A Nine-Game National League Roadtrip

The Sox hit the road for nine games starting with a weekend series in Pittsburgh. There was some angst over the fact that Ortiz would lose some at-bats and there was some talk about putting Gonzalez in right field and allowing Big Papi to play first. We’d have to see how it would sort itself out.

Game 75 at Pittsburgh (6/24/11):

PNC Park has to be among the prettiest venues in MLB. It’s just too bad that ownership is more concerned with lining their pockets with revenue sharing money and failing to put a competitive product on the field. In the opener, Jon Lester started against Paul Maholm. The Sox hitters went right to work in the first inning as Ellsbury led off with a walk, moved to third on Gonzalez’ single and scored on Youkilis’ ground out. The Sox loaded the bases in the third with two outs as Pedroia and Gonzalez each singled and Youkilis followed with a walk. But McDonald grounded out to third and that glorious chance to add more runs went by the boards. In the bottom of the third, Ronny Cedeno reached on a bunt single and Michael McKenry (the player the Sox recently traded to the Pirates) hit a fly to right that Cameron misjudged and ended up on second base. Lester then walked Maholm. Jose Tabata singled to third and Cedeno came in with the tying run. Chase D’Arnaud bounced into a double play and McKenry came across with the go-ahead run. Lester then hit Andrew McCutchen with a pitch as his control has been somewhat off tonight. Matt Diaz singled over Pedroia’s reach leading off the bottom of the fourth and Overbay followed with a single to right. But Lester was able to get out of trouble with a pop to second and a 5-4-3 double play. D’Arnaud triped off the wall with two outs in the bottom of the fifth but Lester came back to strike out McCutchen. After Varitek singled with one out in the sixth, Maholm was relieved by Chris Resop. Neil Walker and Diaz started the bottom of the sixth with infield singles. Overbay then ripped a base hit to right and Walker came across to make it 3-1. When Overbay played for Toronto he feasted on Red Sox pitching, some things never change. Lefthander Tony Watson relieved Resop to open the seventh and Reddick singled to right leading off. With one out, Pedroia walked. With two outs, Watson was relieved by Daniel McCutchen, who struck out Youkilis swinging. Lester was finished after six (6IP, 8H, 3ER, 1BB, 5K) and turned things over to Matt Albers. With two outs and Tabata on third, Hottovy relieved Albers and Walker flied out to left. With Jose Veras now pitching in the top of the eighth, McDonald and Drew each singled to open things up. Varitek then bunted both runners over. After Veras struck out Scutaro looking, Big Papi strode to the plate and (suddenly a cloudburst appeared) grounded out to short. Dan Wheeler entered in the bottom of the eighth and retired the side in order. Joel Hanrahan entered in the top of the ninth to close things out and retired the side in order. It just wasn’t the Red Sox’ night.

Game 76 at Pittsburgh (6/25/11):

After leaving 11 runners on base in the opener, the Sox looked to rebound on Saturday night as Tim Wakefield (4-2, 4.26) returned to Pittsburgh to face Jeff Karstens (4-4, 2.54). Karstens is one of the Bucs’ bright young prospects (acquired from the Yanks) and has pitched well so far this year. There was another big crowd at PNC Park for this game. With one out in the first, Pedroia walked, stole second and moved to third on a bad throw down by McKenry. Gonzalez grounded out to short and Pedroia came in the back door with the game’s first run. Saltalamacchia doubled leading off the second and move to third on Reddick’s grounder. But he failed to score when Scutaro grounded out to short and Wake struck out. With two outs in the third, Gonzalez hit an opposite-field solo homer to make it 2-0. In the bottom of the fourth, McCutchen reached on an infield hit and Walker took a base on balls. Overbay then absolutely crushed a knuckleball to deep center and the Bucs took a 3-2 lead, what a monster shot. Over the past few years, it seems as if Overbay has made a living off of Red Sox pitching. Cedeno doubled to left and scored on Karstens’ single up the middle. Chase d’Arnaud singled into the hole in short leading off the bottom of the fifth and Garrett Jones doubled to the gap in right center. McCutchen followed with a routine grounder to second that went through Pedroia’s legs (how often do you see that happen?) and d’Arnaud scored. Wakefield then wisely conceded an intentional walk to Overbay. Cedeno then grounded into a double play and Wake got out of the bases loaded jam. Wake was finished after six (6IP, 8H, 5ER, 4BB, 2K). He didn’t pitch all that badly, save for that pitch to Overbay that was hit a mile out of the park. In the top of the seventh, Reddick homered to center leading off and, with two outs, Ellsbury went deep as well to make it a 5-4 game. After Karstens was relieved by Daniel McCutchen, Pedroia doubled to deep right. Daniel Moskos relieved McCutchen and retired Gonzalez on a grounder to second. Matt Albers came on in relief of Wakefield to open the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Jones homered to center. With two outs and a runner on first, Bard relieved Albers. With Tim Wood pitching in the top of the eighth, Youkilis reached on Overbay’s fielding error. With two outs and runners on first and second, Scutaro hit one long and deep to center that McCutchen hauled in on the warning track. Hanrahan entered in the top of the ninth and Pedroia hit a long double with two outs but Gonzalez struck out swinging to end it. Just like that, the Sox have lost four in a row. With the loss the Sox fell out of first place by half a game to the Yanks.

Game 77 at Pittsburgh (6/26/11):

The Sox won Sunday’s finale 4-2 in a downright boring game (but a win’s a win). Andrew Miller started for the Sox against (Darnell’s cousin) James McDonald. Both starters pitched scoreless ball until the top of the fourth when Saltalamacchia doubled leading off and scored while tagging to third when McCutchen’s throw went wild, bounced off the third baseman’s glove and into the stands. The Bucs tied the score in the bottom of the fourth when Miller hit Walker with a pitch leading off. Diaz then reached on Scutaro’s bad throw and Ronny Cedeno followed with a sacrifice fly to center. The Pirates went ahead in the bottom of the fifth as McDonald walked, Garrett Jones singled and McCutchen drove in McDonald with a base hit. The Sox came back to tie in the sixth as Youkilis walked leading off, moved to third on McDonald’s throwing error and scored on Reddick’s sacrifice fly to left. Miller was finished after six and was pinch-hit for by Ortiz after Scutaro walked. After a pitching change, Ortiz walked. Ellsbury reached on an error by Moskos to load the bases. Pedroia grounded out and Scutaro came in the back door. Youkilis followed with a sacrifice fly to right and Ortiz came across to make it 4-2, Sox. Aceves, Bard and Papelbon followed with consecutive innings of scoreless ball and the Sox were able to escape Pittsburgh with a win. Miller had his second straight impressive outing to earn his first victory with the Red Sox. At a time when runs were at a premium, it was nice to see the Sox scrap and manufacture runs. Next stop, Philly…

“Philadelphia”

Game 78 at Philadelphia (6/28/11):

After a day off, the Sox moved to Philly for a three-game set. Prior to the game, Franklin Morales and Bobby Jenks came off the DL and Atchison and Tommy Hottovy were returned to Pawtucket. In the opener, Josh Beckett (6-2, 1.86) took the hill against Cliff Lee (8-5, 2.87), who is coming off two complete game shutouts. Beckett missed his last start with a stomach bug but was expected to be at full strength. The media is billing this series as “World Series preview”. Based on the way the Sox have played since the recent round of interleague play resumed, such talk is nonsense. With the lefthander going for the Phils, Drew and Reddick took a seat while McDonald and Cameron (an offensively challenged duo) were inserted in the lineup. In the bottom of the second, Ryan Howard led off with a line drive single to left. Shane Victorino reached on a force play and took second on a bad pickoff throw. With two outs, Domonic Brown lined a two-run shot into the Phils’ bullpen. In the bottom of the second, Jimmy Rollins singled and stole second with one out. Through the first five innings Lee had yet to allow any hits…In the bottom of the fifth, Brown ripped a double to left leading off and moved to third on Ruiz’ fly to right. Lee followed with a sacrifice fly to left and Brown came across to make it 3-0. Scutaro singled to left leading off the sixth, but Beckett hit into a double play. Polanco singled leading off the bottom of the sixth and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Victorino then whacked a long two-run homer to right and this game couldn’t get over any sooner. Pedroia led off the seventh with a walk but Youkilis grounded into a double play. Beckett was finished after six and handed things over to Franklin “Ball Four” Morales, who retired the side in order. Darnell McDonald doubled to left to start the eighth but Lee retired the next three batters and that was that. Jenks came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth, walked a couple of batters but got three outs. Lee retired the side in order to pick up his third consecutive shutout and has now pitched 33 scoreless innings in a row. It was a great night for Lee and a bad night for the Sox. Turn the page and move on. The Yanks won again so the Sox fell 1½ games back.

Game 79 at Philadelphia (6/29/11):

After last night’s dreadful outing, the Sox looked to rebound as John Lackey (5-6, 7.36) took the hill against rookie Vance Worley (2-1, 2.83). The Sox’ manager shook up the lineup by inserting Ortiz at first base and shifting Gonzalez to rightfield. With one out in the bottom of the first, Polanco and Utley hit back-to-back singles. But Howard grounded into a double play and Lackey escaped. Worley has been very impressive through two, retiring the first six batters with no trouble. Victorino doubled down the line in left to open the bottom of the second and scored on Raul Ibanez’ base hit to center. Reddick looped a single over Rollins’ dive in short left to open the third. In the top of the fifth, Reddick singled with one out and scored on Lackey’s double to the gap in left-center. With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Utley walked and stole second but Lackey retired the next two batters to avoid further trouble. Ibanez led off the bottom of the seventh by taking a curveball over the wall and giving the Phils the lead. Worley was relieved by Michael Stutes to open the eighth. With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Utley tripled off the rightfield wall. On that note, Lackey was relieved by Morales. Lackey deserved a better fate as he had a very good outing (7⅔IP, 8H, 2ER, 1BB, 5K, 90P). On this night, he pitched like the guy the Sox thought he’d be when they signed him to that fat free agent contract a couple of years ago. Antonio Bastardo entered in the top of the ninth to close things out, and he retired the side on three pop outs.

Game 80 at Philadelphia (6/30/11):

Prior to the game, the Sox designated Mike Cameron for assignment, thus ending a two-year $15MM commitment to a disappointing end. Cameron missed much of last year recovering from hernia surgery and did next to nothing in limited duty this year. Yamaico Navarro was recalled from Pawtucket to take Cameron’s spot in the lineup. Youkilis was also given the day off after fouling a ball off of his left foot in last night’s game. Drew Sutton started at third in his place.

In Thursday afternoon’s finale, there was a standing room crowd at CB Park on a picture perfect day for baseball. Jon Lester (9-4, 3.66) took the hill against tough lefthander Cole Hamels (9-4, 2.49). In the top of the fourth with one out, Gonzalez lined one back to the box that deflected off of Hamels’ glove hand. He was able to stay in the game after getting checked out. David Herndon then relieved Hamels to open the top of the fifth. With one out, Reddick ripped a triple to right and came around to score on Sutton’s base hit to right. Scutaro followed with a single into the hole in right and Sutton took third. Ellsbury then hit a single to left and Sutton came in to make it 2-0. With two outs in the sixth, Varitek homered to right (just clearing the wall) and the Sox were up 3-0. With one out in the top of the eighth, Pedroia (batting cleanup today) homered to right and Varitek went back-to-back, this one went much further into the rightfield grandstand. Lester was finished after seven and had another masterful outing (7IP, 2H, 0ER, 2BB, 5K, 120P). Bard took over in the eighth and retired the side in order. The Sox loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth on a single and two walks but Pedroia popped out to second. Bobby Jenks entered in the bottom of the ninth and struggled mightily, allowing a single, a two-run bomb to Ryan Howard and a walk. Papelbon had to enter to close things out and he retired the next three batters and the Sox were able to salvage one game out of the series.

On To Houston…

Game 81 at Houston (7/1/11):

The Sox closed out the first half of the season with a weekend series at Minute Maid Park in Houston. The Astros are in dead last in the NL Central at 29-53, a full 15 games back of the Brewers and Cardinals. Ellsbury was a late scratch with the stomach flu and Reddick took his spot in the lineup and Sutton started in leftfield. In the opener, Tim Wakefield (4-3, 4.54) started against Bud Norris (4-6, 3.36). Scutaro led off the ball game with a long homer to left. Michael Bourn singled leading off the bottom of the first and moved to second on a passed ball. Hunter Pence then drove in Bourn with a sacrifice fly to center. With two outs, Carlos Lee and RJ’s son Chris each singled. Clint Barmes doubled off the wall leading off the bottom of the second. Carlos Corporan then grounded into a 1-5-4-2 fielder’s choice with Barmes getting caught in a rundown. With two outs, Bourn singled putting runners on the corners and Angel Sanchez followed with a bunt single that scored Corporan with the go-ahead run. Pence then doubled down the line in left and Bourn scored to make it 3-1. In the bottom of the fifth, Ramirez singled to right leading off and moved to second on a passed ball. With one out, Lee doubled to left and Ramirez scored. Scutaro then saved a run with a leaping catch of Brett Wallace’s liner. Barmes led off the bottom of the sixth with a double to the gap in left center. With one out, Norris ripped a single to left, Barmes scored and that was the night for the wily old knuckleballer (5⅓IP, 11H, 5ER, 0BB, 0K). In the top of the seventh, the Sox finally got things in gear. Drew singled leading off and Saltalamacchia singled to right. Reddick then hit a double to left and Drew scored. After Escalona relieved Norris, Sutton reached on an infield hit and Salty came across to make it 5-3. Darnell McDonald batted for Wheeler and was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Wilton Lopez (sprinting in from the bullpen) relieved Escalona and struck out Scutaro. Pedroia then reached down and tapped a single to right driving in Reddick and Sutton and it was a tie ballgame. Gonzalez followed with a double off the wall, scoring McDonald and Pedroia and giving the Sox a 7-5 lead! Matt Albers entered in the bottom of the seventh and retired the first two batters before Chris Johnson lined a single up the middle. At that point, Albers was relieved by Franklin Morales. Jason Michaels pinch hit for Wallace and grounded out to short. In the top of the eighth with Fernando Abad now pitching, Salty led off with a walk and Reddick followed by looping a single to left. With one out, Del Rosario relieved Abad and walked McDonald. Scutaro then grounded into a double play to kill that threat. Daniel Bard entered in the bottom of the eighth and retired the side in order. With two outs in the ninth, Del Rosario walked the bases as Youkilis, Drew and Salty all reached. David Carpenter relieved Del Rosario at that point and got Reddick on a grounder to first. Papelbon came on to close things out and allowed a single to Pence with two outs before Lee grounded out to second. It was a really nice comeback win for the Sox.

Game 82 at Houston (7/2/11):

In Saturday night’s game, Andrew Miller (1-0, 3.09) started against J.A. Happ (3-9, 5.54). Ellsbury was back in the lineup as was Ortiz at first base and A-Gon moved to right. The Sox wasted no time getting to (the hapless) Happ. Ellsbury led off the first with a walk and moved to third on Pedroia’s infield hit. Gonzalez singled to right and Ellsbury came in to score. Youkilis followed with a single to load the bases and Ortiz walked in Pedroia. Saltalamacchia then grounded into a double play and Gonzalez came in the back door to make it 3-0. Miller struggled a little coming out of the gate as Bourn started the Astros’ first with a triple off the wall in left and scored on Angel Sanchez’ base hit to left. The Sox made it 4-1 in the fifth as Ellsbury doubled to right with one out and scored on Pedroia’s double to deep left. The Astros answered back with a run in the bottom of the sixth as Hunter Pence homered to left. Miller was finished after six and had another great night (6IP, 7H, 2ER, 2BB, 2K). Yamaico Navarro hit for Miller in the top of the seventh and hit his first big league homer to left. Aceves relieved Miller and struggled after two were out. Jeff Keppinger and Bourn hit back-to-back singles and Matt Downs walked on a very close pitch. Bard relieved Aceves and walked Pence, scoring Keppinger. The Sox blew the game wide open in the top of the eighth as Gonzalez, Youkilis and Reddick each singled off of Fernando Abad. Saltalamacchia then hit a sacrifice fly to left and Gonzalez came in. Darnell McDonald followed with a certifiable three-run bomb that struck the railroad tracks (on which the little choo-choo travels) on top of the leftfield wall to make it 9-3. In the ninth, Gonzalez doubled with two outs and scored on Youkilis’ base hit to left. Dan Wheeler entered in the bottom of the ninth to mop things up and allowed a couple of hits and a run to account for the 10-4 final. Pedroia, Gonzalez and Youkilis all had three hits in the effort but McDonald’s homer was a thing of beauty to watch. Andrew Miller’s outing can’t be overlooked as it was his second straight quality start. Thank goodness that this long stretch of playing by NL rules ends tomorrow.

Game 83 at Houston (7/3/11):

In Sunday afternoon’s finale, Josh Beckett started against rookie Jordan Lyles. The Sox loaded the bases in the third before Gonzalez flied out to center. The Sox pushed across a run in the fourth as Youkilis singled leading off and Drew followed with a walk. With one out, Navarro singled to load the bases. Varitek then bounced one to first but Wallace’s throw to the plate went awry and Youkilis was safe. The Astros tied the score in the bottom of the fifth when Wallace doubled to center and scored on Angel Sanchez’ base hit up the middle with one out. The Sox left runners in scoring position in the sixth and seventh. With Mark Melancon pitching in the top of the ninth, Sutton walked with one out. Ellsbury followed with a single to right. Pedroia then reached on a fielder’s choice and Gonzalez received a free pass to load the bases. Melancon then walked Youkilis and Sutton came in with the go-ahead run. Papelbon entered in the bottom of the ninth, struck out two and allowed a single to pick up his 17th save. But the story of the day was Beckett and the masterpiece he threw on this day (8IP, 5H, 1ER, 0BB, 11K).