| 11 May 2009
Friday
Brad Penny had another solid start (6.1 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 2 K) and ding dongs from Jason Bay (who else!?) and JD Drew gave the Sox a 5-4 lead in the 6th. Ellsbury (5 for 5) and Pedroia (4 for 5) added a pair in the 8th and Ram Ram, Okie and Papelbon locked down the win.
"Big Game James" continued to struggle at Fenway Park - 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 10 H, 2 HR, 7 K.
Saturday
Jon Lester imploded in the 5th on Saturday alllowing 6 runs on 8 hits in the inning. He finished the day with 8 ER on 10 hits through 4 1/3 innings. I was at this game, an I'd rather not re-live it. The Rays poured it on all game scoringf 14 total runs and the only real bright spot for the Sox were homers from Baldelli and Lugo.
Sunday
As expected, Josh Beckett and Matt Garza gave us the game of the series, going toe to toe for 6+ innings, each allowing three runs and relying on their bullpens to close out the game. The Sox came out on top thanks to another game-winning hit from Jason Bay. His RBI double in the 8th gave the Sox a 5-4 lead and Papelbon came on in the 9th to secure the win and his 8th save of teh season. Paps didn't make it easy on himself, but after walking Iwamura, a failed pick off attempt and a single by Bartlett... Paps fanned Pena, Upton and Crawford with the tying run on third and capped the night off with a dramatic FOUR fist pumps!
Notes
Jason Bay was 5 for 13 with two doubles, a home run and five RBI in the series. He continues to hit in the clutch and has become the Red Sox most dangerous hitter.
* * * *
After another shaky performance on Saturday, Javier Lopez was DFA's by the Red Sox:
"We talked to Javy last night after the game and told him what we were going to do, which is designate him for assignment, which is hard to do," Francona said. "He's a nice kid. He's a gentleman. He works hard. He's just having a hard time getting people out ... The way we were using him, we weren't getting the most out of our bullpen."
The Red Sox purchased Daniel Bard's contract and added him to the 40-man roster. Bard has a 1.13 ERA, 6 saves and a ridiculous 29 strike outs in 11 games with Pawtucket.
* * * *
From Extra Bases:
Dustin Pedroia left tonight's game with strained groin, but manager Terry Francona thinks he'll only miss one game, which means a Wednesday return. The Red Sox have an offday Monday.
"You know if he comes out, he's hurt because he's a tough kid," Francona said. "He also thinks that he can play Tuesday. I don't think that I would do that because we're going to travel out there. But I bet he'll be in there Wednesday. I think that's very realistic. Certainly, we're going to re-evaluate him tomorrow. But I think Tom Gill and everybody thinks we're OK with" Pedroia playing Wednesday.
During spring training this year, Pedroia made one of his goals playing in all 162 games. Before Sunday night's game, Pedroia was asked if he still wanted to play all 162.
"Yeah, it looks like I'm going to have to with all these guys dropping like flies around here," Pedroia said, laughing.
* * * *
Youkilis has missed six straight games since he felt tightness in his left side in a game against the Yankees. But Francona reiterated that the team is not planning to put the first baseman on the disabled list. "I know I keep saying day-to-day and it's dragged on a little bit, but what we're trying to do is not wait a week and have him appear in one game and take a swing and have it be a DL where it's two more weeks," Francona said. The hope is to have Youkilis take batting practice today in Anaheim.
* * * *
Daisuke Matsuzaka threw his second rehab start yesterday, going four innings and 58 pitches for Pawtucket in Columbus, Ohio. Matsuzaka allowed four hits and two walks and did not give up a run. He likely will throw his last rehab start (75-80 pitches) on his regular turn in the rotation.
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