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(Red Sox 1 - Blue Jays 0 - Boxscore)


The Red Sox walked off with a win in dramatic fashion Tuesday night, and Dunkin Donuts Fans can finally rejoice after a 6 day drought of free iced coffee.  Kevin Youkilis delivered a two-out hit that brought Big Papi home who started a two-out rally off with a walk.  Ramirez singled Ortiz over to second, before Youkilis knocked him in.
Jon Lester may have had the best outing of his career, while Roy Halladay kept his streak of complete games going, after getting his fourth straight complete game (albeit 1-3 during the 4 complete games).  Lester pitched 8 scoreless hittings, while only allowing 1 hit and 4 walks.  Lester also struck out 6.  However, he was removed after the 8th inning for Jonathon Papelbon who struck out 2 and got the win. 
The play of the game came in the top of the ninth when Dustin Pedroia made a diving stab on a hard hit grounder by Vernon Wells.  Pedroia was praised for his steady hitting as he marched on to win the Rookie Of The Year Award in 2007, but his defensive is really underrated.  Pedroia has made many key diving stops in ball games to help save runs for Red Sox pitching. 
On a down note, the trend of sickness and injuries continued for the Red Sox today, although Mike Lowell did return from the DL.  Lowell was greeted with a standing ovation during his first at-bat that saw him strike out on a Roy Halladay curve ball.  However, more injuries for the Red Sox included an early exit for JD Drew, as well as Jacoby Ellsbury being benched tonight due to a sore groin.  With these injuries, the Red Sox won't have much time to recooperate due to a crowded schedule as tonight was the first game of 16 straight (this is also a series of 36 games in 37 days).

(Red Sox 8 - Rangers 3 - Boxscore)

Kason Gabbard only lasted 2 innings after taking a spill off the mound when he apparently lost his footing in the second inning.  At first, Gabbard appeared to be alright, but did not return for the third inning.  Dustin Nippert replaced Gabbard and threw a dreadful game allowing 9 hits, 4 walks, and 8 earned runs over 2.1 innings.  For the Sox, Clay Buchholz had his best start of the year going 6 innings allowing only 5 hits and walking 2 with 0 ER.  Buccholz also recorded 6 strikeouts.
Julio Lugo had a career day going 4-4 with a double, an RBI, and a stolen base.  Perhaps Lugo may be stepping up to the plate with a bit more urgency as Jed Lowrie is nipping at his heels, turning in consistent impressive performances.  However, no matter how well Lowrie plays, Francona is a guy that likes to stick with his players.  We saw this last year when Pedroia struggled through the first month of the season hitting under .200, and then later in the year when Lugo struggled hitting around .180.  Lowrie was part of quartet of Red Sox rookies in today's lineup that also included Jacoby Ellsbury, Kevin Cash, and Joe Thurston.  Thurston was brought up after Alex Cora went to the DL with a sore elbow.  I was surprised to see that the Red Sox elected to call up Joe Thurston who has been bounced around the minor leagues and has played a handful of games in the Majors in 04 with the LA Dodgers and 06 with the Philadelphia Phillies.  Instead, I thought they might bring up Brandon Moss again, considering what he did in Japan and the buzz that stirred around him in Red Sox Nation helping the Sox come from behind in Game 1.  Moss would bring the Red Sox a left handed power threat opposed to a left hand contact hitter in Thurston.  Thurston's average was lower in Pawtucket at .255 opposed to Moss's .286.  Moss also led Thurston significantly in HRs, RBIs, and Total Bases.  The one statistic that Joe Thurston was significantly better in than Moss was strikeouts.  Moss has struck out 24 times in 70 ABs opposed to Thurston who had 8k's in 47 ABs.  Perhaps this was the main reason why the Sox brass selected Thurston rather than Moss, however I would have liked to see Brandon be the one they brought up.

Photo Courtesy of Boston Globe

While some of these trade rumors are from the past months, the buzz is starting up again.  The Cubs are looking to replace Felix Pie who hasn't produced and are looking at Coco Crisp as that possible replacement...

Links to stories:
Cubs Eyeing Crisp (Boston.com)
(Different Article) Cubs Eyeing Coco (MLB Trade Rumors)
Cubs Cuckoo For Coco (Cubs Baseball)
Cubs Hot Stove

Photos Courtesy of Getty Images

(Red Sox 7 - Yankees 5 - Boxscore)

Manny Ramirez powered the Red Sox over the Yankees on two HR's off Mike Mussina.  Josh Beckett gave the Sox 8 strong innings in the win, allowing only 6 hits and a walk, with 3ER and 5K's.  Ramirez continues to crush the Yankees going 6-9 in this series.  His last 4 AB's against Mike Mussina have been two 2-Run home runs, a solo homer, and a 2-run double.
The real debate from today's game were the actions of Kyle Farnsworth in the 7th inning when Farnsworth threw behind Manny Ramirez's head after he had been 3-3 for the night with 2 HR's.  During the heat of the rivalry between 2000-2004 when Pedro was still around, Martinez famously said, "Karim Garcia, who is Karim Garcia?" (Karim Garcia - wikipedia) (Youtube Video of Pedro Interview).  Well, who the F*$@ is Kyle Farnsworth?  I understand Farnsworth has been around the league for a while, but he is no where near the caliber of player that Manny Ramirez is.  Ramirez is a future Hall of Famer, Farnsworth is a Junior Varsity player.  There is no reason why Farnsworth should have been throwing at Ramirez, simply because he wasn't the one who gave up the HR's in the first place.  Mussina threw two slow fastballs over the plate and Manny crushed them, it had nothing to do with Farnsworth.  Farnsworth is trying to make a name for himself like Karim Garcia, but if he wants to throw at people, get some stats to back it up. 

In Other News:
Tejada Actually 2 Years Older (Video Interview - E60)
Tejada Admits To Age (Story - ESPN.com)
Rockies Beat Padres in 22 innings
Beckett On The Win (Video - NESN.com)

Photo Courtesy of Getty Images

(Yankees 15 - Red Sox 9 - Boxscore)

Not too much to say about this game.  The Yankees put a hurtin' on Red Sox pitching tonight scoring on every Red Sox pitcher, other than David Aardsma.  Buccholz gave up 7 runs in less than four innings, and looked dejected in the dugout as he saw the Yankees take a four run lead at 7-3 after the Red Sox had tied the game up at 3-3 in the previous inning.  Earlier in the season I alluded to the fact that I thought Buccholz could be a good pitcher, but I felt as if he was not quite ready and should go back to the Minors.  I still feel that way after this outing.  It may not be a bad thing for him to go back down to the Minors and get his marbles once Colon is ready to come up.  Other than that, not too much to say today. 

Photo Courtesy of Getty Images

Photo Courtesy of AP Photo (Mark Duncan)

(Red Sox 6 - Indians 4 - Boxscore)

In a rematch of the 2007 American League Championship Series, the Boston Red Sox cameback in the 9th inning to steal a win in Cleveland against the hometown Indians. The Indians led for most of the game after hammering Jon Lester who had another poor outing. In the top of the 8th inning Kevin Youkilis hit his first home run of the year to bring the Sox closer at 4-3. In the top of the 9th, the Indians brought in their closer Joe Borowski who watched himself give up a walk-off Grand Slam to Torii Hunter earlier last week. Julio Lugo led off the inning with a lead off double, and was bunted over to third on a sacrifice by Coco Crisp. Dustin Pedroia then drove Lugo in to tie the game on a sacrifice fly. Ortiz hit a bloop single in the next at-bat and then Manny Ramirez came through with a towering home run off a 80 MPH fast ball by Borowski. Ramirez is contending to have an MVP season so far in his contract year and is filling in for Big Papi (who had a 2-5 night) in the clutch. In the bottom of the inning Papelbon came in to get the save preserving the Red Sox win.
After the game Borowski remarked that he would have his arm checked out by team doctors because he felt a decrease in his velocity as of late. Perhaps this is the excuse he is looking for to cover up the fact that he is not a reliable closer. Borowski, although leading the league in saves last year with 45, has been a shaky closer for the Indians. In pressure situations in the playoffs in 07, and during today's game in the 7th, Rafael Betancourt has proven that he can get outs and is very consistent. Arm problem or not, I believe the closer job in Cleveland should belong to Betancourt as he has proven that he is worthy of getting outs (today striking out David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez in a key situation).
To speak about the Sox, Kevin Youkilis is quietly having a terrific start to the season. After today's game he is hitting .375 with 1 HR 10 RBI's and a .404 On-Base Percentage. I think that Youkilis is one of the most under rated players in the MLB. Last year, Youkilis earned a gold glove at 1st base which is not even his real position. Right now he is playing third base due to the Mike Lowell injury, which is his true position. Youkilis hits for a decent average, but what makes him great is his ability to see a lot of pitches and grind out pitchers. Youkilis is very valuable in the Sox lineup for this reason, and all-around is a solid player that doesn't get the respect he deserves.

In Other News:
Ortiz Speaks of Slump (Video)

Photo Courtesy of Getty Images

(Red Sox 8 - Yankees 5 - Boxscore)

The Red Sox took 2 of 3 from the Yankees in a game where both starters struggled to find consistent control.  21 year old righthander Philip Hughes of the Yankees only lasted 2+ innings giving up 7 runs (6 earned), 6 hits and 3 walks.  The Yankees handed the Red Sox a 7-1 lead going into the 4th, when Daisuke Matsuzaka began to unravel.  Daisuke allowed 3 runs in the top of the 4th letting the Yankees get within breathing room at 7-4.   Francona left him in to finish the 5th inning even though he was well over 100 pitches, as he finished the night at 116.  Matsuzaka walked 6 total tonight as he struggled to throw strikes.  However, in my opinion, I believe that sometimes he doesn't want to throw strikes as it looks to me as if Daisuke is scared to attack hitters.  He tries to outsmart his opponents by throwing many different pitches where sometimes he should go after the hitter.  He tries to strikeout every hitter instead of letting hitters put the ball in play and letting his defense get outs.  In terms of the Red Sox coaching style, I do not think this meshes well.  The Red Sox coaching staff seem to be very concerned with pitch counts and when Daisuke starts, his pitch counts don't seem to bother him.  He is a legend in Japan for a 200+ pitch, 18 inning complete game he pitched in high school.  The Red Sox will need to teach Daisuke not to be afraid to attack hitters and keep his pitch counts down.  If he can't he will not be able to get the Red Sox deep into games so that Delcarmen/Okajima/Papelbon can close it out.
 
For the offense Manny Ramirez had another good day at the plate, as he has proven to be a Yankee killer.  Coming into the game Ramirez was tied for third all-time for home runs against the Yankees with 53.  Ramirez drove in the first run in the top of the first and later scored in the inning.  He got another hit in the third and later scored on a hit by Sean Casey.  Overall, Ramirez was 2-3 with a walk an RBI and 2 runs.  Youkilis also had a good night at the plate going 2-3 with 2 RBI's and 2 Runs.
  
On another note, as mentioned a few times during this week's games, David Ortiz has been slumping.  Red Sox Manager Terry Francona decided to bench him for tonight's game against the Yankees.  When asked about it during the broadcast by Jon Miller and Joe Morgan on ESPN, Francona expressed, "I needed to give him a mental night off."  Hopefully Francona was speaking the truth and there is no problem with the knee, and perhaps maybe a mental break can get him on track.  As said before, Ortiz needs to be in the lineup for the Red Sox to be successful.

In Other News:
Yankees Dig Up Jersey (Video and Story - ESPN.com)
More On Yankees Removing Curse (MLB.com)
Another Big Day For Kapler - Sounds Repetitive (Video)
Francona's Decision To Bench Big Papi (MLB.com) 
Ortiz's Struggles and AL Notes (Rotoworld)