Death By Pitching For Astros, As Red Sox Dominate (48-34)

Last night, the Red Sox routed the Astros 10-4 in a fitting way to send me on my way to camp. The Red Sox got off to a good start early, putting runners at first and third to start the game. Adrian Gonzalez hit a single through the right side, scoring Ellsbury and making it 1-0. The Red Sox proceeded to load the bases in the inning, setting up for a walk to David Ortiz to make it 2-0. Then, Jarrod Saltalamacchia grounded into a 5-4-3 double play, but the run still scored to make it 3-0. In the bottom half, Angel Sanchez singled after a Michael Bourn triple to make it 3-1. It stayed like that until the 5th, when consecutive doubles by Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia made it 4-1. In the 6th, Hunter Pence homered to left field to make it 4-2. In the 7th, Yamaico Navarro came in to pinch hit for the pitcher, and hit his first career home run on a shot to left field to make it 5-2. In the bottom half, the Astros loaded the bases, and the Red Sox walked Hunter Pence to make it 5-3. In the 8th, the Red Sox loaded the bases, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a sacrifice fly to make it 6-3. Then, Darnell McDonald came up, I expected him to ground into a double play and the inning would be over, instead, he put the game away on a blast to left field. A BLAST. Then in the 9th, an RBI single by Kevin Youkilis made it 10-3. In the 9th, a Matt Downs RBI single made it 10-4, but that was it.

Andrew Miller has greatly impressed me so far, with another good start tonight, going 6 innings and allowing 2 runs. He is now 2-0/3.06/13. Alfredo Aceves allowed a run in 2/3 of an inning, Bard threw a scoreless third, Jenks tossed a scoreless inning, and Wheeler allowed a run in an inning. Jacoby Ellsbury went 1-4 with 2 runs scored. Dustin Pedroia (left) went 3-5 with a run and an RBI along with 3 double plays turned. Adrian Gonzalez went 3-5 with 3 runs and an RBI in a good game, raising the average to .353. Kevin Youkilis went 3-5 with a run and an RBI. Darnell McDonald only went 1-4, but that home run was too big to let go of, he is now .125/2/6, ouch. And, props to Yamaico Navarro on his first major league home run, ask my mom, I believed in you! Today, Josh Beckett (6-3/2.20/80) will go for the sweep against Jordan Lyles (0-3/4.50/28).

Bright Spots:

Andrew Miller- 2 runs in 6 innings, another impressive outing

Bobby Jenks- a scoreless inning of relief (for once)

Jacoby Ellsbury- 1-4 with 2 runs scored

Dustin Pedroia- 3-5 with a run and an RBI

Adrian Gonzalez- 3-5 with 3 runs and an RBI

Kevin Youkilis- 3-5 with a run and an RBI

Darnell McDonald- 1-4 with a crushed 3-run homer

Yamaico Navarro- first MLB home run, need I say anything else?

Dull Spots:

Alfredo Aceves- a run in 2/3 of an inning

Marco Scutaro- 0-4

The Red Sox crushed the Astros, and I'm glad I can leave town on a good note. Bye!

Red Sox Battle Back From Early Deficit, Beat A's (31-26)

Last night, the Red Sox rallied from behind to beat the A's 8-6 in a hard-fought match that I really enjoyed watching. The A's got off to quite a start, after putting runners at first and third with one out. Josh Willingham singled to left field, scoring David DeJesus and making it 1-0 A's. After another single, Daric Barton singled to right field, making it 2-0. A 2-run single by Mark Ellis capped a 4-run 1st inning, making it 4-0. After a single in the 1st, Jacoby Ellsbury used his speed to get to third with just one out. Adrian Gonzalez delivered with an RBI groundout to Mark Ellis, cutting it to 4-1. After a Kevin Youkilis double, David Ortiz knocked a single just over the shortstop's head for a single, making it 4-2. After Mike Cameron came in on a sacrifice fly by Jacoby Ellsbury, the Sox had cut it to 4-3. In the 3rd, after a Kevin Youkilis walk, David Ortiz hit a high ball off the monster that got away from Josh Willingham, allowing Youkilis to score and tie the game. Jed Lowrie then drove in Ortiz on a single to give the Sox a 5-4 lead. In the 4th, with runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out, Coco Crisp grounded out to Adrian Gonzalez, scoring Kevin Kouzmanoff, to tie the game. In the 5th, Daric Barton gave the A's a 6-5 lead, scoring Josh Willingham with a grounder through the right side. In the 7th, the Red Sox loaded the bases with 2 outs, to prepare for a broken bat, bloop single up the middle by Carl Crawford, scoring 2 and making it 7-6. In the 8th, a Jarrod Saltalamacchia home run pushed it to 8-6.

Clay Buchholz (top right) was not sharp whatsoever, allowing 6 runs, 5 earned in 4 2/3 innings, he earned a no-decision and made himself 4-3/3.82/49. The bullpen was great however, as neither Scott Atchison, Tommy Hottovy, Bobby Jenks, Daniel Bard, or Jonathan Papelbon allowed a run. Adrian Gonzalez had a good game, going 3-5 with a run scored and an RBI, he is now .335/10/47, as he has been great this year. Kevin Youkilis went 2-3 with 3 runs scored. David Ortiz went 2-3 with a run scored and 2 RBIs, as he is now .319/13/30. Carl Crawford (top left) only went 1-4 but he had a huge clutch single, as he is now .233/4/23. Jarrod Saltalamacchia as well, only went 1-4 but with a home run, as he is now .220/5/18. Today will be a marquee matchup, as Josh Beckett (4-2/1.80/63) and Trevor Cahill (6-3/2.31/58) will go head to head.

Bright Spots:

Scott Atchison- a scoreless inning

Bobby Jenks- the win in a scoreless inning

Daniel Bard- a scoreless inning

Jonathan Papelbon- the save in a scoreless inning

Adrian Gonzalez- 3-5 with a run and an RBI

Kevin Youkilis- 2-3 with 3 runs scored

David Ortiz- 2-3 with a run and 2 RBIs

Jed Lowrie- 1-4 with an RBI

Carl Crawford- 1-4 with a huge 2-run single

Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 1-4 with a solo home run

Dull Spots:

Clay Buchholz- 6 runs, 5 earned in 4 2/3 innings

Dustin Pedroia- 0-5

This was a good game, and I'm glad I got the opportunity to watch it.

Red Sox Unable To Come Back Against White Sox (30-25)

The White Sox got off to an early lead in the 2nd inning, as with the bases loaded, Gordon Beckham singled through the left side to make it 1-0. It quickly became 2-0 as Jed Lowrie botched a ground ball by Brent Morel to shortstop. Still with the bases loaded, Alexei Ramirez singled right up the middle, scoring two and making it 4-0. In the 3rd, the White Sox padded their lead as an A.J. Pierzynski double hopped into the crowd, scoring Paul Konerko and making it 5-0. In the bottom of the 3rd, Jason Varitek lined a ball into the bullpen for a home run, making it 5-1 White Sox. In the 4th, Brent Morel scored after Alexei Ramirez was caught in a rundown after a single to center, making it 6-1. In the 6th, the White Sox put runners on second and third with one out, both of whom came on in a single by Juan Pierre. Carlos Quentin proceeded to hit one of the green monster, scoring Pierre and making it 9-1. Paul Konerko then knocked a sacrifice fly out to right field, scoring Alexei Ramirez and making it 10-1. In the bottom of the eighth, Josh Reddick came in to score on a Drew Sutton single to make it 10-2. However, the Red Sox got a bunch back as Drew Sutton and Kevin Youkilis came around on an opposite field home run by David Ortiz over the green monster to make it 10-5. In the 9th, after the Red Sox put runners on the corners with 1 out, before a sacrifice fly by Josh Reddick to make it 10-6. Then Drew Sutton doubled to right field, scoring Jason Varitek and making it 10-7, but that would be it.

Alfredo Aceves was not good at all for the Sox, allowing 8 runs, 6 earned in 5 innings, earning the loss and making him 2-1/3.51/18. Scott Atchison was not much better, allowing 2 runs in 2 innings of relief. Bobby Jenks and Dan Wheeler, coming off the DL, each threw scoreless innings. After Dustin Pedroia went to the bench after an 0-2 day, Drew Sutton came in and performed nicely, going 2-2 with a run and 2 RBIs. David Ortiz had a very good game, going 2-4 with that big 3-run homer, as he is now .310/12/27. Jason Varitek had a very good game, going 3-4 with 2 runs scored and a solo home run, he is now .235/2/8. Today at 1:35, Tim Wakefield (2-1/4.14/16) will try to stop a sweep against Gavin Floyd (5-5/3.69/56).

Bright Spots:

Bobby Jenks- a scoreless inning of relief

Dan Wheeler- a scoreless inning of relief

Drew Sutton- 2-2 with a run and 2 RBIs off the bench

David Ortiz- 2-4 with a three-run homer

Jason Varitek- 3-4 with 2 runs and a solo shot

Dull Spots:

Alfredo Aceves- 6 earned runs in 5 innings

Scott Atchison- 2 runs in 2 innings of relief

Jacoby Ellsbury- 0-3 with a strikeout

J.D. Drew- 0-4 with 3 runners left on base

Although the Sox scored 6 unanswered runs, this was still a tough loss.