Games 82-84 – Red Sox Take Another Series as Nomar Returns

Monday – July 6

This was John Smoltz’s third start for the Red Sox and it did not go well. Smoltz’s line 6IP, 5R and 10H. Rookie leftie Brett Anderson pitched a complete game two-hit shutout as the Sox bats were quiet. Not to make excuses but the Sox line-up was far from potent with Lugo, Green slumping, Youk slumping, rookie Aaron Bates in his first ML game playing first base and no Pedey whose 7 months pregnant wife was taken to the hospital . Meanwhile this game was Nomar Garciaparra first return to Fenway since being traded before the deadline in 2004. Nomar received a 70 second standing ovation his first trip to the plate and was 2 for 4 with an RBI single. Nomar did soak it all in and was very emotional, near tears. This is the second time the Red Sox have been shutout this year.

Final Score: Oakland 6 Boston 0
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 4 batting lead-off


Tuesday – July 7

Jason Bay is starting to come out of his slump with a solo homer and a double. Jason Varitek had a huge two out two-run single. Josh Beckett went 6.2 innings with 2R and 6H. Oki, Masterson and Paps finished up with 1H and 4 K’s. Nomar DNP.

Final Score: Boston 5 Oakland 2
Jacoby Watch: 2 for 3 with 1R a BB and batting 7th


Wednesday – July 8

The Red Sox managed to take the rubber game of the series. Down 1-0 in the 6th inning the Sox put up four runs. J. D. Drew had a solo homer and Big Papi a big three run bomb. Tim Wakefield went 6 innings giving up 3R, 10H and striking out 8 A’s. He now has 11 wins the most in the AL. Dustin Pedroia had a huge RBI double in the 7th as Papelbon gave up a run in the 9th. Nomar was a PH and he popped out in the 8th. Sox are now 3 and 3 on this homestand.

Final Score: Boston 5 Oakland 4
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 3 with 5 LOB and batting 6th

Games 58, 59 and 60 – Red Sox With Sweet Sweep of the Yankees

Tuesday June 9

Josh Beckett came up huge in the opening game of another series with the rival New York Yankees. There was a mist throughout the game as Beckett pitched six shutout innings with only one infield hit, two BB and 8 K’s. The Sox put up 4 big runs as Yankee starter A.J. Burnett struggled in the 2nd inning. Big Papi homered after Mike Lowell walked; J.D. Drew contributed a two-run double and the Sox were on the board. Nick Green had a good game with a solo homer and an RBI double. The bullpen gave up only a single in three shutout innings. I was at Fenway for this game and the atmosphere was electric – good times.

Final Score: Red Sox 7 Yankees o
Ellsbury Watch: DNP due to shoulder injury after spectacular catch Sunday.

Wednesday June 10

Tim Wakefield had lots of base runners but managed 6 IP with 3R 8H and 3BB as the Yankees had 9 LOB and were 3 for 11 with RISP. Jorge Posada had a solo home run to tie the game in the 2nd. Chien-Ming Wang lasted only 2.2 innings as he was wild and gave up 3 BB with 4 R on 6 H, including a Lowell HR. Kevin Youkilis blasted a two-run homer off Phil Hughes in the 4th as the Sox scored 6 runs in the first 4 innings. Wake’s catcher, George Kottaras, contributed two doubles and an RBI as all the Sox were getting it done. The Yankees had back to back homers in the 7th innings off Ramon Ramirez as they closed the gap to 6-5. But Hideki Okajima shut the door striking out his former teammate Hideki Matsui to end the 7th. Then in the 8th with the tieing run at 2nd base he struck out both Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon. Oki was the star of the game. Papilbon got the save when he struck out Robinson Cano with the tieing run again on 2nd in the 9th.

Final Score: Red Sox 6 Yankees 5
Ellsbury Watch: DNP with that injury

Thursday June 11

This game was the most fun as Brad Penny exceeded all expectations by giving the Sox 6 shutout innings with 6 H and 5 K’s. Big Papi homered off CC Sabathia in the 2nd and that run held up until Manny Delcarmen gave the Yankees 3R on 3H in the 7th inning. The big blow was a two-run double by Alex Rodriguez his only hit of the series. The Sox now down 3-1 came roaring back in the 8th as Sabathia seemed to tire allowing a single to Nick Green, a 10 pitch walk to Pedroia and an RBI single to Drew before he was replaced by Aceves who allowed the two inherited runners to score with an RBI single for Jason Bay and a SF for Lowell. Jonathan Papelbon got the save as he retired the top of the Yankees order one, two, three in the 9th. Come from behind wins in the late innings are always exciting and this one was no exception.
The Red Sox are now in first place in the AL East with a two game lead over the Yankeees.

Final Score: Red Sox 4 Yankees 3
Ellsbury Watch: DNP again with the injured shoulder

Game 13 - Sox Win 5th in a Row

On this Patriots Day Justin Masterson had his first start of the year while Dice-K gets healthy. He pitched very well and the Sox had a 3-1 lead before the bats erupted with 3 runs in the 6th and 6 runs in the 7th. Once again the bullpen was not scored on turning in 3.2 innings of relief. Pedey was 4 for 6 with 3R and 3RBIs. Big Papi came alive with two extra base hits and 2RBIs as part of the Red Sox 15 hit attack.

Final Score: Red Sox 12 Orioles 1
Jacoby Watch: 3 for 6 with 3 runs and 1 RBI

Baseball is Almost Back

Yes, I am ready for some baseball. No more WBC and mercifully today was the final spring training game. Soon my questions will start to be answered. Included among them:

Will Youk continue to hit for power?
Will Petey be as mighty as he was last year?
Will Jed really end up being the answer at shortstop?
Can Mikey bounce back from surgery?
Will Jason prove worthy of patrolling that storied Fenway left-field?
(I’m thinking fondly of the Splendid Splinter, Yaz, Jim Ed and even Manny.)
Will this be Ellsbury’s break out year?
Will J.D. stay away from the DL?
Will Tek ever hit like a major leaguer again?
Will Big Papi return to form after an injury plagued 2008?

No surprise, I expect pitching and defense to carry the day(s). Getting healthy (Penny and Smoltz) staying healthy (Beckett, Lester, Dice-K, and Wake) is crucial. Having Buchholz and Bowden at the ready is exciting. The pen looks good on paper but I realize that’s not where games are won. Still I’ll take Paps, Masterson, Okie, Delcarmen, and Lopez. Am anxious to see what Rocco and Saito are able to contribute.

I’d like to give special recognition to Tito, our esteemed manager, and his indefatigable pitching coach, John Farrell. Sending all good wishes to the Olde Town Team for a very successful 2009 season – Go Sox!!!