Games 73-75 Red Sox Fail to Sweep Atlanta

Friday – June 26

The Interleague play is now complete. Sox record of 11-7 could have been better. I’m thinking of the rain shortened 2-1 home game and the Papelbon blown save (his only one of the year) against the Mets. But I digress. This game was another gem by Josh Beckett. He threw 7 shut-out innings to gain his 9th win of the year. Big Papi contributed a solo homer with J.D. Drew and Dustin Pedroia each having an RBI. Oki and Paps closed out the game.

Final Score: Red Sox 4 Braves 1
Jacoby Watch: He entered the game when Ortiz left for defensive purposes and was 0 for 1

Saturday – June 27

This game was a classic pitcher’s duel. Tim Wakefield had 6IP with 0R and 3H. Delcarmen 1.1IP, Masterson 0.2IP and Papelbon with the 9th inning continued to keep the Braves scoreless. The Braves pitcher Javier Vazquez had 7.2 IP with 1R, 6H and 8K’s. The Red Sox managed to scratch out a run in the 6th as Mark Kotsay got the two out RBI.

Final Score Red Sox 1 Braves 0
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 4 with 4 LOB

Sunday – June 28

Brad Penny pitched a good game with 6IP, 2R 6H on 106 pitches. He gave up two solo homers. In the meantime Braves rookie, Tommy Hansen, who was battling the flu pitched brilliantly with 2H through 6 innings. The Sox pushed across a run in the 9th inning in Varitek’s two out RBI. But it wasn’t enough and now it’s back to the DH and AL baseball.

Final Score: Braves 2 Red Sox 1
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 4 with 4 LOB

Games 55-57 – Texas Wins first Series vs Boston in 12 Years

Friday – June 5

Brad Penny and Kevin Millwood were locked in a pitcher’s duel until Penny gave up 4 runs in the 5th. Julio Lugo’s limited range at SS did not help in this inning as Penny seemed to glare at him when Lugo failed to keep the ball in the infield allowing a run to score. Penny then gave up a three-run homer to Ian Kinsler. That was all the Rangers would need as this was another of those 1 for 12 with RISP and 13 LOB for the Sox. David Ortiz drove in the only Boston run.

Final Score: Texas 5 Boston 1
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 4 with 4 LOB

Saturday - June 6

Jon Lester pitched a complete game two-hitter and he was dominant. With a perfect game going after 6.1 innings Michael Young hit a solid double to left center. Lester did surrender a run in the 9th on a SF; he recorded 11 K’s and 2 BB in a brilliant effort. Pedroia and Bay each had 2 RBI’s; Ortiz and Lowell had solo homers as the Sox evened the series.

Final Score: Boston 8 Texas 1
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 4 from the two-hole

Sunday – June 7

Daisuke Matsuzaka had a rough outing. He was pounded for 5 runs on 10 hits as the Rangers took the rubber game and won their first series against the Sox in 12 years. On the plus side he didn’t walk anyone and struck out 8 as he lasted 5.2 innings. An error by 2nd baseman Kinsler allowed the Sox to score two runs in the 3rd as their offense was inept again today. Mark Kotsay in for the injured Drew had a solo homer and a single. Jacoby Ellbury made a spectacular catch in right center to end the 3rd. He was taken out of the game in the 6th with a shoulder injury. Hopefully with a day off Monday he won’t miss any games.

Final Score: Texas 6 Boston 3
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 3 with an RBI