Games 153-155 Boston Swept Away Again by New York

Friday – September 25

This is getting old but the Red Sox were again swept by the Yankees at the Stadium. Joba Chamberlain pitched well for the first time in over a month or since he last faced Boston. Jon Lester did not have it tonight as he allowed 5R in only 2.1IP. He had to leave at that point after being struck on the leg by a ball off the bat of Melky Cabrera. Lester was down for a time and it looked scary. He was able to leave the mound under his own power and is day to day after x-rays were negative, fortunately. Hunter Jones, Michael Bowden, Manny Delcarmen and Takashi Saito followed Lester to the mound as the Yankees scored four more times. The Red Sox got homers from Martinez and Ortiz as they went down in defeat. The important thing is that Jon Lester seems to be OK.

Final Score: Yankees 9 Red Sox 5
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 3, 1R and 1BB

Saturday – September 26

Daisuke Matsuzaka had an excellent outing as he allowed only 1R in 7IP. For New York CC Sabathia was better as he shut out the Sox through seven innings. Hughes and Rivera had scoreless innings out of the pen while Billy Wagner surrendered two unearned runs. The Sox had only two hits singles by Lowell and Martinez.

Final Score: Yankees 3 Red Sox 0
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 4 with 2SO

Sunday – September 27

The Red Sox hoping to grab the final game of this three game series took an early 2-0 lead off Andy Pettitte. That was all they would get as Pettitte gave the Yankees 6 innings and Bruney, Coke and Rivera finished up. The Yankees had solo homers from Cabrera and Teixeira. Boston with a forgettable series as the Yankees take 9 of the last 10 games from the Sox and the teams finish their season series at nine wins apiece.

Final Score: Yankees 4 Red Sox 2
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 5

*Photo shows Jon Lester on the ground after being hit by a batted ball.

Games 149-152 Red Sox Can Only Split in Series With Royals

Monday September 21

This one hurt as the Red Sox blew six run leads twice. Tim Wakefield was spotted a 6-0 lead and left after 5IP and 5 runs allowed. Manny Delcarmen’s woes continue as he allowed 4R in only 0.2IP. Daniel Bard and Billy Wagner gave up another 3R combined in 1.1IP. This loss effectively kills any chance the Sox may have had to catch the Yankees for the division lead as they open a three game series in New York this coming weekend. Now the focus is on securing the wild card, lining up the rotation and resting players before the playoffs begin.

Final Score: KC 12 Bos 9
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 5 with 1R and 2RBIs

Tuesday September 22

The Red Sox bats were anemic facing Cy Young candidate Zack Greinke as he went 6 innings allowing no runs and only 2H. One of those hits was a single by Victor Martinez which extended his hitting streak to 21 games and drove in the only run the Sox would score in the 8th inning. Paul Byrd took the Sox out of the game in the 1st inning as he was wild, for him, and the Royals scored 5 times.

Final Score: KC 5 Bos 1
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 3 with a BB, a run scored and his 64th SB

Wednesday September 23

Josh Beckett’s line was interesting with 2R, 12H and 7SO. He managed to keep the Royals from getting that big hit as they had 12 LOB. Okajima, Wagner and Paps each contributed a scoreless inning. Meanwhile after being down 2-0 to start the 6th the Red Sox scored 6 times. Alex Gonzalez had 3 RBIs and Dustin Pedroia had 2. With two outs David Ortiz blasted a three run homer in the 9th inning.

Final Score: Bos 9 KC 2
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 5, 1R, 2RBIs and 2SO

Thursday September 24

The Red Sox managed to split the series with a win today. Clay Buchholz was dominant as he gave the Sox 6.2 innings of 5H shutout baseball while striking out 8 batters. Ramon Ramirez had a tough time out of the pen yielding 3R in only 0.2IP. David Ortiz had 3RBIs including a solo home run. The Royals committed 5 errors leading to 6 unearned runs.

Final Score: Bos 10 KC 3
Jacoby Watch: 3 for 6, 2R, 1RBI and 2SBs

Games 146-148 - Red Sox Sweep Orioles

Friday – September 18

The Boston Red Sox finished their season series with the Baltimore Orioles with a record of 16-2. Sad to say I attended one of those losses. You remember the one with the Sox up 10-1 at Camden Yards before the rains came and a lengthy delay ensued. The O’s came back to win 11-10 as the bullpen imploded! But back to the present as Clay Buchholz won his 6th game of the year with 6IP, 1R and 5H. Bard, Okajima and Papelbon each contributed a perfect inning. Kotchman, Bay (solo homer) and Ellbury each had an RBI.

Final Score: Boston 3 Baltimore 1
Jacoby Watch: 2 for 5 with an RBI and a SB his league leading 62nd


Saturday – September 19

The Red Sox belted out 17H good for 11R as Josh Reddick, Brian Anderson and J.D. Drew all homered. Reddick and Drew each had 4RBIs. Jon Lester although not as sharp as usual now has 14 wins as he went 6 innings with 3R and 10H allowed. With the score 11-3 Manny Delcarmen pitched to four batters in the 9th recording no outs and giving up two solo homers. Delcarmen’s decline month by month is alarming as his September ERA has soared. Ramon Ramirez came in to finish the game.

Final Score: Boston 11 Baltimore 5
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 5 with 1BB

Sunday – September 20

The Red Sox scored in each of the first four innings including a 3 run 1st. With the Sox up 7-0 in the 4th the Orioles got 2 runs off Daisuke Matsuzaka. He went 5.1 innings with 5SO, 3R and 8H as his starts continue to be very encouraging. The bullpen with Ramirez, Okajima and Saito gave the Sox 3.2 scoreless innings. Both Jason Bay and Jacoby Ellsbury had solo home runs with 3 RBIs each. Mike Lowell was the DH today and had 2RBIs. Victor Martinez continues his hot hitting and now has a 19 game hitting streak.

Final Score: Boston 9 Baltimore 3
Jacoby Watch: 3 for 4, 2R, 3RBIs, 1BB and a SB

Games 143-145 Sox Fail to Sweep Angels

Tuesday – September 15

The Red Sox had a golden opportunity to sweep the Angels but another wild pitch/passed ball on strike three hurt again allowing the tying run and ending the Sox seven game winning streak. But back to tonight’s game which I was fortunate to attend. Dice-K with his first start since June pitched better than could be expected going for 6 shutout innings on 3H with 5SO. Ramirez, Wagner and Bard combined for 2 scoreless innings as Papelbon gave up the lone run in the 9th. The Angels were 1 for 11 with RISP. John Lackey pitched well for the Angels and was not scored on until the 6th. David Ortiz had 2 RBIs including a solo home run in the 8th.

Final Score: Red Sox 4 Angels 1
Jacoby Watch: 2 for 4 with 1R and his 10th CS

Wednesday – September 16

This game was a see-saw affair. The Red Sox were down 3-0 in the 6th inning when they scored 5 times off Joe Saunders. The Angels came right back in the 7th with 4 runs to go ahead 7-5. Sox tied it in the 8th; Angels go up 1R in the 9th before the dramatic Sox 9th. After two outs were recorded a walk and two singles off Angels closer, Brian Fuentes, followed by pinch hitter Nick Green’s walk on a questionable call tied the game. Alex Gonzalez then singled softly to left as J.D. Drew scored the winning run in walk-off fashion. It was a most improbable Sox win. Sox starter Paul Byrd went 5.1 innings giving up 3R on 9H. The bullpen surrendered 5 runs including 3 off Ramon Ramirez. But as the saying goes, “All’s well that ends well.”

Final Score: Red Sox 9 Angels 8
Jacoby Watch: 2 for 4 with 1R, 1RBI, and 1BB

Thursday – September 17

The Red Sox seemed to be primed for a sweep when with two outs in the 7th Josh Beckett struck out Chone Figgins as the ball eluded Jason Varitek and the tying run scored. The Angels then pushed across a run in the 9th off Billy Wagner. Beckett gave the Sox 8 innings of 3R, 7H ball with 7SO. The Sox runs came in the 4th off Ervin Santana as Jacoby Ellsbury had a solo homer and Jason Bay a two-run blast. It has to be satisfying for the Red Sox to have taken 2 of 3 from the Angels especially with Kevin Youkilis, injured, and Victor Martinez, family business, both missing the first two games of the series.

Final Score: Angels 4 Red Sox 3
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 4 with 1R and 1RBI

Games 140-142 Sox Sweep Rays

Saturday - September 12

One of the definite highlights of the year was the Boston Red Sox sweeping the Tampa Bay Rays while allowing them only two runs in the three game series effectively dashing any of their playoff hopes. This was a rain shortened game with the Sox exploding for 8 runs in the 3rd inning. Beckett pitched to one batter in the 6th when the game was called.

Final Score: Sox 9 Rays 1
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 3, 1 RBI and a SB

Sunday – September 13 Noon

With the game tied 1-1 in the 8th Dustin Pedroia delivered the game winning hit with a two-run homer off Matt Garza. Clay Buchholz was very solid with 7IP, 1R, 5H and 5SO. Oki had a hold and Paps his 36th save.

Final Score: Sox 3 Rays 1
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 3 and is now batting .300

Sunday – September 13 – Evening

An unusual day/night affair this is the make-up game for the rain-out Friday. Jon Lester pitched an absolute gem with 8 shutout innings and only giving up 2 hits while striking out 7. Bay had a solo homer and Tek had 2 RBIs. Billy Wagner contributed a scoreless 9th stranding 2 with 2SO. This was a most satisfying series for the Red Sox defeating the team they lost the ALCS to last year.

Final Score: Sox 4 Rays 0
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 3

Games 138-139 Red Sox Sweep Orioles in Brief Series

Tuesday – September 8

Clay Buchholz was the story of this game as he was terrific. He gave the Sox 7 innings of 3H shutout baseball. The Red Sox scored 8 runs in the first three innings. Pedroia had a two run shot in the 1st and a solo homer in the 3rd. It was his first career two homer game. Sox also had solo homers from Youkilis, Gonzalez and Ortiz. J.D. Drew had a big three run home run in the 3rd. Again manager Teri Francona emptied his bench substituting for all the starters except Ortiz.

Final Score: Red Sox 10 Orioles 0
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 3 with 1R and 1BB

Wednesday – September 9

Starter Paul Byrd went 5 innings as the O’s got 2R and 6H. Manny Delcarmen was again ineffective giving up 2R in his 0.1 innings. With the score tied 4 all in the 7th Victor Martinez contributed a three-run double coming off the bench. Billy Wagner pitched a scoreless 7th and gained his first AL win. The save went to Papelbon his 35th.

Final Score: Red Sox 7 Orioles 5
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 3 with 1R and 2BB

Games 134-137 - Boston Takes Only One in the Four Game Series With Chicago

Friday – September 4

Paul Byrd was knocked around in this outing as the White Sox scored 7R on 10H in just 2.1 innings. In relief Junichi Tazawa was ineffective as the Chisox tacked on 5 more runs in his 3.2 innings. Meanwhile the Bosox could do very little with Freddy Garcia. They did manage 9H of which eight were singles as Tito substituted liberally. Only SS Alex Gonzalez played the whole game.

Final Score: Chicago 12 Boston 2
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 3

Saturday – September 5

White Sox pitcher Gavin Floyd was dominant as he was working on a perfect game with 2outs in the 6th when Nick Green singled. Floyd also had 11K. With Tim Wakefield on the mound for the Red Sox Chicago put up 4R on 6H in his 6IP.

Final Score: Chicago 5 Boston 1
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 4

Sunday – September 6

Jon Lester had another brilliant outing as he shut out Chicago on 4H with 8K through 7IP. Billy Wagner gave up a solo homer in the 8th. The Red Sox offense was provided by Mike Lowell, 2R homer in the 4th and Victor Martinez 3R homer in the 9th.

Final Score: Boston 6 Chicago 1
Jacoby Watch: 3 for 4, 2R, 1BB and a SB

Monday – September 7

Josh Beckett gave the Red Sox seven decent innings yielding 3R on 6H. Carlos Quentin had a two-run homer off Okajima in the 8th inning. The Sox could do very little with Mark Buehrle. They did get 8H including a Pedey double but scored only once as the White Sox take 3 of 4 from the Red Sox. Amazingly his was Buehrle’s first win since July 23rd when he recorded MLB 18th perfect game.

Final Score: Chicago 5 Boston 1
Jacoby Watch: 2 for 4 with 1R and 1SB his 60th of the year.

Games 131-133 Red Sox Finally Take a Series vs Tampa Bay

Tuesday September 1

This is an important divisional series which has Boston with a 5 game lead over Tampa Bay in the wild card. The Red Sox jumped all over Andy Sonnanstine for 5R in 4IP. Both Drew and Youk had two-run homers and Bay contributed a solo shot. The Rays used seven pitchers out of the pen good for three more Sox runs. Jon Lester went 6 innings and gave up 2R on 7H. Billy Wagner had another scoreless frame but Okajima could not retire anyone and gave up 4H and 2R in the 8th before Papelbon was called on for a six out save – his first in the regular season. Jacoby Ellsbury made an outstanding diving do or die catch in CF in that 8th inning to help preserve the lead (see photo).

Final Score: Red Sox 8 Rays 4
Jacoby Watch: 2 for 6 with 1R and 2RBIs


Wednesday September 2

Josh Beckett’s recent struggles continued as he gave up solo homers in the 1st to Carl Crawford and in the 2nd to Pat Burrell. Beckett’s line read 6IP 5R (4ER) 7H and 9 K’s. The Sox managed to get back in the game by tying the score 5-5 in the 8th. But after a scoreless 7th Ramon Ramirez was ineffective in the 8th and Sox killer, Evan Longoria, hit a two-run homer off Manny Delcarmen. The Red Sox had lots of chances in this game but were 3 for 16 with RISP and Dustin Pedroia is 0 for 9 so far in the series. Tomorrow is the all important rubber game.

Final Score: Rays 8 Red Sox 5
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 4 with 2 K’s and a SB


Thursday September 3

The Red Sox got a much needed quality start from Clay Buchholz who gave them 6 innings of 3R 6H ball. The bullpen delivered as Wagner, Bard and Papelbon each contributed a scoreless inning. For Paps it was his 34th save of the year. For the Rays David Price went 5.1 innings giving up 4R on 6H. Jason Bay delivered a big two-out two-run double in the 1st and Rocco Baldelli had a solo home run in the 2nd The Sox remember well how Price had a win and a save helping to defeat them in last year’s ALCS. So that made this game all the more satisfying as Boston picked up a game and is now 6 games up in the wild card race. It was the first series win for the Red Sox over Tampa Bay since September 2007.

Final Score: Red Sox 6 Rays 3
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 3 with 1R, 1BB and 2SB. He now has 58 thiefs

Games 128-130 – Red Sox in Sweep of Blue Jays

Friday August 28

The Boston Red Sox completed their home-stand with a very satisfying record of 7-3. Josh Beckett was ineffective for the third start in a row as he gave up 5R with 5BB in only 5IP. He continues the disturbing trend of giving up home runs – 12 in the month of August with the ML record being 13, ugh! The Red Sox came from 3 runs down to tie the game in the 4th inning and then when down by 2 in the 5th inning Jason Bay slammed a two run homer to again tie the game. The Sox scored the game winning run in the 8th as the win went to Okajima (5-0) and the save to Papelbon his 31st of the year.

Final Score: Boston 6 Toronto 5
Jacoby Watch: 2 for 3 with an RBI and 2BB

Saturday August 29

Clay Buchholz was the story of this game. He gave the Red Sox 8.1 innings of 1R, 3H ball including 9 K’s. It was by far his best outing in some time. Ellsbury had 5TB and Martinez had a huge 2-out RBI as he walked with the bases loaded for what turned out to be the winning run. Alex Gonzalez and Dustin Pedroia, 3 for 4, also had RBIs. Jonathan Papelbon recorded his 32nd save.

Final Score: Boston 3 Toronto 2
Jacoby Watch: 2 for 5 with 1R scored

Sunday August 30

Going for the series sweep the Red Sox sent Paul Byrd to the mound for his first start since September ’08. Not only that but he faced Toronto ace, Roy Halliday – a match in which few would have predicted the results. As Byrd gave the Sox 6 shutout innings with only 3H allowed, Boston managed single runs in each of the first four innings off Halliday, including a solo homer from Rocco Baldelli in the 2nd . The Red Sox added 3R in the 7th off reliever Shawn Camp and won handily as the pen, Delcarmen, Wagner and Saito, contributed three scoreless innings. It was former closer Billy Wagner’s, he of 385 saves, Sox debut. Wagner is coming off ‘Tommy John surgery’ and has not pitched in over a year. He struck out the side while giving up a single in the 8th inning. It was an impressive outing.

Final Score: Boston 7 Toronto 0
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 4 with 1R scored