.

laura k said...

Note to Ellsbury: No player has hit an ITPHR in a World Series game since 1929.

Something to watch for from The Unstoppables.

laura k said...

On Fire shows a bit of spark.

allan said...

OF singles to the OF!

allan said...

bard up
flo has a bat in the dugout

come on cactus!

allan said...

HA - huge ovation as papi comes out on deck!!!

laura k said...

The Man appears, crowd goes wild

fusionmouse said...

FUCK! Don't give up outs with a guy that can hit a home run! I HATE that. Nice bunt though tek.

allan said...

man, scutaro will see those sliders in his sleep.

laura k said...

Hurdle on the all-track team

laura k said...

Papi of 04, 05 pls

allan said...

park it and tarp it.

allan said...

jeez, he's wiping rain off his helmet - hand off bat - about 1 second before veras goes into his windup

laura k said...

fuckety fuck

fusionmouse said...

And what pray tell did that bunt get you except one out closer to the end of the inning?!

9casey said...

Would Tito have bunted if this was an american league game? Outs are precious.........

allan said...

Yeah, he might have bunted. Still, moving the runners over for Scutaro ....

Dr. Jeff said...

We can't score two lousy runs? What's the current LOB number?

allan said...

Baseball Almanac claims that Luke Stuart, of the Browns, also hit an ITPHR in his 1st AB, on August 8, 1921.

Stuart played in only 3 MLB games. On July 28, he played an inning or two in the field. On August 8, he homered, but Bref doesn't say if it was ITP. He played the next day - and that was the end of his MLB career.

allan said...

11 LOB
and 0 for 8 with RATS

fusionmouse said...

At least the MFY lose.

Kathryn said...

I'm keeping a list of foul verbs. I started the other day and have only added ones I've heard since then.

bend
carve
lace
rifle
send
spray

Any others?

laura k said...

I think Tito may have bunted in an AL game. I don't disagree, but it's not as if anyone hits HRs at will.

allan said...

time for this guy to blow a save

laura k said...

Scary chin pitching

allan said...

cranked foul

Kathryn said...

lifted

allan said...

pls tell us the date of each save and how long his beard was, don.

allan said...

Shit. Is anyone feeling rallyish? I'm not.

laura k said...

No, but it doesn't matter how we feel.

laura k said...

But in this case our feelings were correct. Stoppable. (For the moment.)

Drink plenty of water, come back tomorrow.

Kathryn said...

This game is strange. Nobody could stop us and now, we're losing to the lowly Pirates.

allan said...

that was a reverse mojo/honesty combo!

laura k said...

That's baseball for ya.

Jere said...

Luke Stuart's ITPHR was off Walter Johnson and was his only major league hit. 26 years later, Stuart killed himself.

There's an article on that SABR Baseball Bio site which talks about the homer, but doesn't say it's an ITP. However, the article they quote from 1921 says the ball was hit to the far left field corner in Griffith Stadium, which at that time was deeper than Fenway's deepest point today. So I guess ITP makes sense.