Pitching Again Outstanding As Sox End April On High Note |

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Pitching Again Outstanding As Sox End April On High Note

By Administrator | May 1, 2008

Coming into tonight’s game, the Red Sox pitching staff had allowed the third highest runs against in the American League (129)… this, in spite of the fact that they had allowed just five runs in the last three games. Well, the recent string of strong pitching performances continued tonight as Daisuke Matsuzaka and three relievers held the Toronto Blue Jays to one run in nine innings.

Meanwhile, Sox hitters have scuffled for the last week — wasting a pair of excellent outings by Clay Buchholz and Josh Beckett over the weekend in Tampa and causing Jon Lester to swallow a “no decision” last night despite pitching eight shutout innings. But tonight, just as they did last night, Red Sox hitters managed to scratch out a run in the bottom of the ninth inning… in so doing, the offense delivered a 2-1 win and allowed the team to secure first place as the month came to a close.

Manny Ramirez slides home with the game-winning run in the ninth inning to beat the Blue Jays… AP photo

Tonight’s win marked the eighth time this season that the Red Sox won a game in their final at-bat (the most in the major leagues).

Like Lester last night, Matsuzaka’s effort resulted in a ‘no decision’ due to the paucity of offense. He threw seven scoreless innings at the Blue Jays, allowing two hits and issuing two walks while striking out four. He left the game with the team leading 1-0, but relievers Manny Delcarmen and Hideki Okajima promptly surrendered a run in the eighth inning — leaving Dice-K without a decision. For the second consecutive evening, Jonathan Papelbon (2-0) pitched a scoreless ninth inning and earned the decision when the offense managed to push a run across in the bottom of the inning.

Lefty Scott Downs was brought into the game to start the inning. Big Papi managed to rip a single through the Ortiz Shift. Manny Ramirez then walked, moving Ortiz into scoring position. Unlike last night, manager Terry Francona inserted Jed Lowrie into the game to pinch run for Ortiz. After Mike Lowell struck out, Brandon Moss ripped a single into center field… Vernon Wells fielded the ball cleanly and threw a dart to catcher Rod Barajas — cutting down Lowrie at home plate. Jason Varitek then ripped a single of his own to Wells in center field… and while Wells fielded this one cleanly, he did so moving towards left-center field. His ensuing throw to home plate was a bit off-line, causing Barajas to move slightly to the first base side of home plate… just enough to allow Ramirez to slide in ahead of the tag.

Red Sox - 2, Blue Jays - 1

Blue Jays starter Dustin McGowen pitched very well — matching Matsuzaka through the first six innings. He allowed one run on four hits and a walk — the only run coming on a solo home run by David Ortiz in the seventh inning (Ortiz’ fifth of the season) to break the scoreless tie.

The Red Sox only had four hits entering the bottom of the ninth inning, but they put together three hits and a walk off Downs in their last at-bat to pull out the win.

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Ortiz was the only Red Sox hitter to have a multi-hit game (single, home run)… likewise, Matt Stairs was the only Blue Jay hitter to have more than one hit (two singles).

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Papelbon allowed a single to Stairs to lead off the top of the ninth inning. Toronto manager John Gibbons sent John McDonald into the game to pinch run for Stairs… but McDonald was promptly picked off first base by Papelbon, just as it appeared he was preparing to steal second base.

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Jacoby Ellsbury missed his second straight game with a sore groin… J.D. Drew sat out with tightness in his left thigh (the same injury that forced him out of last night’s game in the fourth inning).

Topics: Sox Games, Sox Players |

2 Responses to “Pitching Again Outstanding As Sox End April On High Note”

js Says:
May 1st, 2008 at 9:17 am
Yo Jeff. They sure are keeping it interesting aye!? I’m predicting a 13 inning 1-0 sox win with 4 hits between the 2 teams. Actually a slugfest is way overdue. Keeping the faith bro!!
larry bodin Says:
May 1st, 2008 at 10:42 am
Hi JB,
I think the end of April gave some indication of where the Red Sox are going this year. If you hypothesize the following:

** Beckett and Dice-K will pitch as # 1 and #2 starters.

** Lester and Buchholz will pitch well enough to stay in the rotation (last starts indicate they will stay in the rotation),

** The relief corp looks strong at the end of the game,

then, 2 issues remain.

** Who is the #5 starter - Wakefield or Colon or somebody else.

** How can they improve their middle relief pitching.

With regard to pitching, I think they are in reasonable shape.

With respect to hitting, I think their hitting so far has not been good but that it should get better as the season continues - basically, the notion that the hitting ‘reverts to the mean’ over time. Also, how long can they keep Brandon Moss away from the team- he appears that he is going to be a very nice player.

Having said that, it looks like they should win the division by at least 6 games, the wild card will probably not come out of the AL East, and they should be a reasonable bet to make the World Series against either Arizona or Chicago Cubs. The Arizona pitching scares me in a short series - it is very good.

Thanks again for a great set of articles.

Larry

PS. Here is a weird story. I heard about it first earlier this week on the Dan Patrick show.

TWO DAVID BECKHAM fans aged nine and ten are suing each other — over who owns a SHIRT the star tore off and handed to the crowd after an LA Galaxy game.

The nine-year-old grabbed it first — sparking a furious tussle with his best friend who insisted it was meant for him.

The boys’ angry PARENTS then got involved in the fight.

Last night both families were poised to go to court — after hiring lawyers following the match in Hawaii against the Honolulu Bulls.

The nine-year-old’s dad Wilfred Ho insisted: “My son got it first from Mr Beckham, directly.

“Our main argument for the jersey is that my son got possession.”

But the older lad’s mum Yoshika Kerr, who had made placards for the youngsters to wave during the game, insisted the ex-England captain, 32, TOLD her son he wanted him to have the shirt.

She and husband Eric said the gift was because their lad held his sign up during the entire game — while his pal could not be bothered.

The couple accused the Hos of reneging on a deal to let the boys each keep the shirt for a week at a time — by trying to fob them off with a replica bearing a forged signature.

Eric, whose wife had made signs declaring “Go Beckham” and “Aloha Beckham”, insisted: “Mr Beckham pointed out he wanted our son to have it and it’s been really hard on him.

“He’s such a big star and it’s one heck of an experience for the boys.

“We just want the Hos to keep their end of the bargain.”

LA Galaxy president Alexi Lalas branded the row “ridiculous”.

He scoffed: “My suggestion is that the judge get a pair of scissors, cut the thing in half and give half to each.”