Red Sox 07 Game 141 Recap

Final

Press Pass ✠ Box Score ✠ Play - by - Play ✠ Game Recap

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	0	2	3	1	0	0	0	1		7	10	0
Baltimore	1	0	3	2	0	0	0	0	0		6	10	0

W: C. Buchholz (3-0) L: D. Baez (0-6) S: J. Papelbon (34)
HR ➢ Bos: C. Crisp (6), D. Ortiz (27) Bal: K. Millar (15)
☼ Sun - Buchholz - A houdini act in the sixth when he loaded the bases that led to three shut out innings.
☁ Cloud - Wakefield - With concern about Daisuke cropping up the Sox really needed him to step up.

Game thoughts!

A game that started off badly as Wakefield could not get the job done. Fortunately the Offense kept on giving him a lead instead of folding like a cheap suit.

Clay continues to impress with his maturity and ability to throw strikes. I think that we can now say he will be with the big club next year right out of spring training. This kid is just too good to keep down on the farm.

Lugo watch - 1 for 5 - down to .239

Coco watch - 3 for 4 - up to .270

Drew watch - 0 for 3 - down to .252

♊ - Morbid and creepifing I can handle as long as we do it quiet like.

Red Sox 07 Game 140 Recap

Final

Press Pass ✠ Box Score ✠ Play - by - Play ✠ Game Recap

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Toronto	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	1	2		6	11	0
Boston	1	0	0	0	1	2	0	0	0		4	9	0

W: J Accardo (4-3) L: H Okajima (3-2)
HR ➢ Bos: J. Varitek (13) Tor: T. Glaus (20), V. Wells (16)

☼ Sun - Wells - Two run home run in the top of the ninth off of Okajima sealed this deal.
☁ Cloud - The Bullpen - Schilling goes six giving up three and leaving with the lead, MDC and Okajima gave up three in two innings.

Game thoughts!

Schilling pitched six solid innings only allowing three runs in the fifth inning. Another solid start by Curt (three in a row) since coming off the DL. Keep it up big guy!

Is Okajima tiring? Has the East caught up with him? Who knows but that was a bomb he gave up in the ninth to V. Wells.


Lugo watch - 1 for 4 - up to .239

Coco watch - 2 for 3 - up to .266

Drew watch - 0 for 4 - down to .254

♊ - all else fails get a bigger hammer.

Red Sox 07 Game 139 Recap

Final

Press Pass ✠ Box Score ✠ Play - by - Play ✠ Game Recap

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Toronto	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0		3	5	0
Boston	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	1	X		5	9	1

W: J. Beckett (17-6) L: R. Halladay (14-7) S: J. Papelbon (33)
HR ➢ Bos: J. Ellsbury (2) Tor: M. Stairs (19)

☼ Sun - Beckett - On a day that a long start was needed he went 8 innings of 5 hit ball.
☁ Cloud - Halladay - for letting the first run rattle him. Coco running hard prevented a double play and it was all down hill after that.

Game thoughts!

The day after Matsuzaka's melt down taxed the bull pen, Beckett came up big. Eight innings of five hit ball provided some rest and Papel-bot finished the game off with a no-hit ninth.

In the fourth Coco ran hard and prevented an inning ending double play that scored J.D. Drew. By the time the inning was over the Sox had put up a four spot and the game was sealed.

Ellsbury excited the crowd again by going 3 for 3 and only needing a double to hit for the cycle.

Lugo watch - 1 for 4 - up to .239

Coco watch - 0 for 4 - down to .263

Drew watch - 1 for 3 - stays at .256

♊ - all else fails get a bigger hammer.

Red Sox 07 Game 138 Recap

Final

Press Pass ✠ Box Score ✠ Play - by - Play ✠ Game Recap

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Toronto	1	0	0	0	0	8	1	0	0		10	16	1
Boston	3	0	2	5	0	3	0	0	X		13	16	0

W: D. Matsuzaka (14-11) L: J. Litsch (5-7) S: J. Papelbon (32)
HR ➢ Bos: M Lowell (18) Tor: T. Glaus (19)

☼ Sun - Mike Lowell - After Daisuke allowed a first inning run, Mike got the bats going by lashing a home run over the wall.
☁ Cloud - Daisuke - What was a blow out became a nail biter as he coughed up seven runs in his 5 1/3 innings.

Game thoughts!

A game that was closer than it should have been as Daisuke continued to struggle. Staked to a 10-1 lead after five he couldn't get out of the sixth and almost cost the Sox the game. To say he stunk would be an understatement as the Blue Jays put up eight runs in the sixth. Simply put he was pathetic.

Highlights for the Sox were Lowell's three run shot in the first, J.D. Drew's sacrifice flies and the sixteen pitch 9th by the Bot.

Lugo watch - 2 for 4 - up to .239

Coco watch - 1 for 4 - down to .266

Drew watch - 1 for 2 - up to .256

♊ - all else fails get a bigger hammer.

Red Sox 07 Game 137 Pictures

Don Orsillo is a nice guy he even takes time to visit with reprobates. God, when did I become my father?

Welcome to Fenway park, check out the standings!

Lester long tossing before his bullpen warm up.

Moss and Ellsbury taking their positions. Let the game begin!!

Dustin starts off with a single

Papi hits a long out.

Scoreboard updated at the end of the sixth.

Francona makes the trip one batter too late. Still a good outing by Lester.

Okajima delivers a pitch.

The Bot makes his way to the mound.
These next three I got real lucky, one out in the ninth and the Sox up by one, then this happened:

The pitch

The hit - uh oh looks bad

ocoC makes the catch!

Red Sox 07 Game 137 Recap

Final

Press Pass ✠ Box Score ✠ Play - by - Play ✠ Game Recap

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Baltimore	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0		2	7	0
Boston	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	X		3	5	0

W: J. Lester (3-0) L: D. Cabrera (9-14) S: J. Papelbon (31)
HR ➢ Bos: J. Ellsbury (1) Bal: R. Hernandez (7)

☼ Sun - Ellsbury - Tough one to pick since Pedroia scored two runs but going with Jacoby's first home run.
☁ Cloud - Goat - Am not going to pick one. Hard to say there was really a goat in a 3-2 game that went down to the wire.

This game was my first game at Fenway in twenty years. Pictures posted later.

Game thoughts!

The game started out with Lester walking the first person he faced and then it seemed to be a nerve wracking game after that. The bottom of the first saw Pedroia singling to center and after moving to second on Ortiz's walk coming home for the teams first run. The second inning saw the Sox strand Ellsbury after his one out single and stolen base. Cash and Pedroia though failed to drive in the run and teeth started to grind.

Lester continued to allow a runner per frame in the first three innings and the Sox could not seem to solve Cabrera as the only person to reach in the third was a two out walk to Lowell. The fourth saw the typical bad inning by Lester. Tejada led off with a walk, Millar followed with a walk and Huff singled to center to load the bases. The game was hanging in the balance but Lester performed the Houdini act.

After a Mora liner to Pedroia the inning ended when Henandez flew out to medium/shallow right and on a running catch J.D. then nailed Tejada at the plate ending the inning with no runs scored. A colossal failure by the O's to tie the score.

Ellsbury lengthened the lead by hitting a two run home run into the Sox bull pen. His first major league home run and fortunately it went into the bull pen meaning he would be able to keep the ball. It almost seemed like the escape in the fourth allowed Lester to relax as the fifth inning was the first time he set the O's down in order. The bottom of the fifth saw Pedroi double, Cora sacrifice and Lowell deliver the Sacrifice fly to score the third run for the Sox. You could feel the entire park relaxing after that score. A sixth inning run by the O's put the edge back in the sitting on the edge of your seats but still a comfort level was felt in the park.

Lester's outing ended though as he allowed a no doubter home run over the Wall to start off the seventh. Lopez though came in and set the next three batters down in order.

Excitement was generated when Okajima came in to pitch the eighth and was greeted by a Nick Markakis double. A fielders choice to second brought up the former Sox Player Kevin Millar. Fortunately Okajima got the Oriole to strike out and then he struck out Huff to end the inning. It was obvious that Papelbon would be trotting in from the pen to start the ninth but everybody was hoping the Sox would be able to earn another run to allow everybody to breathe. The O's refused to cooperate as for the third straight inning the Sox went down 1-2-3.

The ninth demonstrated why Francona should be considered for manager of the year. Crisp replaced Moss in the outfield and Ellsbury moved to the left field position. Mora flied to Drew in right to start off the inning and Hernandez came to the plate. On an 0-2 pitch Hernandez lifted a fly ball to shallow center that Crisp was able to corral with a sliding catch. Two down and the place was ready to erupt and after Brian Roberts flew out to center field Papel-bot had recorded his thirtyfirst save and dirty water was heard.

An enjoyable day at the park was over and the Sox extended their eastern division lead thanks to the Devil Rays beating the spankees in the bronx.

Lugo watch - dnp

Coco watch - 0 for 0 - stays at .266

Drew watch - 0 for 3 - down to .254

♊ - all else fails get a bigger hammer.

Red Sox 07 Game 136 Recap

Final

Press Pass ✠ Box Score ✠ Play - by - Play ✠ Game Recap

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Baltimore	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0
Boston	0	1	0	3	0	4	0	2	X		10	14	0

W: C. Buchholz (2-0) L: G. Olson (1-3)
HR ➢ Bos: K. Youkilis (15)

☼ Sun - Buchholz - When you are the starting pitcher for the home team and the top line of the box score has nothing but zero's, well you are the player of the game.
☁ Cloud - Goat - Olson - on a night that you have to be perfect you can't give up four runs in the first four innings.

Game thoughts!

Once again boston ended a four game losing streak this year (their longest). The last time C. Schilling went 8 2/3 innings of no hit ball, this time the Rookie in his second start went nine innings of no hit ball. Much better than C. Shilling.

In most no hitters there is usually one play that keeps it alive. This game it was in the seventh when Pedroia sprinted to his right dove for a ground ball and threw out a diving M. Tejada out at first. Replays showed Dustin going F*** yeah after the play, so the rookie saved the rookies no hitter. Side note this is only the third time that a rookie had thrown a no-no in his first or second start since 1900. The first rookie no hitter ever by a Sox pitcher.

After the seventh as Clay's pitch count continued to rise the only real suspense was whether or not Theo and company would allow him to finish the game. Fortunately for Francona the rookie was able to complete the deal in 115 pitches with his 120th pitch being the limit.

Lugo watch - 2 for 5 - up to .237

Coco watch - 0 for 4 - down to .266

Drew watch - DNP

♊ - all else fails get a bigger hammer.

Red Sox 07 Game 135

Final

Press Pass ✠ Box Score ✠ Play - by - Play ✠ Game Recap

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Baltimore	0	0	0	4	0	5	0	0	0		9	13	1
Boston	1	1	0	0	1	0	3	0	2		8	15	1

W: K. Birkins (1-1) L: J. Tavarez (7-10) S: D. Baez (3)
HR ➢ Bos: D. Ortiz (26) Bal: M. Tejada (17), N. Markakis (16)

☼ Sun - Markakis - Three Run Home Run nuff said.
☁ Cloud - Goat - Tavarez was battered in an emergency start followed by Timlin being battered.

Game thoughts!

Boston was looking to end its three game losing streak while Baltimore was looking to end their nine game losing streak. Baltimore was able to get the job done because of the ineffectiveness of the Boston pitching. Just a terrible game from the fourth inning on.

Lugo watch - 0 for 5 - down to .235

Coco watch - 2 for 3 - up to .268

Drew watch - 0 for 1 - down to .256

♊ - all else fails get a bigger hammer.

Red Sox 07 Game 134 Recap

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	2	1
New York	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	3	X		5	9	1

W: C. Wang (16-6) L: C. Schilling (8-6)
HR ➢ NYY: R. Cano (16)

☼ Sun - Robinson Cano and Chien-Ming Wang - Cano for his two home runs and Wang for his 7 innings of 1 hit pitch.
☁ Cloud - Schilling - When the offense is struggling you can't afford to give up home runs to Canoe.

Game thoughts!

Chien once again stopped the bats of the Sox. Seven innings one hit. The key turning point though was when J.D. Drew came up in the seventh with runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. He hit a ground ball to A-rod, who tried to tag Youkilis before throwing to first to nail Drew.

Initially with only Drew being called out it looked like the Sox would have a chance to tie with runners on 2nd and 3rd and only 1 out. However, the Umpires got together and decided that Youkilis had went out of the basepath to avoid the tag. Double play and Lowell was stranded at 2nd. That was really the closest they came to scoring.

Joba may have woken up a giant in this game. For some reason he decided to throw two balls at Youkilis's head in the 9th. Ejection, but the Sox were irate, especially Beckett. Will be interesting to see what happens when the Yankees visit Fenway in Sept.

Factoid - since 2003 the record in Red Sox / Yankee games is 44-47 Yankees (including today's game). During that time period the Yankees lead the Sox 17 - 12 in August and September.

Lugo watch - did not play

Coco watch - 0 for 4 - down to .265

Drew watch - 0 for 4 - down to .257

♊ - Morbid and creepifing I can handle as long as we do it quiet like.

Red Sox 07 Game 133 Recap

Final

Press Pass ✠ Box Score ✠ Play - by - Play ✠ Game Recap

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	0		3	4	1
New York	0	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	X		4	14	0

W: R. Clemens (6-5) L: J. Beckett (16-6) S: M. Rivera (22)
HR ➢ Bos: D. Ortiz (25), K. Youkilis (14) NYY: A. Rodriquez (44)

☼ Sun - Clemens - 5 1/3 of no hit ball.
☁ Cloud - Beckett - The 13 hits he gave up were a career high.

Game thoughts!

This game came down to the Rocket and Beckett and Josh lost. Simple as that. Josh did not pitch bad, he just had one bad inning but that was enough with the way that Clemens was pitching during this game. You can't even blame the men LOB in this game because the Yankees had 1 more LOB. Still, a tight game that was lost in Yankee stadium.

The good news is that the Sox pitching continues to be good. The bad news is that the offense is still not getting clutch hits.

Factoid - since 2003 the record in Red Sox / Yankee games is 44-46 Yankees (including tonights game). During that time period the Yankees lead the Sox 16 - 12 in August and September.

Lugo watch - 0 for 4 - down to .238

Coco watch - 0 for 4 - down to .268

Drew watch - 1 for 3 - up to .260

♊ - Morbid and creepifing I can handle as long as we do it quiet like.

Red Sox 07 Game 132 Recap

Final

Press Pass ✠ Box Score ✠ Play - by - Play ✠ Game Recap

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	0		3	7	1
New York	2	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	X		5	7	0

W: A. Pettitte (12-7) L: D. Matsuzaka (13-11) S: M. Rivera (21)
HR ➢ Bos: M. Ramirez (20), J. Varitek (12) NYY: D. Jeter (9), J. Damon (9)

☼ Sun - Damon - Two run home run in the seventh seals the deal.
☁ Cloud - Matsuzaka - once again he gives up home runs in a close game that causes the loss.

Game thoughts!

Daisuke continued his troubles against the Yankees. This time the offense did not bail him out. Daisuke started off the game by giving up two runs in the first. A problem that he has had too many times this year reared its head right away.

After allowing a single to Damon and a excuse me swinging bunt ground out by Jeter he walked Bobby Abreu. The very next pitch was to the rib cage of A-Rod and the bases were suddenly loaded with only one out. Another excuse me swing led to a force out at second with Damon scoring and then Posada doubled down the left field line to score Abreu. The Sox were immediately in the hole and would never get the lead.

High lights for the Sox were the home runs hit by Manny and Varitek. In between those bombs was a lead off triple by Lugo, who scored on Papi's SF in the third. Papi's rbi tied the game at two and Varitek's home run tied the game at three (Jeter's home run in the fifth being the difference). So, the Sox kept on coming back but could not get the lead as Pettitte just refused to give any ground. Still, I would rather be seven games up instead of games down.

Factoid - since 2003 the record in Red Sox / Yankee games is 44-45 Yankees (including tonights game). During that time period the Yankees lead the Sox 15 - 12 in August and September.

Lugo watch - 1 for 4 - up to .240

Coco watch - 0 for 4 - down to .270

Drew watch - 0 for 4 - down to .259

♊ - Morbid and creepifing I can handle as long as we do it quiet like.

Red Sox 07 games 132, 133 and 134

			@
Red Sox		80-51		Yankees		72-59

August 28 & 29 & 30  ✠  Yankee Stadium 7:05, 7:05 and 1:05 p.m. ET

American League (8/28/07)

East	W	L	GB	L 10	1 R W	1 R L	X W	X L
Boston	80	51	-	7-3	18	19	83	48
New York	72	59	8.0	5-5	11	17	77	54
Toronto	66	65	14.0	4-6	23	20	70	61
Baltimore	58	71	21.0	2-8	10	24	61	68
Tampa	51	80	29.0	5-5	16	15	51	80

ESPN.Com previews Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Yahoo's previews Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday..
ESPN.Com after the game Tuesday Recap, Wednesday Recap, and Thursday Recap..
MLB.Com Press Pass
From MLB.Com Tuesday Scouting Report, Wednesday Scouting Report, Thursday Scouting Report.

Matsuzaka: Dice-K held the Rays to a single hit through his first 5 1/3 innings then watched as his hard work went to waste in the form of a two-run homer in the sixth that handed both he and the Red Sox a loss. The Japanese rookie has often fallen victim to poor run support and Wednesday was more of the same as his teammates mustered just one run in his defense. Matsuzaka said afterward that he was disappointed with too many "wasted pitches," but the lone obvious error was the home run ball.

Beckett: The right-hander will be going after a career-high win No. 17 in this one. Beckett was far from his best in his last start, giving up seven hits and three runs over 5 2/3 innings. But he still managed to get the win, downing the White Sox by a score of 11-3. This is Beckett's final start in August, a month in which he's gone 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA in four starts. Beckett is 1-0 with a 5.54 ERA in two starts against the Yankees this season. This is Beckett's first start of 2007 at Yankee Stadium, where he's 2-1 with a 7.53 ERA in the regular season.

Schilling: has won his last two starts. He downed the White Sox in his last outing, holding them to four hits and a run over six innings. Schilling is 0-1 with a 7.00 ERA in three starts against the Yankees this season. He is 2-3 with a 4.91 ERA lifetime at Yankee Stadium.

Pettitte: When the Yankees need a big win -- say, on days immediately following a loss -- Pettitte has been their guy. There are no bigger games, win or lose, than the hyped contests vs. Boston, and Pettitte draws the assignment to open the Yankees' against the Red Sox. The left-hander has won five straight starts, the last of which coming on Wednesday against the Angels, as he spun seven innings of one-run ball. Pettitte is 1-1 with a 5.01 ERA in five games (four starts) against Boston this year.

Clemens: The energy level at Yankee Stadium should be high for this one, as The Rocket takes on his former team for the first time since rejoining the Yankees. Clemens saw a two-start winning streak go by the boards when he allowed six runs in five innings to the Tigers on Friday. In the outing, he battled a blister on his right foot that may have impeded his delivery.

Wang: Citing a mechanical tweak that sped up his delivery some, Wang overcame a so-so start to best the Tigers on Saturday. Trusting his sinker more by throwing to the heart of the plate -- thus letting his natural movement do the work -- Wang went eight strong innings, holding Detroit to two runs. He is 2-1 in three starts against the Red Sox this season, working Boston to a 4.50 ERA.

As usual all statistics were found at the day by day database at Baseball Musings and this year at Baseball Reference.

Sox Batting vs Pettitte

Player	AB	H	2b	3b	HR's	RBI	BB's	K's	BA
D. Pedroia	10	3	1	0	0	3	0	0	.300
K. Youkilis	9	5	1	0	1	2	2	1	.556
D. Ortiz	34	11	3	0	1	5	3	9	.324
M. Ramirez	69	29	8	0	3	18	6	6	.420
J. D. Drew	14	6	1	0	2	2	1	5	.429
M. Lowell	11	3	1	0	0	2	1	0	.273
J. Varitek	46	16	1	1	1	6	4	14	.348
C. Crisp	13	4	0	0	0	0	1	3	.308
J. Lugo	19	5	0	0	0	0	3	3	.263
Totals	225	82	16	1	8	38	21	41	.364

The question is how does Pettitte have a 14 and 6 record vs the Sox. Well, actually he has struggled this year. In four starts he has had two quality starts, but he has only been able to average 5.58 innings per start with a 5.24 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. Oh, yeah, his record is 1 and 1 this year.

Key in the first game will be if Manny, Ortiz and J.D. Drew can continue to hit Pettitte. I think they will, but it should still be a pretty close game. The big guys need some people on base so they can hit them home. Look for a good game!

Sox Batting vs Clemens

Player	AB	H	2b	3b	HR's	RBI	BB's	K's	BA
D. Pedroia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
K. Youkilis	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
D. Ortiz	19	4	0	0	1	1	2	5	.211
M. Ramirez	50	9	1	0	3	6	10	18	.180
J. D. Drew	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	.000
M. Lowell	11	2	0	0	0	0	1	4	.182
J. Varitek	19	3	1	0	0	0	2	8	.158
C. Crisp	7	2	0	0	0	0	0	3	.286
J. Lugo	9	1	1	0	0	0	0	4	.111
Totals	117	21	3	0	4	7	16	44	.179

Clemens dominates these guys. Makes you wonder how he could have a life time record of only 8 and 5 vs the Sox. Especially when you see that he averages over 6 innings per start and has twelve quality starts vs the Sox. I would count on this being a low scoring game for the Sox with those type of numbers. Let us hope that Beckett brings his A++++ game.

Sox Batting vs Wang

Player	AB	H	2b	3b	HR's	RBI	BB's	K's	BA
D. Pedroia	3	3	2	0	0	1	0	0	1.000
K. Youkilis	18	7	3	0	0	1	6	1	.389
D. Ortiz	24	12	3	0	2	8	5	2	.500
M. Ramirez	22	13	0	0	2	5	4	3	.591
J. D. Drew	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
M. Lowell	19	3	1	0	0	0	3	2	.158
J. Varitek	12	1	0	0	1	1	0	2	.083
C. Crisp	17	5	0	1	0	0	1	2	.294
J. Lugo	28	6	1	0	0	1	5	5	.214
Totals	149	50	10	1	5	17	24	17	.336

Looking at these numbers it is easy to see why Wang is only 4 and 4 vs the Sox. There are some good quality numbers posted by some of these guys. The thing is though, Wang has been really hot lately. Maybe the Sox can do their part in cooling him off, of course the problem is that Schilling is the Sox pitcher in this game and he has royally sucked vs the spankees this year. Schilling is going to need to step up big for the Sox to have a chance.

Pitching Comparisions

Pitcher	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	IP/GS
Matsuzaka	2	2	0	0	13	13	10	1	5	14	6.92	1.38	6.50
Pettitte	25	14	6	0	164	168	60	6	47	127	3.29	1.31	6.56
Beckett	6	3	2	0	33	41	29	5	21	26	7.91	1.88	5.50
Clemens	19	8	5	0	119 1/3	105	51	7	37	132	3.85	1.19	6.28
Schilling	17	7	6	0	115 1/3	120	62	24	31	96	4.84	1.31	6.78
Wang	9	4	4	0	58 1/3	72	31	6	27	21	4.78	1.70	6.48

Two games for Daisuke and two wins. However with a 6.92 ERA in thirteen innings is not something to be glad about. This is the fourth time that Daisuke will be trying to win his fourteenth win. Is the fourth time the charm?

Of course that is not entirely his fault. In his last five games he is one and three with a 3.62 ERA in thirty-two and one third innings. What is really head scratching is the three losses are against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Beckett has a very high ERA vs the Yankees but this year he has actually lowered that figured. In two games he has went 13 innings with a 5.54 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. He is 1 and 0 this year. The good news is that he has only walked five and has K'ed 12 in those two games.

While overall Schilling has decent numbers against the Yankees this year he has been horrible. His outings this year vs the Yankees have been seven innings, six innings and five innings. Overall all he has a 7.00 era in those eighteen innings. What has killed him is the six, that is right six home runs he has allowed.

♊ - When all else fails, get a bigger hammer!

Red Sox 07 Game 131 Recap

Final

Press Pass ✠ Box Score ✠ Play - by - Play ✠ Game Recap

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	1	0	0	4	2	0	0	4		11	9	0
White Sox	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	3	2

W: J. Tavarez (7-9) L: J.Vazquez (11-8)
HR ➢ Bos: D. Ortiz (24), J.D. Drew (7), B. Kielty (1) CWS: J. Dye (26)

☼ Sun - Tavarez - Six innings of two hit pitching with only one run allowed, the J. Dye HR.
☁ Cloud - J. Vazquez - Six innings pitched with seven earned runs allowed on seven hits.

Game thoughts!

It was the Julian Tavarez show as he came out and shut down the White Sox, while the offense just brutalized the White Sox pitching. This game was just brutal as it seemed like the pale hose just rolled over and gave up. As for the offense, let us hope they do as well vs the spankees!

Lugo watch - 1 for 5 - down to .240

Coco watch - 1 for 4 - stays at .273

Drew watch - 1 for 3 - up to .262

♊ - all else fails get a bigger hammer.

Red Sox 07 Game 130 Recap

Final

Press Pass ✠ Box Score ✠ Play - by - Play ✠ Game Recap

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	0	0	0	0	4	1	8	1		14	15	0
White Sox	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0		2	6	1

W: T. Wakefield (16-10) L: M. Buehrle (9-9)
HR ➢ CWS: P. Konerko (26)

☼ Sun - Wakefield - Seven innings of shut out pitching to record his sixteenth win.
☁ Cloud - CWS Bullpen - Eight runs in the eighth, ouch!!

Game thoughts!

Believe it or not this was a close game for the first five innings. Buehrle and Wakefield were both putting up zeroes on the scoreboard with the Red Sox looking especially inept as Buehrle facing only two batters above the minimum in the first five innings. Then the bats decided to wake up for the Boston players.

Dustin started the inning off with an infield single, think about that for a minute, an infield single for probably the slowest player on the Boston team. After a line out by Crisp, Ortiz doubled to deep left field and Ramirez was intentionally walked. The next three batters plated one, one and two runs and the rout was on for the Red Sox. Ten players came to the plate. Ten in one inning after only two runners in the previous five innings. This game was over!

Lugo watch - DNPMD

Coco watch - 2 for 4 - stays at .273

Drew watch - 0 for 1 - down to .261

♊ - all else fails get a bigger hammer.

Red Sox 07 Game 129 Recap

Final

Press Pass ✠ Box Score ✠ Play - by - Play ✠ Game Recap

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	0	0	5	4	0	0	0	0		10	13	0
White Sox	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	5	1

W: C. Schilling (8-5) L: J. Danks (6-12)
HR ➢ Bos: D. Ortiz(2) (23), K. Youkilis (13) CWS: J. Uribe (14)

☼ Sun - Schilling - six innings - three hits - one earned run allowed with three K's and one BB's.
☁ Cloud - Danks - five earned runs in three and a third innings.

Game thoughts!

Second game of a day night double header can be one of those screwy games, for the Sox it was not that way though. After Schilling gave up the home run to Uribe, the Sox decided to put this game away in the fourth.

Ortiz homered for two runs. Lowell doubled for another run scored. Crisp lashed one down the left field line to score Lowell. Cash then singled to score Kielty. Five to one after four innings and it would only get worse for the Chicago nine.

Schilling had a 1-2-3 inning in the third, fourth and fifth innings. His last inning he gave up his only walk after the first two were retired. He then finished off the inning and his appearance by getting Konerko to fly out to center. A good quality start by the man that needs to do better each time out to prevent second thoughts about his effectiveness.

Lugo watch - 0 for 5 - down to .240

Coco watch - 1 for 5 - stays at .271

Drew watch - dnpmd

♊ - all else fails get a bigger hammer.

Red Sox 07 Game 128 Recap

Final

Press Pass ✠ Box Score ✠ Play - by - Play ✠ Game Recap

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	0	1	4	0	0	0	2	4		11	15	0
White Sox	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0		3	9	1

W: J. Beckett (16-5) L: J. Garland (8-10)
HR ➢ Bos: J. Varitek (11) CWS: J. Fields (16)

☼ Sun - Beckett - Started off the game allowing a double and three walks but only one run scores.
☁ Cloud - Garland - Similiar situation to Beckett in the fourth, but he gives up the four runs.

Game thoughts!

Josh started off with a rough first in which he walked in a run (three straight BB's), only to limit the damage to that one run. So, while he struggled and the Sox got his pitch count up, he was able to minimize the damage and give the Sox a good solid outing (1 out short of a quality start).

Bobby Kielty makes his presence felt by pitch hitting for J.D. Drew in the eighth with bases loaded and scorches a sacrifice fly to deep center that allowed everybody to move up one base. One inning later he smoked another sac fly to drive in one more run. Good to see the bench contribute to the cause.

Lugo watch - 2 for 6 - up to .243

Coco watch - 1 for 5 - down to .271

Drew watch - 0 for 3 - down to .262

♊ - all else fails get a bigger hammer.

Red Sox 07 Game 128

			@
J. Beckett		15-5, 3.15		J.Danks		6-11, 5.30
Red Sox		76 - 51		White Sox		56 - 70

Wednesday, August 23      U.S. Cellular  ✠ 8:11 PM ET

Game Postponed!!
♊ - When all else fails, get a bigger hammer!

Red Sox 07 Game 127 Recap

Final

Press Pass ✠ Box Score ✠ Play - by - Play ✠ Game Recap

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	9	1
Tampa Bay	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	X		2	4	1

W: E. Jackson (4-12) L: D. Matsuzaka (13-10) S: A. Reyes (19)
HR ➢ TBA: B.J. Upton (18)

☼ Sun - Upton - Two run home run in the sixth completed the nights scoring.
☁ Cloud - Batting Futilitiy - Fourteen men left on base, fourteen men left on base!

Game thoughts!

Fourteen freaking men left on base. A game of absolute frustration as inning after inning, nine innings in all the Sox left at least one man on base. The left on base stats almost look like a binary code. 122121212. The game was just gnashing of the teeth.

Of course the biggest frustration was having Tek end the third with two on base, the fifth with two left on base, the seventh with two left on base and the ninth with two left on base. That was eight men left on base to end four different innings. Grinding of the teeth.

It also didn't help to have Ortiz thrown out at home for the second out of the fifth inning on a Mike Lowell single to center. It should have been first and third with only one out, instead it was a man on second with two outs. Just grinding of the teeth.

Lugo watch - 1 for 4 - up to .242

Coco watch - 1 for 4 - down to .272

Drew watch - 2 for 4 - up to .264

♊ - all else fails get a bigger hammer.

Red Sox 07 Game 126 Recap

Final

Press Pass ✠ Box ✠ Play/Play ✠ Recap

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Boston	2	0	0	5	0	0	1	0	0		8	11	1
Tampa Bay	2	0	0	0	3	0	1	0	0		6	4	1

W: J. Lester (2-0) L: A. Sonnanstine (2-9) S: J. Papelbon (30)
HR ➢ TBA: C. Pena (28), A. Iwamura (4)

☼ Sun - Ortiz - Triple and single with 2 runs scored. His 1st inning triple started the team off right.

☁ Cloud - Sonnanstine - one week after muzzling the Sox bats he was hit hard for seven earned runs in five innings.

Game thoughts!

This game got off on the right foot thanks to David Ortiz. Following a one out double by Youkilis, Ortiz hit a triple to left center that made the score one zip. A sacrifice fly by Manny plated David and the Sox were ahead at the end of the top of the 1st. Unfortunately, Jon "Houdini" Lester gave the lead right back in the bottom half after walking B. J. Upton with two outs he gave up a home run to Carlos Pena on the first pitch of his at bat. Houdini then shut down the Rays allowing only one baserunner in the third (a walk), until the fifth inning.

The Red Sox Offense though scored big in the fourth when Ortiz started off the inning with an infield single to the vacant third base bag (thank you shift). After a Manny strike out, a Hit by Pitch to Lowell and a single by J. D. Drew the bases were loaded and the Captain came up to bat. A bloop single over the outstretched glove of the shortstop and the flood gates opened. Crisp followed with a double down the right field line and Lugo finished the scoring by doubling to center. Seven to two and the Sox had a lead that they would never give up.

Good thing too, because in the bottom of the fifth Lester gave up another Home Run after a fly out, single, walk and a fielders choice brought Iwamura to the plate with two runners on. Making it a two run game, but Lester escaped further damage by getting Upton to K after a Crawford single. The bull pens then came in to the game and both pens did a very good job finishing this game.

Lugo watch - 2 for 4 - up to .242

Coco watch - 1 for 4 - down to .273

Drew watch - 1 for 4 - down to .262

♊ - all else fails get a bigger hammer.

Red Sox 07 Game 126

			@
J. Lester		1-0, 5.14		A. Sonnanstine		2-8, 6.17
Red Sox		75 - 50		Devil Rays		47 - 77

Tuesday, August 21      Tropicana Field  ✠ 7:10 PM ET

American League

East	W	L	GB	L 10	1 R W	1 R L	X W	X L
Boston	75	50	-	6-4	18	18	77	48
New York	70	55	5.0	6-4	11	16	76	49
Toronto	63	61	11.5	5-5	22	20	66	58
Baltimore	57	65	16.5	5-5	10	24	62	60
Tampa	47	77	27.5	3-7	15	14	46	78

ESPN.Com Preview .
Yahoo's Preview .
ESPN.Com after the game Recap.
MLB.Com Press Pass
From MLB.Com Scouting Report

Red Sox: Lester dazzled the Fenway faithful in his return home after rehabilitation from cancer, throwing seven innings of two-hit ball against Tampa Bay. He had started his previous four games on the road. This time, he'll pack his bags for Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, where he'll face the Devil Rays for the second time in less than a week. In 13 2/3 career innings against Tampa, Lester has allowed five earned runs and just eight hits.

Devil Rays: Sonnanstine snapped an eight-decision losing skid Wednesday afternoon with a quality start against the Red Sox in which he allowed three runs on four hits in 6 2/3 innings. The Rays right-hander went back to what made him successful earlier in the season by using his fastball to set up his other pitches while locating away from the middle of the plate. He is 0-4 with a 6.08 ERA at Tropicana Field.

To those of you who actually stop by, I Know I know, I let you down for a few games. The truth is that I have had some problems being able to type. Ever since the "incident" it has been either a tingling or numbness in the left hand. This makes it hard to really blog or do any other type of things on the computer. Makes it hard to touch type and I really must double check everything.

No batting breakdowns or pitcher comparisons today. The only thing I have to say is that the Sox need to put down the hammer. You can not count on any team to help vs the Yankees. Just win games boys, just win games.

In case you've forgotton, Sonnanstine is the guy who made like Cy "freaking" Young last week. Let's bring out the bats tonight boys.

♊ - When all else fails, get a bigger hammer!