Games 124-127 - Red Sox Take 3 of 4 from White Sox

Monday – August 24

The Boston Red Sox overcame a horrific start by Clay Buchholtz. The Sox pitcher did not get out of the 5th inning and gave up 7 runs including two home runs good for 5 of the 7 runs. The Red Sox scored 6 runs in the third inning as White Sox hurler Jose Contreras with a 4-1 lead imploded. He committed an error in that inning as did second baseman, Nix, so that all six runs were unearned. The highlight of the inning was a three run homer by Mike Lowell. The Red Sox scored five more runs including a solo homer by J.D. Drew and won the game handily. It was my pleasure to be at Fenway Park for this exciting game.

Final Score: Boston 12 Chicago 8
Jacoby Watch: 2 for 5 with 2R, and an RBI

Tuesday – August 25

This was a nice come from behind win for the Red Sox. Jon Lester pitched into the 7th inning giving up 3R on just 4H. Trailing by a run in the 7th the Sox tied the game when Tek doubled with one out, Nick Green ran for him and scored on a pinch hit single by Victor Martinez. A Jason Bay solo home run in the 8th inning put the Sox ahead. They added two more runs on an RBI double by Martinez and a single by Ellsbury scoring Martinez. Jonathan Papelbon recorded his 30th save with a scoreless 9th.

Final Score: Boston 6 Chicago 3
Jacoby Watch: 3 for 5 with 1R and an RBI

Wednesday – August 26

Tim Wakefield fresh off the DL was outstanding. In seven innings the White Sox could score only one run on 6 hits as Wake had the knuckler dancing. When he left the game the Red Sox were up 2-1 but Ramon Ramirez gave up the tying homer to pinch hitter Scott Podsednik. David Ortiz had his first walk-off home run since 2007. It was his second solo shot of the day. Daniel Bard was the winning pitcher with 1.1 innings of scoreless ball. Tomorrow the Red Sox go for the sweep of this four game series. Amazingly enough this is the first time these teams have played each other this season.

Final Score: Boston 3 Chicago 2
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 4


Thursday – August 27

The Red Sox failed to sweep as Junichi Tazawa simply did not have it today. He went only 4 innings of 9R, 10H ball. As a result the Red Sox were down 9-0 in the 5th when they broke through for two runs on solo homers by Drew and Gonzalez. They added 2 in the 8th and 1 in the 9th but it wasn’t enough. On the plus side the bullpen gave the Sox 5 innings of scoreless baseball. Toronto comes in for the weekend and to close out the homestand. So far the Red Sox are 4 and 3.

Final Score: Chicago 9 Boston 5

Jacoby Watch: 2 for 3 Ellsbury left the game in 6th with a high ankle sprain after sliding into home plate in the 5th. He was out at home and is day to day.

*The photo shows the August 26th pregame taps and moment of silence in honor of Massachusetts Senator Edward M. Kennedy who died August 25th.

Games 121-123 Red Sox Lose 2 of 3 to Yankees – 58 runs score!!!

Friday August 21

Brad Penny gets rocked again and is sent to the bullpen after this game. Penny allowed 8R on 10H in only 4IP. He is a one-man bullpen wrecking crew! Michael Bowden called up from AAA was also hit hard – 7R on 8H in 2IP. To the Red Sox credit there is no quit in them. They were down 12-1 in the 5th inning and scored 3 runs off Andy Pettitte in both the 5th and the 6th innings along with 4 in the 9th off Mitre. Matsui had two home runs and 7 RBIs for New York. The game was a slug-fest.

Final Score: New York 20 Boston 11
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 4, 2R, 2 RBIs and a SB # 54 to tie Tommy Harper’s club record

Saturday August 22

Red Sox turn the tables and manage to score 9R on 9H off Yankee starter, AJ Burnett. Meanwhile Sox rookie, Junichi Tazawa, in only his third ML appearance shut out the Yankees on 8H with 6IP. New York was 0 for 9 with RISP with a team LOB of 13. It was a very gutsy performance from Tazawa who last year was pitching in the Industrial League, the Japanese minors. Nick Swisher homered off reliever Daniel Bard as the Yankees avoided a shut-out. Kevin Youkilis was the hitting star with two home runs and 6 RBIs. Sox also got homers from Alex Gonzalez and David Ortiz The Red Sox were 7 for 11 with RISP. Amazingly 13 of their 14 runs scored after two were out.

Final Score: Boston 14 New York 1
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 5

Sunday August 23

This game was ghastly and a huge disappointment for Red Sox fans as Josh Beckett allowed 5 home runs for the first time in his stellar career. Derek Jeter hit the first pitch Beckett threw for a homer to right field. Matsui had two solo homers, Cano had one and Rodriguez had a two run homer. The advertised pitcher’s duel between two 14 game winners never materialized as CC Sabathia did not have his best stuff. Sox had 4R on 8H in Sabathia’s 6.2IP. As the Yankees return to NY they are now 7 1/2 games ahead of the Sox who are in second place with 39 games remaining in the regular season.

Final Score: New York 8 Boston 4
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 5 with 3 K’s

Games 115-117 Red Sox Lose Another Series vs Texas

Friday August 14

After losing two of three games in Arlington, TX the Red Sox find themselves ½ game behind the Rangers in the wild card race. At the wrong time the Red Sox are going in the wrong direction. They managed to take the opener when down 4-3 in the 9th inning and one strike away from defeat, Victor Martinez ripped a double to right scoring two runs. Red Sox went on to score a total of six runs in a rare show of offense. Ortiz had a two run homer in the 6th and Drew did likewise in the 9th. Jon Lester was not as sharp as usual and with a high pitch count could only give the Sox 6 innings of 3 run ball.

Final score: Boston 8 Texas 4
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 2 with a R - He was given the day off but pinch hit for Nick Green in the 7th inning and stayed in the game.

Saturday August 15

The Red Sox could only muster two runs on solo shots by Jason Bay and Victor Martinez. Meanwhile Brad Penny gave up 4R on 8H in 5.2 innings. The embarrassing thing about this outing was the 8 stolen bases by the Rangers. The combination of Penny being slow to the plate and Varitek’s arm made it happen. Varitek could not even throw the runner out on a pitch-out! This is the second time this year that these battery mates have given up 8 SB. The other was to the Rays. No other MLB team has given up 8 in a game. Fernando Cabrera was touched up for 3 runs late in the game as the Rangers piled it on.

Final Score: Texas 7 Boston 2
Jacoby Watch: 2 for 3 with a BB and a SB his 53rd of the year

Sunday August 16

David Ortiz gave the Red Sox an early lead with a solo homer in the 2nd inning but Ian Kinsler answered with one of his own in the home half of the inning. Sox pitcher Junichi Tazawa was not as effective as previously and was knocked around. He went 5 innings giving up 10H and 4R. Once again the Sox offense was anemic leaving 10 runners on base and going 1 for 8 with RISP. Dustin Pedroia hit his 10th home run of the year a solo shot in the 7th. It’s on to Toronto for a three game series before returning to Fenway.

Final Score: Texas 4 Boston 3
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 5

Games 111-114 – Red Sox take 3 of 4 from the Tigers

Monday – August 10

The Red Sox were off to a good start in this one when Dustin Pedroia hit a two run home run in the bottom of the 1st inning off Zach Miner. Later Nick Green and Jason Bay had solo homers. Sox got a good effort from Brad Penny as he gave up 3R and 6H through 6IP. The Sox went on to take the opener of this four game series.

Final Score: Sox 6 Tigers 5
Jacoby Watch: 2 for 5, 2R and a SB (his 51st of the season)

Tuesday- August 11

With rookie Junichi Tazama pitching for the Red Sox a throwing error in the 1st inning by Nick Green led to two of the three Tiger runs scored being unearned. Tiger starter tried to hit Victor Martinez as retaliation for Miguel Carbrera being hit on the hand. He missed and then hit Kevin Youkilis in the back to start the next inning. Since it was a real purpose pitch Youk charged the mound, threw his helmet at Tiger starter Rick Porcello and they both went down. The benches emptied both players were ejected and the next day Youkilis and Porcello were each suspended for five days. Jason Bay greeted new pitcher Chris Lambert with a three run homer which tied the game. Tazama finished the 5th inning without giving up any more runs. Mike Lowell had two home runs and drove in 3 runs as the Sox went on to win the game. Papelbon did give up a two run homer in the 9th of a non-save situation. Tito Francona was ejected in the 2nd inning for arguing Drew CS at 2nd bas.e

Final Score: Sox 7 Tigers 5
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 4 1R and a SB

Wednesday – August 12

The Red Sox broke the game open in the 5th as they scored five runs adding to the three runs Mike Lowell’s solo shot and Jason Bay’s two run blast accounted for earlier in the game. Josh Beckett went 7 innings with 2R (on solo homers by Guillen and Thames) 3H and 6SO. Oki and Ramirez closed out the Sox third straight win over Detroit. Of great interest was that Jerry Remy appeared in the booth as a visitor in the 2nd inning. He hopes to be back soon and Red Sox Nation will rejoice when he does return as analyst.

Final Score: Sox 8 Tigers 2
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 4 with a SO and 2 LOB

Thursday – August 13

Today Clay Buchholz pitched very well with only 2R (1ER) and 5H over 7IP. But Justin Verlander was better as he shut out the Sox through 8 innings. He was at 123 pitches and throwing 100 mph in the bottom of the 8th when he struck out Bay with Ellsbury on 2nd to end the 8th. Closer Fernando Rodney finished the 9th and the Tigers won the final game of the four game set.

Final Score: Tigers 2 Sox 0
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 4 a double to lead off the 8th