Red Sox Rally, Play Spoiler On Rays (67-81)

Cook got his fourth win of the year

This was a really great game for the Red Sox-- it displayed a number of things we haven't seen lately. First and foremost, a win, but also a pitching game-- things we haven't seen recently apart from the Blue Jays series. On that note, pitching was very prominent in this game as Alex Cobb (8-9, 4.26) and Aaron Cook (3-10, 5.18) practically matched each other pitch for pitch for the first few innings. It wasn't until the bottom of the fifth that the Rays finally got something going off Cook. The Rays started things off with a Luke Scott single, Jeff Keppinger lineout, and Carlos Pena single to put runners at the corners with one out. The Rays took the first run on a safety squeeze by Ryan Roberts, just scoring Scott fr, third. However, it didn't take the Red Sox long to catch up at all. With two outs and Jose Iglesias on third base, all Jacoby Ellsbury needed was a base hit. However, he got much more than that when he sent a line drive over the wall in right-center to make it 2-1.

Ellsbury had a tie breaking home run

Things got going faster for the Red Sox in the seventh inning. On a single, walk, and failed force attempt they were able to load the bases with no outs. Two runs came in when Mauro Gomez lined a ball over the third baseman's head and into left field for a two-run, pinch-hit single. On a sacrifice bunt and intentional walk, the Red Sox managed to load the bases again-- this time with one out. It was Ellsbury again here as the center fielder drilled a single to score another run and give the Red Sox a 5-1 lead. The Red Sox held that lead for a few innings, but the Rays cut it into it a little in the ninth inning. Mark Melancon came in to pitch and promptly allowed a leadoff single to B.J. Upton. Upton stole second and got to third on a wild pitch, eventually scoring on a Ben Zobrist groundout. However, that would be it as the Red Sox closed down a 5-2 win.

Bright Spots:
Aaron Cook- 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, W (4-10)
Rich Hill- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
Junichi Tazawa- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
Jacoby Ellsbury- 3-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI
James Loney- 2-4, 1 R
Mauro Gomez- 1-1, 2 RBI

Dull Spots:
Mark Melancon- 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 K
Cody Ross- 0-4, 1 K, 4 LOB
Ryan Lavarnway- 0-4, 1 R, 2 K, 4 LOB
Scott Podsednik- 0-2, 1 K

Player of the Game:
Jacoby Ellsbury- Ellsbury had the key hit and then some, going 3-5 with a home run and 3 RBIs as he led the Sox to victory-- he is now .273/4/23.

Weekly News

At this point of the season, this was a strangely good week for the Red Sox as we saw them go 3-3-- losing a series to the Yankees before winning one in Toronto. For the first time this year, 2011 Player of the Year Jacoby Ellsbury has won the Player of the Week after batting .360/0/2 this past week. Last year's MVP runner-up is now batting .267/3/20 in this injury-riddled season. For his team leading ninth time of the year, the Pitcher of the Week is Clay Buchholz. In his win yesterday, Buchholz allowed one earned run in the seven innings and is now 11-6, 4.33 this season. The Performance of the Week goes to Mauro Gomez. In Friday's win in Toronto, Gomez went 2-4 with three runs scored and a two-run, go ahead triple. Finally, the Game of the Week was Tuesday's 4-3 walk off win against the Yankees, exemplifying the perfect win basically. Next week, the Red Sox will go to Tampa Bay for four games and face the Orioles at home for three.

Red Sox Win Tight One In Toronto (65-80)

Matsuzaka was roughed up as usual

Last night was a surprisingly good game for the Red Sox as they won a fairly exciting game in Toronto. This game started off like a pitching duel as neither team scored until the bottom of the third when the Blue Jays broke out. Daisuke Matsuzaka loaded the bases entirely on his own accord on a hit by pitch and two walks, with one out. The first run scored, also on Dice-K's own accord, on a wild pitch while Brett Lawrie was batting. Lawrie would wind up walking on another wild pitch for Dice-K to make it 2-0 with the Blue Jays' bats not even coming off of their shoulders. The final run of the inning came on a groundout by Adam Lind. That was bad, but the Red Sox struck back in the top of the fourth. A Cody Ross walk and Mauro Gomez put runners at first and second to start things off. Ryan Lavarnway did the damage by raking a line drive just over the wall in left field to make it 3-3.

Gomez's go ahead triple was the key hit

The Red Sox just kept rolling along in the fifth inning as well. With two outs in the inning, the Red Sox loaded the bases on a single, walk, and a fielder's choice. Two runs came in on an RBI single to right for Daniel Nava, giving the Red Sox a 5-3 lead. It stayed there until the bottom of the sixth when Adam Lind's one out triple put a good chance to score up. That score happened on an RBI single by Yunel Escobar to cut it to a 5-4 lead. The Jays kept eating into that lead as a leadoff single in the eighth by Colby Rasmus set up a key hit. That key hit was Brett Lawrie's game tying RBI triple. However, the Red Sox would have their key strike in the ninth inning, as a couple of singles and a fly out put runners at first and second and one out. It would be Mauro Gomez with the key hit, as he tripled into the gap in right-center past a diving Anthony Gose. That scored two runs, and a third came in on a Ryan Lavarnway sac fly as the Red Sox wrapped up a win.

Bright Spots:
Junichi Tazawa- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
Andrew Bailey- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K
Jacoby Ellsbury- 2-5, 1 R
Cody Ross- 1-4, 2 R
Mauro Gomez- 2-4, 3 R, 1 3B, 2 RBI
Ryan Lavarnway- 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI
Daniel Nava- 2-5, 2 RBI

Dull Spots:
Daisuke Matsuzaka- 5.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 5 K
Vicente Padilla- 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R
James Loney- 0-4, 1 K, 3 LOB

Player of the Game:
Mauro Gomez- Not only did Gomez have the key hit, a two run triple, but he also went 2-4 and scored three runs-- he is now .297/2/14.

Too Little, Too Late For Sox In Tight Loss (63-76)

Doubront was rocked last night

This game looked like just another blowout initially, but the Red Sox came back to make it even more of a disappointment for the Sox. The Blue Jays got going early when Brett Lawrie doubled to lead off the game. After getting to third on a ground out, he scored on a sac fly for Edwin Encarnacion. After a scoreless second, they got another run in the third on a homer for Encarnacion-- the 38th big fly of his great season. The Jays just kept rolling right along in the fourth inning, starting with a two out walk to Kelly Johnson. They got two runs when rookie Moises Sierra nailed a long ball over the green monster to make it 4-0. The fifth started off the same way as Colby Rasmus tripled to start things. Clayton Mortensen entered the game, but couldn't stop the Jays from scoring on  Yunel Escobar single to make it 5-0.

Pedroia had a home run and 2 RBIs

That was when things sort of began to turn for the Red Sox, as two one out singles netted them runners at the corners. They scored a run when Dustin Pedroia grounded into a force out, but ultimately squandered a rally. The Red Sox kept going in the seventh and a Pedro Ciriaco walk plus a steal of second, would set up an RBI single for Mauro Gomez to make it 5-2. The Red Sox started off the eighth with a shot to left for Dustin Pedroia-- his 13th home run of the year to cut it to 5-3. However, the Jays would get those runs back in the top of the ninth after a leadoff walk to Moises Sierra. Sierra would score when Colby Rasmus homered to make it 7-3. The Red Sox got a couple of those runs back in the bottom of the ninth on a two run homer for Mauro Gomez to cut it to 7-5, but it wasn't enough.

Bright Spots:
Clayton Mortensen- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 K
Chris Carpenter- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K
Rich Hill- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R
Daniel Bard- 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K

Scott Podsednik- 2-5
Dustin Pedroia- 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Mauro Gomez- 2-2, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI



Dull Spots:
Felix Doubront- 4 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 4 K, L (10-8)

Jacoby Ellsbury- 0-4, 2 K, 3 LOB

James Loney- 0-4, 2 LOB

Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 0-4, 1 LOB

Player of the Game:
Mauro Gomez- After coming in to pinch hit, Gomez led the show in going 2-2 with a two run homer and RBI single-- he is now .302/2/11.

Stewart Roughed Up In Red Sox Debut As Angels Rout (62-69)

Stewart made his Red Sox debut

The Red Sox just can't seem to beat the Angels as they are now 0-5 including last night's game and are 0-2 in extra inning games! This game started off predictably as the Angels really got to Zach Stewart in the first inning. Mike Trout led off the game with a single and then almost immediately scored on an RBI double by Torii Hunter. Albert Pujols drove Hunter in with an RBI single up the middle to make it 2-0 after the first two batters. The Angels would tack on two more runs in the inning when Kendrys Morales came up and crushed a hanging curveball to right for a long home run to make it 4-0. Stewart got the next three hitters, but the damage was done as we entered the second inning. After putting runners on second and third with no outs, Scott Podsednik got one run back on a sacrifice fly.

After a leadoff double in the second, the Angels got that run back when Torii Hunter singled to center and made it 5-1. The Angels kept right on rolling after a leadoff double in the third. The next two batters got out, but back-to-back doubles for Alberto Callaspo and Erick Aybar made it 7-1. That was when Chris Iannetta knocked on out of the park on a liner to left-center. That third would be Stewart's last inning as he was taken out with a line of 3 IP, 10 H, 9 R, 2 K. After a rare scoreless inning, the Red Sox started off the fifth right-- putting runners at the corners with one out. Jacoby Ellsbury stole second and Iannetta made an errant throw, causing Scott Podsednik to score from third. Ellsbury scored next as Dustin Pedroia singled him in to make it 9-3. The Angels got a run back in the fifth but the damage was done.

Bright Spots:
Dustin Pedroia- 1-3, 1 BB, 1 RBI
Mauro Gomez- 3-4, 1 R
Scott Podsednik- 2-3, 1 R, 1 RBI

Dull Spots:
Zach Stewart- 3 IP, 10 H, 9 R, 2 K, L (1-3)
Jose Iglesias- 0-4, 2 K, 6 LOB

Player of the Game:
Mauro Gomez- Gomez's 3-4 night really showed that the youngster may be ready to fully take over the first base job-- he is now .327/1/6.

Cook, Gomez Shine But Sox Fall Blow Huge Lead (60-67)

Gomez went 4-6 with 3 RBIs

Last night was just another episode in the disappointment that is the 2012 season as they blew a huge lead to fall in extras in one of the worst teams in baseball. The Royals started off hot, beginning the game with four consecutive hits. Two runs came in on Alex Gordon's double off the wall and Gordon scored on Billy Butler soft shot to right to make it 3-0 very early on. Cook held the Royals quiet in the bottom of the second and that was when the Red Sox got to work, starting with a one out solo blast to left for Mauro Gomez-- his first major league home run to cut it to 3-1. After that, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ryan Lavarnway each singled then promptly scored when Mike Aviles put one just over the green monster for a three-run homer to give the Red Sox a 4-3 lead. However, the Red Sox were far from done as they loaded the bases with no outs in the third. They scored three-- two on an error by Jeremy Guthrie and one on a sacrifice fly by Jarrod Saltalamacchia to make it 7-3.

Ross had an RBI single

The Red Sox still weren't done though as they put runners at the corners and two outs in the fourth inning. They wound up scoring two runs on RBI singles by Cody Ross and Mauro Gomez to give them a commanding 9-3 lead. Aaron Cook held it there for the next few innings, but when he turned it to the bullpen for the seventh, things got ugly. The Royals loaded the bases on a hit and two walks with one out off Andrew Miller. Miller allowed two to score on an RBI single by Alex Gordon before being pulled for Mark Melancon. Melancon allowed two more runs to come in on a double by Billy Butler and a single for Salvador Perez. Finally, Craig Breslow came in and allowed the inevitable game tying two-run triple that make it 9-9. It stayed there all the way until the twelfth inning when the Royals took a run on an RBI single for Tony Abreu and that was basically it.

Bright Spots:
Aaron Cook- 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 BB
Craig Breslow- 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, K
Andrew Bailey- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R
Vicente Padilla- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Scott Podsednik- 2-6
Jacoby Ellsbury- 2-5, 2 R, 1 2B
Cody Ross- 3-5, 1 R, 1 RBI
Mauro Gomez- 4-6, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 2-5, 1 R, 1 RBI
Ryan Lavarnway- 2-4, 1 R, 1 BB
Mike Aviles- 2-6, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Pedro Ciriaco- 2-5, 1 R

Dull Spots:
Andrew Miller- 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 1 K
Mark Melancon- 0.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R

Player of the Game:
Mauro Gomez- In his first game filling in for the traded Gonzalez, Gomez was fantastic-- driving in three and hitting his first MLB home run in a 4-6 day-- he is now .318/1/6.

Losing Streak Extends To Three Against Pirates (9-7)

Lester was shaken up today

Jarrod Saltamacchia had a homer

Today was a tough one as the Sox dropped a close roller coaster game to the Pirates. The Sox got a little rally going in the second inning when Jarrod Saltalamacchia doubled to left-center to start things. After a flyout by Ryan Lavarnway, Josh Kroeger lined an RBI single into right field to give the Sox a 1-0 lead. The Pirates tied it up and then took the lead in a big four-run third inning. Lester was taken out as his final line was a bit shaky at 3 innings, 8 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, 1 strikeout. However, the Sox cut it close in the fourth when, after a leadoff double by Adrian Gonzalez, Jarrod Saltalamacchia went the other way with a homer to make it a 4-3 game. They proceeded to tie it up in the fifth when the Sox got a two-out rally going, culminating in an RBI double by Adrian Gonzalez. All the while, Junichi Tazawa had pitched very well in relief-- he allowed just a hit and struck out two in three innings of work. A two-out homer by Mauro Gomez netted the Sox a 5-4 lead in the seventh inning. However, the Pirates scored two in the bottom half off Andrew Bailey to give them a 6-5 lead and eventually the win. Neither team scored again as Franklin Morales closed out the loss with a scoreless inning.

Bright Spots:
Junichi Tazawa- 3 innings, 1 hit, no runs, 1 strikeout
Franklin Morales- 1 inning, no runs or hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Adrian Gonzalez- 2-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 double
Mauro Gomez- 1-2, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 home run
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 2-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, 1 double, 1 home run
Josh Kroeger- 1-2, 1 RBI
Jason Repko- 1-2, 1 walk

Dull Spots:
Jon Lester- 3 innings, 8 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, 1 strikeout
Andrew Bailey- 1 inning, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 strikeouts
Pedro Ciriaco- 0-4, 2 left on base
Alex Hassan- 0-2, 1 strikeout, 2 left on base
Lars Anderson- 0-2, 1 strikeout, 3 left on base