Red Sox 2008 Game 82 Recap

Final

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Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	0	3	0	0	0	1	0	2		6	12	0
Houston	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0		1	4	0

W: D. Matsuzaka (9-1) L: R. Hernandez (0-1) S: J. Papelbon (24)
HR ➢ Bos: J.D. Drew (15) Hou: R. Abercrombie (1)

✫ 1st star - J. D. DREW - Another home run, this time a 3 run blast for the first runs of the game.
✫✫ 2nd star - D. Matsuzak - Way to come back from the last start (though you allowed way to many walks) 5 Innings pitched of 2 hit ball
✫✫✫ 3rd star - K. Youkilis - 4 for 5 night
⋔ Pitchfork - Nothing - I could put Okajami but a solo home run with two outs, not going to worry about.

Game thoughts!

Not much happened in this game (what, striking out 3 Astros is nothing? - ed, Ok something then) until the third inning. After Daisuke struck out Crisp walked and then Pedroia doubled to left field. Well, I should say he singled and then evaded the tag on a beautiful move at second, but the scorer said double so double it is in the books. This was followed by a home run by J. D. on a 2-0 count and really that was the only runs that the Sox would need.

Daisuke looked good except for the three walks that he issued. The five innings could have been better, but according to Remy and Orsillo and others he was pulled more for cautionary reasons then because he was tired or hurt. I can't blame Francona for that since his last start he only lasted the one inning and this was basically the first real start after coming off of the disabled list. Besides, 87 pitches in five innings means he probably would have and could have given them six strong innings if it was needed to spare the pen.

It was a good move by the Sox brass, especially since Hansen and Delcarmen had 1-2-3 innings. The only other hits for the Astros came off of Okajima, but I am not really worried about him, because I think he is just having a rough go of it, but will soon make the adjustments that are needed.

Still, since the bull pen had to go four innings in this game it would be nice to see Lester go out and pitch a seven or eight inning affair tonight. That would not be an unreasonable request the way he has been pitching lately.

Factoid - Crisp starts his five game suspension tonight, which means he will miss the rest of this series and all of the Rays series. MLB front office played it safe but I was glad to see the suspension reduced from seven games.

♊ - Then don't strain your brain trying. Might break something.