Buchholz Tosses Shutout As Sox Avoid Sweep (29-28)

Buchholz threw a shutout,
his best outing by far

Things were looking bleak for the Red Sox after losing seven consecutive ballgames at home to the Orioles. The O's had won the first two games of the series and another win would push the Red Sox below .500. However, the Red Sox fought to stay above .500, starting very early in the game. They loaded the bases with two outs on two walks and a single in the first inning. After working a long at bat, Adrian Gonzalez ripped a ball down the first base line-- a double that scored two in the first. The Sox got right back to business in the second inning, loading the bases with no outs this time. Dustin Pedroia grounded a potential double play ball to shortstop J.J. Hardy. Hardy flipped the ball to second to secure an out, but the second baseman Robert Andino airmailed the throw into the stands to allow two runs to score and make it 4-0. The Red Sox just kept rolling along as Adrian Gonzalez singled up the middle to lead off the third inning. Buck Showalter noticed the inevitable and pulled Brian Matusz out of the game with a Bard-like 2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 BB line.

Buchholz lowered his ERA
from 6.58 to 5.77

Reliever Miguel Gonzalez got the next two outs, but also surrendered a double to Darnell McDonald which put runners at second and third with two outs for Daniel Nava. As usual, Nava delivered, hitting a line drive through the hole and into right field to score two runs and give the Red Sox a commanding 6-0 lead. While neither team scored for the next several innings, the Red Sox did accomplish one thing: working the Orioles' bullpen as Gonzalez, who may have started Saturday, had to throw 55 pitches from the bullpen. The Red Sox would score an insurance run in the eight inning after a one out double for Daniel Nava. With two outs and Nava on second, Kevin Youkilis delivered with a line drive double down the third base line to score Nava and make it 7-0. Clay Buchholz had dominated the Orioles all night long-- and a strong ninth led to a shutout for the righty-- the first by any Red Sox pitcher this year.


Bright Spots:
Clay Buchholz- 9 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K, W (6-2)
Daniel Nava- 2-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 BB, 2 RBI
Kevin Youkilis- 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Adrian Gonzalez- 3-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI
Darnell McDonald- 1-3, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 2B

Dull Spots:
Mike Aviles- 0-4, 1 K, 4 LOB

Player of the Game:
Clay Buchholz- After good starts in his last few times out for Buchholz, he really put it all together with a shutout last night-- he is now 6-2/5.77/46 this year.

McDonald Off The DL, Bard To Handle Control Issues In Pawtucket

With Darnell McDonald coming off of the DL today, they Red Sox had to demote somebody to AAA. Their choice was a surprising one as they sent fifth starter Daniel Bard down. Bard has had a shaky time adjusting to starting all year, but it all caught up to him in a horrible start on Sunday. In that start he lasted just 1.2 innings, walking six and allowing five runs in a 5-1 loss to the Blue Jays. While his season stats aren't awful at 5-6/5.24/34, he's had serious control issues all year-- walking 6.04 per nine innings. It was thought that Bard may move to the bullpen, but they obviously want the Bard experiment to continue without causing damage to the team. Either Daisuke Matsuzaka or Aaron Cook will probably take Bard's place in the rotation for the next few weeks until he's ready to go again. Darnell McDonald will provide some depth to the outfield that has been depleted by injuries this year. McDonald was having a brutal season to start the year at .179/2/8 and while he generally can at least provide a decent bat against lefties-- he has only batted .185/1/5 this year. This is an interesting move for the Red Sox, but I guess they're serious about the Bard Experiment.

Red Sox Unable To Sweep Jays In Finale (28-26)

Bard had a miserable outing

This was a very disappointing game as the Red Sox fell to the Blue Jays despite not allowing any runs after the second inning. As you may imagine based on that, the Blue Jays got off to a very fast start. Daniel Bard continued his control issues by walking Kelly Johnson and Yunel Escobar to start the game. He ran it to a full count on Jose Bautista and an eight pitch at bat before Bautista ran into a high fastball and crushed a no-doubter to left field to give the Blue Jays an early 3-0 lead. Bard would get out of the first with that score intact but not without a cost as he threw 28 pitches in the first inning. The second inning was just as bad as the first as Bard walked the first two batters in the inning, got outs on the next two, then hit a batter to load the bases with two outs. He walked Jose Bautista to bring a run in and then hit Edwin Encarnacion to bring a run in and make it 5-0. All of Red Sox Nation and Bobby Valentine saw Bard did not have his best stuff and Valentine pulled Bard after just 1.2 innings.

Shoppach had his third homer

Franklin Morales came in and had a fantastic outing by all perspectives. He really kept the Red Sox in the game and pitched until the sixth-- his final line was 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 K as he lowered his ERA to 3.48 on the season. The Red Sox got on the board for the first and only time in the fifth inning when Kelly Shoppach drove a fastball to right-center for a solo home run to cut the Blue Jays' lead to 5-1. The Red Sox relief corps did their best to keep the Red Sox in the game, with Scott Atchison and Rich Hill working a scoreless eighth and ninth, respectively. However, Blue Jays' rookie Drew Hutchison was just too good for Boston. He worked 7 strong innings, allowing a run on five innings and striking out five over that span. Hutchison is coming off a good start against the Orioles and is only 21 as the Jays' appear to have found something special in the righty. It was interesting to watch Hutchison but I obviously would have preferred a win.

Bright Spots:
Franklin Morales- 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 K
Scott Atchison- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K
Mike Aviles- 2-4
Kelly Shoppach- 1-2, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Dull Spots:
Daniel Bard- 1.2 IP, 1 H, 5 R, 6 BB, 2 K, L (5-6)
David Ortiz- 0-4, 2 K, 1 LOB
Kevin Youkilis- 0-3, 2 K
Ryan Sweeney- 0-4, 1 K, 1 LOB

Player of the Game:
Franklin Morales- Morales did a great job in relief, going above and beyond the call of duty by working 4.1 scoreless innings of relief-- he is now 0-1/3.48/17 this year.

Red Sox Beat Verlander To Eclipse .500 (25-24)

Bard pitched well last night

After long last, the Red Sox have finally eclipsed the .500 mark-- winning last night to become 25-24 on the season and only 3.5 games out of first place. It's fair to say that the Red Sox were not expected to win this game with Daniel Bard against Justin Verlander-- but the Sox got going quickly in the second. A leadoff double for David Ortiz and a one-out single for Jarrod Saltalamacchia put runners at the corners with one away. Mike Aviles grounded into what should have been a routine double play, but he beat out the back end and the run scored to make it 1-0. The Red Sox struck again in the fourth when they loaded the bases on three singles (Youkilis, Aviles, Podsednik) and just one out for Nick Punto. In his traditional style, Punto lifted a pop fly that didn't even get out of the infield to make it two outs. Daniel Nava then worked a full count in a fantastic at bat before inside outing a 101 mph fastball down the third base line to score all three runs and give the Red Sox a 4-0 lead.

Ortiz went 3-4 with a home run

However, with one out in the fifth, the Tigers ended Bard's shutout when Jhonny Peralta lifted a home run to right-center to make things 4-1. The Red Sox answered for that when, after a leadoff single for Adrian Gonzalez, David Ortiz doubled him home off the monster to make it 5-1. Ortiz would be thrown out at third and that would be all the Sox would get in the inning. The Tigers ate away at the Red Sox' lead a little more in the fifth when Prince Fielder took advantage of a hanging change and crushed a home run to right field. Daniel Bard was taken out of the game after this-- having arguably his best outing with a 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K line. It would be Fielder again in the seventh inning, cutting it to a 5-3 lead when he drove Miguel Cabrera in with a single. It would all be good though, because David Ortiz continued his excellent game by belting a home run over the green monster to make it 6-3. Alfredo Aceves picked up his 12th save of the year and that was that.

Bright Spots:
Daniel Bard- 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K, W (5-5)
Vicente Padilla- 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R
Alfredo Aceves- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, SV (12)
Daniel Nava- 1-4, 1 2B, 3 RBI
David Ortiz- 3-4, 2 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Scott Podsednik- 2-4, 1 R

Dull Spots:
Andrew Miller- 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 K
Ryan Sweeney- 0-4, 3 K, 4 LOB

Player of the Game:
David Ortiz- Ortiz had a great game to lead to Sox over .500 here-- going 3-4 with two doubles, a home run, two runs scored, and two RBIs-- he is now .319/11/33 this year.

Red Sox Edge O's With Trifecta Of Homers (22-22)

Bard earned his fourth win

The Red Sox kept their hopes for a .500 record alive today by knocking off the Orioles in a tight series finale. The Orioles got going very quickly off Daniel Bard-- loading the bases with one out in the first. They would take a run on a sacrifice fly for Chris Davis but that would be all for the inning. The Red Sox quickly answered in the second by loading the bases with no outs. Scott Podsednik then had a somewhat bittersweet play, grounding into a double play to score the run and tie things up at 1-1, but there could've been much more in the inning. The Orioles then proceeded to answer their mini-rally when Nick Johnson led off the O's half of the second by crushing a 2-0 pitch to right field. The game would continue to see saw in the third when Will Middlebrooks drove Dustin Pedroia home on a double before Kevin Youkilis was caught at home easily by the left fielder Xavier Avery. The score would stay deadlocked at 2-2 up until the sixth inning.

Scott Podsednik made his
first Red Sox start big

The Red Sox would put a little rally up in the sixth after a fly out and a strikeout to lead off the inning. Daniel Nava would take a low breaking ball and golf a line drive into the seats in right field to give the Red Sox a 3-2 lead in the sixth. A Scott Podsednik single would keep the rally going and knock starter Jake Arrieta out of the game with a 5.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 2 K line. Off of new reliever Luis Ayala, Kelly Shoppach would hit the biggest blow of the inning as he knocked a two-run homer to dead left field to give the Red Sox a 5-2 lead late. Daniel Bard would start the sixth, but only pitch to a batter as he'd leave with a 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 2 K line. Andrew Miller came into the game and would allow his first runs of the year when Nick Johnson took him deep to right for his second home run of the game to make it 5-4. The Red Sox would get an insurance run in the eighth, however, when the light-hitting Scott Podsednik popped a homer to right-center to make it 6-4. The O's would score in the eighth as well, but still lose 6-5 as the Red Sox returned to .500.

Bright Spots:
Daniel Bard- 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 2 K, W (4-5)
Alfredo Aceves- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K, SV (11)
Kevin Youkilis- 2-3, 1 R, 1 BB
Will Middlebrooks- 2-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Daniel Nava- 2-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB
Scott Podsednik- 2-3, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Kelly Shoppach- 2-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Dull Spots:
Andrew Miller- 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 BB
Vicente Padilla- 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K
David Ortiz- 0-5, 1 K, 2 LOB

Player of the Game:
Kelly Shoppach- Shoppach played a good game today, not only calling a good game for Daniel Bard, but also going 2-3 with a two-run homer-- he is now .281/2/8 this year.

Papelbon, Hamels Shut Down Sox In Series Opener (18-21)

Bard settled down after a
rough first inning

Even though the Red Sox lost the series opener tonight, they played a good game and it was fun to watch. The Phillies got off to a very fast start, loading the bases on three walks with one out-- Bard showed some serious control issues again. Carlos Ruiz took a first pitch slider to right-center for a single that would score two runs and give the Phillies an early lead. A sacrifice fly for Ty Wigginton and an RBI double for John Mayberry Jr. would hand the Phillies a 4-0 lead after just one inning. The Red Sox slowly began to eat away at this lead-- starting in the third inning when Mike Aviles put a charge into a fastball down the middle and drove a home run down the third base line to cut it to 4-1. The Red Sox got into another position to score by putting runners at the corners with one out in the fourth-- a Cody Ross double and Will Middlebrooks single got them there. Daniel Nava hit a lazy fly ball into center field and right to Shane Victorino, but there was no play and a run scored to further cut the lead. But just when Daniel Bard had appeared to settle down, he got into some more issues.

Mike Aviles had a homer
and a double

With one out in the fifth, Hunter Pence absolutely crushed a ball into left field to give the Phillies a 5-2 lead on Pence's tenth homer of the year. The Red Sox quickly answered in the sixth, though, when Cody Ross crushed a homer around the pole in left field to cut it to a 5-3 Phillies lead. After the top of the sixth, Daniel Bard would be pulled from the game with a line of 5 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 BB, 3 K-- as Bard did not have his best stuff tonight. Matt Albers came into the game, and neither team scored for a couple innings with the score still at 5-3 heading into the eighth. With one out in the inning, Adrian Gonzalez took a low curve and pulled it into the seats to cut it to a 5-4 game with his third home run this season. The Phillies answered that run in the bottom of the inning when Freddy Galvis went yard off of Franklin Morales to make it 6-4. Jonathan Papelbon worked a scoreless ninth against his former team and the Phillies would take the opener 6-4.


Bright Spots:
Matt Albers- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Mike Aviles- 2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Adrian Gonzalez- 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Cody Ross- 2-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Dull Spots:
Daniel Bard- 5 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 BB, 3 K, L (3-5)
Franklin Morales- 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 K
Dustin Pedroia- 0-4, 1 K, 1 LOB
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 0-2, 1 K, 2 LOB
Nick Punto- 0-2, 2 K, 2 LOB

Player of the Game:
Cody Ross- Cody Ross just continued his tear tonight by going 2-3 with a double, two runs scored, and a home run to make him .271/8/28 this year.

Red Sox Mash Masterson, Wheeler In Rout (15-19)

Daniel Bard earned his
third win of the year

The Red Sox were looking for the series win over Cleveland when they took the field at 1:35 today, and they performed accordingly. After a scoreless top of the first-- the Sox got to work in the bottom half with a two out rally. After Ryan Sweeney and Dustin Pedroia grounded out to lead off the inning, a David Ortiz walk and Adrian Gonzalez double put them in good position to score. They would do so when Will Middlebrooks lined a ball into left to score a run. Another run would come home when Daniel Nava drove a double off the green monster to score a run and push it to 2-0. The Sox would take two more in the inning when Jarrod Saltalamacchia lined a ball into right field with the bases loaded to give the Sox a 4-0 lead in just the first inning. After another scoreless inning-- Daniel Bard got into a little jam in the third when he loaded the bases on two walks and a hit. He would walk Asdrubal Cabrera on four pitches to bring one run home before Travis Hafner grounded into an inning ending double play, and from that point on it was all Red Sox.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia had
five RBIs today

The Sox quickly answered for the Indians' run when Will Middlebrooks knocked a laser over the green monster. After a couple more scoreless innings, the Sox scored again in the sixth when Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a line drive just out of left fielder Johnny Damon's reach to make it 6-1. The sixth would also be Daniel Bard's last inning-- he finished at 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 2 K. Rich Hill worked a perfect seventh before the Sox really got off in the bottom half. Dustin Pedroia led off the inning with a double but was home  on a David Ortiz single before you could say "meaningless run!" Another run would come home on a wild pitch to make it 8-1 and put runners at the corners for Daniel Nava. Nava made good of the opportunity by driving them both in with a double deep off the monster to give the Sox a 10-1 lead. Jarrod Saltalamacchia came up after a Cody Ross groundout and promptly drove a homer to almost dead center to give the Sox a 12-1 lead. Those would be the last runs of a Mother's Day rout for the Red Sox.

Bright Spots:
Daniel Bard- 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 2 K, W (3-4)
Rich Hill- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
Matt Albers- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K
Scott Atchison- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K
David Ortiz- 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 RBI
Adrian Gonzalez- 2-4, 2 R, 2 2B
Will Middlebrooks- 2-3, 3 R, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 RBI
Daniel Nava- 2-2, 3 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 3-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 5 RBI

Dull Spots:
Cody Ross- 0-3, 1 K, 3 LOB
Mike Aviles- 0-4, 3 LOB

Player of the Game:
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- Salty had a fantastic game today, going 3-5 with a two-run homer to go with  two-run and one-run singles to help the Sox-- he is now .250/5/15.

Bard Falters In Eighth, Sox Fall (12-17)

Bard had some control
issues last night

Playing the Royals and coming off a commanding win, one would think that the momentum would be in the Red Sox' favor, but they faltered late. The Sox started off pretty well, putting runners on the corners with one out in the second inning. Kelly Shoppach singled softly into center field to score a run and make it 1-0. A walk to Mike Aviles would load the bases and another walk to Dustin Pedroia would score another run to make it 2-0. However, the Royals answered in the bottom half-- putting runners at the corners with one away, much like the Sox had done. Things unraveled for Daniel Bard with Chris Getz batting, however, as he balked twice, allowing a run to score and another runner to move up to third base still with one out. Chris Getz then singled into left to score the runner on third and tie the game at 2-2. After a wild pitch allowing Getz to move into scoring position, Humberto Quintero singled up the middle to make it a 3-2 Royals lead. The Sox tied the game again when Mike Aviles got a little two-out rally going by doubling and Dustin Pedroia kept things going with an RBI single to tie the game at 3-3.

Dustin Pedroia had a pair
of RBIs last night

With one out in the fifth, the Red Sox put runners at first and second, knocking Danny Duffy from the game with a line of 4.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 1 K. Ryan Sweeney proceeded to ground into what appeared to be a double play, but while turning it, Chris Getz made an errant throw, allowing a run to score and give the Sox a 4-3 lead. A pair of walks to start the eighth inning caused Daniel Bard to be removed from the game with a score of 7 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 BB, 1 K. Matt Albers came into the game and effectively blew it by allowing Billy Butler to take an inside two-seamer and crush it over the left field wall to score three runs and give the Royals a 6-4 lead. Albers allowed the next two batters to fly out before being removed in favor of Andrew Miller, who struck out Mike Moustakas to end the inning. The Red Sox couldn't handle Jonathan Broxton in the ninth and the game was over with a score of 6-4-- the Red Sox will go for the series win tonight.


Bright Spots:
Mike Aviles- 1-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 2B
Dustin Pedroia- 1-4, 1 BB, 2 RBI
Adrian Gonzalez- 2-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB
Marlon Byrd- 2-4, 1 R

Dull Spots:
Matt Albers- 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, BS (1)
Darnell McDonald- 0-2, 2 LOB
Ryan Sweeney- 0-2, 1 K, 1 LOB

Player of the Game:
Dustin Pedroia- Pedroia really helped the team tonight, only going 1-4, but walking once and driving in a pair of runs in a solid game for the second baseman.

Late Rallies Not Enough As Sox Drop Series (11-13)

Daniel Bard took the loss

For the first time in a pair of series, the Red Sox lost a series-- dropping this game and thus, the series, to the Oakland A's. Tonight was the major league debut of top prospect Will Middlebrooks and he first came up in the second inning-- walking on four pitches and stealing second base. There was no scoring for either team until the fourth inning. With one out, Yoenis Cespedes doubled into left-center and was promptly driven in by Seth Smith, who grounded a ball into right-center to make it 1-0 A's. Daniel Bard had been cruising along other than that fourth inning blemish, but in the sixth, things got much worse. With one out and a man on first for the A's, Seth Smith doubled to left on a ball that Cody Ross overran to make it 2-0. Kila Ka'aihue doubled down the first base line to score another run and then Brandon Inge doubled off the monster to make it 4-0 in the fourth, Inge would be Bard's last batter.

Will Middlebrooks made his
major league debut

Bard was taken out after recording one out in the sixth with a final line of 5.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 1 K before being pulled for Matt Albers. Albers recorded the final two outs of the sixth, and then his night was done as well. Newly recalled Clayton Mortensen entered the game for the seventh and threw a scoreless inning before the Sox got on the board in the bottom of the seventh. The Sox put runners on second and third to start the inning on a walk to Jarrod Saltalamacchia and a double for Will Middlebrooks. Marlon Byrd knocked a sacrifice fly to bring in Salty and make it a three-run game at 4-1. Mike Aviles got out before Ryan Sweeney and Dustin Pedroia walked to load the bases, bringing Adrian Gonzalez to the plate-- who struck out to end the inning. Dustin Pedroia knocked in another run with an RBI double in the ninth to make it 4-2, again leaving Adrian Gonzalez with the clutch hitting-- this time, Gonzalez grounded out. A lack of clutch hitting and one bad inning spoiled Will Middlebrooks' debut.

Bright Spots:
Clayton Mortensen- 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 6 K
Ryan Sweeney- 1-3, 1 2B, 1 BB
Dustin Pedroia- 1-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB
David Ortiz- 2-4, 2 2B
Will Middlebrooks- 2-3, 2B, 1 BB, 1 SB

Dull Spots:
Adrian Gonzalez- 0-4, 1 BB, 2 K, 4 LOB
Cody Ross- 0-4, 1 K, 2 LOB

Player of the Game:
Will Middlebrooks- Yes, I'm a little bit biased since it was his debut, but he played a really good game-- going 2-3 with a double, a walk, and even stealing a base.

Weekly News

Just after a dreadful week where the Sox went 0-5, they completely turned it around with a great 6-1 week. They reached .500 but in the loss today fell back to 10-11 on the season. David Ortiz, for the third time this season, is our Player of the Week after batting .320/2/6 to keep his torrid start to the season going at .400/4/18. However, the Pitcher of the Week Award has been less consistent with a different pitcher winning every week and that has kept up this week with Daniel Bard-- who was 2-0/3.83/6 and now is 2-2/3.72/19 on the season. In a week of offense for Boston, the Performance of the Week was tough to pick, but I had to go with Mike Aviles on Tuesday's 11-2 win over Minnesota. Aviles went 4-5 with three runs, two RBIs, two doubles, and a home run. Finally, the Game of the Week was Monday's 6-5 win over the Twins. The Sox took an early lead before giving it up and coming back to win, due in no small part to a pair of homers by Cody Ross. Next week's schedule looks fairly tame for the Red Sox with a three game series against Oakland and a three game series against Baltimore-- both at home.

Late Rallies Extend Winning Streak To Five (9-10)

Daniel Bard pitched well
in his first win as a starter

Unlike the previous five games, the Red Sox did not start off quite as strong-- but they came on late and that's when it really counts. With runners at first and second, two outs, and two strikes in the first, A.J. Pierzynski doubled off the wall in left to drive in a run. However, the Red Sox got those runs back in the second when David Ortiz crushed a two-run homer (his fourth of the year) on an inside fastball to make it 2-1. The game got all knotted up again in the third when Kelly Shoppach allowed a weird passed ball on a high fastball that he should have definitely caught. The White Sox took another lead in the fifth when Paul Konerko crushed a home run into deep left. But that's just when things got going strong for the Red Sox. The Sox loaded the bases on a pair of walks (Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Youkilis) and a single (David Ortiz) with just one out. With two strikes and a low fastball, Cody Ross turned on it and sent a line drive through the infield gap to the left. Gonzalez would score and tie the game up at 3-3, but that wasn't all for the Sox.

Darnell McDonald had 4 RBIs

Kelly Shoppach struck out swinging to make it two outs, but Darnell McDonald would deliver. On a first pitch fastball, he drove a line drive right down the third base line. Two runs scored easily and Ross just made it around on a close play as a three-run double from one of the least likely suspects had given the Red Sox a 6-3 lead. From there they didn't really look back as Marlon Byrd made it 7-3 with a little blooper into left-center. The Red Sox scored two more runs in the seventh inning on RBI singles by Cody Ross and Kelly Shoppach to make it 9-3. The seventh inning was also Daniel Bard's last-- as he really settled down to throw a great ball game with 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K and winning the game to become 2-2/3.72/19 on the year. The Red Sox would take another in the ninth inning when Darnell McDonald homered to make it a 10-3 win for Boston.

Bright Spots:
Daniel Bard- 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, W (2-2)
Matt Albers- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K
Dustin Pedroia- 2-4, 1 R, 1 BB
Adrian Gonzalez- 1-3, 2 R, 2 BB
David Ortiz- 2-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Cody Ross- 2-5, 1 R, 2 RBI
Darnell McDonald- 2-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI
Marlon Byrd- 2-5, 1 RBI

Dull Spots:
Nobody

Player of the Game:
Darnell McDonald- McDonald really turned it on in the late innings with the go ahead three-run double in the sixth and a solo homer in the ninth-- he is now .147/1/6.

Red Sox Can't Back Bard In Series Finale (4-6)

Daniel Bard impressed today

Even if the Red Sox could not get the sweep today, I will take a 3-1 series against the Rays anytime of the year. Plus, there was a lot to like about yesterday's game. It was Daniel Bard's second career start and for the most part, he impressed. One could even say that he was spectacular until the seventh inning where things got a bit rough for Bard and the Red Sox. He loaded the bases for the Rays with two walks and a single before walking a run over the plate-- his final pitch. His final line was 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 7 BB, 7 K. The obvious problem here is those seven walks in just six and a third innings-- however, it's not to worry. In his last start (where he was much worse, mind you), he only walked one in five innings so hopefully this was a one time occurrence. However, it was not Bard's fault that the Red Sox lost this game. The Red Sox picked up no runs and only four hits in the 1-0 loss to Tampa.

Bright Spots:
Daniel Bard- 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 7 BB, 7 K
Cody Ross- 2-4

Dull Spots:
Mike Aviles- 0-4, 1 K
Ryan Sweeney- 0-3, 1 K, 2 LOB
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 0-3, 1 LOB
Darnell McDonald- 0-3

Player of the Game:
Daniel Bard- Even though Bard had some obvious control problems in the later innings which seem to dominate his line, he really pitched well against the Rays today.

Bard Gets Unlucky In First Major League Start (1-4)

Bard made his first start

The Red Sox are currently one rotation through the season and five games in-- yet things are not quite picking up for them. Daniel Bard was making his first major league start after acting as the setup man for the Red Sox for three seasons. He got off to a slow start, allowing one run in the first on three ground ball hits for the Jays. After a bloop single and a ground ball single to lead off the inning, Adam Lind drove in a run with one of very few solid hits for the Blue Jays-- a liner up the middle. Later in the inning, they scored another run on... you guessed it... another ground ball hit to make it 3-0 Blue Jays. Bard pitched pretty well for the rest of his night-- he retired seven straight from the third to the fifth innings. In the top of the sixth, the Red Sox finally got on the board off Kyle Drabek-- 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 4 K-- with a sacrifice fly by Adrian Gonzalez. However, they stranded a good scoring opportunity when Kevin Youkilis grounded into a double play to end the inning.

He was not too impressive

Daniel Bard stayed on the mound for the sixth inning and promptly allowed runners onto first and third with nobody out. Bobby Valentine made the call to the 'pen and Justin Thomas entered the ballgame. He was a disaster, walking Eric Thames to load the bases and allowing a two-run single to J.P. Arencibia and a sacrifice fly for Colby Rasmus to give the Jays a 6-1 lead. However, he did pitch a scoreless sixth to somewhat salvage himself. Michael Bowden entered the game in the seventh and allowed a homer to Edwin Encarnacion to make the lead 7-1. An optimistic fan might have thought the Red Sox had a chance when they loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth. However, an Adrian Gonzalez ground-rule double on a line down the right field line to score two would be all the Sox got in a 7-3 loss to Toronto.



Bright Spots:
Dustin Pedroia- 3-5
Adrian Gonzalez- 1-4, 3 RBIs, 1 sacrifice fly
Kevin Youkilis- 2-4, 1 double

Dull Spots:
Justin Thomas- 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, also allowed two inherited runners to score
David Ortiz- 0-4, 1 BB, 2 K, 3 LOB
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 0-3, 1 BB, 2 K, 3 LOB

Player of the Game:
Adrian Gonzalez- In a bleak day for the Red Sox, he knocked in all of the runs in key situations with three RBIs in the game.

Bard's, Red Sox' Struggles Continue Against Jays (10-10)

Bard allowed five runs in six innings

The Red Sox' woes continue as they have now lost six of their last eight games-- dropping from 9-4 to 10-10 this spring. The Sox got going very fast in this game; Mike Aviles led off the first with a double and Jacoby Ellsbury followed him up with a triple down the first base line. Adrian Gonzalez hit a high fly ball to center fielder Colby Rasmus which would wind up as a sacrifice fly to give the Sox a 2-0 lead. They scored again in the second when Nate Spears scored on a double off the wall by Mike Aviles. However, Daniel Bard allowed the Blue Jays to tie the game-- allowing single runs in the second, third, and fourth innings. A two-run triple by Darnell McDonald would give the Sox a 5-3 lead in the fifth inning but that would be all the Red Sox scoring for the day. Two runs in the sixth inning concluded Daniel Bard's day-- he got a no decision after allowing five runs in six innings. Red Sox pitching was pretty good for the most part after Bard's departure-- Scott Atchison, Andrew Bailey, and Justin Thomas each threw scoreless innings. However, in the bottom of the tenth, Doug Mathis was not so lucky-- loaded the bases and allowing the winning run to pass on a walk-off single by Ricardo Nanita. He would end up with 0 innings pitched and the loss.

Bright Spots:
Scott Atchison- 1 inning, no runs, no hits
Andrew Bailey- 1 inning, no runs, 1 hit, 1 strikeout
Justin Thomas- 1 inning, no runs, no hits, 2 strikeouts
Mike Aviles- 3-4, 2 runs, 2 doubles, 1 RBI
Jacoby Ellsbury- 1-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 triple
Adrian Gonzalez- 1-2, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 sac fly
Darnell McDonald- 1-3, 1 triple, 2 RBIs
Ryan Lavarnway- 3-5, 1 double
Nate Spears- 2-4, 1 run

Dull Spots:
Daniel Bard- 6 innings, 5 runs, 6 hits, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts
Doug Mathis- 0+ innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 2 walks
Jackie Bradley- 0-2, 2 strikeouts
Lars Anderson- 0-2, 2 strikeouts
Felix Sanchez- 0-2, 1 strikeout
Kelly Shoppach- 0-2
Josh Kroeger- 0-2, 1 left on base
Jonathan Hee- 0-4, 7 left on base

Bad PItching Sinks Sox In Loss To Jays (9-6)

This was a tough game for the Blue Jays as they scored early and often in a decisive win over the Red Sox. After the Blue Jays loaded the bases in the second inning, Travis Snider hit a hard liner down the third base line for a two-run double and David Cooper hit a sacrifice fly as the Jays took a 3-0 lead. The Sox fought back in the bottom of the second, though-- after Mike Aviles doubled with two outs, Kelly Shoppach hit a two-run bomb to left center to cut it to a 3-2 lead. Bard held them for the next few innings-- in the end he allowed three runs on three hits and three walks in five innings. However, Jesse Carlson and Michael Bowden were not so lucky as the Blue Jays put up two runs after a little rally in the sixth inning. Andrew Miller threw three pitches before calling to the dugout to be taken out because he hurt his left leg. Doug Mathis pitched a solid seventh before getting knocked around in the eighth-- he wound up with 1.1 innings, 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout. Matt Albers wasn't a whole lot better as the Jays scored twice more in the ninth-- he wound up with 1.2 innings, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts. All this added up to a decisive 9-2 win for the Blue Jays.

Bright Spots:
Mike Aviles- 2-3, 1 run, 1 double
Kelly Shoppach- 1-2, 1 run, 2 RBIs, 1 home run

Dull Spots:
Daniel Bard- 5 innings, 3 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts
Michael Bowden- 1 inning, 3 hits, 1 run,
Doug Mathis- 1.1 innings, 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Matt Albers- 1.2 innings, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
Nick Punto- 0-3, 1 strikeout
David Ortiz- 0-3, 2 left on base
Cody Ross- 0-3
Ryan Sweeney- 0-3, 2 strikeouts
Nate Spears- 0-2

Red Sox Shutout Rays For Fourth Win (4-2)

Bard made his second start

Last night was a solid game as the Red Sox were able to put a convincing win on one of their hated rivals: the Rays. After a scoreless top half, the Red Sox put runners at the corners with no outs and after a Jacoby Ellsbury strikeout, they loaded them up. Wade Davis kept struggling with his control, however, walking the run in to give the Sox a one run lead. In the bottom of the 2nd, Darnell McDonald led off the inning with a double down the line. A sacrifice fly and a walk to Alex Hassan would put runners at the corners with one out and after Hassan stole second, they had runners in scoring position. That's when Jose Iglesias hit a seemingly harmless fly ball to center on a bizarre play. B.J. Upton ran over to get it as usual, but he just flat missed it-- Iglesias was able to get to third and two runs scored, but it was called an error on Upton. Then another bizarre play occurred, as Iglesias was caught stealing home to end the inning. In the 3rd, a one out double for Adrian Gonzalez put a runner at second, and a two out double to right for Kevin Youkilis drove him in to give the Sox a 4-0 lead. All the while, Daniel Bard had been pretty good in his second start of the spring-- he picked up the win with 3 innings, 2 hits, no runs, 2 walks, 1 strikeout. After Bard was done, Alfredo Aceves was pretty good-- 3 innings, 2 hits, no runs or walks, 2 strikeouts, and through Aceves' pitching the Sox offense stood pat. In the 7th, Matt Albers was able to get out of a spot of trouble, he allowed a walk and a hit in his one inning. Junichi Tazawa had a similar situation in the 8th, tossing a shutout inning, but walking two in the process. In the 8th, the Sox' offense came back to life. Will Middlebrooks doubled with one out, and then with two outs, Josh Kroeger lifted a liner into right field which ended up as an RBI ground-rule double. Clayton Mortensen closed out the win by going 1 inning, 2 hits, no runs, 1 walk in an eventual 5-0 victory.

Bright Spots:
Alfredo Aceves- 3 innings, 2 hits, no runs, 2 strikeouts
Nick Punto- 1-2, 1 run, 1 walk
Josh Kroeger- 1-1, 1 RBI, 1 double
Will Middlebrooks- 1-2, 1 double, 1 run
Darnell McDonald- 1-2, 1 double, 1 run
Kevin Youkilis- 1-2, 1 RBI, 1 double

Dull Spots:
Jacoby Ellsbury- 0-3, 1 strikeout, 2 left on base
Ryan Lavarnway- 0-2, 2 strikeouts, 1 left on base
Jason Repko- 0-2, 1 strikeout, 1 left on base

Sox Ride Strong Pitching To Third Win (3-0)

Bard threw 2 scoreless innings

Today, the Red Sox continued their winning ways against the Orioles with yet another solid win. The Red Sox got going quick out of the gate when a Jacoby Ellsbury double and Dustin Pedroia single put them at the corners with none out in the first inning. However, only one run came out of it-- a sacrifice fly by Ryan Lavarnway. In his first two innings of the spring, Daniel Bard (right) was very strong: 2 innings, no runs or hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts. The Red Sox had their biggest inning in the 3rd, when they put runners at the corners with one out. Adrian Gonzalez proceeded to hit a wall ball double off the monster to score one and a Ryan Lavarnway single scored another. The lead became 4-0 when Cody Ross hammered one high off the monster to score Gonzalez. All the while, Alfredo Aceves was brilliant-- tossing two perfect innings and striking out two. However, the problems came when Alex Wilson came in to pitch-- in 1+ innings, he allowed 4 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks. However, a 2-out RBI double off the monster by Pedro Ciriaco netted the Sox the victory. Clayton Mortensen was fantastic, throwing 2.1 strong innings and striking out four with just a hit allowed while Michael Bowden was also very good-- he threw 1.2 perfect innings while striking out one.

Bright Spots:
Daniel Bard- 2 innings, no runs or hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts
Alfredo Aceves- 2 innings, no runs, hits, or walks and 2 strikeouts
Clayton Mortensen- 2.1 innings, no runs, 1 hit, 4 strikeouts
Michael Bowden- 1.2 innings, no runs, hits, or walks and a strikeout
Jacoby Ellsbury- 1-2, 1 run, 1 double
Dustin Pedroia- 1-2, 1 run, 1 walk
Pedro Ciriaco- 1-1, 1 RBI, 1 double
Adrian Gonzalez- 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 double, 1 run
Ryan Lavarnway- 1-1, 2 RBI
Cody Ross- 1-2, 1 RBI, 1 double

Dull Spots:
Alex Wilson- 1+ innings, 4 runs, 5 hits, 2 walks
Luis Exposito- 0-2, 1 strikeout, 1 left on base
Jason Repko- 0-2, 1 strikeout
Alex Hassan- 0-3, 1 strikeout
Will Middlebrooks- 0-2

Red Sox Avoid Arbitration With Daniel Bard

Just recently after trading Marco Scutaro to Colorado, Ben Cherington jumped right back into action, agreeing to a contract with Daniel Bard. The deal will be worth $1.6125 million over a year. Bard had his worst year as a major league pitcher, going a very good 2-9/3.33/74. However, Bard, who has been the Red Sox' set-up man the past two seasons is expected to move into the rotation in spring. During spring training, Ben Cherington has said the Sox expect to stretch Bard out to join a potentially very good rotation. They have a very strong front three of Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, and Clay Buchholz and they have "intensified their interest" in Roy Oswalt after trading Scutaro. Bard was a starter in college and for a year in the minors (2007) when he went 3-5/6.42/38 for the Greenville Drive. The Sox then transferred him to a reliever and the rest is history. Hopefully, Bard works out as a starter and the Red Sox develop a strong pitching rotation.

Bard To Stretch Out As Starter In Spring Training

Yesterday, Ben Cherington confirmed that the Red Sox were going to test Daniel Bard out as a starter come 2012. Daniel Bard was a starter at UNC and the Red Sox used him as a starter in their minor league system. In 2007 as a starter in A league, he went 3-5/6.42/38 in 17 starts and 61 2/3 innings. In 2007, in A+ league, Bard was worse, going 0-2/10.13/9 in 5 starts and 13 1/3 innings. When the 2008 season started, the Red Sox turned Bard into a reliever, where he has been very successful. In three seasons as a reliever in the major leagues, Bard has been stellar at 5-13/2.88/213 in 197 innings. I'm not sure if I like this move, as he was bad at starting even in the very low-level minors. What will that translate to in the majors? I would prefer if the Red Sox stuck Bard as their closer and tried to acquire two starters through trades and free agency. After all, there are more starters on the market than there are closers.

Red Sox Blow Late Lead, Head Back Home (90-72)

This was probably the most important regular season game that I have ever watched- and we lost. The Red Sox took a lead in the 3rd as Dustin Pedroia singled in Mike Aviles to make it 1-0. In the bottom of the 3rd, however, the Red Sox fell behind again as J.J. Hardy crushed a 2-run homer to left to make it 2-1. With Marco Scutaro at 3rd and 2 outs in the 4th inning, he came in as Alfredo Simon balked to tie it up at 2-2. However, Dustin Pedroia gave the Sox a lead in the 5th with a homer to left to make it 3-2. They held that lead until Jonathan Papelbon came in. In the bottom of the 9th, an RBI double tied it and a walk-off single by Nolan Reimold would make it 4-3, and the Orioles won. The Rays beat the Yankees, coming back from a 7-0 deficit to head into the Playoffs.
       I have nothing on Jon Lester, he pitched well, allowing 2 runs in 6 innings. He finished 2011 with respectable 15-9/3.47/182 stats. He was relieved with Alfredo Aceves and Daniel Bard with a scoreless inning each. However, Jonathan Papelbon allowed 2 runs in 2/3 of an inning. Dustin Pedroia (left), offensively, was the bright spot for the Red Sox as we went 3-4 with a solo home run as well as an RBI single, as he finished 2011 at .307/21/91, as he had a great season. David Ortiz went 2-4 in a good day. Marco Scutaro went 2-4 and scored a run in a good day for him. There is gonna be no pitching matchup tomorrow, or even Friday. However, there's always next year. The Yearly News is coming out later.

Bright Spots:
Jon Lester- 2 runs in 6 innings
Alfredo Aceves- a scoreless inning
Daniel Bard- a scoreless inning
Dustin Pedroia- 3-4 with a run and 2 RBIs, including a solo shot
David Ortiz- 2-4
Marco Scutaro- 2-4 with a run scored

Dull Spots:
Jonathan Papelbon- 2 runs in 2/3 of an inning
Ryan Lavarnway- 0-5 with a strikeout and 9 LOB

This was a tough game for the Sox, but there's always next year.