The Second Half Begins…

Prior to opening a weekend set in St. Pete with the Rays, MLB handed down its suspensions following the fight between Ortiz and Gregg (a fight that really was no more than two big men taking wild swings at each other). Ortiz and Gregg both received four games while assorted fines and minor suspensions were handed out to the Orioles’ manager (who was the instigator) and a couple of other players.

Game 91 at Tampa Bay (7/15/11):

After a four-day layoff, the Sox climbed back on the horse to begin a six-game road trip through St. Pete and Baltimore. In the opener, Andrew Miller (3-0, 3.57) took the hill against David Price, who generally kills Red Sox hitters. In the top of the first, Pedroia singled with one out but was thrown out (by a mile) at second trying to stretch things. Scutaro made a nice leaping catch of Damon’s pop to short left but Miller then walked Zobrist and Longoria. BJ Upton then drove in Zobrist with a base hit up the middle. The Rays were only able to get that one run but Miller threw over 30 pitches getting through. With two outs in the second, Darnell McDonald took a fastball from Price over the wall to tie the game. Kelly Shoppach led off the bottom of the second with a single to right and then Miller walked the weak-hitting Elliot Johnson. Sam Fuld then bunted in front of the mound; Saltalamacchia threw to second and Johnson was safe on a fielder’s choice. With one out, Zobrist lined a grand slam to left on a change-up that hung over the plate. With one out in the third, Ellsbury smacked a line drive over the rightfield wall to make it 5-2 Rays. With one out in the bottom of the third, Casey Kotchman singled up the middle and then Miller walked Shoppach. Sam Fuld then lined a base hit to center with two outs and Kotchman came across to make it 6-2. Damon then walked and the manager came out looking for the baseball. Miller had an awful night (2⅔IP, 5H, 6ER, 5BB, 0K). His control problems were precisely the reasons why the Tigers and Marlins cut bait with him. Alfredo Aceves came on in relief and walked Zobrist, with Shoppach coming across to make it 7-2. Pedroia led off the sixth with a line drive homer to left. With Dan Wheeler pitching in the bottom of the sixth, Upton singled and then Kotchman gonged one off the foul pole in right to make it 9-3. Price was finished after six and with a big lead, Maddon handed the ball to Joel Peralta. With two outs, Yamaico Navarro walked and then Scutaro launched a homer five rows deep into the grandstand. Peralta was lifted in favor of Jake McGee. Franklin Morales took over in the bottom of the seventh and gave up a double to left by Johnson but retired the next three batters. Pedroia led off the top of the eighth with a double to the gap in right-center. With one out, Youkilis singled in Pedroia to make it 9-6. Kyle Farnsworth entered in the top of the ninth and slammed the door shut. Upton made a nice catch of Scutaro’s long drive to the gap to end the game.

Game 92 at Tampa Bay (7/16/11):

After Friday night’s woeful outing, the Sox sent John Lackey (6-8, 6.84) to the hill against James Shields (8-7, 2.33), who always seems to pitch well against the Red Sox. On paper, it looks like a real mismatch. Prior to the game, Bobby Jenks was placed on the DL for the third time this year after suffering a back strain while warming up last night. There was a reason why the White Sox were more than happy to cut bait with the semi-morbidly obese Jenks after last year; the guy has been ineffective and injury prone. Lefthander Randy Williams was recalled from Pawtucket and Tommy Hottovy was DFA’d. There was also news that Clay Buchholz’ recovery from back issues is progressing more slowly than originally hoped. His recovery (or lack thereof) may have an effect on what moves the Sox may make at the trade deadline.

After the Sox left two runners on base in the top of the first, the Rays pushed across three runs in the bottom half off of Lackey. Damon reached on a throwing error by Scutaro. Zobrist then singled up the middle putting runners on the corners. Casey Kotchman then singled in Damon. After Longoria reached on a fielder’s choice, Matt Joyce drove in Zobrist with a base hit to right. Upton then drove in Longoria with a basehit up the middle. Lackey avoided further trouble when Sam Fuld grounded into a double play. In the second, the Sox made it 3-2 when Saltalamacchia walked and Josh Reddick followed with a homer to right. In the bottom of the second, the Rays loaded the bases again on two singles and a walk but Lackey lucked out when Kotchman grounded into a double play. Gonzalez walked leading off the third and Youkilis followed with a hard single to short. Ortiz then doubled to the gap in right-center and both runners came across giving the Sox a 4-3 lead. JD Drew followed with a double down the line in right and Ortiz came in with the Sox’ fifth run. The bullpens started getting busy as Lackey was up to 50 pitches and Shields was already over 70. With one out in the bottom of the third, Joyce singled to right and stole second but Lackey came back to strike out Upton and Fuld. Ellsbury led of the fourth with a line drive homer to right, first pitch swinging. Matt Joyce hit a solo shot off of Lackey in the bottom of the fifth to make it 6-4. In the bottom of the sixth, Damon reached when Gonzalez booted a grounder with two outs. Lackey then hit Zobrist with a pitch and that was all for Lackey, who treated the manager to a profanity-laced tirade on his way off the mound. Randy Williams entered in relief and retired the next batter on a ground out. Pedroia led of the seventh with a homer to right to make it 7-4. In the bottom of the seventh, Williams retired Longoria on a pop to short and struck out Joyce swinging before giving way to Daniel Bard. Fuld doubled to right leading off the bottom of the eighth. With two outs and Damon at the plate, Fuld stole third, but Bard struck out Damon looking and it was on to the ninth. Brandon Gomes entered in the top of the ninth for the Rays and Scutaro reached on an infield single after he slid into the bag. Ellsbury then reached on a catcher’s interference call. Pedroia then reached when Longoria bobbled a grounder, trying to turn the double play too soon. At that point, Gomes was relieved by lefty Jake McGee, who struck out Gonzalez swinging. McGee was then replaced by Adam Russell, who walked Youkilis. Ortiz then hit a hard grounder back to the box that Russell grabbed, with Ellsbury coming in with the ninth run. Papelbon entered in a no-save situation in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, the slow-footed Kotchman tripled off the wall in right (just missing a homer) and scored on Longoria’s line drive single to right. But that was as close as the Rays would get as Papelbon nailed things shut from there and the Sox came away with a 9-5 win that sure seemed a lot closer than the score would indicate.

Game 93 at Tampa Bay (7/17/11):

In Sunday night’s rubber game, Josh Beckett (8-3, 2.27) started against Jeff Niemann (4-4, 4.53). The primary concern leading into this game is the condition of Beckett’s knee, which caused him to pull out of the All-Star Game while warming up. Ellsbury struck out swinging to open the game. With two outs, Gonzalez singled through the shift into rightfield but Youkilis struck out. Rodriguez hit a shot back to the box that struck Beckett but he was able to recover and throw out the runner. Beckett wasn’t so lucky with Longoria as Beckett was hit again by a comebacker and the ball rolled into foul ground for a single. Niemann had six strikeouts in the first four innings. The game remained scoreless through six as Pedroia made two fantastic diving stops of grounders ticketed for the outfield and then threw the runners out. With Sean Rodriguez batting in the bottom of the eighth, he hit a towering foul ball that struck one of the lights on the roof, sending shards of glass down upon the playing surface (yet further evidence that the game of baseball was never intended to be played indoors). Niemann was finished after eight and turned things over to Farnsworth. Pedroia doubled to the gap in right center leading off the top of the ninth. With one out, Youkilis drew a walk but Ortiz struck out looking. Drew then walked to load the bases but Reddick flied out to center. Beckett pitched brilliantly tonight (8IP, 1H, 0ER, 0BB, 6K), putting to rest any concerns over his knee. Bard entered in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs, Damon singled up the middle and stole second. Zobrist followed with a walk but Longoria hit a long fly to right and it was on to extra innings. Scutaro walked with one out in the tenth and Peralta was relieved by JP Howell. Ellsbury then reached on a 3-6 fielder’s choice and Pedroia followed with a walk. Gonzalez then grounded out to second and the Sox left two more runners on base. Matt Albers entered in the bottom of the 10th and, with two outs, Justin Ruggiano hit a long fly to left that Reddick chased after, leaped and caught with his back up against the wall. It was one of the best catches of the year, without a doubt. Youkilis walked leading off the 11th and then Howell walked Ortiz. Maddon then came out looking for the baseball and Jake McGee entered to face Drew. Darnell McDonald was sent up to pinch hit for Drew, and he walked to load the bases. Drew Sutton was then sent in to run for Ortiz. After McGee struck out Reddick, he was relieved by Cruz, who struck out Varitek and got Scutaro to foul out to the catcher. Maddon was ejected during the pitching change for arguing balls and strikes and then the Rays’ bench coach was also ejected after Scutaro fouled out because Scutaro threw his bat down hard and the coach thought that Scutaro should’ve been tossed. Rodriguez led off the bottom of the 11th with a single up the middle and moved to second on Shoppach’s ground out. With two outs, Franklin Morales came on to face Damon and retired him on a grounder to second. On to the 12th at 12:20 a.m…the Sox were retired in order but Morales served up two long fly ball outs in the bottom of the 12th. The game then started to drag on…13, 14, 15 innings without much action. Finally, in the 16th, Reddick led off with a walk and moved to second on Varitek’s sacrifice. Scutaro then reached on an infield single and, with two outs and runners on the corners, Pedroia lined a base hit to right and Reddick came in with the first run of the night. Papelbon entered in the bottom of the ninth and shut down the side in order and the Sox came away with the 1-0 win. The game ended at 1:54 and only took a mere 5:44 to play…

Game 94 at Baltimore (7/18/11):

After last night’s marathon, David Ortiz had his suspension reduced to three games and began serving it immediately, so he would be unavailable for this series. It was probably for the best as his departure from the lineup would serve to ease some of the tension that presently exists between the two teams. The Orioles’ Kevin Gregg also dropped his appeal. Carl Crawford returned from a rehab stint in Pawtucket and was inserted in the starting lineup. With Crawford back up, Drew Sutton was sent back down.

In the opener, Tim Wakefield (5-3, 4.74) took the ball against Brad Bergesen (1-6, 5.65). After Bergesen set down the side in order in the top of the first, Adam Jones and Matt Wieters each singled with two outs in the bottom half. Derrek Lee then hit a long triple off the wall in center that brought in both runners. Such is the unpredictability of the knuckleball. Felix Pie walked in the second but was thrown out by Saltalamacchia trying to steal. Salty led off the top of the third with a homer into the Orioles’ bullpen in center. Drew then nearly hit one out as well but Jones tracked down his long fly at the wall. Scutaro and Ellsbury followed with back-to-back singles and then Pedroia drove in Scutaro with a base hit to left. Gonzalez then knocked in Ellsbury with a single to left, giving the Sox a 3-2 lead. In the top of the fourth, Crawford and Salty started things off with base hits. Scutaro then reached on Lee’s fielding error with Crawford coming across to make it 4-2. Ellsbury then hit a sacrifice fly to left and Salty came in to score. Josh Reddick led off the top of the fifth with a homer to right. Felix Pie reached in the bottom of the fifth on a strike out/passed ball. With one out, JJ Hardy bopped a homer to left to tighten things to 6-4. With two outs, Jones homered to left. Wieters and Lee followed with back-to-back singles and Reynolds walked. Nolan Reimold followed with a double to left, scoring Wieters and Lee and putting the O’s back on top 7-6. That was all for Wake as he had a disastrous fifth inning (4⅔IP, 9H, 7ER, 2BB, 3K). Dan Wheeler came on to clean up the mess and got Pie to ground out to second. Troy Patton entered in relief of Bergesen to open the top of the sixth and retired the side in order. In the top of the seventh, Ellsbury singled leading off and Pedroia followed with a walk. After Patton struck out Gonzalez, he was relieved by Jason Berken. Youkilis then singled to left and Ellsbury came across with the tying run. With one out in the eighth, Darnell McDonald pinch hit for Drew and walked and then Scutaro hit a single up the middle. After Gonzalez walked Ellsbury to load the bases, he was relieved by relieved by rookie Mark Worrell, who looked like a real twitchy sort out there. Pedroia treated the rook to a two-run double off the wall in right and the Sox were ahead 9-7. A-Gon then received a free pass to load the bases and Youkilis lined a base hit up the middle, scoring Ellsbury and Pedroia. That was all for Worrell as Chris Jakubauskas came on and walked Reddick. Crawford followed with a single to right and A-Gon came in to make it 12-7. Darnell McDonald then ripped a bases-clearing triple down the line in left to make it 15-7. Randy Williams came on to pitch for the Sox in the bottom of the eighth. Williams allowed a walk and three singles to make it a 15-10 game. After Williams’ troublesome inning, Franklin Morales came on to pitch the bottom of the ninth, and Morales struck out the side. On a night when the pitching was certainly not at its best, it was good to see the bats come through in a big way.

Game 95 at Baltimore (7/19/11):

After the offense battered Orioles’ pitching on Monday night, the Sox faced a tougher task on Tuesday as Kyle Weiland (0-0, 13.50) faced Jeremy Guthrie (3-13, 4.45). Forget about the record, Guthrie always seems to pitch well against the Red Sox. Weiland was ejected from his debut in the fifth inning on the last game before the All-Star break and was up and down during that start.

Pedroia legged out an infield hit with one out in the top of the first but Gonzalez grounded into a double play. Adam Jones led off the bottom of the second with a base hit to right and then Wieters singled, putting runners on the corners. With one out, Mark Reynolds doubled off the wall in left scoring Jones with the first run of the game. Reimold then knocked in Wieters with a grounder to second. With one out in the bottom of the third, Markakis walked and Jones singled to left. Wieters then singled to right and Markakis came in to make it 3-0 O’s. Reddick doubled to the right-center gap leading off the fifth. With one out, Saltalamacchia delivered a two-run bomb to right and the Sox were back in it at 3-2. With two outs, Scutaro walked and Ellsbury sliced a single to left. But Pedroia grounded out to second to end the threat. With Aceves pitching un the bottom of the eighth and two outs, Derrek Lee hit a two-run homer to right and Reynolds followed with a homer to left to make it 6-2, O’s. This was simply not the Red Sox’ night.

Game 96 at Baltimore (7/20/11):

It was a hot one in Wednesday afternoon’s finale at Camden Yards as Andrew Miller (3-1, 5.68) took the mound against Jake Arrieta (9-6, 5.10). The temps were in the mid 90’s and the heat index was over 100°, just about the same temperatures as in the Boston area. The manager shook up the lineup and put A-Gon in the DH slot, Youkilis at first and Navarro at third.

With one out in the second, Crawford singled up the middle and stole second. Arrieta then retired the next two batters on ground outs. With one out in the bottom of the second, Miller walked Reynolds and Reimold as his pitches were all over the map. Andino then took a walk, prompting a visit from the pitching coach. Miller was able to get out of the bases loaded jam when Tatum grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. With one out in the third, Ellsbury rocked one into the rightfield stands to give the Sox an early lead. Reddick lined a base hit up the middle to open the fourth and Crawford followed with a long double that one-hopped the wall in right. Varitek grounded out to second and Reddick came in the back door to make it 2-0. But Arrieta struck out Navarro and Crawford was stranded at third. Miller finished with two outs in the fifth, and despite the walks, had a pretty good afternoon (5⅔IP, 2H, 0ER, 6BB, 3K). Matt Albers took over at that point. After Nick Markakis made a nice diving catch off of Varitek’s slicing fly to right in the seventh, Ellsbury followed with his second home run of the game way back in right. Arrieta was through after seven and turned things over to the tall lefthander Mark Hendrickson. Gonzalez led off the eighth with a single to right and Youkilis followed with a double off the wall in left. Hendrickson gave up back-to-back walks to Reddick and Crawford and was sent back to the dugout for his troubles. Worrell entered the game and retired the next three batters as the Sox left the bases loaded. Bard came on in the bottom of the eighth to retire the side in order and Papelbon entered in the ninth and he got three quick outs to end it. The big story has to be Adrian Gonzalez going 4-4 today as he’d been in a bit of a slump coming off the Home Run Derby. So, the Sox head back home to start a homestand with Seattle on Friday night.