Papi, Pedey Lead Sox 2d Straight W Against Stripes

Well, beginning early by building a four zip lead in the Bronx, punctuated by Papi's 19th Shot, the Sox took their second in a row from the Stripes tonight.  Papi's drive, more of a moon launch, which landed thirty odd rows deep in the cheaps was the true definition of a no-doubter. When it left the bat, the only question was how deep into the cheaps it would land.  For you stats freaks, it was not only the nineteenth of the season for the big man, it is also the 450th of his career, which places him 37th all time.  Not too shabby at all.  The Stripes briefly drew close a few innings later when, already having scored one run thanks to an error and some solid base running by Ichiro, they fired off a small artillery salvo, getting a pair of solo shots in their half of the 4th, complements of Tex and Beltran.  The score was now close, Sox 4-3. Not to worry. The Sox responded by adding a three spot to expand to 7-3 midway through the 5th. After a few more innings of trading runs, the ultimate score of 8-5 was reached and the Sox pen turned out the lights.

Keeping Lack's lead in hand at all times, thus giving him his ninth W for the year, four pen members covered the final four innings allowing a collective three hits, a lone free pass and no runs, while tacking on four K's. Miller struck out the side, and Koji did his usual slam the door, throw the lock and threw away the key on any NY hopes. He got countryman Ichiro on a K, and finished by getting the always dangerous Gardner on a weak grounder to Pedey who tossed to Nap at first, and that was the ball game.

Interesting news for the team: first announced last evening after that game, the Sox brought up Mookie Betts from Pawtucket. He plays infield and outfield, has speed to burn and just hits the cover off the ball in terms of hits and BA.  He's also a damn good fielder, even though his outfield experience is very limited. First evening up and he went 1-3 with a freebie and a run scored. Welcome to the Fens, Mookie! May you prosper and help the Sox thrive. Oh, by the way; should you ask, he is not, thank God, named for the Sox nemesis of the 86 Series, Mookie. Rather, he is named for the former NBA (Atlanta Hawks) roundball player, Mookie Blaylock.
Overall tonight, Pedey is looking like he's healthy again, going 3-3 and getting a sacfly and three ribbies.  Defensively, Pedey made his usual assortment of stunning plays around the keystone sack and out in the deeper reaches of the field, Jackie Bradley, Jr. made an absolutely stunning throw home to nail Beltran trying to score on a single from second. Jackie threw an absolute strike on the fly directly to the center of home plate and into Pierzynski's mitt, and the ball was waiting for Beltran's arrival. This heave took the starch out of what could have been a serious Stripes rally. According to Kruk up in the booth, the throw was his ninth outfield assist of the year, and leads the league in outfield assists. Shades of Yaz!  It's almost like having a professional sniper out in center.

Nap HR beats Tanaka, Yanks in 9th

Well, after getting embarrassed last night at the home of the Evil Empire, six zip, the Sox came back tonight to beat the Stripes in a classic pitching duel, 2-1. Both Sox runs came on solo shots into the cheaps, one by Ross in the 3d and one with two gone in the 9th. Both were off Yankees ace, Tanaka, who leads the AL in starting ERA and wins.  Nap's HR, by the way, is his second against the Japanese ace, the prior one coming at Fenway in May.  The Sox outhit the Stripes, seven to five, had four extra base hits amongst their hit total, and were further supported by excellent pitching from both the starter and winner, Lester, and their closer, Koji.  Lester went eight solid innings, allowing only the five hits and a pair of freebies, for a game WHIP of 0.87--excellent numbers for anyone. the only run he surrendered cam in the Yanks' 3d and was unearned. So Lester's ERA has now dropped below three for the first time this season, at 2.92. Koji was classic Koji, and what else can you say. The man is so efficient with his pitches. He threw a perfect 9th, including a pair of K's in his stats, while tossing only a total of eleven pitches, eight of which were strikes. This is his seventeenth save in 18 chances for the season.
With tonight's victory, the Sox have completed 81 games--half the season, and are under .500 for the first time since 1997. Hard to believe that in the horrible Year of the Valentine they weren't under at mid-year, but apparently had managed to keep afloat until the last half of that season when they then totally collapsed under his management and "leadership", eventually losing 93 games, including the last eight in a row and 12 of the final 13. But it's true--their halfway record after 81 games in 2012 was 42-39. 
Looking forward to the second half, the Sox expect to have Vic back from the DL, as well as a number of others who have spent long periods on the list. Also, they now have Bucky back in the rotation and, if his first start this past week In Seattle was any indication, should be able to count on him to complement the continued quality hurling shown thus far by Lester and Lackey.
Can they return to the post-season? Well, with today's W and the corresponding Jays loss, they're now seven behind in the AL East, not at all an insurmountable gap. but they have to get improved hitting throughout the lineup, as well as have more team members return from and/or remain off of the DL. These are all possible goals, and only time will tell how well they do at this. However, I have faith. After all, I'm a Red Sox fan. What else would I have?

Sox Finally Take One in Seattle

Well, after a pair of very forgettable losses to start the series in the Pac northwest, the Sox finally got one turned around and took the W tonight. Not by much, to be sure, but a win is a win, and it was accomplished in the manner that the Sox used to get to their championship last year. Both sides of the game actively contributed. Right from the tart, the offense contributed, with Papi putting the first pair of Sox runs on the board with a solid shot to the cheaps in right plating Pedey ahead of him. This is Papi's 449th career shot, and he climbs closer to the magic five hundred, something to look forward to in 2015.  Unfortunately, the lead didn't last very long as the M's grabbed three runs in their half, but the So didn't cave tonight. Bucky got ahold of himself and went 7 1/3, allowing seven hits and no freebies at all--a game WHIP of 0.95, a very good number. Hell, anything under 1.0 is good! He did allow four earned runs, but even that will cut his early season ERA by a little bit, as it was in the high sixes, low sevens. the Sox pen finished up, Miller closing out the 8th and Koji shutting things down in the 9th, in spite of allowing a hit and a pass.
Other Sox hitters doing well tonight were, once again, the sparkling rook, Holt. He got a pair of hits, raising his BA to .323. Danny Nava continues to show hints that he may be regaining his 2013 form, picking up three hits and a ribbie, simultaneously raising his BA to .227. he fact that it is still so low after a 3/4 evening shows you just how slow the year has been for him up until the past one or two weeks. Even Pierzynski picked up a pair of hits, and Bradley added a ringing two bagger to get his miniscule BA up to a season high .211. Hopefully, his offense of the past two weeks is sn indication that he may eventually reach a respectable level with the bat for the year. If he does, it could go a long way to helping the team make a late run for the Div.
Also, the Jays lost tonight, so the Hose regained one of the games back that they had surrendered in the early part of the week, and are now 7 1/2 back.

Sox Win in Seattle!

Well, there WAS a long coverage of tonight's Sox W in Seattle, including detailed info on Bucky's successful return, Koji's save and the Sox offense, led by Papi's 449th career shot, and two hit nights by Holt and Pierzynski, as well as Dan Nava's three hit evening and what it may portend for the team for the rest of the year. Unfortunately, when I was spell checking, something--God only knows what--happened and  the whole shebang went out into the ether, probably never to be heard from again.o, be satisfied the Sox took a win, Bucky looks almost like 2013 and Papi is still dropping them into the cheaps. WHOOPS! Guess what just showed up--after I posted this piece! The original posting of tonight's win in Seattle. So, all of you out there in the ether, get two for the price of one. Enjoy!

Sox Save Finale In Oakland

Well, since last we talked, the Hose came to Oakland for four, yours truly attending game 2, and all four were one run games. The A's took the first three, #'s 2 & 3 being won by former Sox player Coco Crisp with 8th and 9th inning RBI singles for the winning runs. However, today, the A's, holder of MLB's best record to date couldn't make it all the way back. The Sox built an early and growing 6-1 lead behind the pitching of Lester and the collective hitting of the team. Most notable to that point were HR's by Nap and Ross, plus a screaming three bagger by Herrera. Lester left after 7 2/3 with what was a 6-1 lead at that point, but men on base. Badenhop allowed the two of them to score: 6-4, Sox. Into the 9th comes old reliable Uehara. Koji starts his normal routine, getting the leadoff batter on a simple unassisted grounder to Nap. Then the fireworks begin. Next A's hitter gets taken to 1-2 in the count by Koji and looks a cinch for a quick K, when, instead he drives the ball deep into the right field cheaps--Sox, 6-5. Another former Sox vet, Nick Punto, followed and popped to short. Two gone, and it looks as if we're home free. But wait! Jaso comes up to pinch hit and picks on the first pitch he sees from Koji. BAM! Score's tied at 6. Koji gets the next former Sox player, to dribble the ball back to him and he tosses to Nap to end the bloodshed.
Enter the 10th and after the A's virtually replace their entire infield and right fielder, Papi leads off.  Suddenly it's 2004 again and on a 1-2 count Papi leaves no doubt sending the ball deep into the center field sun seats for what bedcomes the final score, Sox 7-6. It's Papi's 448th career shot, and also helps the Hose pick up a game on the Jays, who lost today. Hopefully, once everybody's back from the DL and no-one else goes there, the Sox can turn the season around and play as we know they can. The continuity they can generate from the DL returns should go a long way to generating that kind of quality.

Papi & Nap Go Yard-Sox Streak At Three!

In a game in which it looked as if the Sox were to be shut out, one zip, complements of Parmalee's solo shot in the top of the 10th, the Sox relied on a classic Red Sox response in the home half of the inning. First Papi, then the next batter, Nap, rifled solid shots into the cheaps for a walkoff win, their third W in a row. It's a win that moves them a game closer to Division leading Toronto.
Parmalee's drive, and again as when the Hose were in the Twin Cities a few weeks ago, what's a .230's hitter doing always providing the power against our Hub Heroes, was the first run off Sox closer Uehara in 21 2/3 innings. As the teams were tied, zip - zip, at the time, he doesn't lose his streak of successful saves. Instead, complements of the Sox Lumber Company, Koji gets the W.
The Sox course to get there was some great pitching by starter Lackey. Lack went the full nine innings, allowing just three singles and a lone freebie, a game WHIP of 0.44, an outstanding figure! As if that weren't enough, he also picked up nine K's for his efforts. Tonight's game marks six straight starts and a dozen of fifteen where he's allowed three or fewer runs. That my friends, is what they call Pitching--with a capital P!
As for hitting, beyond the two launches in the 10th, the only offense the Sox were able to mount was Danny Nava's ground rule two bagger in the 5th. Although he's still in the very low .200's, Nava has recently been showing signs of getting his eye back. A couple of weeks ago, he was stuck well below the Mendoza Line, and has steadily brought it up. A few more weeks of this, and his BA may even reach respectable levels.
Other Sox news: Grady Sizemore, who was designated yesterday, was given his outright release today. It was a noble attempt on the part of the Sox to take a chance that he might be able to come back after a few years absence from injuries, but, other than a homer on opening day, he hasn't been able to get back for the most part. A game try, though. Good luck, Grady--just not against the Sox.

Lester Over .500; Holt Continues to Shine!

Well, tonight, in winning their second one run game in a row and their fourth game out of six overall, the Sox grabbed a pair of early runs and made them stand up.  Holt scored both Sox runs, as a part of a 2-4 evening, including a double and a swipe, raising his BA to .338.  He also played center tonight, which, according to AP, is his sixth position this year. I'm not certain what the all of the other five were, but he's now played all three outfield spots and also started at both corners of the infield. As if all of this weren't enough, he also made the fielding gem of the day, possibly the month, during the Twinkies' 3d. The ball was in left and Gomes was camped out waiting to make the catch and lost it in the lights. Looked like a hit would drop in when out of nowhere, Holt flashed across the field and, glove and body fully extended, made a diving catch to end the inning. Had he not made it, it's quite likely that the ball could have gotten past the Sox outfield and rolled to the wall leaving a Twins hitter at least on second, if not third. Instead, it was high five city in the Sox dugout for the next several minutes. 
Sox pitching was, overall, also very good tonight. Although it took Lester 33 pitches to get out the 1st on a very hot, muggy Fenway evening, his line for the game was excellent. He went 6 1/3, allowing only four hits and one freebie, while ringing up another six K's and getting him over the one hundred mark for the season once again. In fact, tonight's K total put him ahead of none other than Cy Young (yes, that Cy Young) for fourth place in career K's in Sox history with 1342 overall. His game WHIP, by the way, once again an excellent 0.79.  He was then followed by members of the Hose pen. In order, Badenhop, Breslau, Tazawa and Mujica collectively allowed no hits and just a single free pass balanced against five K's over the final 2 2/3 innings. Not too shabby, to say the least.
In addition to Holt's already mentioned performance, the Dustman picked up a pair of hits, including a solid two bagger, his 22d of the season. He remains in the top five in the league in this stat. When he gets his BA back up to traditional Pedey standards, it's going to be scary to see where he ends up in total doubles for the year.  Fifty is not beyond possibility.

Sox Finally Win One Run Game

Well, after the frustration of losing a pair of games to Terry's Tribe, each after leading late by 2-1, the Sox pulled out a W in a one run game. In fact, their margin of victory was the game's only run, produced on a sac fly by Pierzynski. The Sox had a few batters get a pair of hits apiece, but the real story here was Hose pitching. Starter Rubby de la Rosa is looking like a Fenway lock, while not doing to well on the road. This was his second start at the Fens, and, as in the original, he pitched seven shutout innings, giving up not very much. Tonight that translated to one hit and three freebies in seven innings, a game WHIP of 0.57, which as you all know is fabulous! his season ERA dropped to 2.84, also an excellent mark. After he left, the Sox pen took over. Miller K'd the only hitter he faced, then gave way to Badenhop, who extended his consecutive streak of shutout innings to 15 2/3. You KNOW what followed--RIGHT! Koji got his fifteenth save in as many chances, at the same time extending his successful save streak to thirtyone over the past two seasons.
And while we're talking streaks, let's return to the offense, where the Dustman extended his streak of games against the Twinkies with a hit to 29 games--every one he's ever played in in his entire career. Incredible--but definitely Pedey!
The other Sox hitter who looked good offensively was Drew, who went 2-3 on the night.

Sox Bagel the O's

Well, after losing a shutout last night coming into Baltimore after taking one from the Tigers, the Hose showed off their pitching tonight.  Sox starter Workman went 6 2/3 and allowed just a lone single and one freebie for an awfully impressive game WHIP of 0.3 (and that's rounding up the fraction).  The Sox had more hits, but could never, save the 3d inning, get anyone across the plate. However, their mound staff was nothing short of awesome! They started with Workman, then turned things over to the pen. First Miller closed out that remaining third of the 7th with a four pitch K. hen, in their usual order, Taz and Koji each threw a shutout inning punctuated by a pair of K's. Taz's was perfect, while Koji allowed a harmless single to start the inning and then slammed the door.
Offensively, the big hitters (and that's relatively speaking) for the Sox were Nap, who drove in the lone run, and Holt and Pierzynski, each getting a pair of hits. As Toronto lost, the Sox have climbed back to within nine of the Division lead, and added a game to their margin over the Rays as he guys from Tampa lost again.

Sox End Skid Against Bengals

Well, as I noted a couple of days ago, the Hose were on their latest steak--this one a negative which eventually reached five. Tonight they drew first blood, but the quickly dropped behind, 2-1. Fortunately, Lackey was doing a pretty good job of minimizing he Tigers' offensive efforts and, when Nap, in his return from the DL, fired a shot into the cheaps, they knotted things at two. Unfortunately, the Tigers responded and snatched the lead again, 3-2.  This is where Papi found things as he strode to the dish in the top of the 9th with a pair of runners on. Having made a loud out a couple of innings earlier about 400 feet away, he made sure this time. One swing and the ball settled about halfway up in the seats and the Sox had the lead again, 5-3. Koji came on in the bottom half and slammed the door with  13 pitch piece of perfection, his twelfth save.  The shot by Papi was his fourteenth of the season, getting his ribbie total up to 38. Other offensive stars were Nap, who had three hits, including the 'tater and Holt. The Sox rookie went 4-5 including a triple, and is now hitting .339. Now, having gained a game on every other East Div team, the Hose head to Baltimore to face the Birds.

On The Roller Coaster

Well, after successive streaks of ten (losing), followed by seven (winning), the Sox are back on the downhill run. Getting swept in Cleveland for the first time in over a decade, they received Terry's revenge. After a year away from the field the Sox former manager is now the manager of the Tribe, and has them of late on quite an upward trajectory. Although still hovering at/near just .500, they've climbed within range of their division lead, now just 4.5 back of the Tigers. Yesterday's loss, completing the Indians sweep, was probably the most painful of this latest run. After coming back from 4-2 down, the Hose went into extra innings before Mujica finally gave up a walk-off three run shot to, of all people, Asdrubal Cabrera, he of the low .240's batting average. This was a waste of some pretty good Sox pitching, particularly from the pen up to Mujica's appearance. In fact, Koji even went two innings of near perfect pitching, allowing only a sole freebie for his work. The pitching and Papi's 13th drive to the cheaps, which had the Sox briefly up, 2-1, all were for naught.
They have the day off to get out of this slide and try again to turn things around, and, with the way both the Jays and O's are playing, they'd better not waste a lot of time getting it in gear. However, it's difficult when what seems like a daily occurrence is another player sent to the DL. The latest are Carp, broken foot and Lavarnway, surgery for hamate bone removal from his hand. These latest come on top of Bucky, Vic, Napoli and Middlebrooks. Carp, Lavarnway and Middlebrooks are listed as 15 day DL, but you know that with fractures and/or surgery, it isn't, unfortunately, going to be anywhere close to that. A month or more, particularly with Lavarnway, is far more likely.  The only good to come from this is that Holt has been one of the callus, and is doing pretty well, managing to stay above .300 so far, including his four double day in Cleveland.  Still, all of these injuries, coupled with walking wounded in the persons of Pedey and Papi, aren't helping the team in its defense of the World Championship.