Opening Day,

After another long, cold and snowy winter, the calendar turned to April and once more to Opening Day. This year the Sox opened the season at Yankee Stadium for a three-game set with the dreaded Yanks. This year, things are a little different for the Yanks as A-Rod, Jeter, Granderson and Teixeira are all out of the lineup with various injuries. Russell Martin left for a two-year deal with the Pirates. Vernon Wells came over from the Angels to play left field.

CC Sabathia started for the Yanks against Jon Lester.  Jacoby Ellsbury popped out to short and thus the 2013 season began. After Victorino struck out, Dustin Pedroia singled and the Sox had their first baserunner of the year. Napoli struck out swinging as Sabathia’s location was spot on in the first.  Brett Gardner led off for the Yanks and Lester fanned him. After Nunez (Jeter’s replacement) grounded out t o short, Robinson Cano struck out but reached on a wild pitch. Youkilis (making his Yankee debut) flew out to right and Lester escaped unscathed.

Middlebrooks ground out 5-3 to open the second. Saltalamacchia then walked and Johnny Gomes reached on an infield single. In the long-awaited debut of the phenom, Jackie Bradley, Jr., he walked to load the bases. Up stepped the #9 hitter, Jose Iglesias and he reached on an infield hit, scoring Saltalamacchia with the first run of the season.  Ellsbury reached on a 3-2 force as Gomes was cut down at the plate. Victorino drove in a pair with a base hit to left, 3-0 Sox. Pedroia knocked in Ellsbury with a base hit to right to make it 4-0. Napoli ended the rally with a long fly to center, just not far enough. Vernon (Sluggo) Wells made his Yankee debut to open the bottom half of the second and grounded out to short. Ben Francisco walked, bringing Ichiro to the plate. Ichiro bounced into a 6-4 force. Lester caught looking at a called third strike to end the inning.

Middlebrooks struck out swinging to start the third. Salty went down looking on three pitches and Gomes popped out to short. That’s the sort of inning to which Sabathia is accustomed. Francesco Cervelli (who always seems to play well against the Sox) led off the bottom of the third and flied out to Ellsbury in center. Gardner then reached on a single but Nunez (who fouled off several pitches ) was caught looking. Gardner then moved to second on another wild pitch but Cano popped out to left.

After Bradley struck out swinging, Iglesias reached on a bunt single. Ellsbury then picked up his first hit of the year with a single though the hole in short. Victorino moved the runners into scoring position with a come-backer to the mound. But Pedroia grounded out to short and a promising rally was snuffed out. Youkie doubled leading off the bottom of the fourth and Wells took a 9-pitch walk. Now it was Lester’s time to sweat it out. After Francisco popped out to Saltalamacchia, Ichiro singled up the middle to load the bases and then Nix had another lengthy at-bat before getting caught looking. With the bases loaded, Cervelli stepped to the plate and singled in Youkilis and Wells to put the Yanks’ two runs on the board. The Yanks were really grinding out the at-bats in this inning as Lester’s pitch count soared into the 80’s. Gardner lined out to end the inning but the damage was done.

Napoli and Middlebrooks grounded out before Saltalamacchia doubled to left. Gomes then received a free pass. Bradley walked to load the bases before Iglesias popped out to first. This is about the time when the Yanks take advantage of a Red Sox squander. Nunez struck out swinging to lead off the bottom half of the fifth. Cano then ripped a base hit up the middle and Youkilis flied out to center. But Wells struck out looking and Lester had an easy, low-pitch inning.

Top of the order due in the sixth. Sabathia was finished after five and Girardi turned things over to David Phelps. Ellsbury greeted Phelps by ripping a blast down the first-base line. By the time the dust settled, Ellsbury was standing at third.  Ellsbury was later wiped out at home on a 5-2 fielder’s choice. Napoli flied out to left and another great opportunity to score went by the boards. Lester was also through after five and Koji Uehara took over on the mound. Uehara made quick work of the Yankees in the sixth, retiring the side on only five pitches.

Middlebrooks and Saltalamacchia each walked leading off the seventh. Gomes flied out to right and Milddlebrooks tagged and scooted over to third. Boone Logan then relieved Phelps. Bradley then bounced out to second with Middlebrooks coming in the back door to make it 5-2. So far, it’s been a pretty productive day for Bradley. Iglesias (withhis third hit of the day) moved Saltalamacchia over to third. But Ellsbury popped out to short and that was another squander by the Sox. Andrew Miller stepped in relief of Uehara to open the bottom half of the seventh and he walked Cervelli (never a good sign to walk the #9 batter).  Miller then walked Gardner. Miller came back to whiff Nunez and Cano.  Andrew Bailey then relieved Miller to face Youkilis, and got him on a swinging third strike.

Shawn Kelly relieved Boone Logan to open the eighth and retired the side in order on just 11 pitches. Junichi Tazawa relieved Bailey in the bottom of the eighth. Travis Hafner singled with one out. But Ichiro bounced into a 1-6-3 twin killing and Tazawa had a nice inning’s worth of work.

Joba Chamberlain entered in the ninth and struck out Middlebrooks. Saltalamacchia then walked and Gomes singled him over to second. Bradley walked again to load the bases. After Iglesias struck out, Ellsbury singled in Saltalamacchia and Gomes to make it 7-2. Victorino then drove in Bradley with a base hit to right.  Cody Eppley then relieved Chamberlain and got Pedroia to ground out to short. Joel Hanrahan entered with a six-run lead, which is an unusual place to be for a closer. Not to be deterred, Hanrahan had an easy 1-2-3 inning and the Sox came away with a very happy Opening day.

Red Sox Report for April: Games 2-

Game 2 at NY Yankees (4/3/13): On a chilly night at the Stadium in the Bronx, the Sox looked to pick up where they left off on Monday, having thumped the Yanks, 8-2. In this one, Clay Buchholz started against Hiroki Kuroda. The manager put out the identical lineup that took the field on Opening Day with the exception of Daniel Nava filling in for Johnny Gomes. Everyone in the dugout was bundled up. With one out in the first, Nava lined a single to short left. Pedroia followed with a bloop single to short right. With two outs, Saltalamacchia lined a base hit to right and Nava came across to score the first run of the game. Gardner led off the bottom of the first and bunted down the third base line. Middlebrooks charged to make the play, barehanded the ball and threw out the speedy Gardner by a step. Ichiro walked, Jackie Bradley, Jr. made a fine running catch of Cano’s line drive to left. Youkie lined a solid base hit to left. Hafner flew out to right to end the inning.

Leading off the second, Victorino lined a base hit up the middle that caught a piece of Kuroda’s pitching hand. Bradley was hit by a pitch off the back of his leg. Iglesias bounced into a 2-5 force, erasing the lead runner. Ellsbury walked on four pitches and Nava was hit on the back of the leg to make it 2-0, Sox. Kuroda was lifted at that point as it was apparent that he lost his touch after having been hit on the hand by Victorino’s line drive. Chad Eppley stepped in relief of Kuroda. Pedroia grounded into a textbook 6U3 double play and that was a big squander. Sluggo Wells lined a base hit to left leading off the bottom half of the second but Lyle Overbay grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.  With one out in the third, Saltalamacchia lined a base hit to right and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Victorino then lined a base hit to left and Saltalamacchia easily came across with the Red Sox’ 3^rd run. Victorino stole second. Bradley, Jr. then lined a grounder up the middle to drive in Victorino. It was Bradley Jr.’s first major league hit. Iglesias then lined a double down the line and Bradley, Jr. scooted over to third. At that point Adam Warren relieved Eppley. Ellsbury then lined a base hit up the middle and two more runs came across, 6-0 Sox. In the fourth, Pedroia beat out a grounder to first. With two outs in the bottom half of the fourth, Hafner crushed one high, far and deep, landing in the Yankee bullpen to put New York on the board. Wells followed with a bullet lined down the third base line for a single but Overbay grounded one directly at Napoli and all Nap needed to do was step on the bag. In the bottom of the fifth, Nunez lined a single up the middle leading off. Bradley Jr. then made another nice gliding catch off of Chris Stewart’s long drive to left. Nunez stole second with two outs but Ichiro flied out to center. Iglesias led off the sixth with a single but was erased on Ellsbury’s 4-6 force. Nava then hit a long fly to right that bounced off the wall and he slid into second with a double with Ellsbury taking third. Pedroia grounded out to short with Ellsbury coming in the back door. Mike Napoli then reached on an infield hit but Nava held at third. By the end of the seventh, the vast majority of the small crowd that showed up had already left the Stadium. Andrew Miller entered in relief of Buchholz and promptly hit Ben Francisco in the back with a pitch. With one out, Miller was relieved by Aceves. With two outs, Sluggo Wells struck a three-run homer to left to make it 7-4. It doesn’t matter what uniform Wells wears or how he stinks against every other team. He simply kills Red Sox pitching wherever he goes. In the ninth with two outs, Middlebrooks walked and Victorino reached on an E6, putting both runners in scoring position, but Bradley Jr. grounded out to second and it was on to the bottom of the ninth with Joel Hanrahan on to close. The Sox left 20 LOB. 20!  Nunez singled to right leading off.  Cervelli then bounced into a 5-4 force. Gardner struck out on a 97 mph fastball. Francisco flied out to Victorino in right and the Sox came away with the win. It is the first time that the Sox started out 2-0 in New York since 1935.

Game 3 at NY Yankees (4/4/13): In a much more comfortable night for baseball at the Stadium, Andy Pettitte started for the Yanks against Ryan Dempster, making his Red Sox debut. In the top of the first, the Sox got two base hits from Victorino and Napoli but Pettitte was able to avoid further trouble. Gardner walked leading off the bottom of the first but was gunned down by Ross at second trying to steal. Dempster then retired Cano and Youkilis on ground outs.  Hafner led off the bottom of the second with a base hit up the middle. After Dempster struck out the next two batters, Eduardo Nunez whacked a ground rule double to right with Hafner taking third. Lyle Overbay then singled up the middle, driving in Hafner and Nunez.   Brett Gardner led off the bottom of the third with a homer to right to put the Yanks up 3-0.  After Cano singled, Dempster struck out two more batters.  Tazawa relieved Dempster (5IP, 5H, 3ER, 4BB, 8K) to open the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Nunez singled but was later caught stealing 2-6. With two outs in the seventh, Will Middlebrooks singled and scored the Sox’ first run on Jackie Bradley Jr.’s double to right. Clayton Mortenson relieved Tazawa to open the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Cervelli homered to left center to make it 4-1, Yanks. Mariano Rivera entered in the top of the ninth to close things out but he walked Pedroia leading off. Napoli flied out to right.  Gomes doubled down the third base line and there were now runners in scoring position. Middlebrooks bounced out 3-1 and Pedroia came in to make it 4-2. In a classic moment, the best closer of all time faced the young phenom, Jackie Bradley, Jr. The wizened old vet took the kid to school and struck him out on three pitches to give the Yanks their first win of the year. Andy Pettitte was fantastic for New York on this night. For the Sox, it was on to Toronto for the weekend. 

 

“Onto TO”

Game 4 at Toronto (4/5/13):  After taking two out of three against the Yanks, the Sox moved on to Toronto for a weekend series with the new and improved Blue Jays. The Jays had a whirlwind off season, completely redefining the franchise with a series of great trades. On paper, the Jays should be prohibitive favorites to win the AL East, but they don’t play games on paper, so we’ll have to wait and see how their season unfolds. This game also marks John Farrell’s return to Toronto, where he was the manager of the Jays for the past two seasons. When he came out at the beginning of the game to exchange lineup cards, he was loudly booed.

Felix Doubront started for the Red Sox against Josh Johnson. Ellsbury led off with a walk. Daniel Nava followed with a base hit up the middle.  Pedroia lined out to right. Ellsbury tagged and moved on to third. Johnson blew a 95mph fastball past Napoli for strike three. Saltalamacchia struck out swinging as well and left a runner stranded at third. Jose Reyes led off the bottom of the first with a line drive double to the left-center gap. Doubront then struck out Emilio Bonifacio. Reyes took third on a wild pitch. Melky Cabrera grounded to third but Reyes fooled Middlebrooks badly by faking as if he was heading for home and Cabrera was safe when Middlebrooks dove toward third to catch Reyes but Reyes safely made it back to the bag. Encarancion then banged into a 5-4-3 twin killing and Doubront escaped the inning unscathed. With one out in the second, Shane Victorino singled to left and Jackie Bradley, Jr. followed with a liner base hit to right. Iglesias was hit on the elbow with a pitch to load the bases. Ellsbury then lined a base hit to center and Victorino came in with the game’s first run. But Nava grounded into a 4-6-3 double play and that killed a great chance.With one out in the bottom of the second, Rajai Davis singled to left and Cody Ransom doubled to right. The Jays tied it on a foul to right. Davis tagged and Victorino’s throw was over Saltalamacchia’s head and Doubront backed up the throw. Reyes led off the bottom of the third by slashing a base hit to center. Iglesias made and outstanding pick in the hole and wheeled around and forced Reyes at second. In the fourth, Victorino and Bradley Jr. both reached on errors by the second baseman. Iglesias could no longer continue from the pain after having been hit by a pitch so Pedro Ciriaco stepped in to bat in his place.  Ciriaco laced a base hit to left and Victorino came across with the go ahead run. Dustin Pedroia led off the fifth with a single up the middle. Napoli followed with a long two-run homer to right to make it 4-1, Sox. With two outs, Victorino singled but Bradley Jr. grounded out to second to end the top half of the fifth. Mark DeRosa led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo shot to center to make it 4-2. Macier Izturis followed with a single to center. Reyes then ripped a liner down the third base line. Bradley, Jr. had trouble chasing down and retrieving the ball in the corner, Izturis  scored while Reyes was thrown out trying to advance to third. On the play, Reyes looked as if he was tagged out in a very sensitive area and limped off the field. Bonafacio then singled but Doubront struck out Encarnacion. However, the damage was done as the Jays pulled to within a run. Ciriaco led off the sixth with a long double that one-hopped the wall in right-center. But Ellsbury struck out swinging and Nava hit an infield pop. Pedroia received a free pass and Johnson took his chances with Napoli, who went to a full count before going down looking at a perfect 12-to-6 curveball. The manager sent Doubront out for the bottom of the sixth despite having labored in the fifth. JP Arencibia led off with a double to the gap in left-center. Again, Bradley had trouble picking up the ball and was crawling on all fours to pick it up. That was all for Dourbront. The manager knew that he labored to get through the fifth yet sent him out for the sixth with a well-rested bullpen. If Arencibia scores, that one’s on the manager. Koji Uehara entered in relief of Doubront and struck out Davis and Ransom. Adam Lind stepped in to bat for DeRosa and he hit a long fly to center that Ellsbury corralled just shy of the warning track. Uehara returned to the dugout high-fiving everyone like a high school kid. There’s nothing like a little team spirit to liven up things. Brett Cecil entered in relief to open the seventh and walked Saltalamacchia. Middlebrooks then hit a bomb to center that bounced at the 400 foot marker and he easily trotted in for a double. Victorino struck out swinging at a pitch in the dirt. Bradley, Jr. then struck out swinging. Ciriaco then struck out as well and that was another big squander for the Red Sox. Junichi Tazawa entered in relief of Uehara to open the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Reyes hit a long solo homer to right to tie the game 4-4. That was Reyes’ fourth hit of the night. It looks as if there’s a new Red Sox Killah in the making…Melky Cabrera (the steroid cheater) then ripped a triple to the gap in right center. Cecil returned to the mound for the top of the eighth. After Ellsbury struck out swinging, Esmil Rogers relieved Cecil. Jonny Gomes was sent up to pinch hit for Nava and walked. Pedroia followed with a long double to center, narrowly missing a home run. So once more, the Sox had two runners in scoring position with only one out. Napoli stepped up to the plate and he grounded out to third with Gomes coming in the back door with the go-ahead run. Andrew Bailey took to the hill for the bottom of the eighth and he blew away Arencibia swinging. Rajai Davis then doubled to the gap in left-center. Bailey then walked Ransom. But Bailey came back to get the next two batters to fly out to center to preserve the lead. Jeremy Jeffress relieved Esmil Rogers to open the ninth and Will Middlebrooks greeted him with a long bomb to center that cleared the wall by plenty.  With one out, Bradley Jr. reached on a walk. He’s been on base three times already tonight. Bradley then stole second and Ciriaco reached on another error by Bonifacio. Bradley was erased at the plate when Ellsbury ground out to Bonifacio, who threw out Bradley, 4-2 on the play. Ellsbury and Ciriaco then executed a double steal. Gomes walked to load the bases. Pedroia flied out to left and that was another big squander for the Red Sox. That was an astounding 22 LOB for the Sox. With a 6-4 lead, Joel Hanrahan entered in relief of Bailey. Reyes fouled out to third. Bonifacio struck out and then Cabrera walked. Hanrahan then retired Encarnacion on an easy grounder to second and the Sox came away with their third win of the season. That was a toughie, but the Sox narrowly prevailed.   

Game 5 at Toronto (4/6/13):    In the middle game of the series, the Sox lost 5-0 but the bigger story was John Lackey’s arm injury. Lackey made his first start since recovering from last year’s “Tommy John Surgery” and had a terrific spring. J.A. Happ started for the Jays. Jacoby Ellsbury led off the ballgame with an opposite field double but that was all for base hits until Pedroia’s single in the ninth. The game stayed scoreless until the fourth when Lind singled and came across on J.P. Arencibia’s long homer to right center. Up to that point, Lackey was very effective. Then, with one out in the Jays’ fifth, Lackey appeared to have blown out his arm. It was very ugly, similar to what happened to Frank Viola in 1994. It was a scary scene. Alfredo Aceves entered in relief and got through the fifth. But in the sixth, Lind and DeRosa walked and everyone came around to score on Cody Rasmus’ three-run homer. That was all the scoring as Happ had a dominant outing and the Sox’ batters were flat all day. After the game it was announced that Lackey did not suffer an elbow injury but what was termed a “bicep strain”. He was scheduled for an MRI on Sunday to ascertain the extent of his injury and whether he needed to go on the DL.  

Game 6 at Toronto (4/7/13):     On Sunday afternoon, the roof was closed at f/k/a SkyDome but that didn’t stop the Red Sox hitters from tearing the roof of that sucker as the Sox exploded for six homers en route to a 13-0 smashing of the Jays. Jon Lester started against last year’s NL Cy Young Winner, R.A. Dickey and the Sox torched Dickey directly from the first batter. Ellsbury led off with a double to center and moved to third on Shane Victorino’s single up the middle. Pedroia then singled in Ellsbury. Mike Napoli then whacked a double to left that scored Victorino and Pedroia. Will Middlebrooks then hit his first homer of the game, a two-run shot and before the patrons had a chance to take their seats it was already 5-0 Sox. Daniel Nava made it 6-0 in the third when he hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Middlebrooks, who doubled with one out. In the fourth, Jose Iglesias doubled to left and scored on Ellsbury’s base hit to left to make it 7-0. Middlebrooks homered to left to open the fifth to make it 8-0 and safely put this game out of reach. Dickey was lifted with two outs in the fifth on a day in which the knuckleball failed to dance. It was flat all day and the Sox’ hitters had a field day. Dave Bush relieved Dickey and pitched well until Middlebrooks tagged him for his third homer of the game to left center and Nava went back-to-back to make it 10-0. With Bush still pitching in the eighth, Ellsbury lined a bullet into the upper deck in right to make it 11-0. With one out, Pedroia walked and came around to score on Napoli’s two-run bomb to left to make it an even baker’s dozen. Middlebrooks then nearly hit his fourth homer of the game, a long fly to left that came down on the warning track. Lester was finished after seven and turned things over to Clayton Mortensen, who shut down the Jays’ hitters over the final two innings with only two hits allowed. All in all, things don’t get much better than today’s performance if you’re a Red Sox fan. Now, the team returns home to all of the color and noise of Opening Day at Fenway, a day for which all New Englanders await with high hopes and the promise of spring.      

It’s Opening Day In Boston!

On a picture perfect day for baseball in New England, the Red Sox finally returned to Fenway to open the home portion of the regular season schedule against the Baltimore Orioles. The scheduled starters were Clay Buchholz (1-0, 1.29) against Wei-Yin Chen (0-0, 3.18). In relevant part, Jackie Bradley Jr. (currently batting .143), took a seat for this one as Daniel Nava started in left field for the opener. Chen has been very good against the Sox in three prior appearances.

In the top of the first, Nate McLouth singled leading off. Manny Machado fouled out to first. Nick Markakis flied out to center and Adam Jones flied out to right. Ellsbury led off the bottom of the first by popping out to Ryan Flaherty at second. Machado made a great leaping catch of Victorino’s line drive down the third base line. Pedroia hit a comebacker to the mound and Chen retired the side in order.

Chris Davis, who has had the hottest start of any batter in the American League (.556 BA, 17 RBI), walked leading off the second. Matt Wieters stung a long drive to right that died on the warning track. Buchholz struck out J.J. Hardy looking and Flaherty swinging to end the inning. After Napoli flied out to center leading off the bottom half of the second, Middlebrooks flied out to right. Nava then walked. Jonny Gomes then had a 10-pitch at bat before popping out to short right.

The O’s DH, Steve Pearce, grounded out to third leading off the third. Buchholz then struck out McLouth looking on a perfectly unhittable pitch. Machado then singled to center and Markakis reached on a base hit that bounced past Middlebrooks’ diving attempt. Buchholz came back to nail Jones on a beautiful curveball called third strike. David Ross led off the bottom of the third and flew out to left. Jose Iglesias also flied out to left. McLouth made all three putouts as Ellsbury flied out to left as well. Chen got through that inning with only eight pitches.

It was on to the fourth inning where Davis took Buchholz to a full count before walking again. Ed Hickox had a tight strike zone. Wieters then reached on a 4-6 force and Hardy bounced into a 4-6-3 twin killing. Buchholz needed an efficient inning as he was up to 61 pitches. Victorino picked up the Sox’ first hit as he singled to left leading off the bottom of the fourth but was caught stealing by Wieters, who has a gun for an arm. Pedroia walked. Napoli then bounced into a double play of his own and that did it for the fourth.

Flaherty grounded out 3-1 to open the top of the fifth. Pearce struck out looking on a curveball that dropped in perfectly. McLouth then worked a walk. Machado flied out to right. Chen froze Middlebrooks looking at a third strike. It was only Chen’s first K of the game. Nava banged a single into the hole at short. Gomes struck out on a foul tip and then Ross grounded out to second.

Markakis grounded out 3-1 to open the sixth. Adam Jones then flied out to right. Davis struck out looking to end the inning. Iglesias grounded out to short to open the bottom half of the sixth. Ellsbury and Victorino then hit long fly ball outs to center.

Matt Wieters led off the seventh with a walk. Hardy then struck out looking. Flaherty bounced to second as Pedroia bobbled the ball and could not turn the double play. Pearce struck out swinging to end that threat. In the bottom half of the seventh, Pedroia banged one up the middle and Hardy made a nice dive to get the ball. But Pedroia’s speed was too much and he beat out the throw. Napoli then worked a long count and hit a wall-ball double. Pedroia then scooted around the bases and put on the brakes at third. Middlebrooks struck out looking having been completely fooled on a change-up. Daniel Nava then struck a three-run blast into the Monster Seats. It was a fastball, middle in, and Nava crushed it. That was all for Chen, who pitched quite well up to that point. Tommy Hunter relieved Chen, and Hunter retired the pinch hitting Mike Carp 5-3.  Ross struck out swinging to close the inning.

Andrew Bailey entered in relief of Buchholz to open the eighth. Bailey faced the top of the Orioles’ order. McLouth struck out looking. The home plate ump’s strike zone was inconsistent as Bailey’s previous pitch was in the same place yet called a ball. Machado struck out swinging. Markakis lined out to center as Bailey had a great inning’s worth of work. In the bottom half of the eighth, Iglesias was nipped at first on a grounder to short. Ellsbury grounded out to second and Victorino hit a long fly to right that sent Markakis to the warning track.

Joel Hanrahan entered in the ninth and delivered a fastball that Adam Jones deposited into the first row of the Monster Seats. Davis grounded out 3-1 and Wieters struck out on a 99mph fastball. Hardy then doubled off the wall. Flaherty popped out to third to end it and it was very nice to hear “Dirty Water” once more.

It’s Opening Day In Boston!

On a picture perfect day for baseball in New England, the Red Sox finally returned to Fenway to open the home portion of the regular season schedule against the Baltimore Orioles. The scheduled starters were Clay Buchholz (1-0, 1.29) against Wei-Yin Chen (0-0, 3.18). In relevant part, Jackie Bradley Jr. (currently batting .143), took a seat for this one as Daniel Nava started in left field for the opener. Chen has been very good against the Sox in three prior appearances.

In the top of the first, Nate McLouth singled leading off. Manny Machado fouled out to first. Nick Markakis flied out to center and Adam Jones flied out to right. Ellsbury led off the bottom of the first by popping out to Ryan Flaherty at second. Machado made a great leaping catch of Victorino’s line drive down the third base line. Pedroia hit a comebacker to the mound and Chen retired the side in order.

Chris Davis, who has had the hottest start of any batter in the American League (.556 BA, 17 RBI), walked leading off the second. Matt Wieters stung a long drive to right that died on the warning track. Buchholz struck out J.J. Hardy looking and Flaherty swinging to end the inning. After Napoli flied out to center leading off the bottom half of the second, Middlebrooks flied out to right. Nava then walked. Jonny Gomes then had a 10-pitch at bat before popping out to short right.

The O’s DH, Steve Pearce, grounded out to third leading off the third. Buchholz then struck out McLouth looking on a perfectly unhittable pitch. Machado then singled to center and Markakis reached on a base hit that bounced past Middlebrooks’ diving attempt. Buchholz came back to nail Jones on a beautiful curveball called third strike. David Ross led off the bottom of the third and flew out to left. Jose Iglesias also flied out to left. McLouth made all three putouts as Ellsbury flied out to left as well. Chen got through that inning with only eight pitches.

It was on to the fourth inning where Davis took Buchholz to a full count before walking again. Ed Hickox had a tight strike zone. Wieters then reached on a 4-6 force and Hardy bounced into a 4-6-3 twin killing. Buchholz needed an efficient inning as he was up to 61 pitches. Victorino picked up the Sox’ first hit as he singled to left leading off the bottom of the fourth but was caught stealing by Wieters, who has a gun for an arm. Pedroia walked. Napoli then bounced into a double play of his own and that did it for the fourth.

Flaherty grounded out 3-1 to open the top of the fifth. Pearce struck out looking on a curveball that dropped in perfectly. McLouth then worked a walk. Machado flied out to right. Chen froze Middlebrooks looking at a third strike. It was only Chen’s first K of the game. Nava banged a single into the hole at short. Gomes struck out on a foul tip and then Ross grounded out to second.

Markakis grounded out 3-1 to open the sixth. Adam Jones then flied out to right. Davis struck out looking to end the inning. Iglesias grounded out to short to open the bottom half of the sixth. Ellsbury and Victorino then hit long fly ball outs to center.

Matt Wieters led off the seventh with a walk. Hardy then struck out looking. Flaherty bounced to second as Pedroia bobbled the ball and could not turn the double play. Pearce struck out swinging to end that threat. In the bottom half of the seventh, Pedroia banged one up the middle and Hardy made a nice dive to get the ball. But Pedroia’s speed was too much and he beat out the throw. Napoli then worked a long count and hit a wall-ball double. Pedroia then scooted around the bases and put on the brakes at third. Middlebrooks struck out looking having been completely fooled on a change-up. Daniel Nava then struck a three-run blast into the Monster Seats. It was a fastball, middle in, and Nava crushed it. That was all for Chen, who pitched quite well up to that point. Tommy Hunter relieved Chen, and Hunter retired the pinch hitting Mike Carp 5-3.  Ross struck out swinging to close the inning.

Andrew Bailey entered in relief of Buchholz to open the eighth. Bailey faced the top of the Orioles’ order. McLouth struck out looking. The home plate ump’s strike zone was inconsistent as Bailey’s previous pitch was in the same place yet called a ball. Machado struck out swinging. Markakis lined out to center as Bailey had a great inning’s worth of work. In the bottom half of the eighth, Iglesias was nipped at first on a grounder to short. Ellsbury grounded out to second and Victorino hit a long fly to right that sent Markakis to the warning track.

Joel Hanrahan entered in the ninth and delivered a fastball that Adam Jones deposited into the first row of the Monster Seats. Davis grounded out 3-1 and Wieters struck out on a 99mph fastball. Hardy then doubled off the wall. Flaherty popped out to third to end it and it was very nice to hear “Dirty Water” once more.

Game 8 v. Baltimore (4/10/13): After an off day on Tuesday, the team announced that Stephen Drew’s rehab assignment was finished and he returned to the lineup. The corresponding move was to option Jose Iglesias to Pawtucket. John Lackey was also placed on the 15-day DL and Alex Wilson was recalled from Pawtucket.

This was the game in which it was announced that the (phony) “sellout streak” came to an end. Ryan Dempster (0-1, 5.40 ERA) started against lefthander Jake Arrieta (0-0, 9.00). In the top of the first, Nate McLouth walked and Manny Machado reached on an error by Ellsbury. Markakis grounded out to first and McLouth came in the back door to make it 1-0, O’s. The Sox tied it with two outs in the second when Nava walked and scored on Saltalamacchia’s double. The Sox put a pair on the board when Jackie Bradley, Jr. walked leading off and scored on Ellsbury’s triple to right. Ellsbury then scored on Shane Victorino’s sacrifice fly to left. Markakis homered to right leading off the fourth. Adam Jones followed with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. With one out, Wieters singled to left and Jones came in with the tying run. About that time, heavy rains hit the Fenway area, but play continued. However, at the end of five, the crew chief called for the tarp. After a rain delay of about 45 minutes, Koji Uehara entered in relief of Dempster and retired the side in order in the sixth. Tommy Hunter relieved Arrieta in the bottom of the sixth and retired the first two batters. Nava and Saltalamacchia then hit back-to-back homers to give the Sox a 5-3 lead. Junichi Tazawa then retired the O’s in order in the seventh while Andrew Bailey struck out two in the eighth. Joel Hanrahan entered in the top of the ninth and Chris Davis led off with a long homer to seventh. Hanrahan then struck out Wieters, then Hardy fouled out to third. Ryan Flaherty then singled to left to keep the inning alive. Alexei Casilla ran for Flaherty and stole second. Nolan Reimold and McLouth both walked to load the bases. With Machado batting, Hanrahan threw a wild pitch and Casilla scored. Hanrahan then served up a meatball to Machado and Machado gonged it into the Monster Seats to give the O’s an 8-5 lead. Hanrahan was then yanked at that point after having seized defeat from the jaws of victory. Jim Johnson entered to close things out for the O’s and retired the side in order. That was the first real disappointing loss the Sox encountered this year.

Game 9 v. Baltimore (4/11/13): After last night’s meltdown the Sox returned on Thursday night by sending Alfredo Aceves (0-0, 10.38) to the hill against Chris Tillman (0-0, 12.27). With one out in the first, Manny Machado doubled to right but was cut down trying to stretch the hit into a triple. Chris Davis led off the second by homering to center. Stephen Drew walked leading off the third. With two outs, Victorino singled and then Pedroia knocked in Drew with the run tying with a base hit up the middle. Napoli then drove in Victorino with the go-ahead run on a single to left. Davis walked with one out in the fourth and moved to third on JJ Hardy’s single. Chris Dickerson walked to load the bases. But Aceves was able to get out of the jam by striking out Alexei Casilla looking. The O’s tied the score in the fifth when Machado reached on a bunt single, moved to second on a ground out and scored on Adam Jones’ base hit. Clayton Mortensen relieved Aceves to open the sixth. Aceves had a very good night’s work. Napoli led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and moved to second on Nava’s one out single. Brian Matusz then relieved Tillman and struck out Saltalamacchia and Stephen Drew. After Machado singled with two outs in the seventh, Andrew Miller relieved Mortensen. Miller walked Markakis and was relieved by Koji Uehara. Adam Jones lined a double to left, scoring Machado with the go-ahead run. Davis received a free pass to load the bases. Wieters then flew out to left to end the inning. Pedro Strop relieved Matusz and retired the first two hitters before Victorino beat out an infield single. Pedroia then bounced into a 4-6 force to end the inning. Junichi Tazawa relieved Uehara to open the eighth. Hardy struck out looking. Dickerson followed with a base hit to center. Casilla grounded into a 4-6 force. Alex Wilson made his ML debut in the top of the ninth and struggled a little before getting through the inning unscathed. Jim Johnson entered in the bottom of the ninth to close things out. Saltalamacchia was called out on a pitch that was clearly out of the strike zone. Drew got his first Red Sox hit as he lined a single to center. Gomes struck out swinging and Ellsbury lined out to left and the O’s took the series.  

Game 10 v. Tampa Bay (4/13/13):                  Friday night’s series opener was rained out as bitter cold combined with periodic rains to make for a miserable night. Saturday afternoon’s game was every bit the pitchers’ duel as David Price, the ace of the Rays’ staff, started against Jon Lester. Over the first two innings, both pitchers had their ‘A’ games going as there was no offense about which to speak. In the top of the third, the Rays went on top as Desmond Jennings singled to left and scored on Sean Rodriguez’ double down the line in left. On the play, Nava had a difficult time digging the ball out of the corner which enabled Jennings to score. The Rays held the lead until there were two out in the fifth when David Ross hit his first Red Sox homer when he jerked a fastball into the Monster Seats. Price was finished after six and had a great day, allowing only that one run while striking out eight. Lester pitched seven innings before being relieved by Andrew Bailey (who was dominant in the eighth). In the ninth, Joel Hanrahan came on with the scored tied 1-1. He walked the first two batters he faced and this time the manager did not hesitate to pull the plug. Koji Uehara entered in relief and retired the next three batters to bail out Hanrahan. The game went into extra innings as Junichi Tazawa surrendered a double to Jose Molina before retiring the next three batters. In the bottom of the tenth, with Brandon Gomes pitching, Ellsbury singled with one out. Ellsbury then stole second and moved to third on Escobar’s fielding error. Shane Victorino then singled to left and the Sox came away with their first walkoff win of the season. Both starters were immense, but the difference came down to Ellsbury’s speed on the basepaths and a timely hit by Victorino.

The Sox and Rays wound up their abbreviated series on thye traditional Monday morning Patriots’ Day game that starts at 11:05.

Game 11 v. Tampa Bay (4/15/13): Ryan Dempster, 0-1, 3.38 started against Jeremy Hellickson, 0-1, 6.35.  After Dempster easily retired the side in order in the first, Ellsbury tripled into the triangle leading off the bottom half of the first. Victorino then grounded out to second and Ellsbury came in the back door to make it 1-0. Longoria led off the top of the fourth by homering into the Monster Seats. He’s been strangely quiet with the bat so far, so it was just a matter of time before he broke out. Saltalamacchia led off the bottom of the fifth by whacking a bomb into the bullpen to put the Sox back out in front. Kelly Johnson singled with one out in the sixth, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Dempster then walked Ben Zobrist. Longoria then grounded out to short and Dempster was able to get out of the jam. Dempster was finished after seven and gave the Sox another outstanding effort. He struck out 10, while only allowing two hits and two walks. Koji Uehara came on in the eighth and had another 1-2-3 inning. Jake McGee entered in relief of Hellickson, who also pitched a whale of a ball game. Andrew Bailey entered in the top of the ninth and allowed a single to Desmond Jennings, who stole second and scored the tying run on Zobrist’s base hit to left.  Bailey then struck out Longoria swinging. Joyce Struck out looking and Roberts popped out. Joel Peralta relieved McGee in the bottom of the ninth and walked Pedroia with one out. After a lengthy at-bat, Mike Napoli followed with a long bomb off the wall  that scored Pedroia with the winning run and, once again, the Sox provided the Fenway Faithful with another walkoff win.

Game 13 at Cleveland (4/16/13):         All of the good feelings from yesterday’s second walkoff win in three days were wiped out in the blink of an eye when a despicable, evil hand touched Boston at 2:50 p.m: Three dead, hundreds wounded. With heavy hearts, the games go on. The Sox opened a three game set in Cleveland. Prior to the game, Joel Hanrahan was placed on the DL with a hamstring injury. The game was a little late starting because it was cold and rainy and the park was nearly empty. It was like the old days at the Mistake By The Lake.  The players on both teams all wore #42 in honor of Jackie.  Ubaldo Jiminez started against Felix Doubront. Jiminez breezed through the first on three ground ball outs. Dubront similarly retired the side in order in the bottom of the first. Napoli ripped a double to the gap in right center leading off the second. Jiminez then walked Middlebrooks. With one out, Gomes walked. David Ross also walked and Napoli came across with the Sox’ first run. Jackie Bradley, Jr. hit a sacrifice fly to right and Middlebrooks scored to make it 2-0. Ellsbury followed with a base hit up the middle and Gomes scored. Victorino walked. Pedroia walked, Ross scored and Jiminez was pulled by Francona. Cody Allen relieved Jiminez. Napoli then hit a long blast to center that bounced off the top of the wall and cleared the bases. The Sox hung a big ugly crooked number up on the board for Doubront to work with. Swisher lined a base hit to center leading off the bottom of the second. With one out, Michael Brantley lined a single to right and Swisher scooted to third. Mike Aviles then hit a sacrifice fly to right and Swisher scored. With one out in the third, Gomes and Ross both singled, but Allen was able to get out of the jam. In the bottom of the fifth, the Tribe loaded the bases when Raburn singled, Stubbs walked and Asdrubal Cabrera singled up the middle. With two outs, Raburn scored on a (very) wild pitch and then Swisher walked to re-load the bases. But Doubront was able to get out of further difficulty by inducing a pop out. Clayton Mortensen entered in relief in the bottom of the sixth. Brantley led off with a single to right. But that was the end of any threats by the Tribe. Mortensen and Alex Wilson each pitched two innings of one hit ball and the Sox came away with a neat and clean 7-2 victory.  

Game 14 at Cleveland (4/17/13): One day further removed from the bombings and the outpouring of support from all the major league cities and fans has been incredibly impressive. In the middle game of the series, Alfredo Aceves started for the Sox against former Sox pitcher Justin Masterson. In the top of the first, the Sox got to Masterton for three runs. Ellsbury singled leading off and Victorino was hit by a pitch. Pedroia singled to load the bases. Napoli doubled to left, scoring Ellsbury and Victorino. Nava then singled in Pedroia to make it 3-0. The Sox loaded the bases in the second but could not score. Things stayed 3-0 until the top of the fifth with two outs when Stephen Drew walked and scored on Mike Carp’s triple. Masterton was finished after five innings and turned things over to Corey Kluber. Victorino singled leading off, Napoli doubled to left and Nava singled in Victorino. Heading into the bottom of the sixth, Aceves had already thrown a ton of pitches and was tiring. Santana walked and scored on Swisher’s long homer to center. Giambi followed with a homer to right. After Reynolds doubled, Aceves was relieved by Junichi Tazawa, who retired the next three batters. In the Sox’ eighth, Ellsbury singled leading off, moved to second on a wild pitch. Victorino then reached on Smith’s throwing error and Ellsbury came across to make it 6-3. Koji Uehara struck out two batters in the bottom of the eighth. Andrew Bailey entered in the bottom of the ninth and shut the door for another Red Sox win.

Game 15 at Cleveland (4/18/13): In the series finale, Zach McAllister started for Cleveland against Jon Lester. The stands were practically empty on an 81 degree evening. McAllister struck out two in the top of the first. Napoli tripled off the wall in right; the rightfielder was completely fooled as the wind carried the ball over Raburn’s head.  Nava singled in Napoli with the first run of the ballgame. Mark Reynolds doubled down the line in left leading off the bottom half of the second. Reynolds tagged and moved to third on Ryan Raburn’s long fly to right. Aviles grounded out to third and Reynolds came in the back door to tie the score. With two outs in the fourth, Saltalamacchia drilled a long homer to right to put the Sox ahead, 2-1. In the fifth, Ellsbury doubled to left, moved to third on Victorino’s single and scored on Pedroia’s base hit to right. Mike Aviles doubled off the wall in left leading off the bottom of the fifth and later scored on a ground out to make it 3-2, Sox. The Sox hung a crooked number on the board in the seventh as Ellsbury singled leading off. After a pitching change, Victorino reached on Phelps’ fielding error. With one out, Napoli singled to right scoring Ellsbury. Nava then hit a sacrifice fly to center and Victorino scored. Mike Carp, pinch hitting, continued his torrid hitting by singling Napoli, who just made it under the tag at home plate. Lester was through after seven (7IP, 4H, 2ER, 1BB, 5K). Andrew Miller pitched the eighth, got scuffed around a little before turning things over to Uehara. Carlos Santana doubled off the wall and Brantley scored. Andrew Bailey entered in the bottom of the ninth and quickly retired the side in order and the Sox swept the series.