G111: Diamondbacks 7, Red Sox 6

Diamondbacks - 201 030 100 - 7 16  1
Red Sox      - 220 002 000 - 6  9  0

Lester's "unacceptable" outing: 4.1-11-6-0-6, 102.

Cody Ross went 4-for-5, with two doubles, a home run, and 3 RBI.

For the Red Sox, David Ortiz and Stephen Drew hit homers. Drew drove in three runs.

The Rays lost to San Francisco 4-1, so Boston's one-game lead remained intact. ... The Yankees lost 7-2 to the Padres.

Randall Delgado / Jon Lester

Ellsbury, CF
Victorino, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Nava, LF
Saltalamacchia, C
Drew, SS
Holt, 3B

The Red Sox (66-44) trail the Pirates (65-43) by .002 for best record in the major leagues. ... The Rays (1 GB) are hosting the Giants. ... The floundering Yankees (8.5 GB) are in San Diego.

Video Of The Day

Click here (SB Nation) for a five-minute video of all 11 Red Sox walk-off wins this year:

April 13
April 15
May 6
May 26
June 6
June 18
June 30
July 3
July 21
July 31
August 1

G110: Red Sox 8, Mariners 7

Mariners - 101 050 000 - 7 11  0
Red Sox  - 001 000 016 - 8 13  0

The Red Sox sent 10 men to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning. It was Boston's 11th walk-off win of the season, tops in the majors, and second in less than 24 hours.

Bottom of the 9th
Pitching Change: Tom Wilhelmsen replaced Charlie Furbush.
Daniel Nava (bbb) walked.
Ryan Lavarnway (bcffb) singled, Nava to 2nd.
Brock Holt (cbb) doubled, Nava scored, Lavarnway to 3rd.
Jacoby Ellsbury (bbbc) walked.
Pitching Change: Oliver Perez replaced Tom Wilhelmsen.
Shane Victorino (c) singled, Lavarnway scored, Holt scored, Ellsbury to 2nd.
Dustin Pedroia (b) singled, Ellsbury scored, Victorino to 2nd.
David Ortiz (cs) struck out swinging.
Pitching Change: Yoervis Medina replaced Oliver Perez.
Jonny Gomes (ccbbfb) singled, Victorino scored, Pedroia to 2nd.
Stephen Drew (sfbbb) walked, Pedroia to 3rd, Gomes to 2nd.
Nava singled, Pedroia scored.

Steven Wright (3-2-0-1-2, 41) picked up the win in relief of Dempster (6-9-7-5-6, 110).

The Rays are off tonight, so Boston (66-44) moves 1 GA in the East.

Felix Hernandez / Ryan Dempster

Ellsbury, CF
Victorino, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Carp, 1B
Drew, SS
Nava, LF
Lavarnway, C
Holt, 3B

G109: Red Sox 5, Mariners 4 (15)

Mariners - 000 102 010 000 000 - 4 16  2
Red Sox  - 000 020 200 000 001 - 5 12  0

Stephen Drew's two-out, bases-loaded single vaulted the Red Sox back into first place. It was Boston's 10th walk-off win of the season.

Left fielder Jonny Gomes recorded an unassisted double play in the top of the 15th inning.

To tell you the truth, I've been waiting years to do that. I've never had one and I've never seen one. So that's why I'm glad I've got it on my resume.

Hisashi Iwakuma / John Lackey

Ellsbury, CF
Victorino, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Saltalamacchia, C
Carp, LF
Drew, SS
Holt, 3B

Red Sox Get Jake Peavy For Iglesias & Three Prospects

The Red Sox acquired right-hander Jake Peavy, 32, in a three-team trade with the White Sox and Tigers.

Boston will send shortstop Jose Iglesias and three low-level prospects - right-handers Francelis Montas and J.B. Wendelken and infielder Cleuluis Rondonto - to the White Sox. The Red Sox also picked up minor league pitcher Brayan Villarreal as part of the deal.

Peavy has a 4.28 ERA in 13 starts with Chicago.  His ERA+ is 100 - exactly league average.

ESPN's Dave Schoenfield says the Red Sox picked up Peavy cheaply.

Globe:

Analysis: Sox Needed Peavy To Match Rays

The Many Side Effects Of The Peavy Deal

Cherington: Peavy Made The Most Sense

WEEI:

Ben Cherington Talks Jake Peavy Trade, Jose Iglesias, Possible Infield Additions

What Red Sox Gave Up For Jake Peavy: Breaking Down Prospect Package

Herald:

Jake Peavy Instant Upgrade For Red Sox

Fangraphs:

Red Sox Gain Peavy, Lose Little

G108: Red Sox 8, Mariners 2

Mariners - 100 000 001 - 2  8  1
Red Sox  - 230 100 02x - 8 11  0

Boston got home runs from Dustin Pedroia (2-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored), Jarrod Saltalamacchia (2-for-4, 2 RBI), and Jacoby Ellsbury.

Brandon Workman (6-6-1-1-9, 103) picked up the first victory of his career. In each of his first three major league starts, he has pitched at least six innings and allowed two runs or fewer. The last Red Sox pitcher to do that was Rick Jones in 1976.

Shane Victorino went 3-for-4 and scored three times.

Joe Saunders / Brandon Workman

Ellsbury, CF
Victorino, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Saltalamacchia, C
Gomes, LF
Drew, SS
Iglesias,3B

Two articles:

Gordon Edes (ESPNBoston) on the late George Scott: "Not A Happy Ending For Boomer".

Alex Skillin (Beyond the Box Score): "Felix Doubront And Jon Lester Embrace The Changeup".

RIP George "Boomer" Scott

George Scott, one of my favourite Red Sox players, died on Sunday in Greenville, Mississippi, at the age of 69.

In 1977, the first season of Scott's second stint with the Red Sox, the 13-year-old me sent a letter to the team asking for Scott's autograph. About six weeks later, a signed photo arrived. I still have the picture and the envelope it came in.

That season was one I remember as a great deal of fun. Scott mashed 33 taters for a homer-happy Red Sox club that won 97 games and finished in second place.

The card at left is from that summer and shows the Boomer wearing his necklace of what he claimed were second basemen's teeth.

Here is SoSH's thread on Scott.

[Also: Frank Castillo, who pitched for the Red Sox in 2001, 2002 and 2004, drowned on Sunday. He was 44.]

G107: Rays 2, Red Sox 1

Rays    - 000 110 000 - 2  9  0
Red Sox - 000 001 000 - 1  5  0

David Price (7.1-2-1-0-8, 90) stymied the Red Sox for the second time in six days and the Rays moved back into first place, one-half game ahead of Boston.

Brandon Snyder homered for the Red Sox.

A blown call prevented the Red Sox from tying the game in the eighth.

Ian Browne, MLB:

Ryan Lavarnway doubled off the scoreboard in left. Stephen Drew followed with a double just over the head of right fielder Wil Myers. Pinch-runner Daniel Nava held up in case it was caught, and could only advance to third.

Brandon Snyder followed with a fly ball to left-center that looked deep enough to tie the game. But Sam Fuld's throw to the plate nailed Nava, though television replays appeared to show Nava might have gotten his foot in before the tag was applied by catcher Jose Molina. Manager John Farrell argued the call with home-plate umpire Jerry Meals and was ejected.

Meals admitted he blew the call after the game.

David Price / Felix Doubront

Ellsbury, CF
Victorino, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Gomes, LF
Lavarnway, C
Drew, SS
Snyder, 3B

This the make-up of last Thursday's rainout. Note the early starting time.

Last Wednesday, Price pitched a complete-game five-hitter against the Red Sox. (Doubront - 2.36 ERA in July - opposed him in that game, too.) In his five starts since coming off the disabled list, Price has walked only one batter in 41 innings, while striking out 27.

G106: Red Sox 5, Orioles 0

Red Sox - 102 000 020 - 5 10  1
Orioles - 000 000 000 - 0  5  0

Jon Lester (7-4-0-2-8, 99) threw seven shutout innings and David Ortiz went 4-for-4, including a two-run home run in the third inning.

It was Ortiz's second four-hit game of the season. (He went 4-for-5 on July 9.) Flo is now batting .329.

Ortiz also scored two runs. Three other Sox had two hits: Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Napoli, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia. ... Napoli's double scored Shane Victorino in the first inning. Salty's two-run single in the eighth added some insurance.

The Yankees beat the Rays 6-5, so the Red Sox are back in first place. ... Boston plays Tampa Bay tomorrow in the make-up of Thursday's rainout.

Jon Lester / Jason Hammel

Ellsbury, CF
Victorino, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Carp, LF
Saltalamacchia, C
Drew, SS
Iglesias, 3B

G105: Red Sox 7, Orioles 3

Red Sox - 001 302 100 - 7 10  0
Orioles - 000 011 010 - 3  9  0

Stephen Drew went 3-for-4, with two home runs and three runs scored. He tied a career-high with five RBI.

Mike Carp also went 3-for-4. Shane Victorino homered and drove in two runs. Jarrod Saltalamacchia scored twice.

David Ortiz got very angry in the seventh inning. He was upset at a high 3-0 pitch that was called a strike. He eventually struck out in the at-bat and then - showing some surprising talent as a switch-hitter - destroyed the dugout phone with a bat. Then he wished home plate umpire Tim Timmons a happy birthday.

Boston stayed 0.5 GB Tampa Bay, who two-hit the Yankees this afternoon 1-0. New York is 8 GB!

Ryan Dempster / Scott Feldman

Ellsbury, CF
Victorino, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Carp, LF
Saltalamacchia, C
Drew, SS
Iglesias, 3B

Saturday Reading

Gabe Kapler: Stats 101: Why It's Time To Re-Educate Players In Meaningful Statistics (WEEI)

Team Player: For Dustin Pedroia, Contract Represented Desire To Let Red Sox Build A Winner (WEEI)

Are The 2013 Yankees The Worst Right-Hand Hitting Team Of All-Time? (Baseball Prospectus)

The New York Yankees And Never Selling (SB Nation)

July 22, 1986: Baseball's Craziest Game? (Hardball Times)

hey mcdonald's: the working poor don't need financial advice or higher banking costs. they need higher wages. (wmtc)

G104: Orioles 6, Red Sox 0

Red Sox - 000 000 000 - 0  4  1
Orioles - 201 010 11x - 6 10  0

Boston's hitting woes continued against Tillman (7-2-0-3-8, 15) and two relievers. Jacoby Ellsbury had a single and a double, and Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz both singled.

In their ten games, the Red Sox are hitting .213, with an on-base percentage of only .268.

Boston loaded the bases in the first inning with two outs, but Daniel Nava struck out. The Red Sox got only one runner to second base over the next eight innings.

With the Rays beating the Yankees 10-6, Boston fell into second place for the first time since May 25.

John Lackey / Chris Tillman

Ellsbury, CF
Victorino, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Nava, LF
Saltalamacchia, C
Drew, SS
Iglesias, 3B

Boston leads the East by one-half game over Tampa Bay and four games over the Orioles.

The Rays are in New York, playing the Yankees, who are 6.5 GB (Hellickson/Sabathaia).

Last night's rainout will be played on Monday, July 29.

The rotation is now Lackey, Ryan Dempster, and Jon Lester against the Orioles, Felix Doubront in the makeup game on Monday, and Brandon Workman against Seattle on Tuesday.

G104: Rays at Red Sox, Postponed, Rain

Rays    - 
Red Sox - 

Jeremy Hellickson / John Lackey

Ellsbury, CF
Victorino, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Saltalamacchia, C
Gomes, LF
Drew, SS
Iglesias, 3B

G103: Rays 5, Red Sox 1

Rays    - 003 000 020 - 5 11  0
Red Sox - 000 000 100 - 1  5  1

The Price Was Right: 9-5-1-0-4, 97

Doubront: 6.2-6-3-2-5, 104

Mike Napoli doubled and homered. It was Napoli's third home run in his last four games. Napoli has ten extra-base hits (four doubles, one triple, five homers) in his last 14 games.

Shane Victorino had two hits and David Ortiz had one.

David Price / Felix Doubront

Ellsbury, CF
Victorino, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Gomes, LF
Drew, SS
Saltalamacchia, C
Iglesias, 3B

G102: Red Sox 6, Rays 2

Rays    - 010 001 000 - 2  7  1
Red Sox - 011 010 03x - 6 12  0

Roberto Hernandez / Jon Lester

Victorino, CF
Nava, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Carp, LF
Saltalamacchia, C
Drew, SS
Iglesias, 3B

Pedroia, Red Sox Agree To 7-Year Extension (2015-21)

Rob Bradford, WEEI:

According to a baseball source, the Red Sox and second baseman Dustin Pedroia have agreed to a seven-year, worth approximately $100 million extension that will begin following the final guaranteed year of his current deal. Pedroia is currently in the midst of six-year, $40.5 million deal that carries a team option for 2015.

The deal, according to the source, carries a full no-trade clause.

The new contract - which will average roughly $14.3/season - runs through 2021, at which time Pedroia will be 38 years old.

Read Pedroia's comments on the deal here.

G101: Rays 3, Red Sox 0

Rays    - 100 010 001 - 3  8  0
Red Sox - 000 000 000 - 0  2  0

Moore (9-2-0-1-4, 109) allowed only three baserunners:

2nd inning - Mike Napoli one-out single
5th inning - Mike Napoli leadoff walk
7th inning - David Ortiz two-out single

Only Ortiz advanced to second.

How dominant was Moore? This much.

Workman: 6-7-2-2-4, 103.

The Rays closed to within one-half game in the AL East.

Matt Moore / Brandon Workman

Ellsbury, CF
Victorino, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Gomes, LF
Lavarnway, C
Snyder, 3B
Iglesias, SS

Tampa Bay (58-41) arrives in Fenway for an important four-game series. The Rays are red-hot, having won 17 of their last 19 games. However, they are only 3-9 against Boston this season. Tampa Bay is 1.5 GB the Red Sox (60-40) in the AL East.

The other three games:

Tuesday: Roberto Hernandez / Jon Lester, 7 PM
Wednesday: David Price / Felix Doubront, 7 PM
Thursday: Jeremy Hellickson / John Lackey, 7 PM

G100: Red Sox 8, Yankees 7 (11)

Yankees - 210 002 200 00 - 7 13  1
Red Sox - 004 210 000 01 - 8 11  3

Mike Napoli's second home run of the night won the game with two outs in the eleventh inning.

David Ortiz stole his fourth base of the season - a career-high - in the sixth inning. Ortiz is 4-for-4 in steals this year.

CC Sabathia / Ryan Dempster

Ellsbury, CF
Victorino, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Gomes, LF
Saltalamacchia, C
Drew, SS
Iglesias, 3B

Jon Lester was scheduled to make this start, but he has been pushed back to Tuesday against Tampa Bay.

G99: Yankees 5, Red Sox 2

Yankees - 000 010 301 - 5 12  1
Red Sox - 000 000 200 - 2  7  1

Hiroki Kuroda / John Lackey

Ellsbury, CF
Nava, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Carp, 1B
Gomes, LF
Saltalamacchia, C
Drew, SS
Iglesias, 3B

The Daily News reports on Friday's 4-2 Boston win:

G98: Red Sox 4, Yankees 2

Yankees - 000 110 000 - 2  5  0
Red Sox - 120 000 10x - 4  8  1

Jacoby Ellsbury and Jonny Gomes hit early home runs and Felix Doubront (6.1-3-2-3-5, 93) stifled the New York bats.

The Yankees fell to 7.0 GB the Red Sox.

Andy Pettitte / Felix Doubront

Ellsbury, CF
Victorino, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Gomes, LF
Saltalamacchia, C
Snyder, 3B
Iglesias, SS

Andrew Bailey has been placed on the disabled list, with Jose De La Torre filling his spot in the bullpen. Also: the Red Sox have signed Jose Contreras and Brandon Lyon to minor league contracts and assigned both pitchers to Pawtucket.

The weekend match-ups:

Saturday: Hiroki Kuroda / John Lackey, 4 PM
Sunday: CC Sabathia / Jon Lester, 8 PM

         ALE   W   L   PCT   GB   RS   RA  DIF EXP-WL
Red Sox  1st  58  39  .598  ---  498  407  +91  57-40
Yankees  4th  51  44  .537  6.0  373  375  - 2  47-48

Dave Robertson:

We're in fourth, but we are only six games back. We can turn that around real quick ... We are still the Yankees and I think that that gives us an edge.

But Joe Girardi has already thrown in the towel!