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

Games 52-54 – Sox Sweep Tigers in Detroit

Tuesday June 2nd

With the score tied 1-1 in the 3rd Jason Bay blasted a two-run homer which held up for a Red Sox victory. Sox did add 2 more runs in the 6th. Daisuke Matsuzaka went 5 innings with a pitch count of 96. He gave up only 1 run and had 6 K’s. The pen did what it does masterfully with four shut out innings. Worth noting is that closer Jonathan Papelbon again made it ‘interesting’ in the 9th. He gave up three quick singles and then with the bases loaded struck out the side. Congratulations go to Terry Francona

Final Score: Sox 5 Tigers 1
Jacoby Watch: Continuing to bat out of the eight hole Ellsbury was 3 for 3 with a BB

Wednesday June 3rd

This game belonged to Josh Beckett as the Sox ace was dominant. He went 6.2 innings without allowing a hit until Curtis Granderson had a clean single to right. The Sox scored 6 runs in the 8th to blow the game open as Tek and Ortiz contributed two-run doubles. With the Sox up 10-0 the Tigers managed to score 5 times in the bottom of the 8th and it was ugly. All five runs were unearned as Lowell, Green and Pedroia each committed an error. Granderson’s bases loaded triple off Daniel Bard was the key hit. J. D. Drew had his 200th home run in the 8th with one aboard.

Final Score: Sox 10 Tigers 5
Jacoby Watch: 2 for 4 with a run scored

Thursday June 4th

Tim Wakefield gave up three runs in the 3rd but then settled down the rest of the way as he went 6.2 innings. Masterson, Okajima and Papelbon finished up. Sox scored a big 6 runs in the 3rd as Dontrelle Willis had a melt-down which was sad to witness. He gave up four walks and a hit batsman allowing two runs to score. Zach Miner relieved Willis and allowed all three inherited runners to score as well as one of his own. The Red Sox have now won four in a row, since Tito changed the line-up and they finished the long road trip with a 6-4 record

Final Score: Sox 6 Tigers 3
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 3 with a run scored.

Games 49-51 - Sox Avoid the Sweep in Toronto

Friday May 29

Tim Wakefield is in one of his ‘bad streaks’ with 4.2 IP, 6R and 9H. The Red Sox with 11 hits had one more than the Blue Jays but 3 less runs. Toronto broke a 9 game losing skid with this victory. One bright spot was the relief pitching of Daniel Bard with 2.1 IP 0R, 0H and 5K’s – impressive.

Final Score: Jays 6 Sox 3
Jacoby Watch: 2 for 5 with 2RBI’s

Saturday May 30

Brad Penny continues to be a very serviceable pitcher for the Sox. Today he went 6 innings giving up 2ER and recording 5K’s. With the score tied 3-3 in the 7th inning Ramon Ramirez in relief of Penny had his first bad outing as these stats attest - 0.2IP 2R and 3H enabling Toronto to grab the lead. Rocco Baldelli had a two-run homer but had to leave later in the game with a contusion on his knee as he slid hard into the stands along right field trying in vain to record an out. Baldelli’s luck seems to be all bad since as soon as he returns to the line-up he’s out again. Sox hitting woes on the road continue. David Ortiz’s slump hits epic proportions as today he was 0 for 4 with 2K’s and his BA is now .185 – dreadful!

Final Score: Jays 5 Sox 3
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 4 as his 22 game hitting streak comes to an end


Sunday May 31

The Boston bats woke up as the Sox had 8R on 11H. The big blow was a three-run homer in the 4th off the bat of Dustin Pedroia, his first since opening day. Youkilis had two solo homers going back to back with Jason Bay in the 8th inning. Red Sox manager, Terry Francona, shook up the line-up with Pedey batting lead off followed by Drew, Youk, Bay, Lowell, Ortiz, Tek, Ellsbury and Green. Sox starter Jon Lester had a dominating performance and is hopefully back to his ‘old self’. He pitched 6 innings of 1R 3H ball while recording 12K’s as all his pitches were working especially the curve ball. While avoiding getting swept in Toronto the Sox are now 3 and 4 on this road trip as they head for Detroit where the Tigers are playing good ball. Worth noting is the fact that the Red Sox sacrificed twice in this game, their first successful sacrifices of the year, as they were the last MLB team to execute a sacrifice.

Final Score: Sox 8 Jays 2
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 3 with a BB

Photo is after Rocco Baldelli's second home run in a Red Sox uniform.

Games 45-48 Sox and Twins with Split

Monday- May 25

With about 30% of the season behind us it is a bit baffling that the Red Sox are in first place in the AL East even if by only a half a game. If you knew that David Ortiz would have only one home run and be mired in a season long slump, if you knew that Dice-K would have 0 wins, if you knew that Jon Lester’s ERA would be 6.07, if you knew that the Sox defense would be 12th of 14 teams in the AL, if you knew that the SS position would be up for grabs with no stability – well you’d say I’ll take that 28-20 record. Today Brad Penny pitched into the 6th inning with 3R, 6H and 7K’s. With RBIs from Bay (2), Youkilis (2) and Lowell the solo homer by Jeff Bailey in the 8th didn’t seem like that big a deal in a 5-3 game. But that proved to be the winning run as Papelbon gave up a two run pinch hit homer to Joe Mauer in the bottom of the 9th. Sox hung on for the one run win.

Final Score: Red Sox 6 Twins 5
Jacoby Watch: 2 for 5 with a run, a CS and a Pickoff at first.

Red Sox and all MLers wore special caps in honor of Memorial Day

Tuesday – May 26

The story of this game was Jon Lester and his typical ‘one bad inning’. With the Sox up a run in the 5th Lester gave up 5 runs with the big blow a three-run homer by 2006
MVP Justin Morneau. Twins starter Nick Blackburn yielded 8 hits but only two runs over 7 effective innings. Sox were 1 for 11 with RISP and had 8 LOB. David Ortiz returned to the line-up and was dropped to #6 in the order going 1 for 3 with a BB. Jacoby Ellsbury continues his hitting streak which is now at 21 games.

Final Score: Twins 5 Red Sox 2
Jacoby Watch: 2 for 5 with 2R and a SB

Wednesday – May 27

It is painful to watch Daisuke Matsuzaka, known as the “nibbler”, pitch as today in 5innings he threw 102 pitches with 3R, 9H, 3BB, 1HBP and a whopping 4 wild pitches. So much for the MVP of the WBC who began the year injured and spent time on the DL. Twins hurler, Kevin Slowey, had 6 innings of 2R ball. The bullpen gave the Twins three scoreless innings with Joe Nathan getting the save. Jason Bay had his 14th homer the first solo shot in his last 11 homers. David Ortiz was 0 for 4 with a K and Jacoby Ellsbury continues his hitting streak which is now at 22 games.

Final Score: Twins 4 Red Sox 2
Jacoby Watch: 2 for 4 with his 21st stolen base.

Thursday – May 28

Some of the positive developments so far in the Red Sox season include Jason Varitek with 10 home runs (two solo shots today), Jacoby Ellsbury hitting .302 and playing a great centerfield, Jason Bay with 14 homers and 48 RBIs, Tim Wakefield with a 6-2 record and a 3.99 ERA , George Kottaras and his ability to catch Wake, and most importantly the best bullpen in MLB with an ERA of 2.99. Josh Beckett was excellent today going 7 innings with 1R, 3H and 8K’s. Beckett didn’t like a non-strike call in the 7th by the AAA fill-in umpire, Todd Tichener, so Tek started arguing to protect Beckett and was tossed along with Tito. With the game tied in the top of the 7th Tek hit his second homer and Sox went up 2-1. Jeff Bailey doubled and came in to score on a SF by Dustin Pedroia. Twin’s catcher and manager both argued the safe at home call and were tossed. The replay was inconclusive as the throw beat Bailey but he appeared to get his hand around the tag. We’ll take it. Okijima had a scoreless 8th and Papelbon got his 13th save. So there you have it both managers and both catchers were ejected from this game.

Final Score: Red Sox 3 Twins 1
Jacoby Watch: 0 for 3 with a HBP as his hitting streak ends at 22 games

During his 22 game hitting streak Ellsbury hit .340 with 4RBIs, 16RS and 11SB

Games 42, 43 and 44 - Sox Avoid Getting Swept by NY Mets

Friday – May 22, 2009

Dice-K returns after a stint on the DL. He pitched OK and deserved a better fate. The game was lost in the 4th inning when Lugo failed to turn what would have been an inning ending DP and the Mets scored two more runs. Pedey even said after the game, “We have to make that play.” Johan Santana and the Mets pen keep the Sox at bay as the team was 0 for 10 with RISP.

Final Score: Mets 5 Sox 3
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 5

Saturday - May 23, 2009

This was the most heart-breaking loss of the year. Papelbon was one out away from saving a brilliant performance by Josh Beckett. Instead Paps has his first blown save of the year as he surrenders a two run homer to Mets catcher Santos – this after literally blowing away Wright and Reed on blistering fast balls. Instant replay was used at Fenway for the first time as Santos’s hit was originally ruled a double before the reversal – clearly it was a home run. The run off Beckett in the 1st inning was unearned as he gave the Sox 8 innings of 5H ball. Youk drove in both Sox runs in the 1st inning as Pelfrey and the Mets bullpen kept the Sox offense quiet the rest of the way.

Final Score Mets 3 Sox 2
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 4 with a run scored

Sunday – May 24, 2009

Red Sox look to Tim Wakefield to avoid a sweep by the NY Mets in the first interleague play of 2009. Even though he didn’t have his best knuckler he kept them in the game until the offense could get untracked. Mike Lowell gave the Sox a temporary two run lead with a three run homer in the 2nd inning. Mets were ahead 5-3 when the Sox scored 3 runs as a clutch two out single by Nick Green pushed across 2R. Sox continued to add on, something they failed to do the last two games, with a 3 run homer by Youkilis being the big blow. It should be noted that for the second time in two days instant replay was used as an earlier bid by Youk for a homer was ruled foul. Sox got two impressive scoreless innings from Manny Delcarmen. Saito pitched a scoreless ninth. Ellsbury’s hitting streak is now at 19 games. Every Sox batter had at least one hit except David Ortiz who was 0 for 5. Papi was 0 for 12 in the series as his year long slump continues.

Final Score: Sox 12 Mets 5
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 4 with a run scored

Games 39-41 - Red Sox Sweet Sweep of Blue Jays

Tuesday May 19, 2009

The Boston Red Sox certainly enjoy ‘home cooking’ after limping home from another losing road trip. Their record at Fenway Park so far this year is 16 wins 4 losses. After completing a sweep of the first-place Jays, the Sox are now within a half-game of the top spot. Tonight’s game belonged to Tim Wakefield as he really had it going on baffling the Jay’s hitters with the knuckler. The only run off him in eight innings came in the 5th on a home run by old friend, Kevin Millar. Sox scored twice in the 2nd inning on a big single by Jeff Bailey and a sac-fly by George Kotteras. Jonathan Papelbon recorded his 11th save.

Final Score: Sox 2 Jays 1
Jacoby Watch: 2 for 4 including a double

Wednesday May 20, 2009

Brad Penny pitched just well enough to win as the Blue Jays seemed to be hitting him hard all night. To his credit he got the outs when he needed them and had a very respectable 6.2 IP with 2R and 9H. Oki and Delcarmen each recorded an out while fire-baller Daniel Bard gave up 3H and 1R in 0.2 IP. Saito finished up pitching the 9th. But the big story of the game was David Ortiz. Big Papi finally hit one out of the park (dead center in the photographers’ well) ending a drought of 149 plate appearances in 2009. The crowd went crazy and his teammates gave him the ‘silent treatment’ in the dugout before mobbing him with congratulations!!! Papi even said the monkey is off his back. Here’s hoping his season long slump is over. Tek had two solo homers. One came in the 5th inning, followed by two-run bombs from Ortiz and Jason Bay and a solo shot from Mike Lowell as the Sox scored 6 runs on four home runs. Notably Jacoby Ellsbury tied the ML record for 9 innings with 12 put outs in CF. It has been done twice before both in Boston - the Braves in 1929 and the Twins vs Boston in 1977.

Final Score: Sox 8 Jays 3
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 4 with a BB


Thursday May 21, 2009

The Sox got off to a fast start in this game with 3 runs in the 1st including a two-run homer by who else, Jason Bay. He leads the team in homers with 13. But the story of this game was the bounce-back performance from Jon Lester. He has really struggled this year with an ERA of 6+. After 6.1 IP only 1R along with 8H Lester’s ERA is now 5.91. Still a long way from last year but heading in the right direction. The Jays had 12 LOB going 1 for 7 with RISP. Jacoby Ellsbury continues to be hot and has now extended his hitting streak to 16 games. His average is .302 and he has 17 SB. Before the season started I was convinced that Elllsbury was the key to the Sox offense. If he gets on base good things happen and may it continue!

Final Score: Sox 5 Jays 1
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 4 with 2R and 1SB

Games 36-38 Series - Lost in Seattle

Friday May 15

This Red Sox loss to the Seattle Mariners was the maddening kind. Jon Lester was spotted a four run lead but after being touched for four runs in the 6th managed to cough it up. Now with a 2-4 record and an ERA of 6.51 Lester is far from the pitcher once thought of as ‘ace material’. Ichiro Suzuki got Seattle on the board with a solo homer in the 5th then put them ahead 5-4 with a two run shot in the fateful sixth. Jacoby Ellsbury was a home run short of the cycle and continues his hot hitting. The previously unheralded Mariners pen had three scoreless innings with former Sox, David Aardsma, getting the save.

Final Score: Mariners 5 Sox 4
Jacoby Watch 3 for 5 with 6TB, a run scored and an RBI

Saturday May 16

Josh Beckett was also spotted a four run lead but managed to go 7 innings with 4H, 3R including 2ER and 120 pitches thrown. Jason B and Jason V each had two run homers. Jeff Bailey chipped in with a solo shot in the 5th as Sox scored all their runs on homers. Oki, Martinez and Papelbon did what the pen does and the Sox had a win. On the plus side the Red Sox bull pen has the best ERA in the AL. On the down side the Sox starters have the worst ERA in the AL. How did that happen!?! What was supposed to be the Sox strength going into the season (starting pitching) has been anything but!

Final Score: Sox 5 Mariners 3
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 5

Sunday May 17


Justin Masterson had a fine outing – perhaps his last one before returning to the pen as Dice-K is due back off the DL. Masterson had 6.1 IP with 9H and only 2R while striking out 6. This is another of those one run losses. Sox had three on this road trip as they lost both series and return home after a 2-4 trip out West. Good thing they don’t have to return there again in the regular season. With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 9th a Nick Green error at SS his 8th in only 23 games led to the Mariners pushing across a run on a single by Gutierrez. Ramon Martinez absorbs his first loss and is now 4-1. J.D. Drew had a solo homer as old friend David Aardsma gets the win. Jacoby Ellsbury’s single has his hitting streak at 13 games. During this span he has gone 21 for 56 and raised his BA to an even .300.

Final Score: Mariners 3 Sox 2
Jacoby Watch: 1 for 5 with 5 LOB