A Down and Up Week…

Southsiders Come To Town:

Game 54 v. Chicago (5/30/11):

On a spectacular Memorial Day in New England, the White Sox came to Fenway for a three game set. In the opener, Jon Lester (7-1, 3.36) took the hill against the very tough Jake Peavy (1-0, 3.00). In honor of Memorial Day, the Sox wore red and white caps with a star-spangled “B”. Lester struck out Juan Pierre looking to open the game. Alexei Ramirez followed with a single to left and then Carlos Quentin was hit by a pitch. Paul Konerko singled to left to load the bases. AJ Pierzynski then singled up the middle and two runs scored. Adrian Gonzalez hit his 10th homer of the year deep to right with two outs in the bottom of the first. It was a cut fastball that failed to break and landed right in A-Gon’s wheelhouse. Konerko then hit a solo shot to left with two outs in the third to give the ChiSox a 3-1 lead. The Sox tied the score in the bottom of the third with one out as Saltalamacchia was hit by a pitch, moved to third on Ellsbury’s double to the right-center gap and both runners scored on Pedroia’s single up the middle. Lester walked the first two batters (Lillebridge and Beckham) starting the fourth. With one out, Pierre struck out swinging and Lillebridge was thrown out at third trying to steal. Ozzie came out in a huff to protest the out call, to no avail. Ortiz led off the bottom half with an infield single. Crawford then hit a long fly to right that Lillebridge chased down on the warning track. By the sixth, Lester was over 100 pitches and laboring as Rios led off with a single up the middle. With one out Beckham singled to center and, with two outs, Pierre walked. Alexei Ramirez then flared a double to short right, scoring two runs and spelling the end of the night for Lester (5⅔IP, 8H, 7ER, 4BB, 4K, 127P). Wheeler entered in relief and gave up a base hit to Quentin up the middle with two more runs coming in. Michael Bowden entered in the top of the eighth and loaded the bases with one out on a pair of singles and a walk. But Bowden came back to strike out Quentin and got Konerko on a 3-1 grounder on which Gonzalez made a nice diving stop. The Sox ended up going quickly and quietly in the eighth and ninth and the Southsiders came away with the 7-3 win.

Game 55 v. Chicago (5/31/11):

Let’s forget about last night. Lester had an off night and everything went downhill from there. It was a picture perfect night for baseball, so let’s enjoy that. Prior to Tuesday night’s game, Bobby Jenks came off the DL and Michael Bowden was returned to Pawtucket. For this game, Alfredo Aceves (2-0, 2.22) took the hill against righty Phil Humber (3-3, 2.85). Aceves struck out Pierre to open the game. In the second, Konerko led off with a walk and Pierzynski singled. JD Drew then made a fine sliding catch of Rios’ twisting fly to right. Dunn followed with a walk to load the bases and Beckham singled to drive in the game’s first run. Lowrie then booted Morel’s grounder into the hole and Pierzynski scored. With two outs, Alexei Ramirez singled up the middle and two more runs scored. Konerko doubled down the line in left leading off the third and Pierzynski then hit a ground-rule double to right to make it 5-0. (Aceves was getting whacked around big-time). In the bottom of the third with two outs, Varitek launched a long bomb into the bullpen, putting the Sox on the board. In the fourth, Morel singled, moved to second on Pierre’s sacrifice and scored on Ramirez’ single up the middle. In the sixth, Aceves hit the slow-footed Dunn with a pitch and Beckham singled to center. And that was the night for Aceves (5+IP, 8H, 6R, 4ER, 3BB, 1K). Oh No Atchison entered and promptly threw a wild pitch that moved both runners into scoring position. With one out, Pierre looped a single over Gonzalez’ reach and both runners scored, 8-1 ChiSox. Ramirez followed with a single and then Quentin doubled off the wall to make it 9-1. Konerko hit a sacrifice fly to right and Ramirez scored. Bobby Jenks stepped in to face his old team in the top of the eighth and allowed singles to Ramirez and Lillebridge with one out. But Jenks was able to get out of the jam when he caught a liner back to the box and flipped to first for the double play. Josh Reddick banged a pinch hit double off the wall leading off the eighth and scored on Drew Sutton’s pinch hit single. After Youkilis singled with one out, Humber was relieved by lefty Will Ohman. Ortiz promptly deposited Ohman’s pitch into the Monster Seats to make it 10-5. Former Yankee Brian Bruney was brought in to pitch the ninth and walked Lowrie to start things. With one out, Varitek singled up the middle with Lowrie taking third. Lowrie then scored on Reddick’s sacrifice fly to left. Sutton then doubled down by Pesky’s Pole and Varitek scored to make it 10-7. Bruney was lifted at that point in favor of lefty Chris Sale, who struck out Gonzalez on three pitches to end it. Hey, at least they made it interesting at the end.

Game 56 v. Chicago (6/1/11):

The Sox opened the month of June looking to salvage one game of the three game set with the White Sox. They sent Tim Wakefield (2-1, 4.14) up against Gavin Floyd (5-4, 3.61). Josh Reddick started in right in place of Drew, who was given a day off. In the bottom of the first, the Sox put runners on the corners with one out before Youkilis grounded into a double play (arrrgh!). The Sox hung a three-spot on the board in the third as Ortiz doubled to left leading off, went to third on Crawford’s single and scored on Lowrie’s ground-rule double. The Sox were hitting Floyd hard at that point. With one out, Saltalamacchia delivered a base hit up the middle, scoring Lowrie and Crawford. Wake was unhittable through the first three but the ChiSox began to chip away at the lead beginning in the fourth. Ramirez led off with a single, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on Lillebridge’s double off the wall. The ChiSox tied the score in the fifth as Castro walked and Beckham singled to start things off. With runners on the corners and one out, Pierre tried to steal second, but the Sox applied a pitch out and he appeared to be out in a rundown (look at the photo above—he was out!). But the second base ump ruled that Pedroia missed the tag! Pedroia and the manager vociferously protested the call to no avail. Ramirez grounded out to short and Castro scored to make it 3-2 and Quentin doubled off the wall and the tying run came across—two runs scored because of Marty Foster’s blown call! Chicago went ahead in the sixth on Lillebridge’s long homer but Ortiz tied the score again in the bottom half on his 13th homer of the year into the Monster Seats. Wake was finished after six (6IP, 7H, 4ER, 1BB, 4K) and turned things over to Matt Albers in the seventh. Ramirez, Quentin and Konerko each singled and the go-ahead run came across. Hill relieved Albers and had to leave when he suffered an arm injury. In the ninth, Konerko hit a two-run bomb off of Papelbon to put an exclamation point on the White Sox’ sweep. The ChiSox now own the Red Sox, having won the last six straight and 15 of the last 19 between the teams. Having now lost four in a row, the Sox desperately need a day off on Thursday before Oakland comes to town. Good riddance to the White Sox…

On Thursday’s day off it was announced that both Rich Hill and Daisuke will require surgery and will be done for the season. For both pitchers and the team this is devastating news. Hill has been highly effective and seemed to have resuscitated his career with a new delivery. Daisuke has been up and down with the Red Sox over the years, but had a couple of really good outings this year before breaking down. Now, the Sox have to scramble to fill Hill’s spot in the bullpen. Do they recall Okajima from Pawtucket or do they go another route? As far as Daisuke’s spot in the rotation, Wake has been effective as a starter filling in and (upon Lackey’s return on Sunday) it would appear that the smart move would be to move Aceves back to the bullpen for long relief.

The A’s Come To Town:

After having lost their last four games, the Sox welcomed Oakland to Fenway for the weekend hoping their fortunes would turn around. The Sox called up long-time minor leaguer Tommy Hottovy (a ’04 draft pick) to take Rich Hill’s spot in the bullpen. Apparently, Okajima was not overly distressed at having been bypassed as he’s made it clear that he’s content to remain in Pawtucket until such time that the Sox see fit to trade him elsewhere. The guy is a veteran and probably doesn’t want any part of the I-95 shuttle. Who can blame him? For Hottovy, it must be the thrill of a lifetime after eight years of toiling in the minors waiting for a chance. Let’s hope he can get batters out.

Game 57 v. Oakland (6/3/11):

For the opener, the Sox sent out Clay Buchholz (4-3, 3.41) against lefty Josh Outman (1-0, 2.08). With the lefty going, Mike Cameron was inserted in the starting lineup in right replacing JD Drew. David DeJesus singled with one out in the top of the first and Josh Willingham followed with a single off the wall putting runners on the corners. A run scored when Matsui grounded into a 6-4 force. Kurt Suzuki followed with a single into the hole and then Barton singled to right, scoring Matsui and taking second on the throw. Mark Ellis then drove in two more with a single up the middle and the Sox were already in a deep hole, down 4-0. Ellsbury singled leading off the bottom of the first, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Gonzalez’ grounder to second. Youkilis then doubled off the wall with two outs and scored on Ortiz’ line drive single to left (Big Papi en fuego). In the bottom of the second, Crawford rocked a long fly to right that carried all the way to the wall before DeJesus hauled it in. Cameron then reached on Kouzmanoff’s throwing error. Saltalamacchia then struck out but reached on a passed ball putting runners on the corners. Ellsbury followed with a sacrifice liner to left and Cameron came across to make it 4-3. In the bottom of the third, Youkilis walked with one out and came across to score the tying run when Ortiz doubled off the wall in left. The Sox then went ahead when Lowrie singled up the middle and the fleet-footed Big Papi came in from second. With two outs, Outman was relieved by righty Guilermo Moscoso. With one out in the fourth, Kouzmanoff singled to center, moved to second on Buchholz’ bad pickoff throw and to third on a wild pitch. Pennington followed with a walk. Crisp grounded out to first and Kouzmanoff came in with the tying run as Gonzalez’ throw to the plate was just a bit late. Willingham led off the top of the fifth with a double off the wall (and the boys in the bullpen got to work in earnest). Barton singled in Kouzmanoff with the go-ahead run and that was all for Buchholz (4⅔IP, 8H, 5ER, 2BB, 5K, 99P). Gonzalez and Youkilis started the bottom of the fifth with singles but all that promise went for naught as Moscoso retired the next three batters. With two outs in the sixth and a runner on first, Hottovy made his big league debut. Crisp stole second but Hottovy was able to retire DeJesus on a routine grounder. JD Drew (pinch hitting for Cameron) reached when Barton mishandled a grounder to first leading off the bottom of the sixth. Saltalamacchia then hit into a double play and Ellsbury fouled out to third. Jenks came on to pitch the seventh and Willingham hit a wicked line drive double to left. Jenks then balked Willingham to third. After Matsui struck out, Barton hit into a double play and Jenks avoided further trouble. A-Gon doubled off the wall with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Youkilis was then hit by a pitch on the thigh and Ortiz followed with a walk. After Lowrie hit a weak pop to left, Brian Fuentes was summoned from the bullpen to face Crawford, who responded by hitting a bloop single to center and two runs scored. Saltalamacchia led off the bottom of the eighth with a long homer to right over the bullpen to give the Sox an 8-6 lead. Papelbon entered in the ninth and retired the side in order as the losing streak ended.

Game 58 v. Oakland (6/4/11):

Saturday afternoon’s tilt turned pig ugly as the Sox won 9-8 in 14 innings. The Sox were leading 7-3 in the ninth when Papelbon melted down and allowed four runs to score. The game went on to extra innings where Aceves nearly gave it up but the Sox rebounded to win a game that was seemingly lost in disgraceful fashion. Since we’re gluttons for punishment around here, we’ll rehash all the details.

It was supposed to be a pitcher’s duel as Josh Beckett faced Trevor Cahill, and through 4 ½ it played out as such. A-Gon put the Sox ahead with a solo homer in the bottom of the first. Both starters were really sharp as no further scoring took place until the bottom of the fifth. Crawford singled leading off, stole second and scored on Drew’s single to right. The A’s came back to tie the score in the sixth as Beckett struggled with his control. With one out DeJesus was hit by a pitch and Sweeney walked. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and scored on Willingham’s double off the wall. The Sox came back to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth with three runs off of Cahill as Ellsbury singled leading off, stole second and scored on Pedroia’s base hit. Youklis then drove in Pedroia with a double off the wall and later scored on Crawford’s line drive single up the middle. The A’s picked up a run in the seventh to make it 5-3. The Sox seemingly put away the game in the bottom of the eighth as A-Gon singled, Ortiz doubled and both runners scored on Crawford’s double to make it 7-3. Then came the ninth and the roof caved in on Papelbon. Ellis singled and Barton walked to start things off. With one out, Pedroia booted Crisp’s grounder and Ellis scored. Pennington then doubled in Barton. Varitek then got in a beef with the home plate ump, Randazzo and was ejected. Conor Jackson then singled to left, scoring Pennington and Crisp. Randazzo then confronted Papelbon in a confrontational state and ejected Pap after having been “bumped” (a suspension is likely in the cards). Why is it that the umpire (no doubt peeved over the catcher and pitcher beefing over what they believe to be a shrinking strike zone) bears no responsibility or consequences in any of this? The umpire confronted and challenged the player, not the other way around. Jenks came on and cleaned up the mess and the game went to extra innings. In the 11th, with Aceves pitching, Pennington walked and Jackson doubled. Ryan Sweeney then hit a sacrifice fly and the A’s took an 8-7 lead. With two outs in the bottom of the 11th, Saltalamacchia doubled and scored the tying run on Ellsbury’s ground-rule double to right. Pedroia then received a free pass so that Bailey could face Sutton, who replaced A-Gon at first in the 11th. Sutton struck out swinging, so it was on to the 12th…and the 13th…In the bottom of the 13th, Ellsbury singled with two outs and stole second. After Pedrois received another free pass, Sutton hit a liner to second and it was on to the 14th. Willingham walked leading off. After Matsui reached on a fielder’s choice, Barton singled with two outs. Aceves was then able to get Powell on a grounder to second. The Sox opened the bottom of the 14th with two quick outs. Crawford then doubled. After Lowrie received an intentional walk, JD Drew made the A’s pay for the lack of respect with a game-winning base hit to center. Crawford came across and the Sox won it in a crisp 5:17. A win’s a win, but that was a “10” on the ugly scale.

Game 59 v. Oakland (6/5/11):

John Lackey returned from the DL on Sunday afternoon as the Sox looked to sweep the series. The A’s sent out Brett Anderson on the hill and the Sox quickly put a crooked number on the board in the bottom of the second. Ortiz singled to left leading off (he’s had great success of late going the other way with lefthanders) and Lowrie singled up the middle. Crawford followed with a line drive bullet that landed in the bullpen and the Sox were out to a 3-0 lead. Kouzmanoff led off the top of the third by launching a bomb into the camera well in centerfield. The A’s manufactured a run in the fourth to tighten things. The Sox came back in the bottom of the fourth with two runs as A-Gon launched a bomb of his own into the Monster Seats to make it a 5-2 game. Lackey pitched into the sixth inning before being relieved by Albers after two were out. Barton then doubled in Conor Jackson to make it 5-3. In the bottom of the sixth, with de los Santos pitching, Ellsbury singled, moved to second and third on wild pitches and later scored on Pedroia’s base hit. Daniel Bard entered in the ninth and easily retired the side in order as the Sox came away with a hard fought sweep.