Red Sox 07 Game 72 Recap

Final
Box Score|Play-By-Play|Recap|Press Pass

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0		2	8	0
San Diego	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	7	0

W: D. Matsuzaka (9-5) L: G. Maddux (6-4) S: J. Papelbon (17)

► Hero - Varitek and Youkilis for knocking in the game winning RBI's
► Goat - Hard to give it to anyone in a 2 - 1 game but its going to the Padre Offense

Idle thoughts

Bottom of the first I was ready to throw things at the TV. You just knew that disaster was about to happen after watching the big boys fail to get Coco home from third with one out, though Papi hit the ball hard, just right at someone.

I know that Maddux is a very good pitcher but I don't understand why Pedroia was bunting after Coco had led off the inning with a single and on the first pitch to Dustin easily stole second. Why give up an out in the first? Of course Dustin's bunt might have been a base hit if it had been anyone but Greg Maddux on the mound. Still, with a man on third and one out, you have to get that runner home.

As for throwing things at the TV, nibbler drove me crazy in the bottom of the first. Throw the ball over the plate, especially if you want to emulate one of your Idols ( Maddux), of course if one of your other idols is truly Nolan Ryan, you have his wildness covered already. 3 and 2 on the first three batters and he walked all three. After the third walk all I could think of was Matt Clement.

Still, once he got in a groove he did well. 80 % of the pitchers in baseball would not have been able to give up only one run in that situation. So, good job by Daisuke to minimize the damage.

Delcarmen, Okajima and Papel-bot were great. I hope Tito keeps giving the ball to Manny. Just don't do like last year when you ran him out there every night. I still think he is a quality right hander to bring into the game, however, he hasn't reached the untouchable status yet.

Well, pitched game that was decided by four singles in the fourth. Singles by Pedroia, Manny, Youkilis (who was out) and Varitek took advantage of the opportunity. Any time you can beat Maddux at home, especially when he has your number in the past, you take it.

Wakefield vs Young today, should be another good game as Petco Park is probably big enough to prevent any knucklers from going out of the park. Still, we will have to see!