Four Times The Fun

“Spring Has Sprung”
In this edition of “Mudville Times” we chronicle the adventures of the Hometown Nine over the last two weeks of April.

Week 3

Game 12 at Toronto (Tue. N. 4/17/07): On to Toronto where the damp and dreary weather outside is of no consequence. SkyDome (or whatever corporate name is presently attached thereto) is a beautiful venue in one of North America’s prettiest towns (save for the QEW). After a few years of low attendance, it’s really nice to see the ballpark banged out once more.

Last year, Toronto had the Red Sox for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Even though two of their top dragon slayers (Lilly and Frank Catalanotto) are playing elsewhere, Sluggo Wells, Gustavo Chacin and Gregg Zaun remain to torture the hearts of Red Sox fans everywhere. So far this spring, the Jays have been bit hard by the injury bug. A number of key players, including 3B Troy Glaus and closer BJ Ryan, are on the DL for an extended stay.

Daisuke made his third start against lefthander Gustavo Chacin, who boasts a 5-0 career record against Boston. Francona shuffled the lineup, putting Crisp in the two hole and starting Wily Mo in right. Things stayed scoreless through the first two innings. In Boston’s third, the said Wily Mo hit one of his patented tape-measure homers, a bomb that struck the hotel windows in centerfield (a shot which brings to mind the ball Manny blasted out of sight in this venue back in ’01). It’s a shame that for every home run Peña hits, he strikes out about 72 times…

Daisuke was perfect for the first 2 ⅔, until Smith hit a line drive single to right. Over the first three plus, there were a number of tremendous bang-bang plays in the infield. Aaron Hill made a tremendous barehanded grab and throw to nail Lowell at first by half a step.

In the Jays’ fourth with one out, Sluggo Wells barely beat out an infield hit after Lowell made a barehanded grab and throw. Wells should’ve been called out on strikes with the previous pitch, but the ump blew the call. Matsuzaka seemed adversely affected by the bad call. Thomas walked and Lyle Overbay knocked in the tying run with a hard single that took a hop over Lugo’s glove. Hill walked to load thew bases, prompting a visit from the pitching coach. Daisuke appeared to be laboring, and his pitches were all over the map. Zaun (who simply eats Boston pitching alive) walked to bring in Thomas with the lead run. Things started to heat up in the Sox bullpen while Daisuke was striking out Retread Royce Clayton. Jason Smith followed with a deep fly that Crisp hauled in on the warning track in center to end the fourth. In the fifth, Daisuke struck out the side in order, but was nearing the 100 pitch mark. In the sixth, he once more retired the Jays in order, but was through for the night. His final line was: 6 IP, 3H 2ER 3BB 10K. Other than the one bad inning, it was another very good outing.

With two out in the Sox’ seventh, Varitek singled, and rather than having tiring Chacin face the “torrid” Wily Mo, Toronto’s manager came out with the hook in favor of righty Janssen. Gustavo got the Standin’ O. One pitch, Wily Mo flied to right (nice job of workin’ the count).

The highlight of the evening involved a foul ball that landed in the stands in the seventh. Apparently some of the patrons (a mix of Boston and Toronto fans) had freely taken of their libations and were engaging in the usual drunken boorishness. An argument ensued over who was the rightful owner of the errant ball. Heated words and shoving followed and the gendarmes were called to separate the miscreants. The “fan” who was attired in Red Sox regalia had his seat license for the evening summarily revoked. As the lad was being forcibly removed from the premises, he offered one last defiant gesture to his tormentors below. Actually it was a double-barreled salute as the camera panned the chaotic scene, prompting the following exchange from the broadcast booth:

Remy: “Looks like a couple of Red Sox fans- Yikes! We’re #1, no question about that…”

Orsillo: “I think he’s Number Two…”

Okajima entered in the bottom of the seventh and he struck out the side, whoa! In the Sox’ eighth, JD Drew pinch hit for Pedroia and walked off of Janssen. Lugo stepped in and took Janssen to a full count before lining to the third baseman Smith. Drew had already broken for second on the hit n’ run and was dead duck on the double play. Crisp ripped a base hit up the middle, and Janssen was pulled in favor of (temporary) closer Jason Frasor. The Mighty Big Papi strode to the plate and…grounded one back to the box that Frasor easily handled and flipped to first to retire the side. Even without the benefit of radio, the deflated sound of Joe Castglione’s voice came through loud and clear.

Piñiero entered in the bottom of the inning, and retired the Jays 1-2-3. It was an encouraging outing. In the ninth, Manny led off with a bullet line drive that Sluggo hauled in. Youkilis and Lowell each grounded to short to close the book on a highly frustrating night of baseball. Were it not for the moment of levity, surely it would’ve been a sorry-ass night, but you’ve got to get your laughs where you find ‘em. In the end, it was the dirty work of two Red Sox Killahs (Chacin and Zaun) who once more bedeviled the Hometown Nine. Meanwhile, The Education of Dice-K continues…

Game 13 at Toronto (Wed. N. 4/18/07): Tim Wakefield (1-1, 1.36) got the call against one-time Red Sox prospect Tomo Ohka, who’s been passed around the majors like a bad penny over the past few years. The Jays had hoped to retain Ted Lilly as their #3 or #4 guy in the rotation, and had to scramble for a veteran starter after Lilly departed for the Cubs. There appears to be sparse attendance in the Dome to start.

Ohka struck out Youkilis and Ortiz to cap a pretty nice inning’s work. In the bottom of the first, Matt Stairs (speaking of guys who’ve been around the block) singled with one out and Sluggo Wells grounded into a 6-4 force where Lugo made a beautiful back handed stab and threw to second from the seat of his pants. Frank Thomas flied to left to end the inning. Wake retired the Jays in order in the second, and in the third, Lugo made a terrific leaping stab of Rios’ smoking line drive. The game remained scoreless through three.

In Toronto’s fourth, Wakefield issued three straight walks after two outs were recorded, then struck out Jason Phillps (who swung at a knuckler in the dirt).

With two outs in the Sox’ fifth, Mike Lowell got the Sox’ first hit and broke the ice with his first home run of the year, a deep fly to left. Wake came back in the bottom of the inning and disposed of the Jays 1-2-3. Mirabelli led off the sixth with a bullet line drive that made it out of the yard in a hurry. Ohka threw a slider that hung up in the zone and Mirabelli crushed the ball, 2-0 Red Sox. Ortiz led off the seventh by taking an off speed pitch the opposite way for his fifth homer of the year, 3-0 Sox. After Drew’s single with one out, Ohka was pulled in favor of one-time Devil Ray Victor Zambrano. He actually had a pretty good night up to that point (three runs, four hits). Lowell greeted Zambrano by singling to right. Crisp grounded into a 3-6 force and Mirabelli drove in Drew with the fourth run on a line drive single to right. Pedroia (currently beneath the Mendoza Line at .194) struck out. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Clayton doubled to left and McDonald drove him in with the first Jays’ run on a bloop single that Manny really didn’t try all that hard to haul in.

With the score still at 4-1 Brendan Donnelly entered in the bottom of the eighth for Boston. Donnelly got Stairs to fly out to center, Wells to pop out to first and struck out Thomas swinging. Papelbon entered in the bottom of the ninth and struck out Overbay looking. Aaron Hill, pinch hitting, ripped a single up the middle, and Sox Killah Gregg Zaun, also pinch hitting, walked on a full count. Jason Smith, likewise pinch hitting, struck out swinging on a pitch that hit about 98 on the radar gun. The fourth pinch hitter, Adam Lind, went down swinging on a pitch low and away to end the ballgame. This one wrapped up in less than 2 ½.

It was particularly good that the Sox should come away with one win in Toronto, as tomorrow afternoon they face the unenviable prospect of facing Roy Halladay.

Game 14 at Toronto (Thurs Aft. 4/19/07): The first in one of many getaway day “businessman’s specials” as they used to be called. Roy Halladay got the start against Julian Tavarez (0-1, 9.00), who hasn’t started in twelve days. Halladay (2-0, 2.35) is one of the top starters in the League, but has encountered difficulty in the past with Boston, only having an 8-7 career record vs. the Sox.

Francona shuffled the lineup, putting Crisp in the leadoff slot (who promptly grounded out 1-3). Youkilis followed by ripping a base hit up the middle. However, Ortiz went 4-6-3 to kill that inning. Tavarez had a very good first inning, two groundouts and a whiff of Sluggo Wells.

In the second, the Sox put the first two batters aboard on Manny’s walk and Drew’s single. Varitek (batting .212) grounded one into the hole. John McDonald made a leaping dive to his left, grabbed the ball, and flipped to second, forcing Drew. Hinske (starting at first) whacked a deep fly to left, scoring Manny with the first run of the game.

Boston’s lead lasted all of three minutes. Frank Thomas led off the Jays’ second by belting one into the centerfield seats. Tavarez settled down and retired the side in order. Alex Cora (starting at short) in the nine-hole led off the third with a base hit into short left. Coco Crisp followed with a bunt single (something of which he ought to be doing a lot more). With one out, Ortiz walked. Manny grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to kill a promising opportunity.

In the Jays’ third with a runner on first, Tavarez made a nice play on a comebacker, flipping to Cora who threw to first in time to record the 1-6-3 double play. Alex Rios followed with a long fly that shorthopped the wall in left for a double play.

Things stayed quiet until the Boston sixth, when Ortiz found a way of defeating “The Shift” by lining a double off the rightfield wall. With two out and two on, Varitek flied to left, another missed opportunity. His batting average his hovering dangerously close to the Mendoza Line.

In the bottom, of the inning, Alex Rios broke the tie by golfing a pitch at the knees high into the stands in left-center. To that point, Tavarez had been cruising along. Lind followed with a single to right and advanced on a wild pitch. Sluggo then ripped a line drive to left, scoring Lind and putting the Jays up by two. On that note, Tavarez’ afternoon of work came to a close. As Tavarez was gnawing on a towel in the Sox dugout, Joel Piñiero entered to face Thomas, who was retired 5-3. Wells went to third on a wild pitch, but Piñiero was able to avoid any further damage.

In the Sox eighth, Crisp led off with another beautiful bunt single. With one out, Halladay was lifted and was none too pleased with the manager’s decision. Scott Downs came on in relief and struck out Ortiz. The lefty did his job, and Shaun Marcum came on to face Manny, who whacked it a ton to straightaway center for his first homer of the year, tying the score at three. He ran around the bases like a kid in the sandlots.

In the bottom of the inning, Timlin entered and Sluggo Wells greeted him with a double off the wall in center. After getting Thomas to ground out to third, an intentional pass was issued to Overbay putting runners on the corners. Aaron Hill hit a weak comebacker to the mound, and Timlin was able to get out of the jam on a 1-6-3 double play.

On to the ninth inning, Hinske led off and went to a full count before walking. Pedroia tried to sacrifice him over, but pushed the ball too hard up the first base line, forcing Hinske at second. Jason Frasor came on in relief and Lugo pinch ran for Pedroia. Alex Cora (not generally a power threat) and drove the ball deep into the left center gap for a triple, putting the Sox in front. Coco Crisp followed by hitting a long sacrifice fly to center giving the Sox an insurance run.

Papelbon came on in the bottom of the ninth (his first back-to-back appearances of the season). Gregg Zaun walked to start things off. Jason Smith struck out swinging, as did Matt Stairs (“goin’ for the Downs”). With two out, Alex Rios (who has hit Papelbon well in the past) stepped to the plate. After going down 1-2 in the count, hit four straight foul balls. After what seemed to be fifteen minutes in the batter’s box, Rios flied out to right to end the ballgame.

The highlights of the night were Timlin’s inducing the 1-6-3 double play in eighth, Cora’s triple that drove in the game winning run and Manny’s first homer of the year. Tavarez had a very good night despite getting a no-decision. Crisp had a decent night at the plate with two bunt singles and a sacrifice fly, and Papelbon picked up his fourth save.

The Yankees come to town for the weekend.

Round One of the Ancient & Honorable

Game 15 vs. NY Yankees (Fri. N. 4/20/07): In the first of what promises to be eighteen thrillers, the Yankees arrived in Boston for a three game set. Sure, it’s only April and historically the Red Sox have had the better of their rivals in the early going, nevertheless anytime these two clubs get together it’s always great theater.

The Fenway stands were packed as Schilling faced off against Andy Pettitte, who always seems to pitch well against the Sox. The Yankees scored single runs in the third and fourth when Cano and Cabrera singled. With one out Damon grounded out to short, scoring Cano. In the fourth, Alex Rodriguez led off with a homer over everything in left. The Sox came back to tie the score in the bottom of the inning when Lowell singled with two out and Varitek hit his first home run of the year into the Boston bullpen.

In the Yankee fifth, A-Rod hit his second homer of the game, this time a three-run shot to center that seemed to put the game out of reach, given Pettitte’s strong outing on the mound. What was painful for Boston was the fact that all of the damage occurred with two out. Schilling was done after seven, and things didn’t look too promising for the Sox. In the eighth with Romero pitching, the Yanks made it 6-2 when A-Rod doubled and scored on Giambi’s single to right. Kyle Snyder entered with men on the corners and one out. He struck out Cabrera, walked Mientkiewicz then got Johnny Damon to ground out to second to end the inning. The crowd roared their approval of “Traitor Johnny’s” failure to come through in the clutch.

In the Sox eighth, lightning struck. Old friend Mike Myers entered in relief. Ortiz doubled to center to lead off. Myers was lifted for the durable Luis Vizcaino. Manny walked. Drew grounded out to second, moving the runners along to second and third. Lowell singled to left scoring Ortiz. The indomitable Mariano Rivera entered with runners on first and third and one out. Varitek singled to right scoring Manny, to make it 6-4. Coco Crisp tripled down the right field line scoring Lowell and Varitek. Cora singled to left scoring Crisp. It was simply an amazing inning of baseball in Boston.

Instead of using Papelbon to close things out, Francona called for Hideki Okajima. After getting Jeter to ground out and walking Abreu, Alex Rodriguez lined out to second. Okajima struck out Thompson swinging to close out a thrilling win. This one wrapped up in 3:18, which was tidy by Red Sox/Yankee standards.

Game 16 vs. NY Yankees (Sat. Aft. 4/21/07): Game 2 of the series was the “Fox Game of the Week”, so Red Sox fans had two choices: hit the mute button or listen to the radio broadcast to avoid listening to The Great Bloviator.

Saturday’s game was typical of Red Sox-Yankees matches of recent vintage, where both clubs batter one another and the last one standing’s the winner. Josh Beckett, looking to win his fourth straight, got the call against Jeff Karstens, who was looking to win his first. The Yankees have encountered injuries in their starting pitching that may affect their ability to keep runs off the board.

There is no trouble with the Yankees scoring runs, however. They scored a pair in the first when Jeter singled Abreu walked. Jason Giambi singled to right-center scoring Derek Jeter. With two out, Cano singled, scoring Abreu. The Sox were already in a hole, but the top of the order came through to tie the score in the bottom of the inning. Lugo singled, Youkilis doubled and Ortiz cleared the bases with a double to right. The yanks came right back in the second, scoring another pair when Thompson doubled to left, and Nieves reached on Lowell`s throwing error. Cabrera singled, scoring Thompson and Jeter grounded into a double play, scoring Nieves. The Sox came right back in the bottom of the inning when Crisp laid down a beautiful bunt single. Cora followed with a sacrifice attempt that wound up becoming another bunt single. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Lugo grounded out, scoring Crisp. Youkilis singled to left, scoring Cora. After two, the score was tied at four.

In the Red Sox fourth, it was a lethal combination of speed and power: Crisp singled and stole second. Cora sacrificed Crisp to third. Lugo`s grounded out to short, scoring Crisp. Youkilis walked. Big Papi smacked a two run homer deep to right, putting the Sox up 7-4. Things stayed quiet until the Yankee seventh when, with two out, Jeter singled, Abreu walked and A-Rod singled, scoring Jeter. At that point, Beckett was out of gas and left to the cheers of the Fenway crowd. Okajima came on in relief and struck out Giambi swinging to end the inning.

In the top of the ninth, Papelbon entered to close things out. Damon grounded out, Cabrera walked, Jeter struck out swinging and Abreu flied out to center to end the game.

Beckett won his fourth straight, Paps saved his fifth in a row, and Big Papi’s big bat broke the game wide open. The mute button remained “on” throughout the broadcast, so some people were spared the inevitable whining from the Yankee apologists.

Game 17 vs. NY Yankees (Sun N. 4/22/07): The Red Sox wound up sweeping their hated rivals in historic fashion, before an ESPN “Sunday Night Baseball” national audience. As Red Sox/Yankees clashes go, this one ranks among the more memorable and satisfying. Daisuke Matsuzaka got his first taste of the rivalry, looking to rebound from consecutive losses. Rookie Chase Wright (another of the Yanks’ more promising pitching prospects) got the call for New York.

The Yanks roughed up Matsuzaka in the first (again, with two out). Abreu walked, A-Rod got plunked and Giambi doubled to left, driving in two runs. They pushed another run across in the third when Damon singled Jeter was hit and (again, with two out) Giambi singled, scoring Damon.

Wright was cruising along to that point, he even recorded two outs in the third, when the incredible occurred:

Manny, Drew, Lowell and Varitek hit back-to-back-to-back-to-back home runs.

In the recorded annals of baseball history, such an event has occurred only four times previously. It happened so quickly that fans watching everywhere could not believe what had just taken place. Manny’s HR was, “okay, maybe we’re back in the ballgame.” Drew’s was “Yeah, now we’re really back in the game.” Lowell’s was, “whoa, did you just see that?” Varitek’s was, “No, I don’t believe what I just saw, it’s impossible.”

It was absolutely stunning. That it happened against the Yankees made the moment deliriously sweet.

There was only one problem: It was only a one-run lead against the Yankees in the third inning. There was a whole lot of baseball remaining to be played. Ever the gloom n’ doomists, Red Sox fans quickly swallowed their joy. Such pessimism was well-found as New York came back to tie the score in the fifth on Jeter’s solo shot, and took the lead in the sixth when Cano and Mientkiewicz singled and Cano scored on Cabrera’s double play grounder, 5-4 New York. The Yanks’ pitching woes were so bad that Andy Pettitte came out to pitch the six to preserve the lead. In the Sox seventh, Proctor was on the hill for the Yankees (at the current usage rate, Torre will burn this guy out by Memorial Day).

Manny led off with a single. Drew doubled to left. Lowell followed with a three-run shot into the Monster Seats, putting the Sox on top by a pair. It was bedlam in the Fens after that.

Matsuzaka was lifted in the eighth after surrendering a lead off single to A-Rod. Okajima came on, retired one batter and gave up a base hit to Cano and a walk to Posada. Brendan Donnelly came on with the bases loaded. He was the able to get Cabrera on a 3-6 force, scoring A-Rod, pulling the Yankees to within a run. Josh Phelps came on to pinch hit and lined out to second. On the play, Pedroia made a tremendous stab of the low line drive, going to his right to stab the ball. He may have issues at the plate now, but there is no doubting the kid’s defensive capabilities.

Papelbon came on for the ninth. Damon, Jeter struck out swinging, Abreu walked (this was a tough at bat for Papelbon, as he threw over ten pitches on Abreu alone). Fortunately, he was able to get A-Rod on a 5-4 force to preserve the win and grab another save en-route to a SWEEP OF THE YANKEES!

Week 4:

G19-20 vs. Toronto Mon.-Tues. N 4/23-24/07: After the team’s glorious sweep of the New Yorkers, the inevitable letdown followed. In Game 1, Wakefield’s knuck didn’t when it was supposed to, so the Sox ended up getting pasted 7-3. As usual when these teams get together, it was Sluggo Wells’ bat that figured heavily in the outcome. In the first, he doubled, stole second and came home on Mirabelli’s throwing error to third (what did he think he was, I-Rod reincanated?).

The Sox scored twice in the fourth to pull ahead when Pedroia doubled to left, scoring Drew and Peña. But the lead was short-lived. In the sixth, Wells walked and Thomas gonged a two-run shot, putting the Jays back on top. With one out, Aaron Hill doubled to left and came home on Phillips’ single to left. Wakefield’s night was over after that. The Sox tied the score in the bottom of the inning, but Toronto went ahead for good in the eighth when Hill doubled (again) and scored on Lind’s sacrifice fly. The Sox blew a golden opportunity to score in the eighth when their leadoff hitters singled. The Jays pitchers promptly retired the next three hitters to get out of the jam. In the ninth, Sluggo Wells tripled. With two out, Hill smacked a two-run homer to put a cap on this one.
In Wake’s defense, he didn’t pitch all that badly. Old friend Tomo Ohka simply had a very good night on the hill for Toronto.

The series finale was a horror show from Boston’s perspective. Tavarez stunk out the joint while Roy Halladay was at the top of his game. It wasn’t quite a duel at Tumbleweed Junction, but a Slaughter on Landsdowne, Toronto 10, Red Sox 3.
Sluggo put the Jays on top early with a line shot that nearly blew a hole through the “Volvo Sign” in left. It was a rocket. In the Sox’ first, Lugo singled stole second and came home on Ortiz’ single.

The competitive phase of the match ended in the Jays’ third: Rios singled, Lind walked and Sluggo singled, bases loaded with one out. Thomas doubled, Rios and Lind. Overbay reached first Hinske`s on error, scoring Wells, and putting Toronto up 4-1. The Sox manufactured their second run in their half of the inning. Lugo singled, stole second and scored on Hinske’s single (atoning for the error) to right. The Sox pulled to within a run in the fourth when Lowell homered to left. But this wasn’t to be Boston’s night. The Jays put across a pair in the fifth when Lind and Wells singled and Overbay doubled to left, scoring Lind and Wells. Tavarez’ evening was mercifully cut short at that point.

In the sixth, Toronto blew the game wide open. Phillips led off with a single and was wiped off by Clayton’s 6-4 fielder`s choice to short. McDonald singled. With two out Wily Mo muffed a routine play, allowing Clayton to score. Wells singled, scoring McDonald and Lind. Sluggo stole second and went to third on Varitek`s throwing error. Thomas singled, scoring Wells. The Sox went down in order for the rest of the game.

This was simply one game they weren’t going to win, no matter what. The homestand ended on a blue note, and it was onto Bal’mur for a pair.

G20 at Baltimore 4/25/07: They say that “there’s nothin’ like home cookin’.” Maybe that’s true. However, it’s always a lot of fun to dine at the home of a hospitable friend, especially when “meatballs” are on the menu.

Curt Schilling got the call against phenom Daniel Cabrera. Things stayed quiet until the third, when Alex Cora poked a one-out, solo shot to right field to give the Sox an early lead. The O’s eventually tied the score in the sixth when Miguel Tejada hit a solo homer with one out. That was Schilling’s only mistake on the night.

Since there wasn’t a lot of scoring or action during the early mid-innings, the lack of action led the O’s broadcaster to opine about Schilling’s famed “bloody sock” when he pitched in the 2004 ALCS and World Series after having a tendon replaced in his foot in an unorthodox procedure.

"The great story we were talking about the other night was that famous red stocking that he wore when they finally won, the blood on his stocking. Nah. It was painted. Doug Mirabelli confessed up to it after. It was all for PR." -- 4.25.07, Orioles broadcaster Gary Thorne

In the top of the seventh, the Red Sox firmly tucked this one away in the “W” column. Wily Mo walked to lead off. Cora’s sacrifice moved Peña to second. With two out, Youkilis walked. The O’s brought in former Detroit lefty relief ace Jamie Walker to face Big Papi. David singled to left, scoring Wily Mo. Former Red Sox “submariner” Chad Bradford entered the game for the Orioles. Manny ripped a single up the middle, scoring Youkilis. Drew walked, loading the bases. Lowell walked and Ortiz trotted in with the Sox third run of the inning.

Schilling’s night was through after seven, and he had another terrific outing. Hideki Okajima (who has certainly become quite a story in town) struck out two un a 1-2-3 eighth. In the ninth, the Sox plated two more when Youkilis and Ortiz singled to start the inning. Manny hit a sacrifice fly out to center, scoring Youkilis. Drew walked. Lowell singled down the third base line, scoring Ortiz. Brendan Donnelly came on in the bottom of the ninth and pitched a clean 1-2-3 to end the ballgame.

Naturally, when Thorne’s statement were made known around these parts, the “outrage” was predictable.

"What? Are you kidding me? He's [expletive] lying. A straight lie. I never said that. I know it was blood. Everybody knows it was blood." -- 4.25.07, Doug Mirabelli

G21 at Baltimore 4/26/07:

RE: “Sockgate”, the things that pass for news these days, brother. Let’s hope this hits the bottom of the birdcage by Saturday morning. Some folks seriously need to get a life.

In the series finale, Josh Beckett looked to keep his unbeaten streak alive against lefty Adam Loewen, who promptly struck out the first three Sox hitters.
Roberts doubled off the wall in right, stole second. Mora fouled out, Markakis grounded out to second bringing in Roberts with the game’s first run.

Beckett appears to have “location issues” in the early going, though he retired the Orioles in order in the second. He had a really strong start last year, but this year appears to be more of a pitcher than a hard thrower.
In the third, Varitek reached on Mora’s throwing error. Wily Mo (batting a robust .120), lined a bullet to the first baseman Huff who stepped on the bag. Pedroia and Lugo walked (now it looks like Loewen’s the one who can’t find the plate). Mazzone came out to chew him out a little. Youkilis walked on four straight, then the Mighty Big Papi…hit a weak comebacker to the box to end the threat.

Ramon Hernandez (just off the DL), lined Beckett’s first pitch of the third to the deepest part of the park for a double. Patterson moved him to third. Roberts grounded to short, freezing the runner at third. Mora ripped a grounder that bounced in front of the bag at third and rolled into the leftfield corner for a double, putting the O’s up by a pair. When the ball bounces like that, generally it’s not going to be a good night for the Sox.

Drew got Boston’s first hit, a single up the middle, with one gone in the fourth. And there he remained. In the bottom of the inning, Pedroia made a very nice over-the-shoulder grab in short rightfield to snuff out a possible rally. It seems that every day, the kid makes a terrific play in the field.

Wily Mo struck out. There are times when he looks utterly lost out there in Crisp’s absence. If Crisp hits the DL (as may be feared) the Sox would be in an awful bind. The only way that Wily Mo gets better is by continued playing time. If the Sox were a club with no October aspirations, it wouldn’t be so bad. However, since he’s out of options, the Sox wouldn’t chance “sneaking him through waivers” en route to Pawtucket (remember David Eckstein, anyone?). No one can fault his sincerity or his effort. He simply needs to become more patient in his pitch selection. Throughout the week, he’s been getting burned on the slow stuff low and away. Everyone knows how to pitch him. Until he’s able to be more disciplined in laying off the curveball, every at bat will be an adventure.

In the sixth, Youkilis singled and Ortiz “worked” a base on balls, and Manny followed suit. Mazzone returned to the mound for another ass-chewin’. Drew popped out to third. Lowell hit a broken-bat grounder to third. Mora could have forced Youkilis at home, but threw to first, allowing Boston’s first run to score. Varitek struck out with runners on second and third. Mora led off the bottom of the inning by bonking one off the scoreboard in right for a two-baggah. Beckett caught Patterson looking, Tejada grounded to third and Huff grounded to short. The O’s are 1-14 with RISP in the series.

In the seventh, Loewen gave way to the well-traveled Danys Baez. Wily Mo lined another bullet that one-hopped the wall in left-center for a double. If he could do that with regularity, Pedroia grounded to the right side, moving Peña to third. Lugo grounded out to the pitcher. Youkilis walked, and a lefty was brought in to face Ortiz. And, for the second time tonight, Big Papi hit a comebacker to the mound.

In the O’s seventh, Payton singled, was forced. Hernandez singled, Gibbons walked, Patterson reached on a 1-6 force leaving runners on the corners with two out. Roberts flied to third to end the inning, but Beckett threw a lot of pitches.

Manny led off the eighth with a walk. Drew flied to right, the Orioles lifted the left-hander in favor of Chris Ray, their closer. Lowell lined a ground-rule double to left, and Varitek was given an intentional pass, setting the stage for Wily Mo, who hit a bomb, he absolutely crushed the ball into the second-tier bullpen in center for a grand slam! As Ned would say, “Mercy!” In the Orioles’ eighth, Markakis doubled down the rightfield line with one out. Tejada struck out looking, and Huff struck out swinging on a change up.

If everyone knows where Wily Mo’s wheelhouse is, then why would any pitcher, let alone a closer, put the ball there? It begs the question, “WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?”

In the bottom of the ninth, Papelbon entered to close things out. After getting two quick outs, he surrendered a walk to Hernandez. But Corey Patterson went down on three pitches, and the Sox bounced back from their stumbles earlier in the week to sweep this brief set in “Bal’mur.” Papelbon picked up his seventh save, and Beckett joins the illustrious company of Pedro Martinez and G.H. Ruth as the only pitchers in Red Sox history to win five games in the month of April.

Now, it’s onto the House Built by said G.H. Ruth for three games. This time, it’s the 3-4-5 starters’ turn to face the New Murderers Row. Sox fans should be happy if the club grabs one win over the weekend.

G22 at NY Yankees (Fri N. 4/27/07): The Sox made their way to Yanqui Stadium in The Bronx for Round 2 of the ancient rivalry. The Yanks are in the midst of a dreadful losing streak, but fear not Gothamites: This is historically when the Red Sox arrive and provide the Pinstripers just the tonic the doctor ordered, propelling New York to win 25 out of their next 30. Look, there’s no way that the Yankees will fail to win the East. They possess unlimited resources of talent and money, not to mention an owner who will not accept mediocrity.

It was raining heavily in the East, but by game time, the conditions were murky and damp. Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-2, 4.00) got the start against Andy Pettitte (1-0, 1.76) The Yanks have gotten off to a tough start due in large part to injuries to a number of starters, but they continue to mash the baseball.

Alex Rodriguez has gotten off to the best start of any hitter in Major League history, shattering records for the most home runs in a month (14), and RBI (34). He’s the best player in the game today, and by the time all’s said and done will go down as one of the greatest of all-time. The only contemporary right-handed hitters who belong in the same conversation are Pujols and Manny. While Red Sox fans “hate on” A-Rod, if he ever came to play in Boston, the very same yahoos would want to canonize him. Rodriguez has an opt-out clause in his contract at the end of the season similar to the one JD Drew exercised last year (both players are Boras clients). The Yankees have stated that if he decides to opt out, they won’t attempt to re-sign him at the higher rate. Perhaps it’s simply a case where he can relax, knowing he’s off the hook of playing in New York if he so chooses.

Pettitte gave up a walk to Youkilis and a base hit to Manny, but otherwise started things uneventfully. In Matsuzaka-san’s first inning in New York, Damon was called out looking. Jeter ripped a base hit up the middle, Abreu struck out swinging A-Rod grounded to third, Lowell made a nice bare hand grab n’ throw to end the first.

In the Yankees’ second, Giambi led off with a single to left. Matsui (just off the DL) flied out to center. “Dumbo” Posada lined out to center, and Cano looked plum awful striking out swinging.

Lugo hit a bloop single to right to start the third, and Youkilis followed with a blast that ended up ten rows deep in left field, putting the Sox up by a pair. He worked the count to 3-1, Pettitte threw a fastball inside and Youk hammered it.

After striking out Minky, Damon drew a walk. Lugo booted Jeter’s grounder to short, he was thinking double play when he should’ve just gone to first. However, the error was harmless when Lugo made a nice play on Abreu’s bouncer up the middle. He stepped on second and threw to first killing any Yankee chance.

Matsuzaka walked the first three hitters in the fourth (is this his “bad inning”?) and Dumbo stepped to the plate, bases loaded, nobody out. He hit a short fly to left that Manny slid after and very luckily trapped. With one out, Damon looped a fly to right that dropped in front of Drew, driving in two and putting the Yankees ahead. Jeter punched a single to right, driving in another run.

With one out in the fifth, Lugo walked stole second and Youkilis hit a grounder to short that just squeezed past Jeter. Ortiz followed with a looping fly ball single to center, scoring Lugo and pulling the Sox to within a run. Manny walked on four straight. Drew struck out on a breaking ball in the dirt. Lowell walked, scoring Youkilis with the tying run. With Varitek at bat, Pettitte threw a wild pitch that went through the catcher’s five- hole and kept rolling, scoring Ortiz. Varitek went to a full count before walking. At that juncture, Torre came out with the hook for Pettitte. Scott Proctor came on for the 300th time this year.

Matsuzaka settled down in the fifth, getting the Yanks in order. With one out in the sixth, Julio Lugo struck a mighty blow, way back above the bullpen to put the Sox up by a pair once more. Matsuzaka ended his night’s work by getting the side in order in the sixth.

With Timlin pitching in the seventh, Jeter singled with one out

In the Sox’ eighth, Pedroia doubled to left, and Lugo followed by ripping a shot that hugged the line past the outstretched dive of A-Rod, driving in Pedroia with the seventh Boston run. Okajima came on for the eighth, and Giambi greeted him with a single. Okajima was able to get Matsui on a comebacker to the mound, then struck out Posada swinging. Rivera came on in the ninth, and Lowell and Varitek reached on base hits. Coco Crisp (returning after a five day layoff) lined a bullet to center, scoring Lowell. Crisp stole second and Pedroia walked. Mariano was lifted for Myers. Lugo walked, bringing in Varitek with the ninth run. Youkilis grounded out to first and Crisp came in the back door with the tenth Boston run. Ortiz hammered a single to right, driving in Pedroia with the 11th run.

G23 at NY Yankees (Sat. Aft. 4/28/07): In the middle game, fans across America were treated to the dulcet tones of T. McCarver, as this was the “Fox Game of The Week”. As it was Day 1 of the 2007 NFL Draft, your reporter’s attention was diverted from the goings on in The Bronx, thus being spared the pennant waving toadies in the broadcast booth.

While the Yankees were losers in the Matsuzaka Sweepstakes, they were able to secure the services of lefthander Kei Igawa, who would unexpectedly play a major role in the outcome of this game. Jeff Karstens got the start for the Yankees. Lugo led off by lining a shot off of Karstens’ right knee. The kid tried to stay in the ball game, but after giving up a single to Youkilis, he couldn’t continue. Igawa entered and got Ortiz to ground into a 4-6-3 double play. That would pretty much be the story of this game.

In order to win ballgames, Wake needs run support. Today, Igawa held the Sox’ bats firmly in check. When the Yankees win, generally Jeter is the catalyst. In the Yankee first, he reached on Lowell’s error, stole second and was thrown out trying to steal third.

In the Yanks’ second, the madness of the knuckleball was evident. Matsui singled with one out and stole second. Posada walked. Runners on first and second with one out and Both rinners moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Cano struck out swinging and Cabrera lined out to right.

Playing near the third rail is an invitation to disaster, as the Red Sox learned in the bottom of the fourth. Matsui walked. with one out. Posada took a knuckler over the wall in right to put New York up by a deuce. The score remained 2-0 until the sixth, when Posada walked and scored on Cabrera’s a ground-rule double to left. Wakefield departed in favor of Donnelly, who was able to get out of the inning unscathed.

The Sox didn’t push their run across until the eighth. Farnsworth came on for New York, a very large man who throws baseballs at frightening speeds. Youkilis singled and Ortiz walked. With two out, Lowell singled to right, scoring Youkilis with Boston’s lone tally. Crisp was called out on strikes to kill the inning. The pitch was “just a bit outside” and Crisp reacted by flipping his bat and helmet, for which he was summarily tossed by Bruce Froemming.

Mariano Rivera came on for the Yankees looking to earn his first save (it’s April 28th and Mo has no saves? What in the world?). Today, the Sox were happy to oblige. Other than Varitek’s pinch-single, Old Mo and his cutter were just fine. The Yanks won 3-1, but thank goodness Bostonians were out of John Sterling’s broadcast range.

G24 at NY Yankees (Sun. Aft. 4/29/07): The Sox’ April portion of the schedule ended on a beautiful spring afternoon in Bronxville. Julian Tavarez got the start for Boston, and it was an important one. Having been shelled his last time out and with an ERA in the 8’s, the leash was getting shorter. Wang got the call for New York, making only his second start from the DL.

In the first, Big Papi struck a titanic blow into the top deck in rightfield to give the Sox an early lead. In the third, Crisp tripled to the gap in right center and scored on Cora’s infield ground out. But in the bottom of the inning, the Yanks went ahead from an unlikely source. Posada and Cano walked. Mientkiewicz followed with a three-run homer to right. (It’s official now: Mientkiewicz is now a full-fledged member of the enemy).

The Sox went back on top in the fifth when Crisp was plunked to lead things off. Cora followed with a two-run shot to right center. After one month, Cora has simply been the best utility guy in the Majors. He can do a million-and-one things for a ball club, and so far, he seems to be doing all of these things superbly.

In the Yankees’ sixth, Tavarez was lifted for Okajima, who kept the lid on things. The Sox responded by pushing across an insurance run when Cora tripled to right with one out and scored on Lugo’s sacrifice fly to right. In the eighth, Ortiz singled and Manny followed with a dramatic two-run shot to right. In the bottom of the inning, with Timlin pitching, Jeter homered with one out to make it 7-5, but Papelbon came on for the ninth.
After allowing a leadoff double to Giambi, he was able to retire the next three hitters in order. So, Boston blew into the Bronx, took two-out-of-three, and close out the month of April with a record of 16-8, the best record in Major League Baseball.

The standings reveal that the Sox are in first place in the AL East at 16-8 by 3 ½ over Toronto and New York is in fifth place. It’s only April, folks so it’d be wise to curb any talk of October. By Memorial Day the Yankees will not be in fifth place.

At this juncture, the best that can be said is, “so far, so good”.