July 11, 2009

G87: Red Sox 15, Royals 9

Royals  - 000 015 120 -  9 13  3
Red Sox - 331 200 33x - 15 12 1
This game had it all.

Smoltz was credited with his first win in a Red Sox uniform, Aaron Bates collected the first hit and RBI (and error) of his major league career, Kevin Youkilis -- the Sultan of Sweat -- hit two home runs, drove in four runs and scored four times, David Ortiz crushed a two-run dong to right-center, the bullpen frittered away a 9-1 lead with Justin Masterson imploding to the tune of five runs in only .1 inning, Daniel Bard (with the tying run at the plate in the seventh inning) sat down three straight Royals, the KC pen issued six walks (three of them intentional) in the seventh and eighth innings, and Takashi Saito pitched a perfect ninth in a sudden downpour to put the Red Sox 2 GA of the Yankees.

And Ryan Freel hit into a 9-2 fielder's choice, as his bases-loaded liner to right was scooped on a short hop by J.D. Drew, who fired a laser beam on the fly to Jason Varitek, who stretched out like a first baseman to take the throw.

***

Gil Meche (4.14, 104 ERA+) / John Smoltz (6.60, 70 ERA+)

Time for Smoltz to shine and bring the doomers back in from the ledge. Because it's nice inside ... we have a one-game lead, the second-best record in MLB and a fridge full of cold beer.

Despite some recent hiccups, the Red Sox bullpen still has the best ERA in the American League: 3.26. The Rays are second at 3.36, and only the Mariners, Twins and White Sox are also under 4.00.

Terry Francona:
You can't go the whole year and have every reliever have a 1.60 ERA. That's probably not realistic.
John Farrell:
Their execution hasn't been as consistent as we've seen for most of the year ... but to say that something is drastically wrong or major adjustments are needed? No. ... We're not seeing anything drastic in terms of a delivery flaw or a bad habit with these guys or a physical issue that's starting to rear its head.
Last night's win was the first time the Red Sox won a game with as few as three hits since September 5, 2006 (a 1-0 win over the White Sox).

Since a May 26 loss to Minnesota, Lester has a 1.48 ERA in eight starts, with 69 strikeouts in 54.2 innings.

Jacoby Ellsbury was surprised at his first major league ejection:
I thought it should have been a helmet violation or whatever they call it, an equipment violation. That's why they have that. It's $100, and everybody stays in the game, and they move on. ... I thought I got in there. I spiked my helmet in frustration. ... I didn't say anything to [the umpire].
Two innings later, Ellsbury's replacement in center field, Rocco Baldelli, nailed Mark Teahen trying to tag and get to second base on a deep fly ball. Ellsbury could not have made a similar throw.

In five games since last Sunday, Dustin Pedroia is 11-for-21 with five doubles and two home runs. ... Mike Lowell took live batting practice on Friday. ... Since June 25, Daniel Bard has retired 19 consecutive batters.

In his first start since a bullpen demotion last month, San Francisco's Jonathan Sanchez (9-0-0-0-11, 110) no-hit the Padres last night, 8-0 (the only base runner reached on an 8th-inning error). It was the first time Sanchez's father saw his son start a major league game -- "I was expecting him to get tired."

At 4 PM: Yankees/Angels (Joba blew a 5-1 lead last night and New York lost 10-6). Boston is 1 GA.

284 comments:

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A Conformer said...

Is this LBJ's first career IBB, you think?

fusionmouse said...

Captain, I'd like to request a little insurance.

allan said...

his 5th actually.

2 in 2008
2 this year before tonight

Benjamin said...

There's one.

allan said...

HA thanks for throwing it!!!!!

fusionmouse said...

Catcher still suffering from swollen nads?

mattymatty said...

Walking Jacoby is just a really strange move. I don't see how this improves the Royals chances to win at all.

Rob said...

Royals defense is still Royals defense, no matter how close they get on the scoreboard!

Rob said...

Olivo still grabbing his junk. Poor guy.

Benjamin said...

Kotsay's 29th IBB.

allan said...

tek clearly in the wrong there -- umps do not change to the correct call.

thanks. some amount of makeup

Benjamin said...

GREEN

mattymatty said...

If the ump doesn't listen, Trey Hillman will pull out his sixshooter and gun 'em down at twenty paces.

allan said...

HEH

L said 12-7

fusionmouse said...

Wow!?!?! L's right on target :-O

johngoldfine said...

l-girl said 12-7....

allan said...

i doubt that'll be the final though!

Rob said...

What happens when Nick Green drives in runs with the bases loaded?

Gangreen.

A Conformer said...

It looks like Laura will be right with her 12-7 guess.

BTW, I think Papi should get an RBI on the previous run, for batting that ball off of Olivo's sac. He was clearly still affected when he threw that ball away.

allan said...

hillman reminds me of daniel day lewisin gangs of new york. he needs a cleaver ...

johngoldfine said...

final? fuck yeah says fuck no

Rob said...

I keep picturing Hillman as saying, "Coors. The Banquet Beer."

mattymatty said...

Looks like there is a base open. I don't know why Hillman doesn't intentionally walk Drew.

allan said...

colon blow in for kc.

mattymatty said...

Oh, so Hillman orders two walks and that's OK, but Wright walks one guy on his own and Hillman takes him out of the game. Kinda strikes me as a double standard, huh?

allan said...

good day for fy -- fucked around and got a triple, double

allan said...

walk him in. you can do eeet

Rob said...

Colon pumped his fist like his team WASN'T down by FIVE runs.

allan said...

and colon celebrates (joba-stlye) like he clinched the pennant.

tool.

Rob said...

Here's your Comcast Game Summary: Clusterfuck.

allan said...

what say we toss a bagel up on that board, bard-o?

allan said...

this game is twisted but true

allan said...

does billy butler refer to our first baseman as master bates?

allan said...

bot up

Rob said...

They just want this game to have the same final score as the Yankee Angels game.

Rob said...

Eric Hinske, Mall Cop.

allan said...

then KC is done. good.

fusionmouse said...

Youk!

Rob said...

Or not.

fusionmouse said...

Well, so much for our original cushion of 9-1.--dismal. At least we got the late insurance; hope it is enough.

mattymatty said...

I'm beginning to wonder if we can hold the Royals under twelve runs.

I can't believe I just wrote that sentence.

fusionmouse said...

Bard's just pounding the zone!

fusionmouse said...

We may need to call up Buchholz just to finish the game!

allan said...

bard passing mdc and ramram on the RH depth chart

Benjamin said...

Again.

fusionmouse said...

KY lubes one over the wall!

Rob said...

The Sultan of Sweat strikes again!!!

allan said...

SULTAN OF SWEAT

allan said...

saito and bot up.

up by 4, leave saito alone

allan said...

pitchout?

please.

fusionmouse said...

SB on a pitchout. LBJ fast!

A Conformer said...

That was a really shitty throw, for a pitchout.

And how many IBBs are they gonna give? Is this some kind of new tactic?

allan said...

time for bates to become a true red sock.

fusionmouse said...

Bates first RBI!

Benjamin said...

time for bates to become a true red sock.

Will that do?

fusionmouse said...

Those IBBs are working soooo well.

mattymatty said...

Seriously, the Royals have to stop giving the Red Sox free base runners. It's just stupid.

allan said...

YAY!

Rob said...

A twitter friend has already given Bates a nickname... Master Bates.


Kansas City is getting its Colon cleansed.

allan said...

come on werd - STOMP ON THEIR THROATS

A Conformer said...

A JDong would be a nice way to end the night.

allan said...

he's really more like a semi-colon.

fusionmouse said...

ON FIRE!

Sort of.

Benjamin said...

HBPRBI

A Conformer said...

RHBPI

allan said...

saito it is

fusionmouse said...

Ahhh... a little more comfortable than a couple innings ago.

If this were last year, now's the time we might actually see Timlin. I miss his last role with the Sox as the human victory cigar.

Great here comes the rain.

mattymatty said...

Now if Saito can hold 'em to five runs...

A Conformer said...

saito it is

With a 6 run lead, I can't blame Tito. Let Paps rest. And with Beckett's CG tomorrow, he'll have his ASB now.

allan said...

that's what this game is missing - a rain delay!!

Rob said...

Now Olivo's rubbing his gentlemen's region with his bat...

Benjamin said...

Rainy water.

fusionmouse said...

Dirty rain water! "Had 'em all the way--" Joe C

A Conformer said...

Wildirty water tonight. Chose a good one to watch.

Rob said...

Raining dirty water at Fenway!

allan said...

The water is ...

muddy!!!

A Conformer said...

Good night.

mattymatty said...

Eck: It's not raining that hard.

mattymatty said...

Smoltz first win for the Sox, Bates first hit and RBI in the bigs, and now we're 2 games up on MFY.

allan said...

Another hour at work for me, but good night for now ...

laura k said...

Shit, I said 12-7 and I didn't even aim high enough!

You know, I almost said 15-7 but that seemed insane.

laura k said...

"A twitter friend has already given Bates a nickname... Master Bates."

Did we all think of that the moment we heard his name?

laura k said...

Judging from the time of these comments, if I had run in the door and turned on the TV before even putting down my bag or letting the dogs out, I could have seen the last out or two.

Glad to see everyone was remembering my prediction. :)

Good night!

s1c said...

the all star break can't come soon enough so that this pen can get some rest.

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