game 128 - Mariners game 8 of 10

Sometimes I just want to bash my head into a brick wall. What a fiasco, Schilling goes out and pretty much matches Woods pitch for pitch in the first 4 innings only to watch this team bite the bullet in the field and at the plate:

1) in the first 2 innings the Sox have men on 1st and 2nd with 1 out and get zero runs by going 0 for 4 (2k's in the first, infield fly in the second followed by another k).

2) 1 - 2 - 3 innings in the 3rd and 4th.

3) A freaking triple because Coco tries to be a superman in the 5th instead of playing it safe.

4) For the second time in 2 nights Cora tries the backhand flip of the ball to the second baseman only for it to be wide of the mark. Of course if Schilling had just picked up the ball instead of trying an off balance throw to 3rd it would have been 1st and 3rd with 0 outs instead of a run scored and a man on 2nd (looked like a little league game being played). This is just another reason in my book why the Sox should resign Gonzalez. In my opinion on both nights he would have gotten at least one out both times (don't get me wrong, I like Cora as a backup not as an every day player).

5) The bats disappeared again.

The only bright spot is that the spankees and White Sox lost, but the Mariners are now 4 and 4 against the Sox this year. Sheesh!!

***********

As usual all statistics were found at the day by day database at Baseball Musings.

Schilling goes against Jake Woods. Woods has only pitched against the Sox in relief apperances, so it will be interesting to see how he does as a starter tonight. Schilling has made apperances as a reliever (with Baltimore) and 3 starts with the Red Sox against the Mariners.

First looking at Woods, we see that this will be his second major league start (a no decision on 8/20 against the Angels was the first). In his three relief appearances against the Sox he has pitched 4 1/3 innings giving up 4 hits, 2 runs, walking 2, striking out 3 and only 1 loss (while with the Angels). It should be noted that in 4 1/3 innings this year he has not allowed any runs and only 3 hits.

From MLB.Coms probable pitchers:

In his first Major League start, Woods -- who took the place of Joel Pineiro in the rotation -- tamed the Angels on Aug. 20 to the tune of one run on five hits over 5 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out two. Better yet, of the 74 pitches that he threw 52 were strikes. Woods got a lot of mileage out of his breaking ball and changeup against his former team.

Schilling will be going for his 3 win in 4 starts against the M's as a Sox. His one no decision was in 2004, a 12 inning win for the Sox. Curt went 7 2/3 inning in that game and only allowed 4 earned runs. His two wins came in 2004 and this year. Both of these were good quality starts. Overall as a Red Sox he has a 2.78 ERA in 22 2/3 innings with 16 K's. The K's might be big tonight, as he is only 8 K's short of 3,000 for his career.

From MLB.Coms probable pitchers:

Once again, Schilling provided the only consistency in Boston's starting rotation. In the biggest game of the season, Schilling allowed three runs and six hits over seven innings against the Yankees, leaving in position for the win before the bullpen blew the lead. Schilling has not picked up a win in his last three starts.

Should be an interesting game but I look for Schilling to follow Beckett's stellar performance of last night with one of his own. The key will be if the boys brought the bats that have some hits in them on the plane.

ESPN.com preview is here.
Yahoo sports preview here.
MLB.com press pass here.