[MLB]Boston Red Sox Thread

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 1 v Rockies

Due to various commitments, I missed us losing 5-1 to the DBacks, but I'm back in time to look at game 1 from this series at home to Colorado.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2007/06/12/miffuDla.jpg

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

BOSTON (AP) -- Facing a pitcher for the first time is always challenging. Batting against an unfamiliar knuckleballer in interleague play?

"It's crazy, bro," Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz said after watching Tim Wakefield shut down the Colorado Rockies and lead Boston to a 2-1 victory on Tuesday night. "It's tough."

Wakefield (6-7) allowed four hits in a season-high eight innings, and Ortiz went 3-for-3 with a double that helped break an eighth-inning tie to give Boston its fourth victory in five games. The 40-year-old knuckleballer struck out three and walked one to win for just the second time in six starts.

"The good thing for us is, we've only got to face him once this year," right fielder Brad Hawpe said. "The thing that's so tough is, he's throwing strikes. And it moves three different directions on its way there."

The only batter in the Rockies lineup who had faced Wakefield before was Todd Helton. He was 0-for-1 during the last Red Sox-Rockies interleague series, in 2002.

"I think that's what we're hoping [when] you go up against guys you haven't faced," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "But he still threw the ball. On a night like tonight, I don't care how many times you've faced him. He was very good."

Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth, striking out two, for his 15th save.

"He was commanding," Francona said. "And I don't think following Wake hurt, either."

Aaron Cook (4-3) allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out four in 7 1/3 innings, as the Rockies failed to return to .500 for the first time since April 13.

Cook held Boston to just one run before Dustin Pedroia singled to lead off the eighth. Kevin Youkilis was out on a long fly to center, then Jeremy Affeldt gave up a double to Ortiz; pinch-runner Alex Cora was held up at third base.

Manny Ramirez was intentionally walked, then J.D. Drew hit a sacrifice fly to center to give Boston the lead.

"I was in a situation where I wanted to get a pitch in a good part of the zone to be able to drive," Drew said. "I was fortunate to get in a 3-1 count with a pitch out over the plate."

Wakefield was cruising, shutting the Rockies out on two hits and a walk in the first seven innings, before Hawpe doubled to lead off the eighth. Hawpe moved to third on Ryan Spilborghs' fly to right; Troy Tulowitzki followed with a fly to right that wasn't deep enough to score the runner.

But Yorvit Torreabla followed with a single to center to tie the game 1-1.

Julio Lugo, who entered the game hitting .213, was dropped from first to ninth in the batting order before the game. He helped Boston take a 1-0 lead in the third with a double and stolen base, then scored on Youkilis' double.

Game notes
The only current Rockies playing for the team on their only other visit to Fenway Park, in 2002, were Helton and closer Brian Fuentes. ... Pedroia, who's batting .316, led off for Boston. ... Red Sox prospects Daniel Bard and Ryan Phillips combined on a rain-shortened, six-inning no-hitter for Boston's Single-A affiliate in Greenville to beat Kannapolis 5-0 in the Carolina League. ... Rockies CF Willy Taveras snapped a 15-game hitting streak that had been the longest active streak in the NL.

I'm still not totally convinced about Tim Wakefield. Unfortunately no score summary, but the general idea that I've got from highlights was that Youkililalalala an RBI double to right which Lugo scored off, and then J.D Drew hit a sacrifice fly which Alex Cora scored off, meaning we won 2-1.

Pitchers

Win - Tim Wakefield (Red Sox) [6-7]
Loss - Aaron Cook (Rockies) [4-3]
Save - Jonathan Papelbon (Red Sox) [15]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 41-22
Yankees: 31-31
Blue Jays: 30-34
Devil Rays: 29-33
Orioles: 29-35

Yankees fans must be rejoicing now their team halalalala the heady heights of .500. However, they're still 9.5 games back on us. Tonight is the second game of the series, and the ageless Curt Schilling, fresh from hilalalalalalala against Arizona will look to add to the number in the 'Wins' column.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 3 v Rockies

After our shocking 12-2 loss, we would be looking to improve drastically. We didn't.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2007/06/14/hQSQYDsb.jpg

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

BOSTON (AP) -- With a line-drive grand slam over Fenway Park's Green Monster, Garrett Atkins might have put his slump behind him.

"I know I'm a good hitter," the Rockies third baseman said Thursday night after going 3-for-5 to help Colorado beat the Boston Red Sox 7-1. "I've had two bad months of swings, but we've got four months left."

Kaz Matsui also had three hits for the Rockies as they sent Josh Beckett (9-1) to his first loss of the season. Jeff Francis (6-5) pitched five shutout innings, allowing seven hits and two walks while striking out two to win for the fifth time in six decisions.

"I can't try to raise my game," Francis said of facing an unbeaten pitcher. "I've just got to try to do what I do and hope, like today, we score a lot of runs. If we can score them early, I can get into a rhythm."

Beckett has won just two of his last five starts, a span that included two weeks on the disabled list with torn skin on his right middle finger. He allowed season highs of six runs and 10 hits, with a walk and a strikeout in five innings before leaving down 6-0.

"It was a fun run," Beckett said after taking his first loss. "There's no way I take all the credit. If you're not striking everybody out, you need those eight guys behind you."

Boston's loss, coupled with the Yankees' 7-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, trimmed the Red Sox lead in the AL East to 7 1/2 games, just about half of the 14 1/2 games New York trailed by just two weeks ago. The Red Sox have lost three of four and scored two or fewer runs in seven of their last nine games.

Atkins walalalalaing .220 at the end of May, but he's batted .315 in his last 15 games to raise his average to .242. By the time he doubled to start the fifth inning on Thursday, he was just a triple away from hitting for the cycle.

"For two seasons, all we did was throw him praise. And then, six weeks into the season, we had some people throwing dirt on him," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He is going to figure it out. He is starting to figure it out. He is going to be a big part for us."

The Rockies outscored Boston 20-5 to take the three-game series 2-1, winning for the eighth time in 11 games and improving to 33-33 for the season -- the first time they'd been at .500 since losing on April 14. They are 6-0-1 in their last seven series, and have won a franchise-record four straight series on the road.

Francis gave up singles to Jason Varitek and Coco Crisp to start the sixth, but Jorge Julio came on and retired the next three batters.

Matsui doubled and scored on Todd Helton's single in the first. Boston loaded the bases in the second, but J.D. Drew hit a hard liner up the middle that was caught by shortstop Troy Tulowitzki for the second out; Francis struck out Dustin Pedroia to end the inning.

"We're looking at maybe being up 2-1 with a full-fledged rally going," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "They turn it around in the top of the inning with a grand slam, so it's a big swing. It's obviously a pivotal point in the game."

Matsui led off the third with a single, then Matt Holliday lined one into the left-center gap, where Crisp made a nice slide to keep it from going to the wall. But he popped up and inexplicably threw the ball toward left-fielder Manny Ramirez, who was maybe a dozen yards closer to the infield.

Ramirez leaped but couldn't get to the ball, and it rolled around in the outfield. With nobody out, Matsui was held at third by substitute third-base coach Glenallen Hill, but it didn't matter when Helton walked to load the bases and Atkins cleared them with a shot into the Monster Seats.

Game notes
Boston 3B coach Mike Gallego missed the game to attend the high school graduation of his twin sons. Hill moved from first to third and bench coach Jamie Quirk worked at first. ... Ramirez, who usually wears his pants legs down to his shoes, showed a lot of red sock. ... Drew was bumped from fifth to leadoff in the hopes of sparking some offense. He went 0-for-5 and did not reach base. ... Umpire Bruce Froemming, who announced plans to retire after a career of more than 5,000 major league games, worked second base. Froemming will work home plate at next month's All-Star game.

We appear to be falling flat at the vital moment.

Score Summary

1st: Helton single to centre: Matsui scored (Rox 1-0 Sox)
3rd: Atkins HOME RUN to left: Matsui, Holliday and Helton scored (Rox 5-0 Sox)
4th: Holliday HOME RUN to left (Rox 6-0 Sox)
7th: Lowell single to centre: Ramirez scored (Rox 6-1 Sox)
8th: Tavarez grounded out to shortstop: Spilborghs scored (Rox 7-1 Sox)

Pitchers

Win - Jeff Francis (Rockies) [6-5]
Loss - Josh Beckett (Red Sox) [9-1]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 41-24
Yankees: 33-31
Blue Jays: 31-34
Devil Rays: 29-35
Orioles: 29-37

Oh well. Tonight, Barry Bonds and the Giants make their way to Fenway for their series with us. Julian Tavarez will pitch for the Sox.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 1 v Giants

Last night, Bonds and the Giants were in town. Bonds must be gutted, he was so so so so so so so so close to scoring another home run, but it fouled by inches.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2007/06/15/hZylZEpn.jpg

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

BOSTON (AP) -- Barry Bonds is 742 homers ahead of Dustin Pedroia on the all-time list, but the diminutive Red Sox rookie can make a claim that the would-be home run king can't: He's homered at Fenway Park.

Playing for the first time in Babe Ruth's first major-league ballpark, Bonds went 1-for-3 and failed to gain ground on Hank Aaron despite a long fly ball that was inches foul of being No. 748. Pedroia left no doubt with his liner over the Green Monster, one of a career-high five hits to help Boston beat the San Francisco Giants 10-2 on Friday night.

"He's looking for some home runs. He's looking to break the record," said Red Sox starter Julian Tavarez, who gave a mini-Carlton Fisk wave at Bonds' shot in an attempt to nudge it foul. "When he hit that ball away, I was telling it, 'Go foul! Go foul!' I got a lot of help from the fans."

Pedroia had a career-high five RBIs, and slumping J.D. Drew had three hits as Boston stopped a two-game losing streak and moved 8 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees in the AL East. Unbeaten in six starts, Tavarez (4-4) allowed two runs, six hits and two walks -- including an intentional one to Bonds -- in seven innings.

The 10 runs matched Boston's output from the five previous games combined. They scored seven against Barry Zito (6-7) -- six earned -- on five hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings. Zito, who struck out five, had been 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA in his previous four starts.

Bonds has homered in 35 different ballparks in a 22-year career, but never in the House that Built Ruth. Pedroia has homered in three different ballparks during his four-month career, including Friday night's two-run shot over the Green Monster that made it 2-2 before Zito recorded his first out.

Drew, who signed a five-year, $70 million contract in the offseason, batted .180 over a 41-game span to drop his average from .375 to .230 and hear some boos from the hometown crowd. He walalalala by a pitch before Pedroia's homer, he singled and scored in the third and he doubled in two runs in the fourth, then scored himself on Pedroia's double to make it 6-2.

Pedroia is batting .417 over his last 32 games to raise his average from .172 to .331.

"The first month of the season, we spent so much time trying to defend him. He wasn't hitting," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "But he plays the ball all over the ballpark. And, man, he makes contact. There's a lot of things in his favor."

Dave Roberts went 2-for-4 for the Giants in his first game in Boston since his ninth-inning stolen base in Game 4 of the 2004 AL championship series sparked the Red Sox to an unprecedented comeback against the Yankees. Although he didn't even play in the World Series, when the Red Sox swept the St. Louis Cardinals, the stolen base alone guarantees him a standing ovation whenever his name is mentioned at Fenway.

Not so for Bonds.

The face of the steroid scandal was booed when he came out for batting practice, and again every time he went to the plate. Fans wore T-shirts adorned with asterisks and chanted "Steroids!" at the lifetime National Leaguer who had never been inside the ballpark.

"Barry asked me, 'Is it always like this? With the buzz, the media?" Roberts said. "And I said, 'Every time you play the Yankees, it's like this. It's a playoff environment."

Bonds quieted the crowd in his first-ever Fenway at-bat with a long fly ball that sailed above the Pesky Pole -- just 302 feet from home plate down the right-field line. First base umpire Charlie Reliford watched, hesitated, and then raised his arms and signaled that it was a foul ball.

"He said it was clear in his mind," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who complained briefly to no avail. "It was one of those where it was so high. I think if you ask everybody, it might have been one of those 50-50 deals. Some probably thought it was fair, some thought it was foul. He was right there."

Bonds stopped short of first base, smiled, and returned to the batter's box, stuck at 747. He took another ball and then popped out to second base.

"What do you want me to do, huh? What do you want me to do?" Bonds said about the smile. Then when reporters asked if he felt a homer was taken away, Bonds said, "Are we back at that question again? I've got to go, guys."

After surpassing Ruth's 714 home runs last year and hitting eight in April to threaten Aaron's 755, Bonds has just five homers in the past six weeks.

In the lineup as designated hitter, Bonds was intentionally walked in the third and was thrown out by Pedroia from short right field on a sixth-inning grounder.

Game notes
The Giants had not visited Fenway in the regular season since 1915, when they faced the Boston Braves. The New York Giants also played the Red Sox in the 1912 World Series. ... Boston's Manny Ramirez had a run-scoring fielder's choice in the third inning for his 1,551st RBI, moving him past Fred McGriff into 37th place on the all-time list. ... Drew had three hits in consecutive games June 8-9, then went 0-for-11 before notching three more on Friday. ... Giants 1B Ryan Klesko was scratched from the lineup with sore hips. Mark Sweeney took his place in the field. ... Red Sox DH David Ortiz was ejected for arguing a called third strike in the first inning. Ortiz complained only briefly to home plate umpire Tony Randazzo before heading back to the dugout. Randazzo tossed him shortly thereafter. It was the sixth time in his career that Ortiz has been thrown out of a game, the first since Aug. 19, 2005. ... The Red Sox observed a moment of silence in memory of former Boston Globe baseball writer Larry Whiteside, who died Friday at the age of 69.

With that superb win, we stop our losing streak just as the Yankees end their winning streak.

Score Summary

1st: Sweeney double to deep right: Roberts scored (Giants 1-0 Sox)
1st: Sweeney scored on Tavarez's wild pitch (Giants 2-0 Sox)
1st: Pedroia HOME RUN to left: Drew scored (Giants 2-2 Sox)
3rd: Ramirez grounded into fielder's choice to third: Drew scored (Giants 2-3 Sox)
4th: Drew double to deep centre: Lowell and Lugo scored (Giants 2-5 Sox)
4th: Pedroia single to right: Drew scored (Giants 2-6 Sox)
6th: Drew single to right: Crisp scored (Giants 2-7 Sox)
8th: Pedroia double to deep centre: Crisp and Lugo scored (Giants 2-9 Sox)
8th: Pena grounded out to shortstop: Pedroia scored (Giants 2-10 Sox)

Pitchers

Win - Julian Tavarez (Red Sox) [4-4]
Loss - Barry Zito (Giants) [6-7]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 42-24
Yankees: 33-32
Blue Jays: 32-34
Devil Rays: 29-36
Orioles: 29-38

Tonight is billed as the big showdown. Dice-K v Bonds. It'll probably be a damp squib then.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 2 v Giants

Last night saw arguably Dice-K's best performance for us since he joined. He also got a little help from Manny too.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2007/06/16/AZbBnjFa.jpg

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

BOSTON (AP) -- The home run drought is over.

For Manny Ramirez, not Barry Bonds.

Ramirez ended a 50 at-bat homerless streak and Daisuke Matsuzaka had his best performance yet on Saturday to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 1-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants. Bonds went 0-for-3 with an intentional walk and remained stuck on 747 career homers, eight away from Hank Aaron's record.

"I've faced many great batters on the way, but he certainly emitted a great aura about him," Matsuzaka said through an interpreter. "That's rare even to see among those great hitters."

Matsuzaka (8-5) struck out eight in seven innings to win for the first time in four starts, holding the Giants to three hits and three walks. After intentionally walking Bonds with first base open in the first, Matsuzaka retired him on a fly ball to center in the fourth and then a groundout to a shifted infield with two on and nobody out in the sixth.

"I was able to reach inside myself and display a side of myself that I haven't been able to show up to that point. And that said to me, hopefully, that I'm heading in a new and good direction," said Matsuzaka, who called it his best performance of the year. "This is the first time that I was able to hold an opponent to zero runs and at the same time I was able to protect our slim and precious one-run lead."

The Red Sox have scored just six runs in Matsuzaka's last four outings, and two or fewer runs in eight of their last 11 games overall. But Matsuzaka left the game with a shutout for the first time since the Red Sox paid $103 million to bring him in from Japan in the offseason.

"I was impressed by everybody that pitched today," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "Daisuke was really good, and on a day when he had to be every bit as good as he was."

Hideki Okajima pitched the eighth, allowing the first two Giants batters to reach before getting Bonds on a called third strike. Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth for his 16th save for Boston, which has won six of its last nine and 12 of their last 13 interleague series.

First-place Boston remained 8 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees in the AL East.

The Red Sox didn't have much success against Matt Cain (2-7), who also allowed just three hits in seven innings. But one of them was Ramirez's 44th interleague homer -- tying him for third all-time with Carlos Delgado.

"Don't look at that record. He's a good pitcher," Francona said.

Cain struck out one, walked three and fell to 0-4 with two no-decisions in his last six starts since May 13. The Giants have lost 12 of 14 games Cain has started and 15 of their last 21 overall.

"He pitched a great game. He threw a terrific game. He had some tough luck," manager Bruce Bochy said. "For some reason, we have trouble getting him some runs. We had some great opportunities, but just couldn't get that tying run across."

Bondlalalala his 747th career homer on Monday -- just his second since May 8. Ramirez hadn't hit one since May 28. But he put a line drive into the Monster Seats in the fourth inning for the 479th homer of his career.

Neither of them was available for comment after the game, with Bonds ducking out a side door of the visitor's clubhouse with his security and publicist.

Much of the vitriol that was directed at Bonds on Friday night for his first-ever game at Fenway Park was absent on Saturday. A few fans waved asterisks at the would-be home run king, with a meek and brief chant of "Steroids!" breaking out in the eighth.

The closest Bonds came to a homer was on the first pitch in the fourth inning, when he hit a long foul ball into the right-field grandstand; he flew out to center on the next pitch.

Game notes
Giants SS Omar Vizquel made a nice over-the-shoulder basket catch in shallow center to retire Kevin Youkilis in the second. ... Boston SS Julio Lugo was given the day off. He is 5-for-40 in his last 11 games. ... Jim Thome leads all batters with interleague homers with 52, and Ken Griffey Jr. hit two on Saturday to give him 46. ... It was the first time since July 23, 1963, that Fenway Park and Wrigley Field each hosted 1-0 games.

Even though Papi was ejected, we still claimed the victory. Great stuff.

Score Summary

4th: Ramirez HOME RUN to left (Giants 0-1 Sox)

Pitchers

Win - Dice-K Matsuzaka (Red Sox) [8-5]
Loss - Matt Cain (Giants) [2-7]
Save - Jonathan Papelbon (Red Sox) [16]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 43-24
Yankees: 34-32
Blue Jays: 33-34
Devil Rays: 29-37
Orioles: 29-39

Brilliant. Ortiz is naturally perplexed about his ejection, as we will read here:

Ortiz Perplexed About Ejection

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2007/06/16/u5oNy5WH.jpg

Originally Posted by Red Sox.com

BOSTON -- As far as David Ortiz knows, throwing his bat or helmet down in frustration is not cause for ejection. So a day after it happened, Ortiz is still mightily perplexed as to why home-plate umpire Larry Randazzo tossed him in the first inning on Friday night.
Ortiz was called out looking on a fastball. Manager Terry Francona thinks the slugger might have been more upset about a called strike two, which came on a breaking pitch that looked to be outside. The pitch Ortiz was called out on was a borderline pitch on the high and inside edge of the strike zone.

After a heated argument with Randazzo, Ortiz walked back toward the Boston dugout and angrily tossed his bat and helmet down, but not in the direction of the umpire. In fact, Ortiz's back was to the umpire when he let the bat and helmet go.

It was then that he was thrown out.

"He threw me out because he wanted to," said Ortiz. "If he wants to throw me out, he should throw me out when I'm right in his face. Not when I'm in the dugout. What did I do for him to throw me out? Throw my helmet and my bat down? I didn't throw it to him."

Typically, the tossing of equipment -- as long as it's not thrown in the direction of an umpire -- is grounds for a fine, not an ejection.

Ortiz's anger was eased a little by the Red Sox pulling out a 10-2 victory. But Ortiz got mad all over again on Saturday, particularly when home-plate umpire Charlie Reliford called him out on a pitch he didn't think was in the strike zone. This time, Ortiz was not ejected. But his frustration was clear when he unleashed several profanities in his postgame session with reporters.

"The strike zone was ridiculous," Ortiz said.

Asked if it lacked consistency, Ortiz seemed to be leaning toward that notion.

"You guys watch the game on TV? Make up your mind. You tell me," Ortiz said.

Reliford, having departed Fenway Park by the time Ortiz talked, was not available for comment.

If anything, the zone probably helped both pitchers on a day Daisuke Matsuzaka outdueled Matt Cain, 1-0.

"There were definitely some pitches that were liberal," said Giants center fielder Dave Roberts.

Lugo gets breather: Francona inserted Alex Cora into the lineup at shortstop and gave Julio Lugo a rest. The manager said the move was not necessarily related to the mighty slump Lugo has been in.

"I think it's along the same lines, like, when [Dustin] Pedroia sat the other night," Francona said. "Cora's a good player. I'd like to be somewhat consistent in picking days where I think they're good for everybody and I never want Alex to go very long without playing because he's an important part of our team."

Lugo, who was recently moved from leadoff to No. 9 in the lineup, has five hits in his last 40 at-bats.

Stability at top: Though Francona indicated that J.D. Drew might not stay in the lineup against certain right-handed pitchers, he wasn't about to tinker with the top of the order on the heels of Friday night. In that contest, Drew and No. 2 hitter Pedroia combined to go 8-for-9 and produce all but one of Boston'lalalalas in the 10-2 win.

"[Bench coach Brad Mills] actually came in after the game," Francona said. "We knew who was playing. He said, 'what order?'. I said, 'what are you nuts?'"

Defensive stopper: Perhaps the name of Kevin Youkilis should start being mentioned in Gold Glove talks. Red Sox vice president/media relations John Blake unearthed the fact that Youkilis has played 114 consecutive errorless games at first base entering Saturday action. Over that span, Youkilis has made three errors at third base. His last error at first came on July 4, 2006. Youkilis is five games shy of the club record set by Stuffy McInnis, who went without an error from May 31-October 2, 1921.

On deck: Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (6-7, 3.92 ERA), who entered the Major Leagues as a teammate of Barry Bonds in Pittsburgh, will face off against the slugger in the finale of this three-game series with the Giants. First pitch is scheduled at 2:05 p.m. ET.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 2 @ Braves

It's been a while due to other commitments, but I'm back updating. Last night, we played Atlanta, looking to avenge our 9-4 defeat the nighr before.

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

ATLANTA (AP) -- Josh Beckett's slump lasted all of one game.

Bouncing back from his first loss, Beckett pitched six scoreless innings and even contributed a run-scoring double in his 10th win, leading the Boston Red Sox past the Atlanta Braves 4-0 Tuesday night.

The weather was the only thing that got the best of Beckett (10-1). The right-hander didn't return after a 48-minute rain delay, letting three relievers finish up a five-hitter.

Beckett joined John Lackey of the Los Angeles Angels as the second member of the 10-win club this season.

"Too much Beckett -- period," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.

After a 9-0 start, Beckett was roughed up for six runs and 10 hits in a 7-1 loss to Colorado last week. He got right back on track against the Braves, surrendering four hits and two walks while allowing only one runner to reach third.

"No. 10 has always been a win that's kind of elusive for me," said Beckett, whose career high for wins was 16 a year ago. "It usually takes me two or three starts. This time it took two."

David Ortiz, on the bench the previous night with the designated hitter not in effect, returned to the lineup with a flourish. He played first base and broke up a scoreless game in the fourth with an opposite-field homer off Tim Hudson, the ball barely clearing the left-field wall.

"It felt real good, especially for a guy like me," Ortiz quipped. "I don't go deep too much."

That was enough for Beckett, who pitched around his only major scare in the first. Atlanta's second hitter, Willie Harris, nearly went deep with a drive that careened off the top of the wall in right-center.

Harris settled for a double and moved to third on a groundout. After walking Chipper Jones, Beckett retired Brian McCann on a fly to right to end the threat.

"I made the big pitch when I needed to," Beckett said. "I made four of them that I can recall off hand."

Atlanta managed to get only two other runners to second base against Beckett. The previous night, the Braves pounded Curt Schilling for six earned runs and 10 hits in a 9-4 victory.

Schilling returned to Boston for a precautionary MRI exam after a disturbing drop in velocity. The Red Sox expect to get the results on Wednesday.

After managing just one hit through the first three innings, the Red Sox began teeing off on Hudson (6-5), who lost for the fourth time in his last five decisions against a team that has always given him trouble. He dropped to 3-9 with a 6.26 ERA in his career vs. Boston.

Eighth hitter Alex Cora, filling in for struggling Julio Lugo, led off the fifth with a triple. Beckett then drove a hanger to the wall in left for his first hit of the season.

"The fifth killed me, giving up those hits to the eighth and ninth hitters," Hudson said. "You're supposed to get the pitcher out."

Beckett scored on a single by Dustin Pedroia, giving the Red Sox a 3-0 lead.

Boston knocked out Hudson in the sixth with two more hits, and Cora made it 4-0 with a sacrifice fly off reliever Oscar Villareal. In 5 1/3 innings, Hudson surrendered nine hits and four runs.

The storm moved in during the sixth. The umpires called for the tarp after Beckett breezed through a 1-2-3 inning and the rain really started coming down.

Kyle Snyder, Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon closed it out with one inning apiece.

Though his career record against Atlanta is a mediocre 6-7, Beckett has gained the upper hand on the Braves in recent appearances. He is 4-0 in his last five starts against the NL East team, surrendering just two earned runs in 31 innings (0.58 ERA).

Beckett got a big defensive assist from Coco Crisp, who homered twice the night before. In the fifth, the center fielder stretched out to make a diving, backhanded catch in left-center after Hudson drove one toward the gap.

The play may have prevented a run. Kelly Johnson followed with a single to center.

"Oh man, that's the greatest catch I ever had behind me," Beckett said. "I told him that again tonight. I think that's about three or four times I've told him that."

Game notes
Boston C Jason Varitek doubled in the sixth to snap a 0-for-13 hitless streak. ... Atlanta CF Andruw Jones continues to struggle, going 0-for-4. He's mired in a stretch of 18 straight at-bats without a hit, dropping his average to .202. ... Ortiz has five career hits at Turner Field; four of them are homers. ... Braves SS Edgar Renteria, who is 10-for-17 over the last four games, left after the delay when his back stiffened. Cox said he doesn't think it's anything serious and Renteria should be able to play Wednesday.

A great win for Beckett, he is 10-1.

Score Summary

4th: Ortiz HOME RUN to left (Sox 1-0 Braves)
5th: Beckett (?) double to deep centre: Cora scored (Sox 2-0 Braves)
5th: Pedroia single to centre: Beckett (?) scored (Sox 3-0 Braves)
6th: Cora hit sacrifice fly to right: Varitek scored 9Sox 4-0 Braves)

Pitchers

Win - Josh Beckett (Red Sox) [10-1]
Loss - Tim Hudson (Braves) [6-5]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 45-25
Yankees: 35-33
Blue Jays: 33-36
Devil Rays: 31-38
Orioles: 29-41

Great stuff. Tonight,Julian Tavarez will pitch.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 3 @ Braves

Last night we had a night off, so I'll update about the night before last, which saw us try and win the series against the Braves with Juilian Tavarez pitching.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2007/06/21/PZmbpOgn.jpg

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

ATLANTA (AP) -- Four pitches into the game, the Boston Red Sox provided a glimpse of what was to come.

J.D. Drew led off with a homer and the Red Sox went deep four more times to back seven sharp innings by Julian Tavarez, who had it easy in Boston's 11-0 rout of the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night.

Before the Braves even batted, Coco Crisp hit a three-run homer to give the Red Sox a 5-0 lead. David Ortiz added a two-run shot in the second, while Manny Ramirez and Eric Hinske chipped in late.

The Red Sox tied their season high, having also homered five times April 22 against the New York Yankees. For good measure, Boston also had five doubles in itlalalala outburst.

"It's always good to get out on top," said Drew, who left the game midway through the second when his right quadriceps tightened up. "I got a ball right in the zone and hit it out of the park. That's always a good feeling for a leadoff hitter."

For Atlanta, it was another dismal night at the plate. The Braves were shut out by the Red Sox on a five-hitter for the second night in a row and haven't scored in 19 innings.

It was the first time since 2003 that Atlanta has been blanked in consecutive games.

"It's tough playing from behind," said Willie Harris, who had one of the hits. "A pitcher is more confident with a lead. He can take more chances with his pitches. Tavarez threw a lot of changeups and sliders and whatever else he was throwing. His ball was moving around a lot."

Making matters worse for the Braves, injury-plagued Chipper Jones left after the fifth with a groin problem.

"It was hurting," said manager Bobby Cox, who didn't know if Jones would miss any games.

Tavarez (5-4) could coast with a seven-run cushion, and that's just what he did in winning his fourth straight. He allowed only three hits and faced the minimum through the first six innings. Harris and Jones reached on singles, but both were erased with double plays.

"This was my best game," Tavarez said. "Everything went right for me."

In the seventh, Atlanta finally got someone into scoring position for the first time all night. But shortstop Julio Lugo fielded a grounder in short left and threw back to second base for an inning-ending force.

Tavarez pumped his right fist and hopped toward the dugout, the shutout preserved on his final pitch of the night.

"He takes the ball whenever you give it to him and he really enjoys pitching," manager Terry Francona said. "The ball has so much life through the zone, because this is probably the most he's started in a long, long time."

After opening 1-3, the right-hander has pitched well out of the fifth slot in the rotation. Tavarez is 4-0 with a 3.65 ERA over his last seven starts, an encouraging sign for a team that might need him to take on a bigger role while Curt Schilling is on the disabled list.

Schilling returned to Boston for an MRI exam after two straight poor starts. While the exam showed no major problems, he received a cortisone shot for suspected tendinitis and will go on the 15-day DL when the Red Sox get to San Diego for a series this weekend.

In the meantime, the Red Sox are gaining more and more confidence in Tavarez.

"I know our team: When he goes out there, we feel like we have a chance to win," Francona said. "That's a good feeling."

Atlanta's Buddy Carlyle (1-2) had pitched decently in three straight outings, but the journeyman was no match for Boston's powerful lineup -- especially when his pitches kept drifting up in the strike zone.

"When you throw pitches like I did, especially to a team like Boston, they're definitely going to hit them," Carlyle said. "No excuse for it. I've got to get the ball down better."

Carlyle lasted just 3 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs and nine hits with three walks. There was nothing fluky about his dismal line; in addition to serving up three homers, he also allowed four doubles.

Crisp delivered the biggest blow with two outs in the first, driving one into the right-field seats just two nights after the first two-homer game of his career. He came into Atlanta with only one homer on the season.

Boston scored all but two of its runs with the long ball. Ramirez and Dustin Pedroia drove in the others with RBI doubles.

Game notes
Drew left the game as a precaution with the Red Sox leading 7-0. He has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. ... Braves center fielder Andruw Jones, mired in an 0-for-18 slump that dropped his average to .202, took the night off. Harris moved over from left field and made a Jones-like catch in the eighth, diving to take away a hit from Lugo. ... Braves right-hander Joey Devine pitched an inning after being recalled from Double-A Mississippi before the game. ... Drew's leadoff homer was the second of his career.

Have that.

Score Summary

1st: Drew HOME RUN to right centre (Sox 1-0 Braves)
1st: Ramirez double to depe centre: Pedroia scored (Sox 2-0 Braves)
1st: Crisp HOME RUN to right: Ramirez and Varitek scored (Sox 5-0 Braves)
2nd: Ortiz HOME RUN to right: Drew scored (Sox 7-0 Braves)
7th: Ramirez HOME RUN to right (Sox 8-0 Braves)
8th: Pedroia double to deep left: Pena scored (Sox 9-0 Braves)
8th: Hinske HOME RUN to right: Pedroia scored (Sox 11-0 Braves)

Pitchers

Win - Julian Tavarez (Red Sox) [5-4]
Loss - Buddy Carlyle (Braves) [1-2]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 46-25
Yankees: 35-35
Blue Jays: 34-37
Devil Rays: 31-39
Orioles: 31-41

A blowout. Brilliant. However, in other, sadder, news...

Schilling Put On Disabled List

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2007/06/02/MFal2sdd.jpg

Originally Posted by RedSox.com

ATLANTA -- An MRI exam of Curt Schilling's right shoulder revealed no structural damage, but the Boston Red Sox right-hander will be put on the disabled list following a cortisone shot he received in Boston on Tuesday.
Schilling will miss at least two starts after he is put on the DL on Friday, retroactive to Tuesday, with what is being termed a sore shoulder.

The earliest Schilling would be eligible to pitch again is July 4 at Fenway against the Devil Rays.

The 40-year-old right-hander was sent back to Boston from Atlanta on Tuesday for an exam after he got roughed up in his last two starts. He was then examined by Red Sox medical director Thomas Gill.

Schilling nearly pitched a no-hitter at Oakland on June 7, giving up a two-out single to Shannon Stewart in the ninth inning. But he allowed 11 earned runs and 19 hits in 9 1/3 innings in his next two starts.

On Monday, Schilling, 14th on the career strikeout list with 3,086, failed to fan a batter -- the first time that's happened in one of his starts since July 1, 1993.

"I have not felt right this year," Schilling told WEEI-AM earlier Wednesday.

"Pain is a relative term. There's been a lot of this year trying to discern what's because I'm 40 or what's because I don't feel good," he said.

"He's fought some tendinitis," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "As far as labeling [the injury], I don't know that I can."

Schilling had a conference call on Wednesday afternoon with Francona, general manager Theo Epstein and Dr. Gill.

With Schilling out of the mix for the next couple of weeks, the decision then was made that Josh Beckett will pitch Sunday, when the Red Sox play at San Diego. He will be on regular four days' rest because of an off-day on Thursday. Julian Tavarez is scheduled to start Monday at Seattle. The Red Sox have listed Tuesday's starter as TBA.

Francona refused to speculate on whether Tuesday could mark the return of left-hander Jon Lester, who was recently optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket and hasn't pitched in the Major Leagues since being diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma last August.

Lester pitched for Pawtucket on Wednesday in a game at Indianapolis, giving up five hits and three earned runs over five innings. He walked four and struck out three. Lester, who threw 92 pitches, is 1-3 with a 2.49 ERA in nine starts for Pawtucket.

But the focus on Wednesday was Schilling.

"The good news is, structurally nothing has changed on [Schilling's] MRI, which is really good because he's thrown a lot of innings," Francona said. "And when you see the dropoff the other night, it certainly sends up a red flag."

Schilling tore his labrum while playing for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1995. He said when that happened, he went from throwing 95 mph in one inning to 80 mph in the next. He felt fine during that game but woke up in pain.

He said Monday night's outing "eerily similar" in that his velocity took such a big dip, but the difference this time was he did not wake up hurting.

Schilling will be examined by Dr. Gill again on Friday and will then fly out to San Diego and do his rehab under the watch of the team's training staff.

"The ball wasn't coming out real well," Francona said. "And when he was reaching back, I think what was happening is he was losing command and not really getting the velocity. I don't think that's a good combination for anybody."

In fact, Schilling topped out at 90 mph in Monday's start and most of his fastballs were in the mid 80s. Before the velocity became such a glaring issue, Schilling's big problem this season was consistency.

"What seems to be happening at times is in following up one of his good starts, the consistency is not quite there," Francona said. "We want to get him back and have him get a chance to be Schilling and be consistent and not have a bad one and a good one."

That injury could mean a return to the Sox pitching rotation for either Kason Gabbard, or the now-fully recovered Jon Lester. I know who my money's on. Tonight, Dice-K will return to the sight of his World Baseball Classic victory, which saw him take the WBC MVP honours. We are playing the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park. Remember, less than 7 days left to vote for the All Star Game!

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 1 @ Padres

Last night, Dice-K was bailed out of a dodgy start by some great fielding. And the odd run.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2007/06/23/PcMopNyl.jpg

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Dice-K was OK at Petco Park again, and this time it was against Greg Maddux, not a team of anonymous Cubans.

Daisuke Matsuzaka escaped a first-inning jam to outpitch Maddux, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 2-1 win over the San Diego Padres in a matchup of two of baseball's top teams Friday night.

The Red Sox have baseball's best record, 47-25. The Padres came in with the NL's best mark, but their third straight loss cost them first place in the tight West. San Diego (41-31) dropped a half-game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, who beat Tampa Bay 6-3.

"When I found out that I would be pitching against Maddux, I felt very lucky," Matsuzaka said through an interpreter. "I felt it would be a low chance that our rotations would actually match up that way."

It did, and turned out that Matsuzaka was good as well as lucky in his first appearance at Petco Park since leading Japan to victory in the inaugural World Baseball Classic championship game in March 2006.

His 126th and final pitch was a 94 mph fastball that he blew past Marcus Giles, who went down swinging with runners on first and third to end the sixth.

Matsuzaka (9-5) allowed one run and five hits, struck out nine and walked five.

Maddux (6-4) lost to the Red Sox for the first time in six career decisions over eight starts against them. The 41-year-old also went six, allowing two runs and seven hits, with two strikeouts and two walks. Maddux, a four-time NL Cy Young winner, is 339-207 in his career.

"Good game," Maddux said. "Got outpitched."

Matsuzaka's finish was much different than the first inning, when he struggled to find his control. He walked the first three batters before retiring Mike Cameron. Giles scored on Michael Barrett's single to left, the catcher's first hit since coming over in a trade with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. Matsuzaka struck out Khalil Greene and got Russell Branyan to fly out to right to end the inning.

"I tried to get off to a gentle start today but that clearly didn't go so well. After getting into the jam I told myself that maybe one run would be permissible here, and that's how I approached that tight spot," Matsuzaka said.

"It looked like almost the game was decided in the first inning," manager Terry Francona said. "He loads the bases and throws a cutter to Barrett for the single, then stops them flat right there and let us peck away. That was a well-pitched game all the way around. We scored two and made it hold up."

Not only did Dice-K pitch against Mad Dog, but he got to face him, too.

"Knowing how great a pitcher that he is, I knew I would have to do my best to hold their lineup to as few runs as possible," Matsuzaka said. "And facing him in the batter's box, he threw a lot of two-seam fastballs to me and I was able to see firsthand what a great pitcher he actually is. He's one of the pitchers that I look up to so I felt very happy to be able to see his pitches live and firsthand."

Matsuzaka grounded out twice.

"He actually wanted to stay out there," Francona said. "I had to explain to him, I didn't think he's a real good hitter. He said he'll work on that next spring."

Giles said Matsuzaka walalalalaing the corners and keeping the ball down around hitters' knees.

"Anytime a guy can throw over 100 pitches and still have his velocity, that's impressive," Giles said.

While the Red Sox were visiting Petco Park for the first time, Matsuzaka had a pretty big win here on March 20, 2006, pitching Japan to a 10-6 victory over Cuba for the WBC title. Matsuzaka was named the classic's MVP after earning his third win.

Nine months later, the right-hander with a wide array of pitches became a $103 million rookie -- the Red Sox bid $51.11 million to the Seibu Lions for the right to negotiate with Matsuzaka, then signed him to a $52 million, six-year contract.

Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 17th save in 18 chances.

Maddux gave up four singles in the fourth inning -- including three straight with one out -- as the Red Sox took a 2-1 lead. Dustin Pedroia had a leadoff hit to right and Manny Ramirez singled up the middle with one out. Kevin Youkilis and Jason Varitek followed with RBI hits up the middle.

"In the fourth inning there, I just didn't make good pitches," Maddux said.

Boston'lalalalaing coach is Dave Magadan, who was fired by the Padres in mid-June last season when their team batting average dipped to an NL-worst .252

With runners on first and second and two outs in the fifth, Barrett hit a liner up the middle but second baseman Pedroia swung around to his right and made the catch.

Maddux had an embarrassing moment in the sixth when his spikes stuck in the dirt and he tumbled over, with his pitch sailing well over David Ortiz's head. Maddux got up, smiled and retired Big Papi on a grounder to shortstop.

"Senior moment," Maddux said.

Game notes
The Padres wore their 1982 uniforms in honor of Hall of Fame electee Tony Gwynn's big league debut. ... The crowd of 44,405 was the largest of the season at Petco and the third-largest since the downtown ballpark opened in 2004.

Another close one.

Score Summary

1st: Barrett single to left: Giles scored (Sox 0-1 Padres)
4th: Youkilis single to centre: Pedroia scored (Sox 1-1 Padres)
4th: Varitek single to centre: Ramirez scored (Sox 2-1 Padres)

Pitchers

Win - Dice-K Matsuzaka (Red Sox) [9-5]
Loss - Greg Maddux (Padres) [6-4]
Save - Jonathan Papelbon (Red Sox) [17]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 47-25
Yankee: 36-35
Blue Jays: 35-37
Orioles: 32-41
Devil Rays: 31-40

Great stuff. Tonight is the second game, and we see our one-dimensional pitcher Tim Wakefield try and improve his current 7-7 record.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 2 @ Padres

Last night, Tim Wakefield showed the baseball world why he is so bad.

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Chris Young had a great night. Tim Wakefield and fill-in umpire Brian Knight didn't.

Young pitched one-hit ball for seven shutout innings to lead the San Diego Padres to a 6-1 win over the Boston Red Sox, and Khalil Greene homered twice off Wakefield and Josh Bard added a contested homer against his old team.

The Padres snapped a three-game losing streak and leapfrogged the Los Angeles Dodgers back into first place in the tight NL West, two percentage points in front of Arizona.

The Padres didn't need any extra help the way Young was pitching. They got it anyway when two of Knight's calls were overturned, including one that gave Bard a two-run homer and led to Boston manager Terry Francona being ejected.

With the Padres leading 3-0 with one out in the sixth and Mike Cameron aboard on a double, Bard drove the first pitch from Wakefield off the foul pole on the side of the Western Metal Supply Co. brick warehouse in the left-field corner.

Bard hopped out of the batter's box, then threw up his hands in disbelief when Knight ruled it a foul ball. Padres manager Bud Black came out to argue, the umps huddled and Bard was waved around the bases, giving the Padres a 5-0 lead. It was Bard's third homer of the year.

Francona came out and spoke with crew chief Dana DeMuth, then vented on Knight and got tossed. It was Francona's second ejection this season.

"I have a feeling they probably ended up getting both right," Francona said. "But you get frustrated. ... When umpires confer like that you actually appreciate it because some are going to be in your favor."

Bard, coincidentally, is still facing a three-game suspension from his ejection at Pittsburgh on May 31 when he thought he'd homered only to have the umpires reverse the call after Pirates manager Jim Tracy successfully argued the drive struck a thin metal railing above the right-field wall and did not leave the park.

"They convened and got that one right, where we thought it was a home run," said Black, who also was ejected that night in Pittsburgh. "I've seen this the last couple of years, the umpires convening and talking through it and coming up with a decision. I tip my cap to the umpires for a lot of times taking the ego out of a call and talking it through."

DeMuth said Knight thought Bard's shot hit on the foul side of the brick warehouse, and that the home plate and second base umpires had a better view.

Knight was working just his second series at Petco Park, filling in for vacationing Kerwin Danley. Knight has been a callup umpire for seven years.

Young and relievers Heath Bell and Justin Hampson combined on a four-hitter, and Boston's three-game winning streak ended.

Greene followed with a shot into the left-field seats to chase Wakefield. It was Greene's 11th of the season and his sixth career two-homer game.

"I feel I pitched better than the numbers showed," Wakefield said. "Every ball I made a mistake on, they hit hard. With the stuff I had, no way I give up six runs."

Bard, a switch-hitter, decided to hit right-handed against Wakefield, also a righty.

"I'd only faced him one time, in '02, and it was a time when I was swinging the bat pretty good left-handed and he really gave me a tough time, so I was thinking why not give it a shot right-handed and thankfully it worked out," Bard said.

The umpires, he added, "worked hard to get the call right in Pittsburgh and they worked hard to get the call right here. And they got 'em both right."

In the fifth, Boston left fielder Manny Ramirez dove for Kevin Kouzmanoff's sinking liner and Knight ruled it a catch. Black argued, the umps huddled and sent Kouzmanoff to first. Replays showed Ramirez trapped the ball. Kouzmanoff eventually scored on Marcus Giles' double into the left-field corner.

Bard, traded from Boston to San Diego early in the 2006 season, finished with three RBIs.

Young (7-3) pitched brilliantly in his first start since being ejected after exchanging punches with Chicago's Derrek Lee a week earlier at Wrigley Field. The 6-foot-10 right-hander dropped his home ERA to 0.94, the best in the majors, and struck out 11 to miss his career high by one. He dropped his overall ERA to 2.08.

The only hit Young allowed was J.D. Drew's single in the fifth, and he walked only two.

Young has appealed his five-game suspension for his part in the melee in Chicago.

Mike Cameron, who came in 2-for-16 lifetime against Wakefield, led off the second by beating out a bunt for a single, stole second and scored when Bard doubled over Ramirez's head.

Greene homered leading off the fifth, driving an 0-2 pitch into the seats in left-center. After Kouzmanoff was awarded first on the overturned call, he was sacrificed by Young and scored on Giles' double into the left-field corner to make it 3-0.

Wakefield (7- allowed six runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings, struck out four and walked none.

Game notes
The series concludes Sunday with a marquee matchup between Josh Beckett (10-1) and Jake Peavy (9-1). ... Greene reached double digits in homers for the fourth straight season.

Admittedly, the umpire had a bad night. But that's no excuse for a poor show.

Score Summary

2nd: Bard double to deep left: Cameron scored (Sox 0-1 Padres)
5th: Greene HOME RUN to left (Sox 0-2 Padres)
5th: Giles double to deep left: Kouzmanoff scored (Sox 0-3 Padres)
6th: Bard HOME RUN to left: Cameron scored (Sox 0-5 Padres)
6th: Greene HOME RUN to left (Sox 0-6 Padres)
9th: Lowell double to deep centre: Murphy scored (Sox 1-6 Padres)

Pitchers

Win - Chris Young (Padres) [7-3]
Loss - Tim Wakefield (Red Sox) [7-8]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 47-26
Yankees: 36-36
Blue Jays: 36-37
Devil Rays: 32-40
Orioles: 32-42

Even with that loss, we're still 10.5 games in front of the Yankees. Tonight is the final game of the series, and 10-1 Josh Beckett will pitch against 9-1 Jake Peavy.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 3 @ Padres

Last night, Josh Beckett became league leader in a very important stat for pitchers.

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- While Jake Peavy got dirty, Josh Beckett's stuff was simply filthy.

Beckett topped Peavy in a matchup of two of baseball's top pitchers, becoming the first 11-game winner in the majors and leading the Boston Red Sox to a 4-2 victory Sunday over the San Diego Padres.

The Red Sox were patient against Peavy, making him throw a lot of pitches and collecting nine hits off the ace in five innings.

"He's obviously, if not the best, one of the best in the game, and we did make him work hard," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "And fortunately for us, one of the other best is on our team, and he was great."

The Beckett-Peavy matchup was just the third in history in which two opposing starters each had nine or more wins against one or fewer losses. The previous one was when Toronto's Roger Clemens (11-1) faced Atlanta's Denny Neagle (9-1) on June 16, 1997.

Throwing an electric fastball while mixing in a curveball and an effective changeup, Beckett held San Diego to two runs and six hits in eight innings while striking out eight and walking one. He improved to 5-1 against the Padres, with the previous decisions coming while he was with Florida. The Red Sox ended Peavy's streak of six straight wins.

Beckett (11-1) kept the Padres scoreless until he gave up a two-run double in the fifth to Terrmel Sledge, who was pinch-hitting for Peavy (9-2). Sledge advanced to third on Jose Cruz Jr.'s groundout, but was stranded when Beckett retired Michael Barrett and struck out Adrian Gonzalez with a full-count curveball.

The top three batters in the Padres' order, Cruz, Barrett and Gonzalez, went 0-for-12 against Beckett with six strikeouts.

"He did well -- won the game, got through the eighth. Good performance in my book," Peavy said.

Jason Varitek tripled and homered for the AL East leaders, who have baseball's best record. The Red Sox took two of three from the Padres, who yielded the NL West lead to Arizona.

"Anytime you go against Jake Peavy it's going to be a tough day," Beckett said. "We got big hits with guys in scoring position. The guys picked me up. To score three runs off that guy, I didn't expect to get that much on a day like that."

Peavy lasted five innings, his shortest outing this season, and saw his ERA rise from 1.98 to 2.14, dropping him from first in the NL to third. He gave up three runs and nine hits, struck out only three -- matching his season low -- and walked one. Peavy came in leading the NL with 110 punchouts.

He also got dirty from falling down while making a putout at first and diving to try to make a play at third.

The Red Sox scored three runs on five hits in the third, when Peavy threw 38 pitches.

"I feel like I made some quality pitches and just didn't have anything to show for it," Peavy said. "I don't feel like I got hit all over the ballpark, by any means. I felt good about myself and everything I did out there, except I lost."

Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect ninth for his 18th save in 19 chances.

Peavy retired Beckett leading off the inning, then allowed three straight singles. One pitch after fouling off a 99 mph fastball, David Ortiz singled to right on a 1-2 slider to bring in Coco Crisp. Manny Ramirez followed with a sacrifice fly to right. After J.D. Drew beat out an infield single, Mike Lowell had a base hit to right to score Ortiz.

Every Red Sox regular except Julio Lugo had a hit off Peavy. Beckett singled off Peavy in the fourth.

Peavy and the Padres had a Keystone Kops second inning.

The pitcher fell down covering first on J.D. Drew's grounder, but made the putout.

With two outs, Varitek ended up with a triple when his fly ball to shallow left fell between shortstop Khalil Greene and left fielder Russell Branyan, who collided. Peavy tried to cover third, sliding headfirst into the bag, but couldn't hang onto the throw. Manager Bud Black and a trainer came out to check on Peavy's hand, and he stayed in the game.

"You talk about position players playing hard and getting dirty," Black said. "Well, the dirtiest player on the field today was our starting pitcher."

Kevin Kouzmanoff walked leading off the Padres' fifth and Geoff Blum followed with a single before Sledge doubled to right-center to bring them both in.

Varitek homered off Scott Linebrink leading off the eighth, setting off a scramble for the ball in the sand play area beyond the right-center fence. It was his eighth.

Game notes
The Red Sox finished interleague play 12-6, the third-best mark in baseball, and the Padres were 6-9. ... With RHP Curt Schilling on the DL, LHP Kason Gabbard will be called up to start for the Red Sox on Tuesday at Seattle. Gabbard is 7-2 with a 3.24 ERA in 14 starts with Triple-A Pawtucket. He beat Atlanta 6-3 in a spot start on May 20 in Boston. ... Peavy had a pedestrian June -- for him, anyway -- going 2-1 with a 3.61 ERA in five starts.

Nice, and that means we take the series 2-1.

Score Summary

3rd: Ortiz single to right: Crisp scored (Sox 1-0 Padres)
3rd: Ramirez hit sacrifice fly to right: Cora scored (Sox 2-0 Padres)
3rd: Lowell single to right: Ortiz scored (Sox 3-0 Padres)
5th: Sledge double to deep right centre: Kouzmanoff and Blum scored (Sox 3-2 Padres)
8th: Varitek HOME RUN to right centre (Sox 4-2 Padres)

Pitchers

Win - Josh Beckett (Red Sox) [11-1]
Loss - Jake Peavy (Padres) [9-2]
Save - Jonathan Papelbon (Red Sox) [18]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 48-26
Blue Jays: 37-37
Yankees: 36-37
Devil Rays: 33-40
Orioles: 32-43

Another great win. Rather than calling up Jon Lester to pitch, the Red Sox instead called up Kason Gabbard, which may be better all round. Tonight, we travel to play the Seattle Mariners. Julian Tavarez will pitch for us.

[Tealey7]

Series Review - Sox @ Marlins

As I miseed the entire series away to Seattle, I'll do a series review. Here goes.

Game 1

Game 1 saw Julian Tavarez pitch for us, and we got creamed. Only Johjima and Beltre scored homers for the Marlins, but they got many RBIs. Tavarez took the loss, meaning his record is almost as bad as Wakefield's, and is 5-5.

Game 2

In this game, Kason Gabbard stepped into the breach and was appaling, lasting just 3 1/3 innings. We got creamed again, and hit for 8 runs, but we hit 7 in response. How unlucky.

Game 3

This game was the last of the series, and Dice-K was rolled out for a bit, but was denied a win. The Marlins took the win in the 11th inning, and won the game 2-1. This means we are currently on a 3 game losing streak.

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 48-29
Blue Jays: 39-39
Yankees: 36-39
Orioles: 34-43
Devil Rays: 33-44

Ah well. I'm not panicking yet. Tonight, we open up a home series against the Rangers. Mr One-Dimensional pitcher himself, Tim Wakefield will pitch.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 1 v Rangers

Last night, Wakefield allowed too many hits and too many baserunners. However, he somehow turned on the style when it mattered.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2007/06/30/MPd2FNF5.jpg

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

BOSTON (AP) -- Manny Delcarmen was nibbling around the corners with the bases loaded and Sammy Sosa at bat on Friday night before third baseman Mike Lowell ran over to the mound with some advice.

"Mikey was like, 'Trust yourself. They're not going to hit your fastball,'" Delcarmen said after helping the Boston Red Sox protect their 2-1 victory over the Texas Rangers.

Delcarmen worked the count full after falling behind 2-0 and then fanned Sosa on a 96 mph fastball to end the seventh inning and preserve a one-run lead. After Hideki Okajima pitched a perfect eighth, Jonathan Papelbon earned his 19th save by striking out Michael Young in another tense showdown.

"It was a good show for our bullpen," said Papelbon, who nearly lost his cool when a close play at first base didn't go his way. "I'm not thinking. I've got nothing but 100 percent adrenaline there. That's the reason why I came back in the [closer's] role."

Tim Wakefield (8- gave up one run and seven hits, striking out four and walking four to help the Red Sox snap a three-game losing streak and improve to .500 for June, their worst month this season. Delcarmen relieved him with two on and two out in the seventh and then walked the bases full before striking out Sosa to end the threat.

Papelbon got the first two batters in the ninth before things got interesting.

Kenny Lofton hit a slow bouncer to the right side that went between Papelbon and first baseman Kevin Youkilis. The pitcher took a short diversion before heading for first, and by the time he caught the throw and got his toe on the bag, Lofton was safe with his fourth hit of the game.

Papelbon was furious at the call -- replays showed that he might have been right -- and he had to be pushed away from first-base umpire Mike Reilly by second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

"We don't need something crazy to happen and go to the bullpen again," manager Terry Francona said. "He's got a ton of emotion. The guy that closes games for you, more often than not, is going to have some fire."

With Papelbon ignoring him, the 40-year-old Lofton then stole second -- his fourth steal of the game. Jerry Hairston Jr. walalalala by a pitch before Papelbon got Young on a strikeout.

"With a guy like Papelbon, when you do get a ball in the middle of the plate, you have to find a way to put it in play," Young said. "I would have liked to have done that earlier in the at-bat. He made a great pitch."

Lofton has stolen four or more bases in a game four times in his career. He has 619 stolen bases, passing George Davis for 16th on the career list.

Jamey Wright (1-2) left with no outs in the sixth. He allowed two runs and six hits with three walks, three strikeouts and a hit batter. He also had some bad luck on Boston's go-ahead run.

After walking two and then moving the runners up with a wild pitch, Wright got Manny Ramirez to hit a hard chopper back to the mound. The ball bounced off Wright's right foot -- right to third baseman Ramon Vazquez; all he had to do was wait for David Ortiz to lumber down the line to tag him for the third out.

But Youkilis was hustling home, crossing the plate before the tag. Umpire Andy Fletcher pointed to the plate to signal that the run counted, giving Boston a 2-1 lead.

"You start by trying to get the ball," Vazquez said. "I knew [Ortiz] was in front of me. I just didn't know if [Youkilis] was close to scoring or if Manny was hustling down the line."

Sosa struck out three times and left four men on base.

Ramirez singled in the second to snap an 0-for-10 slide.

Game notes
Rangers manager Ron Washington was selected by AL manager Jim Leyland for the coaching staff at next month's All-Star Game. ... For NASCAR night at Fenway, the Red Sox draped a giant checkered flag with the Roush Fenway Racing team's logo and numbers over the Green Monster, and the Red Sox-themed No. 99 car drove out onto the field before the game. ... Wakefield has a decision in every game he's pitched. ... Texas was homerless for the second straight game after hitting one in nine straight.

Wakefield up to the dizzy heights of .500. It won't last.

Score Summary

4th: Pena reached on infield single to shortstop: Ramirez scored (Rangers 0-1 Sox)
5th: Hairston hit sacrifice fly to centre: Melhuse scored (Rangers 1-1 Sox)
5th: Ramirez grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher: Youkilis scored (Rangers 1-2 Sox)

Pitchers

Win - Tim Wakefield (Red Sox) [8-8]
Loss - Jamey Wright (Rangers) [1-2]
Save - Jonathan Papelbon (Red Sox) [19]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 49-29
Blue Jays: 39-40
Yankees: 37-39
Orioles: 34-44
Devil Rays: 33-45

Amazingly, we have the best Win PCT in the whole of the MLB. Tonight, Josh Beckett will look to add to his league leading 11 wins when he pitches in the second game of the series.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 3 v Rangers

I missed the second gamem which we lost 5-4. Last night we played the Rangers again.

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

BOSTON (AP) -- Kameron Loe and the Texas Rangers are midway through the season, and they actually have something to look forward to.

Loe won his fourth consecutive start following a miserable first two months, and Rangers All-Star Michael Young had a pair of hits on Sunday to lead the Texas Rangers over the Boston Red Sox 2-1.

"It's very big to finish the first half on a positive note," said Loe, who won just one of his first 15 starts but hasn't lost since a brief trip to the minors. "We struggled a lot and it was frustrating. Now that we're putting wins together, it's very big going into the All-Star break."

Loe (5-6) had a 7.40 ERA when he was sent to Triple-A on June 7, but he didn't even pitch there. When he returned to the Rangers on June 14, he tinkered with his arm angle and has posted a 1.95 ERA since.

He allowed one run, six hits and two walks in six innings to give the Rangers their eighth win in 11 games.

"If our starting pitching continues to perform like it has, there's light at the end of the tunnel," manager Ron Washington said.

Eric Gagne entered with two outs in the eighth when Akinori Otsuka left with stiffness in his right forearm after covering first base on Jason Varitek's grounder. Although Gagne had the right to as many warmup pitches on the field mound as he needed, he continued to throw in the bullpen while the umpires waved futilely for him to come onto the diamond.

"I'm used to a routine coming out of the bullpen," Gagne said. "There's 40,000-50,000 people yelling at you, so the adrenaline kicks in quicker. You think you're ready, but your body's not where it should be. So today I wasn't sure where I had to warm up."

It was his first appearance in the eighth inning -- and his longest outing -- this season. He retired Alex Cora on a soft groundout to second, then pitched a hitless ninth for his 10th save. Gagne had not gone more than three outs since 2004.

"That's the first time he's had to do anything like that, come in a game like that. He's usually out at the start of an inning," said Washington, who added that he might have to stay away from both Otsuka and Gagne on Monday. "I had no choice, really. Just trying to save the game right there."

Julian Tavarez (5-6) was charged with two runs -- one earned -- seven hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. The Red Sox lost for the fifth time in six games; they have totaled eight runs in their last four.

"You go in cycles where it seems like scoring runs is very difficult," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "You go through times when it seems like you're whacking it all over the ballpark. We'll straighten it up and we'll put a bunch up."

Young, Texas' lone representative for the All-Star Game, will make his fourth appearance.

"It's very humbling, considering how many great players haven't had the opportunity to go," he said. "I didn't have the strongest start in the world, but I have rebounded and I feel decent about where my season is headed. I would love to go every year in my career."

Texas took the lead in the fourth when Sammy Sosa singled and came around on back-to-back errors by Cora at shortstop and right fielder J.D. Drew. Boston tied it in the fifth on Kevin Youkilis' RBI single, then gave the lead back in the sixth.

Frank Catalanotto walked to lead off the inning and, one out later, scored on Brad Wilkerson's double to make it 2-1.

NotesIt was the third one-run game of the series. ... Red Sox SS Julio Lugo was not in the starting lineup for the third consecutive game, though he did enter the game in the ninth as a pinch runner. He was thrown out attempting to steal third base on Saturday night, his first caught stealing in 21 attempts, ending a club record for consecutive stolen bases. ... The Rangers went 14-12 in June after a 9-20 May. It was the first time since 1979 they followed a 20-loss month with a winning record. ... Gagne has not allowed a run in 12 road appearances this season.

It just doesn't seem to be happening at the moment.

Score Summary

4th: Byrd safe at first on error by Drew: Sosa scored (Rangers 1-0 Sox)
5th: Youkilis single to left: Cora scored (Rangers 1-1 Sox)
6th: Wilkerson double to left centre: Catalanatto scored (Rangers 2-1 Sox)

Pitchers

Win - Kameron Loe (Rangers) [5-6]
Loss - Julian Tavarez (Red Sox) [5-6]
Save - Eric Gagne (Rangers) [10]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 49-31
Blue Jays: 39-42
Yankees: 37-41
Orioles: 35-45
Devil Rays: 33-47

Ah well. We're still 10.5 games ahead of the Jays and the rest of the pack. The All Star rosters have been announced. The following Red Sox have made the AL roster:

Starters

1B: David Ortiz

Pitchers

Josh Beckett
Jonathan Papelbon

Reserves

3B: Mike Lowell
OF: Manny Ramirez

Tonight is what is called the Final Vote. There are five candidates for each league that voters can vote for. Our representative on the Final Vote is Hideki Okajima. Tonight is our final game of the series against Texas. Kason Gabbard will pitch.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 4 v Rangers

Last night, we needed a win to square the series 2-2.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2007/07/02/DNhJWLsT.jpg

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

BOSTON (AP) -- A late lineup addition made the biggest difference for the Red Sox.

Eric Hinske had a bases-loaded triple and Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run double as Boston's bats came alive in a 7-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday night.

Hitting just .119 with runners in scoring position while scoring only eight runs in their previous four games, the Red Sox were searching for a key hit. Hinske, inserted into the lineup after Kevin Youkilis was scratched was a sore left quadriceps during batting practice, provided the key drive.

When Hinske arrived at the ballpark, he didn't know he'd be starting.

"I was told during batting practice," he said. "I just tried to get prepared as I always do."

With the Red Sox ahead 4-3 in the fifth, Hinske sent a drive over center fielder Kenny Lofton, and that ball bounced onto the track and short-hopped the wall.

"It was a great swing, but from where I was sitting, we didn't see the ball come down right away," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "It was three big runs, obviously. It's nice to be rewarded for a good swing."

Boston salvaged a split of the four-game series after scoring seven runs in the first three games against Texas, which has the second-worst ERA in the major leagues. Coming into the series, the Red Sox had been swept in a three-game series at Seattle.

Kason Gabbard (2-0), making his second start in Curt Schilling's rotation spot, held the Rangerlalalalaless for 4 1/3 innings before Gerald Laird singled through the shortstop hole. Gabbard allowed three runs, three hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings, striking out five.

Mike Timlin, Javier Lopez, Kyle Snyder and Hideki Okajima combined for two-hit relief.

Julio Lugo, back in the lineup after being benched the previous three games, went 0-for-2 with two walks and ilalalalaless his last 33 at-bats, dropping his average to .189. The crowd chanted "Let's Go Lugo!" when he came to bat with the bases loaded in the seventh before turning the cheers to boos when he grounded out.

Brad Wilkerson hit a three-run homer for Texas, which went 4-3 on its trip, the Rangers' first winning road trip since July 13-23 last year (6-5).

"You'd like to do more, but you can't expect to win three straight ballgames against the Boston Red Sox, not the way they can swing the bats," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "But once again our pitching was outstanding. We just had trouble with command and they made us pay for it by making us throw a lot of pitches."

Brandon McCarthy (4-5) gave up four runs, six hits and three walks over 3 2-3 innings in his first appearance since June 9. McCarthy, activated earlier in the day, had been on the disabled list because of a blister on his right middle finger.

"I didn't feel comfortable from moment one," McCarthy said. "It felt like waking up on Christmas morning and trying to pitch against the Boston Red Sox. My mechanics were all over."

Pedroia hit a two-run double in the third and scored when Manny Ramirez doubled off the center-field wall for a 3-0 lead. Boston could have had more, right fielder Marlon Byrd ended the inning with a diving catch on Mike Lowell's liner to end the inning.

Jacoby Ellsbury increased the lead to 4-0 in the fourth when he singled, stole second and scored from second on a wild pitch that bounced off Laird and rolled near the Rangers' dugout. Ellsbury took his cue from third base coach De Marlo Hale.

"I had my mind made up early," he said. "I saw the wild pitch early and I saw De Marlo waving me as I was almost by him."

Wilkerson's homer in the fifth cut the lead to 4-3. Hinske tripled in the bottom half.

Game notes
Schilling is on the disabled list because of shoulder tendinitis. He played catch and is expected to do that "several more times" in the next week or so, the club announced. ... Rangers INF Jerry Hairston Jr. was removed from the starting lineup just before game time because of a sore left knee. ... Ray Allen, acquired by the Boston Celtics from Seattle last Thursday, threw an impressive ceremonial first pitch with decent movement to CF Coco Crisp. It didn't seem to bother Crisp, who missed his fourth straight game due to a sore thumb on his catching hand. "I think he was surprised a little bit," Allen said with a smile. "I don't know if he thought I had something on it or I turned the ball over. I played baseball." ... Francona said after the game that he plans to start Crisp in center Tuesday.

A nice win to square the series.

Score Summary

3rd: Pedroia double to deep right: Hinske and Ellsbury scored (Rangers 0-2 Sox)
3rd: Ramirez double to deep centre: Pedroia scored (Rangers 0-3 Sox)
4th: Ellsbury scored on wild pitch by Eyre (Rangers 0-4 Sox)
5th: Wilkerson HOME RUN to right: Byrd and Laird scored (Rangers 3-4 Sox)
5th: Hinske triple to deep centre: Ramirez, Drew and Varitek scored (Rangers 3-7 Sox)

Pitchers

Win - Kason Gabbard (Red Sox) [2-0]
Loss - Brandon McCarthy (Rangers) [4-5]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 50-31
Blue Jays: 40-42
Yankees: 38-41
Orioles: 36-45
Devil Rays: 33-48

I might regret saying this, but the next series is ideally timed. We now begin a 3 game series at home to the Devil rays, who are bottom of our division. The first matchup is tonight, and sees Dice-K on the hunt for his 10th win of the season against Rays leftie Scott Kazmir.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 1 v Rays

Last night, Dice-K showed us all what he can do.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2007/07/03/IAJLRnSm.jpg

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

BOSTON (AP) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka got the run support he's been lacking -- and from an unlikely source.

Julio Lugo went 2-for-3 with two RBIs to break an 0-for-33 slump, and Matsuzaka pitched eight shutout innings on Tuesday night to lead Boston to a 4-1 victory over Tampa Bay. It was the Devil Rays' ninth straight loss.

"I think you could see him take that deep breath," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said after Lugo recorded his first hit since June 14 and first RBI since June 8. "The two runs he drove in were huge, not just for him to feel good about himself, but for our ball club to have a little cushion."

Matsuzaka (10-5) struck out nine while allowing four hits and one walk, fanning countryman Akinori Iwamura for the third time with a runner on third to finish the eighth. The Japanese ace has allowed two runs or fewer in six consecutive starts.

"I don't think that it's complete, but I do feel like I'm getting back to a good spot," Matsuzaka said through a translator. "I've really been experiencing that over the past few starts."

But even while lowering his ERA from 4.83 to 3.53, Matsuzaka has won just three times since May 25, getting a total of seven runs of support in his six previous starts. Lugo took care of that with a two-run single off Scott Kazmir (5-5) in Boston's three-run second.

"As a starting pitcher, having run support early on in the game of course helps," Matsuzaka said. "But I wasn't too worried about the score. It's similar to before; I wasn't worried."

Kazmir allowed four runs, three earned, and six hits while striking out six in six innings. He walked three -- all in a row, throwing 10 consecutive balls -- to load the bases with nobody out in the second.

"Take away the second inning and it'd be a whole different ballgame," Kazmir said. "It felt like a couple were good pitches. But once you get an ump in ball mode it's tough to get him out. So I just had to bear down and go down the middle."

Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon said he was encouraged when Kazmir retired the Red Sox in order in the first.

"The way he began tonight, I thought he was going to be righteous," Maddon said. "He was just pounding the zone -- boom, boom, boom. Then he lost it, and then he recaptured it."

Jason Varitek made it 1-0 with an RBI groundout, and one out later Lugo singled to center to give Boston a 3-0 lead. The sold-out Fenway Park crowd -- which had taken to booing the shortstop lately -- rose to its feet to applaud the end of his 0-for-33 slump -- the longest for a Red Sox player since 1991.

Lugo showed little reaction, but outfielder Manny Ramirez gave him a lengthy hug in the infield on their way out to their positions after the inning was over.

"You can't not think about things like that," Lugo said when asked if the slump was on his mind. "They've been very supportive, especially Manny."

Carlos Pena of the Devil Raylalalala his 19th homer in the ninth off Jonathan Papelbon.

Lugo, who signed a four-year, $36-million contract on the same day as Matsuzaka's much-heralded flight to Boston, also singled in the seventh and got picked off first base. He was the only batter on either team with more than one hit, raising his average to .194; it had been .265 on May 14.

Game notes
CF Coco Crisp returned from a four-game absence due to a sprained left thumb. He made a nice play on Iwamura's sixth-inning shot off the Green Monster. But the throw to second was dropped after the tag by 2B Dustin Pedroia. Umpire Gerry Davis was about to call Iwamura out, but signaled safe when the ball rolled away. ... The Devil Rays and Red Sox play 18 of their final 81 games against each other. ... Tampa Bay reinstated RHP Juan Salas from the restricted list after he served a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug testing program. RHP Tim Corcoran (right elbow strain) was transferred to the 60-day DL. ... Ramirez went 0-for-2 against Kazmir, making him 4-for-31 against the Devil Rays lefty in his career. That's Ramirez's lowest average against any pitcher whom he's faced at least 30 times. ... The Red Sox planned to announce on Wednesday that they have reached a strategic alliance with the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Leagues.

Awesome. But the Rays are a bad team at present.

Score Summary

2nd: Varitek grounded out to second: Ramirez scored (Rays 0-1 Sox)
2nd: Lugo single to centre: Youkilis and Lowell scored (Rays 0-3 Sox)
6th: Varitek hit sac. fly to right: Youkilis scored (Rays 0-4 Sox)
9th: Pena HOME RUN to right (Rays 1-4 Sox)

Pitchers

Win - Dice-K Matsuzaka (Red Sox) [10-5]
Loss - Scott Kazmir (Devil Rays) [5-5]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 51-31
Yankees: 39-41
BBlue Jays: 40-43
Orioles: 36-46
Devil Rays: 33-49

Great stuff. Also nice to see Julio Lugo get a hit after 33 hitless at bats. Tonight, Tim 'KnuckleballAndNothingElse' Wakefield will pitch in the second game of the series.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 2 v Devil Rays

Last night, Tim Wakefield pitched, and was bailed out again by some useful hitting.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2007/07/04/Vtd9RvvP.jpg

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

BOSTON (AP) -- There hasn't been much need for a telephone in the visitors' bullpen at Fenway Park lately. Finally pressed into use, it went on the fritz.

All-Star Mike Lowell and a lineup of Red Sox reserves helped Boston emerge from a monthlong batting slump and beat Tampa Bay 7-5 on Wednesday, the Devil Rays' 10th consecutive loss. The only thing slowing Boston down on its way to a third consecutive victory was when Tampa Bay's phone went out and a Red Sox bat boy had to run out to right field with a message.

"We tried to get the two guys up, and no phone. With all the good things the Red Sox do, they failed to pay their phone bill, I guess," Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "I hated to stop the game there, but I had to."

Tim Wakefield (9- shut down Tampa Bay for six innings before struggling in the seventh. But he had plenty of support from hilalalalalalalas, who have totaled 18 runs in the last three wins after scoring two or fewer runs 13 times over 24 games before that.

"Obviously, our offense made it a whole lot easier to pitch," said Wakefield, who cruised through the first six innings before three of the first four batters in the seventh singled. "They scored a lot of runs today and our defense played unbelievable."

Wakefield left with a 7-1 lead, but he was charged with four runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings, walking two and striking out two for his fourth win in five starts. After Javier Lopez allowed Tampa Bay to cut the deficit to 7-5, Manny Delcarmen struck out pinch-hitter Jonny Gomes to end the seventh.

Delcarmen followed with a perfect eighth, and Jonathan Papelbon pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 20th save.

"Getting those four outs and getting the ball to Pap's hands, it was a phenomenal job," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "He is getting some pretty big outs in pretty big situations. ... I look forward to seeing some more exciting stuff out of him in the second half."

Edwin Jackson (1-9), coming off his two best starts of the season, allowed seven runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out five. Jackson had hopes for more, coming off back-to-back starts in which he picked up his only win of the season and then a no-decision that was his best start.

"We are trying to stop all the madness. Our guys are trying so darn hard you could almost see them grinding away between the ears," Maddon said. "Edwin Jackson threw the ball as well as I have ever seen him. And what I saw today, you could see where you could project this young man to be a member of a championship starting rotation."

Jackson allowed most of the damage with two outs, and he also failed to finish batters off after getting ahead in the count.

"I just didn't put people away when I had to," he said.

He faced a Boston lineup for a day game after a night game that was without starters Manny Ramirez, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia and Jason Varitek. But Lowell and Doug Mirabelli each drove in a pair of runs, and Alex Cora brought home another with a safety squeeze after Coco Crisp tripled to lead off the first.

J.D. Drew had a pair of doubles for the Red Sox, who won for the third time in four games to follow a slump in which they lost five of six.

Carl Crawford, who had just three hits in his previous 34 at-bats, had three hits on Wednesday. He greeted Javier Lopez with a two-run double to cut the deficit to 7-3 after Wakefield loaded the bases with one out in the seventh.

Carlos Pena singled in two more runs to make it 7-5 before Delcarmen struck out Gomes to end the inning.

Game notes
The Red Sox improved to 20-6 in day games, the best mark in the majors. ... Crawford got his 900th career hit. He is the 23rd player since World War II to reach the mark before his 26th birthday. ... Tampa Bay placed reliever Al Reyes on the 15-day disabled list with a mild rotator cuff strain and recalled LHP Jon Switzer from Triple-A Durham. ... Wakefield has a decision in all 17 of his starts.

More uninspiring stuff from Wakefield.

Score Summary

1st: Cora sacrificed to pitcher: Crisp scored (Rays 0-1 Sox)
2nd: Casanova HOME RUN to left (Rays 1-1 Sox)
4th: Ellsbury double to deep centre: Ortiz scored (Rays 1-2 Sox)
4th: Mirabelli single to right centre: Lowell and Ellsbury scored (Rays 1-4 Sox)
5th: Drew double to left: Cora scored (Rays 1-5 Sox)
5th: Lowell HOME RUN to left: Drew scored (Rays 1-7 Sox)
7th: Crawford double to left: Wigginton and Casanova scored (Rays 3-7 Sox)
7th: Pena single to centre: Iwamura and Crawford scored (Rays 5-7 Sox)

Pitchers

Win - Tim Wakefield (Red Sox) [9-8]
Loss - Edwin Jackson (Devil Rays) [1-9]
Save - Jonathan Papelbon (Red Sox) [20]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 52-31
Blue Jays: 41-43
Yankees: 39-42
Orioles: 37-46
Devil Rays: 33-50

Great. Tonight, Josh Beckett will have his broom out, as we look to sweep the Rays.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 3 v Devil Rays

Last night, Beckett's broom was in full working order.

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

BOSTON (AP) -- Josh Beckett made his case to start the All-Star Game on Thursday night. Too bad he can't bring the whole Red Sox lineup with him.

Beckett matched the major-league lead with his 12th victory, getting a first-inning grand slam from Coco Crisp and a career-high five hits from Mike Lowell to lead Boston to a 15-4 victory over Tampa Bay. It was the Devil Rays' 11th consecutive loss.

"A lot of runs," Beckett said with a sense of awe. "These guys never cease to amaze me with the way they swing the bats."

The Devil Rays were swept for the third straight series. A fourth this weekend in Kansas City would pull them within one of the franchise record of 15 straight losses set in 2002.

The Red Sox and their major league-leading six All-Stars headed to Detroit for a series against the Tigers and Jim Leyland, who will manage the AL squad in San Francisco. Beckett (12-2) is among those in contention to start Tuesday night's game.

"There's some other guys as deserving as I am. I'll be happy if he chooses me," Beckett said. "It's a whole new experience for me. It's a very exciting time."

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said he wouldn't campaign for Beckett to start, though he expected to chat with Leyland in Detroit.

"He doesn't need my help," said Francona, who managed in the All-Star Game in 2005, a year after Boston won the World Series. "I'm aware of how things work, and I don't want to be a pain in the neck."

Lowell and Crisp each drove in five of Boston's season-high 15 runs; the 21 hits were also a season high. David Ortiz went 3-for-5 with four runs as the Red Sox led 6-0 after one inning, 9-0 after two and 13-2 after three.

Beckett had already struck out seven by then. He finished with nine, allowing three runs, nine hits and a walk in six innings.

J.P. Howell (1-3) allowed six runs, six hits and two walks, retiring just two of the 10 batters he faced before being chased in the first inning. He even needed good defense to do that: Ortiz was retired on a fielder's choice line drive off the first baseman's glove for the first out in the inning.

After two more singles, Howell walked Jason Varitek with the bases loaded and Crisp sent a high fly just inside the left-field foul pole and over the Green Monster.

"I was trying way too hard out there. I tried to pitch the whole game in one inning in my mind," Howell said. "After the grand slam, I thought we were still in it. But after that, it was over."

Crisp came up with the bases loaded again three more times: in the third, drawing a walk to match his career high for RBIs; again in the sixth, when he hit into an inning-ending double play, and again in the eighth, when he struck out.

"I was hoping it wouldn't happen that last time. I'm tired," joked Crisp, who also doubled in the fifth and made an over-the-shoulder basket catch on Jonny Gomes' drive to deep center in the sixth. "That speaks a lot for our team. For me or anybody to come up with the bases loaded four times is pretty amazing."

Delmon Young went 3-for-4 and Brendan Harris drove in two runs for Tampa Bay.

Game notes
After the game, the Red Sox said they would send outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury back to Triple-A. ... Boston has scored 97 runs for Beckett while he's in the game, tops in the majors. ... Devil Rays catcher Dioner Navarro was hurt when he collided with Beckett behind first base on a grounder in the sixth. He was helped off the field with trainers holding him under each arm. Raul Casanova pinch-ran for him. Navarro was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for precautionary X-rays. ... The Devil Rays signed their 41st-round draft selection, right-hander Austin Hinkle of Coastal Carolina. ... Only five pitchers in Red Sox history have had more than 12 victories at the midseason break. Just two -- Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez -- have done it since 1974. ... Boston left-hander Hideki Okajima was added to the AL All-Star roster as the winner of the Internet voting. ... Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis was out of the starting lineup for the third time in four games with a strained hamstring. ... The Red Sox signed first-round draft pick left-hander Nick Hagadone along with eight international free agents.

Great stuff.

Score Summary

1st: Ramirez single to left: Drew scored (Rays 0-1 Sox)
1st: Varitek walked: Ortiz scored (Rays 0-2 Sox)
1st: Crisp HOME RUN to left: Ramirez, Lowell and Varitek scored (Rays 0-6 Sox)
2nd: Lowell HOME RUN to left: Ortiz and Ramirez scored (Rays 0-9 Sox)
3rd: Harris double to left: Gomes and Iwamura scored (Rays 2-9 Sox)
3rd: Lowell single to right: Ortiz scored (Rays 2-10 Sox)
3rd: Crisp scored: Ramirez scored (Rays 2-11 Sox)
3rd: Lugo single to centre: Lowell and Varitek scored (Rays 2-13 Sox)
6th: Navarro reached on single to first: Young scored (Rays 3-13 Sox)
6th: Lowell single to left: Pedroia scored (Rays 3-14 Sox)
6th: Mirabelli walked: Ortiz scored (Rays 3-15 Sox)
7th: Young single to centre: Cantu scored (Rays 4-15 Sox)

Pitchers

Win - Josh Beckett (Red Sox) [12-2]
Loss - J.P Howell (Devil Rays) [1-3]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 53-31
Blue Jays: 41-43
Yankees: 40-42
Orioles: 37-47
Devil Rays: 33-51

Great stuff. A truly brilliant win. The Final Vote for the AL has been ended. Guess who won?

Okajima To Represent Sox As Final Vote Winner

Originally Posted by RedSox.com

BOSTON -- Red Sox Nation -- which now extends all the way to Japan -- proved what a powerful force it can be once again when Hideki Okajima was announced Thursday as the winner of the American League's Monster 2007 All-Star Final Vote ballot.
Okajima, who finished with more than 4.4 million votes, is the third Red Sox player to win the Final Vote competition since its inception in 2002. Johnny Damon won the inaugural AL vote that summer, and Jason Varitek -- the current captain of the Red Sox -- captured the honor in 2003.

The Fenway faithful, many of which had been clicking away on their computers in support of Okajima the last few days, had a chance to shower the lefty with applause during Thursday night's game against the Devil Rays.

Prior to the bottom of the sixth inning, the jumbo scoreboard in right-center field said the following:

"Congratulations to the Newest member of the 2007 All-Star Squad, voted in by fans from Boston to Japan, Hideki Okajima."

The crowd erupted and Okajima, standing in the bullpen, gave a plethora of bows and hand waves to the supportive audience.

"They showed him in the bullpen, the fans showed him how much they seem to appreciate him," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "This is probably one of the few places things like that happen. I was very excited and proud all the way around. He's very deserving. And he seemed genuinely touched. That's pretty neat."

As for the vote itself, Okajima got massive support from two continents.

"I appreciate all the people who voted for me," Okajima said through translator Jeff Yamaguchi. "American baseball fans and Japanese baseball fans, teammates, everybody. Big thanks to all the people who supported me."

Though Daisuke Matsuzaka was the player from Japan who got all the hype when the Red Sox acquired him over the offseason, Okajima has been every bit as valuable to the success of the team.

"You look at the numbers and it should be a no-brainer," said fellow Red Sox All-Star Josh Beckett. "He belongs on that team. The only reason he wasn't on that team before was because he's not a closer all the time. It's tough for those middle guys to get on there. It's well deserved."

Craig Shipley, vice president/international director of scouting for the Red Sox, was largely responsible for the signing of both Japanese pitchers. So, too, was Jon Deeble, who is Pacific Rim coordinator for the team.

Fittingly, Shipley and Deeble were together in Japan on other business when it was announced that Okajima had been selected for the All-Star Game, which will be played on July 10.

"Jon and I are in Japan, we're very excited that Oki made the team," Shipley said in a Thursday evening conference call. "I'm sure we're not as excited as he is, but it's a great honor. He had a great first half. It's a good story. It's already a big story here. It's a bigger story now that he's made it."

For Okajima has given the Red Sox a front-line setup man to put in front of All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon. In fact, Okajima will have plenty of familiar company in San Francisco for the All-Star festivities, where he'll be joined by teammates Papelbon, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Beckett and Mike Lowell.

The six All-Stars are the most the Sox have had since 2002, and it's the most of any MLB team this season. It's the first time that the franchise has had three pitchers on the All-Star team in the same season.

Okajima trailed Tigers right-hander Jeremy Bonderman as of late Monday afternoon but then catapulted to the top and stayed there. Also on the ballot were Twins setup man Pat Neshek, Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay and Angels right-handed starter Kelvim Escobar. Votes were conducted online at MLB.com.

Okajima, who dubbed himself a "hero in the dark" in Spring Training, has been arguably as valuable as any member of the Red Sox this season.

And even now that he's an All-Star, he would still prefer to keep a low profile.

"Still a hero in the shadow," said Okajima. "The hero is still Daisuke Matsuzaka."

A solid veteran during his 12 years in Nippon Professional Baseball, Okajima has been dominant for the Red Sox, posting a 0.88 ERA in his first 38 Major League outings. He has held opponents to a .156 average and has 8.12 strikeouts per nine innings.

"The team used me in very important situations and I was able to perform good, so that was very good that I could come up with a good performance," said Okajima.

The key to Okajima's emergence has been his changeup, which dives like a splitter. Okajima basically created the pitch while experimenting with the Major League-sized baseball in December. The baseball used in the Major Leagues is said to be slicker and a little bigger and heavier than the one used in Nippon Professional Baseball.

Okajima's emergence has been a big bright spot for the Red Sox, who have led the American League East by a comfortable margin for most of the first half.

"It's been great to see," said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein. "He's been a vital member of the bullpen and of the team since we broke camp in April. He didn't have his curveball in Spring Training. And instead of worrying about it, he went out and further developed his changeup, and made that a plus-plus pitch for him. Now he's got his curveball back, he's locating his fastball on both sides and showing great makeup on the mound as well. So he's done an excellent job."

Nice. Tonight, we travel to Detroit in our last series before the All Star game. Julian Tavarez will pitch in Motor City.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 1 @ Tigers

Same old same old for Tavarez.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2007/07/06/wJsA9vBp.jpg

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

DETROIT (AP) -- The Detroit Tigers dominated the Red Sox 9-2 Friday night in the opener of the three-game series that is Boston's only scheduled visit to the Motor City this year.

All-Star shortstop Carlos Guillen won't be surprised if the Red Sox are back for the AL championship series.

"We are the two best teams, maybe with Anaheim," Guillen said, referring to the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels.

For at least one night, the highest-scoring offense in baseball was too much for the team with the best record in the majors.

Curtis Granderson led off the fifth with a home run and Marcus Thames added a grand slam in the inning to make Detroit starter Andrew Miller (4-2) comfortable again. The Tigers have scored 51 runs in Miller's six starts.

The aw-shucks rookie with a patchy beard and wicked left arm shrugged off anything he's done to receive the run support.

"They're averaging a lot of runs for everybody," Miller said after giving up one run and three hits over seven innings. "It's pretty unbelievable the way the offense is right now."

The Tigers have scored 27 runs in three straight wins -- helping them move into a tie with Cleveland atop the AL Central -- and are averaging six runs a game.

Boston, which had won four straight, is 53-32 and leads the AL East by 11 games.

Julian Tavarez (5-7) allowed a season-high eight runs over 4 2/3 innings to lose his third straight start.

"This was my worst outing," he said.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona chose to intentionally walk Sean Casey to load the bases with two outs and Tavarez was a strike away from making the decision work.

"We were down 4-1, and we didn't want to go to the pen in the fifth, so we walked Casey to try to get Julian against Thames," Francona said. "That worked out about as badly as it could have."

Tavarez contributed to the move backfiring.

"I couldn't believe he threw me a fastball because he had me down 1-2," Thames said. "He's usually a junk pitcher and he tried to sneak a fastball past me, and he left it up."

Granderson made sure the Tigers excelled in every phase with a picture-perfect throw.

After Wily Mo Pena tripled to lead off the third, Jeff Bailey hit a fly to center field in his first major league at-bat. Granderson caught it and fired a strike to home plate, where Pena was out after sliding into and toppling over catcher Mike Rabelo.

"It took some starch out of them," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said.

Francona agreed, even though Coco Crisp had an RBI single later in the third.

"That was a great throw, one of the better ones you'll ever see," Francona said. "We came right back, but that's like a big slam dunk the way it fires up the crowd."

After Tavarez held Detroit scoreless for three innings, the Tigers went ahead 3-1 in the fourth.

Gary Sheffield led off the inning with a single, advanced a base on a throwing error and scored on Magglio Ordonez's single to tie it. Thamelalalala a sacrifice fly to put the Tigers ahead and Brandon Inge added an RBI double.

Granderson hit the first pitch of the fifth over the right-field fence for his 12th homer, giving Detroit a three-run lead. Thames' third career grand slam, and ninth homer of the season, made it 8-1.

Boston had a tough time against Miller, a hard-throwing lefty, who responded well as he faced a two-on, one-out jam in the seventh.

Leyland walked out to the mound and the crowd rose to cheer for Miller, anticipating it being the end of his outing, and roared when Leyland went back to the dugout without making a change.

His next pitch was a 94-mph strike to Bailey and he got out of the inning with a groundout and a liner.

Miller matched a season-high with six strikeouts and set a career mark with four walks in his 109-pitch outing.

"He's got a tremendous arm with good stuff," Francona said. "As he progresses and learns command, he's going to be a special kid."

Game notes
Tigers INF Neifi Perez became the first player penalized for testing positive for a stimulant under Major League Baseball's drug program Friday, a 25-game suspension that will cost him about $400,000 of his $2.5 million salary. ... Boston DH David Ortiz and Detroit C Ivan Rodriguez weren't in the lineup, getting a day to rest. ... Red Sox 1B Kevin Youkilis (hamstring) was out of the starting lineup for the fourth time in five games. ... Thames matched a career high with five RBIs. ... Boston won three of four games against Detroit at home in May.

Donkey. He must surely be another pitcher who's place is under threat from players like Lester.

Score Summary

3rd: Crisp single to centre: Lugo scored (Sox 1-0 Tigers)
4th: Ordonez single to right: Sheffield scored (Sox 1-1 Tigers)
4th: Thamelalalala sac. fly to centre: Ordonez scored (Sox 1-2 Tigers)
4th: Inge double to deep left: Guillen scored (Sox 1-3 Tigers)
5th: Granderson HOME RUN to right (Sox 1-4 Tigers)
5th: Thames HOME RUN to left: Polanco, Sheffield and Casey scored (Sox 1-8 Tigers)
8th: Raburn single to left centre: Polanco scored (Sox 1-9 Tigers)
9th: Mirabelli HOME RUN to left (Sox 2-9 Tigers)

Pitchers

Win - Andrew Miller (Tigers) [4-2]
Loss - Julian Tavarez (Red Sox0 [5-7]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 53-32
Blue Jays: 42-43
Yankees: 41-42
Orioles: 37-48
Devil Rays: 34-51

Ah well. Tonight, Kason Gabbard will pitch, to try and rectify the situation.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 2 @ Tigers

Last night, we probably should have won. However, the usually dependable Papelbon gave up the winning run. Although it was in the 13th.

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

DETROIT (AP) -- For most players, a game-winning single in the 13th inning would be a source of joy.

For Ivan Rodriguez, though, the overwhelming feeling on Saturday night was relief.

Rodriguez's two-out single off Jonathan Papelbon gave the Detroit Tigers a 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

It also meant Rodriguez was done squatting behind home plate after nearly 4 1/2 hours.

"I had caught 13 innings, and I was really tired," Rodriguez said. "That guy's not easy to hit, but I just wanted to drive something."

David Ortiz reached base six times for Boston -- a homer, double and four walks. He was intentionally walked in each of his final three plate appearances.

"I don't mind taking walks -- that's always been part of my game," he said. "I just have to be patient and wait for the right situation. I saw my pitch once tonight and I didn't miss it."

The Red Sox, though, didn't give Ortiz any help, leaving a dozen runners on base. Boston was 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position after Ortiz's first-inning homer.

"This is frustrating after a long night," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "We need to make a quick turnaround for tomorrow afternoon."

While the Tigers avoided their 1,000th defeat to the Red Sox, they did lose All-Star second baseman Placido Polanco in the eighth inning to a strained ribcage muscle. His status is day-to-day.

Papelbon (0-2) hit Gary Sheffield to start the 13th, and with one out, Sheffield stole second.

Carlos Guillen took a called third strike, but Rodriguez lined a 1-0 pitch into the right-center field gap.

The 14-time All-Star thought the game was over, but Red Sox center fielder Coco Crisp nearly made a spectacular diving catch.

"He made it close -- it hit off his glove," Rodriguez said. "I hit that ball pretty hard, but he almost got it. That would have been a great play."

Jason Grilli (3-2), the sixth Tigers pitcher, got the win with a scoreless inning of relief.

"That was two great teams battling tooth and nail all night," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "I'm just glad we got one more run than they did."

Todd Jones got out of a 10th-inning jam when Manny Ramirez grounded into an inning-ending double play with runners on the corners, but All-Star Hideki Okajima matched him in the bottom of the inning.

The Tigers had the bases loaded with one out, but Okajima got Curtis Granderson to ground into a force at the plate, and Omar Infante lined out to end the inning.

Detroit loaded the bases again in the 11th, but Craig Monroe popped out to end the inning.

In the 12th, it was Boston's turn as pinch-hitter Kevin Youkilis flew out with two outs and the bases loaded.

The game drew a crowd of 44,193 -- the second-largest in Comerica Park's eight-year history and the largest for a night game.

Neither starter got a decision. Detroit's Jeremy Bonderman allowed two runs in eight innings, striking out nine, while Kason Gabbard gave up two runs in 6 1/3 innings.

Bonderman has struggled all season at the start of games, and the Red Sox took advantage in the first. With one out, Dustin Pedroia tripled and Ortiz followed with a long homer to right, ending a 13-game drought.

Gabbard walked the first two batters in the fifth, and Rodriguez moved them up with a sacrifice bunt. Eric Hinske reached over the tarp to grab Marcus Thames' foul pop, but Monroe broke out of a slump with a two-run double over the head of Ramirez in left.

"I don't care about myself," Monroe said. "I just care that we got a big win."

Boston had several chances to go back in front, but couldn't get a key hit.

Ortiz led off the sixth with a double and Ramirez flew out to deep center, with Ortiz taking third, but Bonderman retired J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell to end the inning.

In the eighth, Pedroia doubled with one out. Ortiz was walked, and Ramirez hit into a force before Drew struck out again.

Crisp led off the 10th with a double. Julio Lugo failed twice to get down a bunt, but succeeded in getting the runner to third with a groundout to short.

The Tigers then intentionally walked Ortiz for the second time, and Ramirez grounded to Brandon Inge again, this time for a 5-4-3 double play.

"That was great pitching," Ortiz said. "They had everyone coming out of the bullpen."

Game notes
This year's opener against Toronto drew a stadium-record 44,297 fans. Saturday's sellout was the eighth straight, the longest streak in stadium history. ... Ortiz went 2-for-2 against Bonderman after coming into the game with a career .105 (2-for-19) mark against the Tigers pitcher. ... Opposing hitters are batting .373 against Bonderman in the first inning. ... The Red Sox are now 999-940 against Detroit.

It's a shame.

Score Summary

1st: Ortiz HOME RUN to right: Pedroia scored (Sox 2-0 Tigers)
5th: Monroe double to deep left: Ordonez and Guillen scored (Sox 2-2 Tigers)
13th: Rodriguez single to deep right centre: Sheffield scored (Sox 2-3 Tigers)

Pitchers

Win - Jason Grilli (Tigers) [3-2]
Loss - Jonathan Papelbon (Red Sox) [0-2]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 53-33
Blue Jays: 42-44
Yankees: 41-43
Orioles: 38-48
Devil Rays: 34-52

We appear to be a little too inconsistent. Tonight is our last game before the All Star break. Dice-K will pitch, looking to regain some respectibility for the Sox.

[Tealey7]

The First Half Stats

The first half of the MLB season is over already. Doesn't time fly when you have a 10 game lead in the AL East? Here's the stats for the first half, courtesy of ESPN.com.

Batting

Top 10 Batting Averages

Curt Schilling: .500
David Murphy: .500
Jacoby Ellsbury: .375
Kevin Youkilis: .328
Dustin Pedroia: .318
David Ortiz: .314
Mike Lowell: .300
Manny Ramirez: .284
Jason Varitek: .279
Alex Cora: .278

Top 10 Most HRs

David Ortiz: 14
Mike Lowell: 14
Manny Ramirez: 11
Kevin Youkilis: 9
Jason Varitek: 8
J.D Drew: 6
Julio Lugo: 5
Coco Crisp: 5
Wily Mo Pena: 4
Doug Mirabelli: 3

Top 10 Most RBIs

Mike Lowell: 63
David Ortiz: 52
Manny Ramirez: 45
Kevin Youkilis: 44
Julio Lugo: 40
Jason Varitek: 36
J.D Drew: 33
Coco Crisp: 28
Dustin Pedroia: 25
Alex Cora: 15

Pitching

All W-L Records

Josh Beckett: 12-2
Dice-K Matsuzaka: 10-6
Tim Wakefield: 9-8
Curt Schilling: 6-4
Julian Tavarez: 5-7
Brendan Donnelly: 2-1
Kason Gabbard: 2-0
Hideki Okajima: 2-0 [4 Saves]
Mike Timlin: 1-0 [1 Save]
J.C Romero: 1-0 [1 Save]
Joel Pineiro: 1-1
Javier Lopez: 1-1
Kyle Snyder: 1-1
Manny Delcarmen: 0-0
Jonathan Papelbon: 0-2 [20 Saves]
Devern Hansack: 0-1

It's looking, dare I say it, good. Tonight we open up our second half of the season at home to Toronto. Tim Wakefield will pitch.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 2 v Blue Jays

After a decent 7-4 win the night before, last night we came back down to earth with a bump, due to Julian Tavarez.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2007/07/13/ZLT998tJ.jpg

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

BOSTON (AP) -- Playing in his first All-Star Game this week, Alex Rios didn't get an at-bat. The way he's been pounding the ball since he seems to want to make sure he gets another chance.

Rios had three hits and drove in the go-ahead run, and Shaun Marcum survived a shaky start to win for the first time in nearly a month as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 6-5 on Friday night.

Rios and Reed Johnson hit consecutive RBI doubles in the sixth inning to erase a 5-4 deficit and help the Blue Jays snap a four-game losing streak to the Red Sox. Toronto (44-45) moved into a tie with the New York Yankees for second place in the American League East.

Rios, who also doubled and scored in the third, improved to 6-for-8 with three doubles and a homer in two games since the All-Star break. He halalalala safely in eight straight games, batting .500 with five doubles and 10 RBIs.

"I've seen him awfully good," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "He may take it to a new level now that he's played in that All-Star game. I think he probably enjoyed that."

Rios was voted by his peers into the 2006 All-Star Game, but missed it while on the disabled list with a staph infection in his left leg. He was an All-Star again this year, but didn't get into the game until the ninth inning -- as a defensive replacement.

Despite not getting an at-bat in the game, Rios finished second to Los Angeles Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero in the Home Run Derby, launching 12 homers in the second round to advance to the final. Rios has continued to hit the ball hard ever since.

"I'm seeing the ball good," Rios said. "The first couple games I've felt great."

The Blue Jays scored two runs with two outs off Boston reliever Kyle Snyder (1-2) in the sixth to take the lead for good.

Vernon Wells drew a two-out walk, then scored on Johnson's double to right. Johnson scored the go-ahead run on Rios' hard-hit double to left.

Snyder allowed two runs and two hits in 1 2/3 innings for the Red Sox, who have lost four of five but still lead the AL East by 10 games.

Manny Ramirez homered and drove in three runs and Mike Lowell had a two-run triple for Boston.

The Red Sox had two men on base in the bottom of the ninth, but Jeremy Accardo wrapped up his 12th save by getting David Ortiz and Ramirez out on hard liners to end the game. Accardo allowed a hit in 1 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out one.

"We've seen David [win games] so often," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "Then Manny rifles the ball to right but it didn't find the outfield grass. It was a great swing."

After allowing all five of Boston's runs in the first three innings, Marcum (5-3) settled down to earn his first win since June 16, and improve to 4-1 since joining the rotation on May 13.

Marcum, who spent the first six weeks of the season in the bullpen, allowed seven hits and one walk in six innings. He gave up three earned runs and struck out six.

In his first start since allowing a season-worst eight runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings in a 9-4 loss to Cleveland on July 7, Marcum got off to another ominous start when he gave up a two-run homer to Ramirez in the first.

Ramirez, who hadn't homered since June 20, then had an RBI single and Lowell hit his triple in a three-run third that gave the Red Sox a 5-4 lead.

But Marcum settled down, allowing one more hit -- a single by Lowell to lead off the sixth.

Boston starter Julian Tavarez struggled with his control while allowing four runs and nine hits in four innings.

"When you are always 3-1, 2-0, 3-1, 2-0, you can't do your job," Tavarez said. "You can't get comfortable. I need to go out there and get strike one right away and go from there."

Game notes
Ramirez has 54 career homers against Toronto, his most against any team. ... Boston OF J.D. Drew left the game because of tightness in his right hamstring. Drew doubled to lead off the third and later scored. He was replaced in the field by Eric Hinske in the fourth. ... Boston RHP Brendan Donnelly (strained right forearm) was scratched from his scheduled rehab assignment in Single-A Lowell after experiencing tightness in his forearm while warming up. ... At 27-20, Toronto owns the best record in the majors against Boston since 2005. ... Toronto 3B Troy Glaus had two hits and an RBI after batting just .176 in his previous 10 games.

Hm.

Score Summary

1st: Ramirez HOME RUN to left: Ortiz scored (Jays 0-2 Sox)
3rd: Johnson scored on wild pitch by Tavarez (Jays 1-2 Sox)
3rd: Glaus single to right: Rios scored (Jays 2-2 Sox)
3rd: Overbay single to right: Thomas scored (Jays 3-2 Sox)
3rd: Hill grounded into fielder's choice to third: Glaus scored (Jays 4-2 Sox)
3rd: Ramirez single to left: Drew scored (Jays 4-3 Sox)
3rd: Lowell triple to deep centre: Ramirez and Youkilis scored (Jays 4-5 Sox)
6th: Johnson double to deep right: Wells scored (Jays 5-5 Sox)
6th: Rios double to left: Johnson scored (Jays 6-5 Sox)

Pitchers

Win - Shaun Marcum (Blue Jays) [5-3]
Loss - Kyle Snyder (Red Sox) [1-2]
Save - Jeremy Accardo (Blue Jays) [12]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 54-35
Blue Jays: 44-45
Yankees: 43-44
Orioles: 39-50
Devil Rays: 35-54

Ah well. Tonight, Dice-K will pitch.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 1 v Royals

I'm really out of sync. Anyway, last night, Kason Gabbard pitched against the Royals of Kansas City. He did quite well.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2007/07/16/FJ47wbZY.jpg

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

BOSTON -- Rookie Kason Gabbard gave the Red Sox a good reason not to rush Curt Schilling back from the disabled list.

Facing more than three batters in just one inning, the lefty pitched Boston's second complete game shutout of the season -- Schilling threw the other -- and beat the Kansas City Royals 4-0 Monday night.

Gabbard (3-0) breezed through the two-hour, 18-minute game and got the last two batters, Mark Grudzielanek and Mark Teahen, to swing at third strikes. He then used his left hand one more time, making a fist and pumping it in the air as the crowd stood and applauded.

"Your adrenaline takes over, but you have to kind of settle yourself down," Gabbard said.

He struck out a career-high eight batters, walked one and hit two with pitches in his first complete game since high school. He was helped by solo homers by Dustin Pedroia and Manny Ramirez in the fourth inning and a two-run shot by David Ortiz in the sixth.

The 25-year-old Gabbard was drafted by Boston in the 29th round in 2000 but was held back by injuries.

Rookie On A Roll

Kason Gabbard's three-hit shutout of the Royals was a rare rookie feat, at least by Red Sox standards. Gabbard is the first Boston rook to toss a nine-inning shutout since Paul Quantrill blanked the Mariners in '93. Devern Hansack did it as recently as '06, but got his in a five-inning game.

"The kid has had a lot of roadblocks coming through the minor leagues," manager Terry Francona said. "He has very good stuff."

Another injury, to Schilling, gave him his latest opportunity.

Fifteen days after losing a no-hit bid on Shannon Stewart's two-out single in the ninth -- but finishing the 1-0 win at Oakland -- Schilling went on the disabled list June 22 because of shoulder tendinitis. Gabbard was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to pitch June 26, the first of four starts in which he has allowed a total of nine runs.

Schilling said he felt fine after throwing 31 pitches in a simulated game before Monday's victory. He could replace Gabbard in the rotation after making two rehabilitation appearances.

"I'm going to do what they tell me to," Gabbard said. "I'm not worried about it."

Gabbard ran into trouble only in the fifth inning when the Royals loaded the bases when Emil Brown singled, Esteban German walked and John Buck walalalala by a pitch. But Tony Pena grounded to second baseman Pedroia, who just nipped him with a strong throw.

"A game changing play," Francona said.

"I was playing up the middle and got a good jump on it," said Pedroia, who had to throw over second base umpire Larry Vanover, who crouched to get out of the way.

Gabbard began with 4 1/3 hitless innings, the second consecutive game he's done that at Fenway Park.

"Pretty good," Royals manager Buddy Bell said. "We've never seen him before."

The soft-spoken rookie finished the game with his first strikeouts since the fifth inning.

"He looked very excited to work a complete game," Boston catcher Jason Varitek said. "That's what pitchers go out there to do."

Fellow rookie Brian Bannister (5-6) worked six innings against his former teammate in the Arizona Fall League in 2004.

"I gave him a courtesy wave warming up," Bannister said.

He didn't make many mistakes either and had good control.

"I can count on one hand every single bad pitch I made," Bannister said, "and they got every one of them."

Brown had two hits, a ground ball single to right field in the fifth and an infield single to third base in the seventh. Reggie Sanders singled in the eighth. After those last two hits, Gabbard got batters to ground the ball back to him, starting double plays.

Gabbard was optioned back to Pawtucket after pitching against Atlanta May 20 but was recalled to replace Schilling.

Pedroia hit his fourth homer of the season with one out in the fourth on a full count. After Ortiz grounded out, Ramirez hit his 13th to deep left center.

Pedroia then singled with one out in the sixth and Ortiz, down 0-2 in the count, worked it to 3-2 then lined a homer that cleared the low right field wall.

Game notes
Ramirez and Ortiz homered in the same game for the fourth time this season and the 46th in their careers. ... Buck and David DeJesus. were hit by pitches, increasing to 57 the Royals' major league high total. The record of 100 was set by Houston in 1997. ... Gabbard's shutout was the first by a Boston rookie since Devern Hansack threw a five-inning shutout in the last game of last season. It was the first regulation shutout at Fenway by a Red Sox rookie since Roger Clemens on July 26, 1984, and by a Red Sox rookie lefty since Roger Moret on Sept. 24, 1971.

Nice.

Score Summary

4th Pedroia HOME RUN to left (Royals 0-1 Sox)
4th: Ramirez HOME RUN to centre (Royals 0-2 Sox)
6th: Ortiz HOME RUN to right: Pedroia scored (Royals 0-4 Sox)

Pitchers

Win - Kason Gabbard (Red Sox) [3-0]
Loss - Brian Bannister (Royals) [5-6]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 56-36
Yankees: 46-44
Blue Jays: 45-47
Orioles: 41-51
Devil Rays: 35-56

Top stuff. Tonight we play the Royals again. Believe it or not, Tim Wakefield is in search of his fourth consecutive win.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 1 v White Sox

It's been a while.

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

BOSTON (AP) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka had trouble with his control, and A.J. Pierzynski made him pay.

The White Sox catcher went 3-for-4 with three RBIs on Thursday night -- twice delivering RBI singles after Matsuzaka issued multiple walks -- and the Chicago White Sox beat the plummeting Boston Red Sox 4-2.

"A.J. came up big for us, two times," said center fielder Jerry Owens, who chased down a line drive by Manny Ramirez near the 420-foot marker to help preserve a one-run lead in the seventh.

Javier Vazquez (7-5) allowed two runs, nine hits and two walks, striking out five in 6 1/3 innings to win his fourth consecutive decision. Paul Konerko hit his 21st homer for the White Sox, and Bobby Jenks pitched the ninth for his 26th save.

Matsuzaka (11-7) allowed three runs and two hits while striking out six. But he bunched his walks together -- two in the first and three in the sixth -- and both times Pierzynski was there to drive in the runners.

"He pitched himself into a box where a single meant a few runs," Boston manager Terry Francona said.

The Red Sox have lost three straight, five of seven and eight of their last 11 since sitting a season-high 12 games up in the AL East. The New York Yankees, who lost 3-2 to the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday, remained seven games back in their increasingly realistic quest for a 10th consecutive division title.

Boston trailed 3-2 in the seventh when Dustin Pedroia singled with one out -- his third hit of the game -- and White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen pulled Vazquez so lefty Matt Thornton could face David Ortiz. Ortiz singled, bringing out righty Ryan Bukvich to face Ramirez.

Ramirez went sprawling to the dirt on the first pitch, and on a 1-1 count launched the ball to the deepest part of ballpark. But Owens chased it down in the Fenway triangle, reaching out to grab it a few yards in front of the 420-foot marker and just one step from the bullpen fence.

"I know Manny hits a lot of homers that way where he hit it," Owens said.

Kevin Youkilis, who also saw an early brushback pitch from Bukvich, struck out to end the inning.

Konerko hit a solo homer in the eighth off Hideki Okajima -- the first run allowed by the Japanese rookie in 17 innings. Okajima had not allowed a homer since John Buck hit one on the first pitch he threw in the major leagues, on Opening Day.

After the start of the game was delayed 1 hour, 56 minutes, Matsuzaka retired the first two batters and then issued two walks, followed by Pierzynski's RBI single. Matsuzaka got Jermaine Dye on a grounder to short to end the inning, the first of nine consecutive batters he retired before three straight walks to start the sixth.

With the bases loaded, Pierzynski singled home two runs to chase Matsuzaka and give Chicago a 3-2 lead.

Boston had a chance in the second, when Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek singled to lead off the inning. Lowell came around to score on two groundouts, then Coco Crisp singled.

Pedroia then got caught between first and second on his RBI single, and Crisp broke for the plate. Crisp was barely tagged out by Pierzynski, the catcher, while diving to get back to third base, ending the inning.

Game notes
Guillen said he is planning to start RHP Charlie Haeger on Tuesday against Detroit, depending on whether he works this weekend in Boston. Haeger has made three appearances, all in relief, going 0-1 with a 1.93 ERA. ... Red Sox RF J.D. Drew was out of the starting lineup to rest a balky hamstring on a wet night. ... RHP Curt Schilling threw a side session on Wednesday and is on track to start his rehab with Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday. ... Vazquez has not lost since June 11.

What's going on?

Score Summary

1st: Pierzynski single to right: Thome scored (White 1-0 Red)
2nd: Lugo grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop: Lowell scored (White 1-1 Red)
2nd: Pedroia single to right: Lugo scored (White 1-2 Red)
6th: Pierzynski single to right: Iguchi and Thome scored (White 3-2 Red)
8th: Konerko HOME RUN to left (White 4-2 Red)

Pitchers

Win - Javier Vazquez (White Sox) [7-5]
Loss - Dice-K Matsuzaka (Red Sox) [11-7]
Save - Bobby Jenks (White Sox) [26]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 56-39
Yankees: 48-45
Blue Jays: 46-49
Orioles: 42-52
Devil Rays: 37-57

Ouch. Tonight, Josh Beckett will pitch. Looking to rectify the situation.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 2 v White Sox

Last night, super-duper-Josh-Beckett pitched, to try and level this mini-series.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2007/07/21/JCYe9TMy.jpg

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

BOSTON (AP) -- A bad call deprived J.D. Drew of a three-run homer in the first inning. Turns out the Boston Red Sox had plenty of offense to help Josh Beckett.

Coco Crisp lined a go-ahead three-run triple in the fifth, Julio Lugo hit a grand slam and Drew had two doubles as Boston snapped a three-game losing streak with a 10-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.

That was plenty for Beckett (13-3) to tie C.C. Sabathia of Cleveland for the major league lead in wins -- especially since Chicago starter Jose Contreras (5-12) allowed a career-high 10 runs.

Thanks to the umpires, Contreras only gave up one run in the first.

They ruled that Drew's shot to the opposite field in left didn't clear the wall before it caromed onto the field. Drew ended up with a double and left fielder Rob Mackowiak threw out Manny Ramirez at home.

"Yeah, it was a home run," Mackowiak said. "All you can do is catch the ball, run it in and throw it back and hope that they don't call it."

Drew figured from the strange angle of the carom and the reaction of the crowd that the ball cleared the wall before ricocheting off the low protective padding in front of the first row.

The umpires "were seeing something that everybody else wasn't," Drew said. "It's frustrating in a sense, but you've got to keep battling."

Mike Port, major league baseball's vice president of umpiring, made it unanimous.

"The replay indicated that they did not rule on it correctly," Port said. "Umpires have other responsibilities, not just standing there and watching the ball."

With runners at first and second, they had to watch the bases and none of them ran closer to the wall to get a better view. Manager Terry Francona couldn't even find out who made the call and was ejected by third base umpire Tim McClelland.

"I wasn't really in a listening mood," Francona said.

He wasn't happy either with Jim Thome's three-run homer, his 16th of the season, that made it 3-1 in the third. But Chicago managed just one hit the rest of the way -- a single in the sixth by A.J. Pierzynski, who was thrown out trying for second -- and the Red Sox increased their AL East lead to eight games over the New York Yankees, who lost 14-4 to Tampa Bay.

Beckett struck out a season-high 10 and allowed four hits and two walks in six innings.

"He's just throwing 96, 97 miles per hour all game," Chicago's Jerry Owens said. "It's hard to sit on anything else, plus he's got that changeup and that curveball. When he's on, he's pretty much unhittable."

Contreras was anything but.

He allowed Crisp's three-run triple, his fifth in 14 games, that gave Boston a 4-3 lead, then gave up Lugo's grand slam, his sixth homer of the season, that made it 10-3 in the five-run eighth.

"I was pretty pleased with the way he threw," Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said. "People are going to tell me I'm crazy because they scored (10), but if you watched the whole game, he gave everything up in one inning."

Lugo extended hilalalalaing streak to 10 games by going 3-for-4 and is 19-for-38 in that span. In the 18 games before that, he was 3-for-46, lowering his batting average to .189. He is now at .225.

"Today was a good sign," he said. "Everybody contributed."

Drew and Crisp have also struggled but are improving.

"Today was our day to break out and get our swagger back," Crisp said

Contreras retired the first two batters in the first before walking David Ortiz and hitting Ramirez with a pitch. Drew then hit his non-homer. Ortiz scored, but Boston should have had three runs in the inning.

Still, Contreras dropped his fifth consecutive start after losing the lead in an odd fifth inning.

Jason Varitek began it with a walk. The infielders then overshifted to the right side and lefty Eric Hinske, starting at first to give Kevin Youkilis a rest, pushed a bunt into left field.

"I was nervous," Hinske said. "That was my first bunt hit in my whole career."

Lugo reached on a more traditional bunt when he beat Contreras' throw to first, loading the bases. Crisp then tripled just inside the first base line.

Ortiz drove in Crisp with another shot down that line but was thrown out trying for a double by Jermaine Dye. Ortiz strained his left shoulder on the slide and left for pinch-hitter Alex Cora in the seventh. Francona said the injury isn't serious.

Boston's Mike Timlin pitched a perfect seventh, giving him 14 2/3 scoreless innings in his last 10 outings.

Game notes
Former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber took batting practice before the game. ... Tadahito Iguchi struck out three times in three at-bats against Beckett then flied out in the eighth against Hideki Okajima. ... Timlin made his 987th appearance, tying Lindy McDaniel for 13th on the all-time list.

An appalling call on J.D Drew's home run. But we still hammered them.

Score Summary

1st: Drew double to left: Ortiz scored (White 0-1 Red)
3rd: Thome HOME RUN to centre: Uribe and Owens scored (White 3-1 Red)
5th: Crisp triple to right: Varitek, Hinske and Lugo scored (White 3-4 Red)
5th: Ortiz single to right: Crisp scored (White 3-5 Red)
8th: Varitek hit sac. fly to right: Ramirez scored (White 3-6 Red)
8th: Lugo HOME RUN to left: Drew, Lowell and Youkilis scored (White 3-10 Red)

Pitchers

Win - Josh Beckett (Red Sox) [13-3]
Loss - Jose Contreras (White Sox) [5-12]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 57-39
Yankees: 48-46
Blue Jays: 46-50
Orioles: 43-52
Devil Rays: 38-57

That's more like it. Tonight is the penultimate game of the series. Kason Gabbard, doing some good work filling in for Curt Schilling, will start on the mound.

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 4 v White Sox

It's been a little while, due to cricketing commitments. Game 3 saw us carry on, and annihalate the White Sox 11-2, handing Kason Gabbard his fourth straight win. Last night was game 4. Tim Wakefield pitched.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2007/07/22/8aRt4IXL.jpg

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

BOSTON (AP) -- Manny might be back to being Manny, but it was Boston's bullpen that allowed the Red Sox to finish their longest homestand of the season on a positive note.

Manny Ramirez homered and drove in four runs, Mike Lowell added a three-run shot and the Red Sox held on for their third straight win, beating the Chicago White Sox 8-5 on Sunday.

Ramirez, who limped into the All-Star break with 11 homers and 45 RBIs, continued his second-half surge. He went 2-for-2 with three walks, improving to 15-for-39 with four homers and 13 RBIs since the break.

His first-inning homer gave Boston a 3-0 lead, and his sixth-inning RBI single made it 8-1. But the White Sox scored four in the seventh to pull within 8-5.

Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon started the ninth by allowing consecutive singles to Juan Uribe and Jerry Owens. Alex Cintron then walked to load the bases, but Papelbon notched his 22nd save in 23 chances by striking out Jim Thome and getting Konerko to hit into a double play.

"That was agonizing, but it's a heck of a lot better than losing," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "We finished the day like we set out to do -- it wasn't very easy, but sometimes it's not."

After losing to Chicago 4-2 on Thursday, Boston outscored the White Sox 29-10 in the final three games of the series to close out their homestand at 6-5.

Boston's bullpen held Chicago to two runs in 7 2/3 innings during that stretch, getting out of two bases-loaded jams Sunday.

"You can't afford to make a whole lot of mistakes and fall behind on them," Thome said. "They have so much depth all over. We had a couple situations late in the game where we could have tied it or even went ahead, but they're solid."

With the loss, the White Sox fell into a tie for last place in the AL Central with the Kansas City Royals. The White Sox have not been in last place this late in the year since the final day of the 1989 season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Tim Wakefield (11-9) allowed four runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings for the Red Sox, who have won three straight after losing four of five.

Wakefield struck out two and walked two, becoming the first American League pitcher to start the season with 20 straight decisions since Kansas City's Bret Saberhagen in 1987.

Wakefield coasted through six innings -- allowing just one run on three hits -- before Chicago scored four in the seventh to cut the deficit to 8-5.

The White Sox had the bases loaded with two outs in the seventh, but Manny Delcarmen got Paul Konerko to pop out to first. Hideki Okajima then struck out A.J. Pierzynski to end the inning.

Okajima followed with a scoreless eighth, paving the way for Papelbon.

"Okajima has been effective all year long," Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I think he's one of the biggest reasons that Boston is still in the fight."

Following a pair of Jon Garland walks, Ramirez gave the Red Sox a 3-0 first-inning lead with a homer to right-center field.

Garland (7-7) allowed six runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings to snap a three-game road winning streak. He tied a season high with five walks and struck out three.

Josh Fields drove in two runs and Jermaine Dye had two doubles for the White Sox, who finished 4-7 on their longest road trip of the year.

Dye led off the fifth with a double, then scored one out later when Fields lined a single to left-center just outside the outstretched glove of a diving Coco Crisp to make it 3-1.

But Wakefield stranded Fields by getting Uribe and Owens to pop out, and the Red Sox scored three more in the bottom half of the inning.

Garland surrendered two-out walks to Ramirez and J.D. Drew, and Lowell hammered a 1-1 pitch over the Green Monster to give the Red Sox a 6-1 lead. Crisp followed with a single, chasing Garland.

"Its just one of those situations where guys are having big at-bats in key situations and were just going to try and keep it rolling," Boston right fielder J.D. Drew said.

Game notes
Boston LHP Jon Lester will start at Cleveland on Monday. It will be his first major league appearance since beating the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 23 last year. The Red Sox said nine days later that he had a treatable form of lymphoma. ... Boston DH David Ortiz sat out with a left shoulder strain for the second straight day. An MRI exam taken Saturday showed no structural damage, and Ortiz said he expects to return to the lineup soon. ... Wakefield has lasted at least six innings five straight starts. ... Garland's home run to Ramirez was only the second he's allowed on the road this season. ... Dye snapped an 0-for-10 skid with his fifth-inning double.

And we almost choked. But we didn't, thanks to the combined talents of Okajima and Papelbon. As ever.

Score Summary

1st: Ramirez HOME RUN to right centre: Cora and Youkilis scored (White 0-3 Red)
5th: Fields single to centre: Dye scored (White 1-3 Red)
5th: Lowell HOME RUN to left: Ramirez and Drew scored (White 1-6 Red)
6th: Youkililalalala sac. fly to right: Mirabelli scored (White 1-7 Red)
6th: Ramirez single to left centre: Lugo scored (White 1-8 Red)
7th: Mackowiak hit sac. fly to right: Pierzynski scored (White 2-8 Red)
7th: Fields single to left: Dye scored (White 3-8 Red)
7th: Cintron single to left: Fields scored (White 4-8 Red)
7th: Thome walked: Uribe scored (White 5-8 Red)

Pitchers

Win - Tim Wakefield (Red Sox) [11-9]
Loss - Jon Garland (White Sox) [7-7]
Save - Jonathan Papelbon (Red Sox) [22]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 59-39
Yankees: 51-46
Blue Jays: 48-50
Orioles: 44-53
Devil Rays: 38-60

The Yankees appear to have woken up. But they were playing the Devil Rays. Tonight, we welcome back a very special pitcher, back from his fight with a potentially life-threatening disease. Have you guessed who it is yet?

The Return Of Lester

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2007/04/28/eEepYjva.jpg

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

BOSTON -- In what is sure to be an emotional moment for both Jon Lester and his family, the left-hander will step back on a Major League mound Monday night for the first time since being diagnosed with a treatable form of anaplastic large cell lymphoma last August.
Lester will supplant struggling right-hander Julian Tavarez in the Boston rotation by kicking off a four-game series at Jacobs Field against the Indians. To make room for Lester on the roster, the Red Sox will designate Joel Pineiro for assignment on Tuesday, effectively ending the right-handed reliever's inconsistent first season in Boston.

As for Lester, the 23-year-old left-hander last pitched in the Major Leagues on Aug. 23, 2006.

"I'm excited and ready to go," Lester said from Pawtucket, R.I., where he did a workout in the afternoon before re-joining his teammates in Boston for the Sunday evening flight to Cleveland.

After undergoing six chemotherapy treatments, Lester was declared cancer-free in December. The Red Sox, respecting what he had gone through, brought Lester along slowly in Spring Training and let him pitch in the Minor Leagues for the first three and a half months of this season.

"There's a lot of excitement," Lester said. "It will be a little surreal, but I'm going to enjoy it."

So will his teammates, his manager and the entire Red Sox organization.

"He's healthy. He's been through a lot. I'm sure it's going to be an emotional day for his family and for us," said Red Sox right-hander Curt Schilling. "He's part of the family. To see him go through what he went through and to come out on top, it's going to be exciting."

"You know, we want to win games so bad. But I can't sit here and tell you there won't be some emotion involved when he gets to take the mound," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "I think his folks are going to be there, which, I'm sure for them will be extra special. I think, talking to Jon, he just wants to win the game."

Meanwhile, Tavarez, who is 5-8 with a 5.27 ERA in 18 starts, was available out of the bullpen for Sunday's game against the White Sox. In his last five starts, Tavarez was 0-4 with a 7.71 ERA.

The rubber-armed righty has been a reliever most of his career.

"Even with the recent struggles, his first time through the order has actually been almost dominant," said Francona. "That second time through hasn't been so good. We'll get him out in the bullpen. He's stretched out. He still feels good about himself. This has got a chance to really help our bullpen. He's the guy that can throw whenever you want, and if he's pitching with success, it gives us that other arm out there."

Lester's only setback during his comeback was in May, when he developed some cramping in his left forearm and was shut down for a couple of weeks.

He's made 17 starts in the Minor Leagues this season, 14 which have come at Triple-A Pawtucket. Lester is 4-5 with a 3.61 ERA over 84 and 2/3 innings. Lester has held opponents to a .247 average.

Lester's initial reaction when Francona informed him of the news?

"Little of a businessman-like approach," said Lester. "It really hasn't sunk in yet, but I'm sure it will [Sunday night and Monday], for sure. I'm looking at it as another start right now, and hopefully don't get too nervous come [Monday]."

A recent conversation that Francona and pitching coach John Farrell held with Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson played a role in the timing of Lester's recall.

"I think the clincher is probably when I don't know if John Farrell or myself said [to Johnson], 'If we're 100 percent and don't need Lester, should Lester be here?' And [Johnson] goes, 'Yes.' That kind of clinches it for us," Francona said.

Last year, Lester was promoted to Boston in June and took a regular turn in the Boston rotation for more than two months, going 7-2 with a 4.76 ERA. For several years, he has been regarded as one of the top left-handed pitching prospects in the Major Leagues.

The Red Sox were determined not to bring Lester back too early.

"We've been staying up on this kid, I think, it's pretty evident, all year," said Francona. "Where we thought he was, what needed to happen, what's best for him, what's best for us. I think we got to a point where we thought this might be in his best interest and ours. It will be interesting to see how he does. We're excited. We've had a lot of conversations with a lot of people trying to do the right thing."

As much as the Red Sox were jarred last season when they got the word of Lester's cancer diagnosis, they were just as thrilled to hear he's back.

"He's definitely an inspiration to all of us," said Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon. "We go through ups and downs in life and he went through a really big down in life and was able to fight through and come back and hopefully help us win a World Series."

In typical Lester fashion, he downplayed the courage he showed in coming back from cancer.

"I don't know about inspiration," Lester said. "I did what everyone else would have done in that situation. I want to come back and play baseball. I love to do this; this is my job. I just want to come back and be with these guys and do this for a long time."

The Red Sox feel he has just the make-up to do so.

"He's not a typical 23-year-old," Francona said. "He was ready to pitch. Very business-like. I don't mean that in a bad way. He's always real personable. But he was like, 'OK, I'm ready to go. Tell me when to be there and what to do and I'll be there.'"

Lester, who gave up seven hits and three runs in his most recent start, feels ready. He left no doubt about that.

"I feel physically good," said Lester. "Mentally, I feel good. After my last start, things are starting to come around."

It has been a long road back for Lester, but the reward for his perseverance is about to come.

"The constant battle of getting pushed back, the pitch counts, all that -- it's been hard. But you have to sit back and see that they have your best interest involved, and they want you to be healthy," Lester said. "It's been hard getting treated like you're in a glass bottle, so it'd be nice to finally break through and get to go pitch again."

It's likely Lester won't be the only uniformed player with a few goosebumps on Monday night.

"It's going to be a pretty surreal moment after all he's gone through and battled through," said Papelbon. "The kid pitching in Major League games again is a situation where that's pretty unbelievable. It's going to be a pretty neat little feeling, I'll guarantee you that."

[Tealey7]

Game Review - Game 1 @ Indians

Last night, Jon Lester made his first start since last season after being diagnosed with cancer. He was watched by his friends and family. Thankfully he didn't disappoint.

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/2007/07/23/hsUvq5PY.jpg

Originally Posted by ESPN.com

CLEVELAND (AP) _ As the emotions washed over him, Jon Lester stood on the mound and squeezed the baseball tightly in his left hand.

This was the moment, his moment.

Staring at Boston catcher Jason Varitek's target, Lester disregarded the fluttering in his stomach, rocked into his windup and fired his first pitch -- a called strike, the one he had dreamed of making for 11 months.

On Monday night, Lester crowned a courageous comeback from cancer with a victory.

The young pitcher, whose rookie season ended suddenly when he was diagnosed with a treatable form of lymphoma, pitched six innings to lead the Red Sox to a 6-2 win over the Cleveland Indians.

"I figured the day would come," Lester said. "I just didn't know when. It's just nice to be back."

Working to major leaguers while his parents sat on the edges of their seats near Boston's dugout, Lester allowed two runs and five hits to easily handle the Indians, the team with the AL's best home record.

Lester's journey back couldn't have had a better checkpoint.

"It was supposed to be his night," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "He just really competes."

The 23-year-old left-hander had been in the midst of a stellar first season when a visit to the doctor for back pain resulted in a startling find that threatened his life and stunned Red Sox Nation.

Lester was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma just days after he improved to 7-2 with a win over the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 23.

Over the next months, Lester would undergo six chemotherapy sessions that eventually eradicated the disease. Still, there would be other hurdles to overcome as the Red Sox cautiously handled his return.

But in the opener of a four-game series, Lester showed the same form that made him instantly popular at Fenway Park, where he is certain to have another emotional game when he finally pitches there again.

Lester was relieved to be back in the big leagues, knowing how quickly it can all be taken away. He was declared cancer-free by doctors in December but must still have periodic checkups to make sure the disease hasn't returned.

"I'm just trying to put it behind me and move on and just go back to pitching and not worry about things," he said. "But right now every three months I have to go back and get that reality check. Hopefully we can put it behind us and just win some games."

Coco Crisp went 4-for-5 and scored three runs for Boston, which jumped to a 5-0 lead in the second off Jake Westbrook (1-6).

Manny Ramirez had two RBIs as the Red Sox became the majors' first team to reach 60 wins.

Grady Sizemore hit a two-run homer for the Indians, who opened an 11-game homestand.

The sight of Lester walking to the mound drew a standing ovation from pockets of Boston fans scattered throughout Jacobs Field, a ballpark he didn't get to pitch in during his abbreviated first season.

Any nervousness for Lester may have been soothed by his teammates giving him a 4-0 lead before he threw a pitch.

"That definitely helps," he said. "That eases any pitcher's mind getting four in the first. It makes it a little easier to go out there and throw strikes."

Lester breezed through the first two innings, getting a double play after hitting Ryan Garko opening the second.

In the third, Sizemore connected for a two-run homer off Lester, who was in trouble again in the fourth.

The Indians loaded the bases with one out but Lester broke Josh Barfield's bat on a comebacker that he bobbled before throwing home to force Garko. With Sizemore back up, Lester's mom, Kathie, couldn't watch as her son battled Cleveland's leadoff hitter.

When Lester finally blew a fastball past Sizemore for strike three to end the threat, his father, John, and Kathie jumped up and pumped their fists in celebration. However, she quickly sat back down and resumed her doubled-up position, seemingly afraid to watch anymore.

Lester said having his parents on hand made his return more special.

"It meant a lot," he said. "They've been through a lot. It was a long offseason, so it was good to have them here to enjoy the moment."

At a time when sports headlines were dominated by an NBA betting scandal, Michael Vick's alleged dogfighting involvement and an ongoing steroid investigation that has tainted Barry Bonds' chase of Henry Aaron's home run record, along came Lester.

"Wow, it's a great story," knuckleballer Tim Wakefield said. "It's been a long road for him."

Lester's comeback has inspired the Red Sox, who were marveling at his composure and maturity long before he began chemotherapy.

Lester, who became the first Red Sox rookie lefty to win his first five decisions, had eased into Boston's rotation when cancer imperiled his young life. But by December, he was throwing again and he showed up at training camp two weeks before pitchers and catchers were due.

Although he appeared ready, the Red Sox decided to bring Lester along slowly, allowing him to pitch in the minors for more than three months before recalling him Monday from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Lester's return figured to be an emotional one for his immediate family and those who love him for the beloved "B" on his cap.

"This isn't even about baseball," Curt Schilling said. "It just doesn't get any better the way a guy like that comes back to us. It's about family. The big thing is he's a great human being and that makes it an even better story. That wasn't your run-of-the-mill DL stint."

Game Notes
Red Sox DH David Ortiz missed his third straight game after injuring his left shoulder on a slide Friday. Ortiz hit off a tee before the game and plans to take batting practice on Tuesday. "Every day it feels better," he said. Ortiz noted that he got hurt trying to stretch a single by challenging the arm of Chicago right fielder Jermaine Dye. "I've run on him two times and both times I was out, and both times I got hurt," he said. ... Garko extended hilalalalaing streak to 16 games. He's batting .463 over the span. ... Manny Delcarmen pitched three innings for his first career save. ... The Red Sox stopped a six-game road losing streak.

Top stuff. Great from Lester.

Score Summary

1st: Ramirez double to deep left: Crisp and Pedroia scored (Sox 2-0 Indians)
1st: Drew single to centre: Youkilis scored (Sox 3-0 Indians)
1st: Lowell grounded into double play: Ramirez scored (Sox 4-0 Indians)
2nd: Youkilis single to right: Crisp scored (Sox 5-0 Indians)
3rd: Sizemore HOME RUN to right: Barfield scored (Sox 5-2 Indians)
9th: Pedroia single to right centre: Crisp scored (Sox 6-2 Indians)

Pitchers

Win - Jon Lester (Red Sox) [1-0]
Loss - Jake Westbrook (Indians) [1-6]
Save - Manny Delcarmen (Red Sox) [1]

Current AL East Standings

Red Sox: 60-39
Yankees: 52-46
Blue Jays: 49-50
Orioles: 44-53
Devil Rays: 38-60

Another great win. We just need to keep going. Tonight, it's Dice-K's turn to pitch.