Sox fight back to .500

When I last posted, the Red Sox had just finished a five-game losing streak, which included a 15-9 come-from-behind loss against hated New York. On the Monday after their big loss, they proceeded on to Minnesota and the Twins. In the first game, they edged the Twins 6-5 thanks to Cody Ross nailing two home runs for the Sox. Daniel Bard actually earned his first win of the season, but it was in relief, as he sacrificed a start to pitch some relief innings. Their next game was an easy laugher, as the Sox never trailed and Josh Beckett was strong, with Boston blowing out Minnesota 11-2. I was relieved that they were able to finally blow out a team, and not just give up runs. For the finale of the three-game series, Clay Buchholz started, and while he was shaky, the Sox still pulled out of Minnesota with a 7-6 win and Alfredo Aceves pulled out with his 4th save of the season. Next up: Chicago and the White Sox.

The Sox-Sox matchup began with the BoSox at 7-10 and the ChiSox at 10-8, and both Sox were ready for game 1. This featured Felix Doubront facing Philip Humber, who was carrying a 29-straight-men retired streak, including his perfect game. Unfortunately, this streak ended fast, as he walked the first batter of the game and proceeded to give up nine runs, while Doubront was strong in a 10-3 blowout. The Sox proved that they could hold their own against above .500 teams and their bats gave the bullpen another much-needed rest. Then came the second game of the series, with Daniel Bard against John Danks. Bard threw 7, giving up two unearned runs, and Boston clobbered Danks, finishing with their second consecutive 10-3 win. However, yesterday's game proved to be more pitcher-friendly.

The third game of a four-game set in Chicago featured 0-2 Jon Lester for Boston against Jake Peavy, who had a perfect 3-0 record on the season. Both pitchers were strong starting out, but Peavy made just a couple slips in the fourth. After Ryan Sweeney doubled, Adrian Gonzalez drove him in with a base hit for a 1-0 lead. The game would stay that way, with no real scoring chances for either side. Lester pitched seven innings, scattering five hits and striking out seven, while Peavy went the distance, finishing with 4 hits allowed and 7 K's. I was quite surprised by this win, as this was the first really excellent pitching performance by Boston. Alfredo Aceves earned his 5th save of the season in the ninth inning. Today, the finale of the series is at 2:05 EST, with Josh Beckett taking on Gavin Floyd.

Worth noting
David Ortiz and Ryan Sweeney are 1-2 in the AL batting race, with .403 and .391, respectively.
Jonathan Papelbon is tied for the NL lead with 7 saves for Philadelphia.
The BoSox are now at 10-10, their first time at .500 this season.

This Week in Baseball

Things have looked better for the Red Sox. After winning three straight games against Tampa Bay, they lost the finale of the four-game series versus the Rays. The Texas Rangers came into town next, and there the Sox were really humiliated. Boston lost the first game of a two-game set 18-3, their worst loss in years. The next game they also lost, sending them spiraling downhill. The Yankees rode into Fenway for a weekend set on Friday, April 20th, which was the day the Sox celebrated the 100th anniversary of their beloved park. The Sox lost 6-2, with Clay Buchholz falling to 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA. On Saturday, the Yankees were able to erase a 9-0 Red Sox lead and beat Alfredo Aceves 15-9 in a terrible and demoralizing loss for Boston. Luckily, the game yesterday was postponed due to the pouring rain in Boston, but the Sox leave on the road for Minnesota at 4-10, the third-worst record in baseball. They play tonight at 8:10, with Jon Lester facing Jason Marquis, the Sox looking to snap their five-game losing streak.

Elsewhere in the majors, the White Sox got a lucky break from an amazing pitching performance Saturday night. Philip Humber threw just 94 pitches and in doing so threw the 21st perfect game in major league history in a 4-0 Chicago win. In the AL West, the Rangers finished off their 9-game road trip at 8-1 and are currently at 13-3, leading the West by 5.5 games over the Oakland A's. Their dominance continues to astound me, as up until several years ago the Angels were the only dominant force in the West. Meanwhile in the NL East, the Washington Nationals are the dominant team, much to the surprise of everyone. Last year's top draft pick, Stephen Strasburg, leads the NL with 25 strikeouts and is fourth in ERA with a 1.08 mark, while Ross Detweiler is second with a 0.56 ERA. In the Central, St. Louis is cruising at the top thanks to Kyle Lohse and Lance Lynn. The pitchers each have three wins, while Lohse has a 0.99 ERA and 0.66 WHIP to put him solidly near the top. Finally, the NL West is being led by the Los Angeles Dodgers thanks to the dynamic combo of Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp. Kemp is leading the majors in batting average, runs scored, home runs, and RBI, while his RBI total of 22 is threatened only by the 21 of Ethier. So that batting combo should be able to defeat most NL foes.

Worth noting

In Humber's perfect game, there were no exceptional defensive plays: just routine plays and a lot of popups.

The Dodgers are undefeated at home, with a 6-0 mark to go along with their 6-4 road record.

Red-Hot Ortiz tames Rays

In the third game of the Red Sox-Rays matchup at Fenway, Matt Moore got the start for the Rays against Felix Doubront for the BoSox. Both pitchers pitched a solid first inning, but then in the bottom of the second inning Kevin Youkilis hit a soft single, David Ortiz followed it with a blistering double, then Cody Ross nailed his second homer in as many nights over the Green Monster and out of Fenway for a 3-0 Boston lead. Then in the fourth, Kelly Shoppach nailed a shot to left field that bounced off the wall and sent Ortiz home again, though Cody Ross was out at home. Even with the 4-0 lead, I couldn't shake the feeling that the Rays were going to come back. Well, they did. In the top of the fifth, Carlos Pena crushed a two-run double, then Evan Longoria hit one just over Ross's head that bounced over the bullpen for a ground-rule RBI double. That made it 4-3, and in the sixth Luke Scott led off with a long home run of his own for a tie game. That was enough for Bobby V, who pulled Doubront and put in Scott Atchison. After a single, a walk, and a strikeout, Atchison was gone and Vincente Padilla was in. Padilla shut down the Rays easily in the remainder of the inning with a 4-4 score still standing.

In the bottom of the sixth, Big Papi struck again with a long RBI double, sending in Kevin Youkilis from first base. That made it 5-4 and gave the Sox the lead back. That was great, because I thought that the bullpen could hold the lead. And Padilla did set down the Rays easily in the seventh, and was given some good breathing room when Mike Aviles led off the Sox half with a homer straight out to center field. After an Adrian Gonzalez single in the inning, Moore was finally through, leaving with six runs charged to him. Franklin Morales and Alfredo Aceves each pitched a scoreless inning in relief for Boston, giving Aceves his second save and the Sox a 6-4 win at Fenway. Today the two teams square off in the fourth and final game of the series with a 11:05 A.M. start on Patriots Day.

Worth Noting:
Ortiz is 9-13 with 1 home run, four doubles, and 8 runs batted in so far in this series.

Ortiz Leads Sox to Win

Before I get started on this post, I would like to give some background information this year. As many of you are no doubt aware, Bobby Valentine was hired as the new Red Sox manager over the winter, and Ryan Sweeney and Andrew Bailey were both acquired from the Oakland A's. As well, Cody Ross joined the team, and David Ortiz agreed to one more year of salary arbitration for the Sox. As of right now, the starting pitching for Boston is as follows: Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, Felix Doubront, and Daniel Bard. Meanwhile on the batting front, Sweeney is putting up a .400 average, while Dustin Pedroia has 2 homers and Ortiz is smoking with a .406 average and 9 RBIs. Unfortunately for the Red Sox, Bailey hurt his hand in spring training, leaving Boston without a closer, and so Alfredo Aceves has taken that spot for now. Also, two nights ago Jacoby Ellsbury hurt his shoulder sliding into second base, but the BoSox took that game.

Yesterday's game was a late afternoon affair, and the Tampa Bay Rays did not need much time to get down to business. The Rays scored four in the first, three coming on a Luke Scott blast, and added another in the third. However, Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove a two-run homer in the second, bringing the Sox a little bit closer, then in the third Pedroia lifted his second homer of the season to make the game 5-3 Rays. After these two homers, it looked like there was a good chance the Sox could come back. Fast forward to the bottom of the fifth inning, where Big Papi drills a shot that keeps going and makes it over the wall for a two-run homer and a tie ballgame. Meanwhile, Buchholz has settled down, finishing the seventh inning with five strikeouts to go with the five runs allowed. In the bottom of the inning, Mike Aviles lead off against Burke Badenhop, and he led off with a long home run for Boston to break the tie. After that, Cody Ross came up with the bases loaded and drilled a two-run double for a three-run lead.

On to the eighth, where Franklin Morales comes in and sets down the Tampa Bay lineup in order. If only Dane De La Rosa could do that. But instead, Papi comes up with the bases loaded and lines one off the big green wall in left for a bases-clearing double and five RBI on the day for Ortiz. Next batter, Cody Ross, who goes yard for a two-run homer and a 13-5 lead. When I saw this, I knew the Sox were going to finish strong, and they did not disappoint, with Aceves shutting down the Rays in the ninth for Boston's second straight win and third overall. Ortiz and Ross combined for 9 RBI on six hits, with Ortiz having a four-hit day. I think it is great that Ortiz can still produce the way he has in the past, considering how long he has played.

Trivia
Despite Clay Buchholz's win in this game, he has a 9.82 ERA this season.