Scott Kazmir threw the first complete game of his career, limiting the Red Sox to two hits (9-2-0-2-10, 120). Alex Gonzalez singled in the third and Manny Ramirez doubled in the ninth. (Jason Varitek struck out four times.)
Josh Beckett surrendered three solo home runs (he's given up 22 already this year), including back-to-back shots from Russell Branyan and Ty Wigginton in the fifth. Wigginton also hit one in the third.
AL East: Cleveland beat the Yankees 5-2.
5 comments:
The Jays lost also, no changes in the top 3 teams of the east. Look for schilling to win tomorrow as he is p o ed about being left off the All star roster. His last game before the break against the Sox ought to be a doozy as he tries to stick it in Ozzies well, you know where.
The Mets lost again. What a pathetic excuse for a "dominant" N.L. team! And Solar makes Lenny DiNardo look like Sandy Koufax. I, for one, am sick of reading how the Mets have built a budding dynasty; I see a strong offense backed by a very shaky pitching staff and a very timid manager.
The Sox, Tigers, Yankees and ChiSox should play for the World Championship and leave the NL out of it...
FYI, s1c, Schill will get one other start before the break next Sunday at CHI in the finale of the three-game set against Contreras (8-0).
Based on his pace through yesterday (23 bombs in 16 games), Beckett is on a pace to give up 50 HRs this year (!!). The back-to-back jobs by Branyan and Wigginton (2nd of the game) were both on fastballs up in the zone, as was the first to Wigginton.
In what was an otherwise strong outing by Beckett, I still get the sense that he's trying to blow the ball by people with the fastball rather than trying to change speeds and mixing in the breaking ball more often. As Hansen learned in this same park last year, these guys can hit, especially when they're swinging from their heels looking for the #1,
It would be interesting to know how many of the HRs hit off Josh LaLoosh have been on fastballs, but my guess would be 20 +/- 2 of the 23. With the stuff he has, I would hope Nip and Tek can get him to vary his approach a little more in the last half, with an approach that's perhaps a little more mensa and less machismo.
For a perfect example, look no further than Kazmir. His performance last night was simply and utterly dominating, and you continue to wonder how the Mets ever let this kid get away.
I was going to bring up the fact that s1c did, that Schill has 2 chances to prove that his snub was wrong. One this afternoon, at grilltime, and one next Sunday night, with a nationwide audience and yards from Ozzie himself. Happy holiday all!
I think Bronson Arroyo had the right idea as to how to beat Kazmir -- throw at a couple Tampa Bay batters, then sit back and watch Kazmir retaliate and get ejected.
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