Oakland Outplays Boston

BOSTON: 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 2 6 0

OAKLAND: 0 5 0 0 1 0 1 1 x - 8 12 0

Northern California is not starting out to be an improvement from Southern California for the Boston Red Sox. They played the first game of a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics tonight. And the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum was not welcoming to the Red Sox. Boston is having its worst start in over a decade. Both pitching and hitting have to come together on the same track for the Red Sox. When that happens, Boston will truly be contending for the postseason (or winning some games in a row, at least).

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Jon Lester, Losing Pitcher: Jon Lester (2)
OAKLAND: Starting Pitcher: Dallas Braden, Winning Pitcher: Dallas Braden

BOSTON: Homerun: Kevin Youkilis (2)

OAKLAND: Homeruns: Jack Cust, Normar Garciaparra

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RED SOX: Wins: 2, Losses: 5 AL East Standings: Toronto, Baltimore, Tampa Bay, New York, Boston

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Next game: Tuesday 14 April 2009, 7:05 p.m. PT, Oakland Athletics, Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Daisuke Matsuzaka

Angels Retake Red Sox

BOSTON: 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 - 4 9 0

LA ANGELS: 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 1 x - 5 10 2

Confrontation was the theme of the day in Angel Stadium as the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels met in the rubber match of their first three-game series. In the first inning when Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett threw high at Bobby Abreu, after the batter had been granted a timeout, Abreu objected. Members of both teams ran out to the home plate area to take part in the first "meeting of the minds" this season. Amazingly there were no flying fists, but four members of the Angels were ejected from the game - Manager Mike Scioscia, Coach Mickey Hatcher, Outfielder Torii Hunter, and Reliever Justin Speier. The Red Sox were kept intact.

However, keeping Boston whole did not result in the victory that truly counts - scoring more runs than Los Angeles. Not sure why Manager Terry Francona had Nick Green (who already had two singles) attempt a bunt (he struck out) in a potential run scoring situation late in the game. The Red Sox do not bunt well. And why did J.D. Drew swing (he popped out) on the first pitch from Scot Shields who was throwing numerous balls? Taking and walking works. Now Boston travels up the California coast to face the Oakland Athletics (who have the identical record, two and four) in a three-game series. Perhaps Northern California will be a more successful area for Boston than Southern California was.

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Josh Beckett, Losing Pitcher: Josh Beckett (1)

LA ANGELS: Starting Pitcher: Dustin Moseley, Winning Pitcher: Dustin Moseley

LA ANGELS: Save: Brian Fuentes

BOSTON: Homeruns: Kevin Youkilis (1), J.D. Drew (1)

LA ANGELS: Homerun: Vladimir Guerrero

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RED SOX: Wins: 2, Losses: 4 AL East Standings: Toronto, Baltimore, New York, Tampa Bay, Boston

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Next game: Monday 13 April 2009, 7:05 p.m. PT, Oakland Athletics, Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Jon Lester

Red Sox Ram Angels, 5 to 4

BOSTON: 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 1 - 5 8 0

LA ANGELS: 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 - 4 8 0

This was a day of celebration - Captain Jason Varitek's thirty-seventh birthday and the Boston Red Sox ending their three-game losing streak. Homer (Mike Lowell), homer (Jason Bay), homer (Jason Bay)! Yes, it was three homeruns that were responsible for all the Red Sox runs scored in this second game of a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels. Today Angel Stadium was a great ballpark for long ball hitters on both teams. Let's hope that this is the beginning of a long winning streak for Boston.

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Brad Penny, Winning Pitcher: Brad Penny (1)

LA ANGELS: Starting Pitcher: Joe Saunders, Losing Pitcher: Joe Saunders

BOSTON: Save: Jonathan Papelbon (2)

BOSTON: Homeruns: Jason Bay (2), Mike Lowell (1)

LA ANGELS: Homeruns: Torii Hunter, Mike Napoli

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RED SOX: Wins: 2, Losses: 3 AL East Standings: Toronto, Baltimore, New York, Boston, Tampa Bay

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Next game: Sunday 12 April 2009, 12:35 p.m. PT, Los Angeles Angels, Angel Stadium, Josh Beckett

Happy 37th Birthday Jason Andrew Varitek!!

Jason Varitek is a switch-hitting and right-handed throwing catcher. He is the starting catcher for the Boston Red Sox and is the team Captain. Jason made his Major League debut with the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday 24 September 1997 when he was twenty-five years, five months, and thirteen days old. The Red Sox played the Detroit Tigers in Detroit that day and Jason had a pinch-hit single in the ninth inning. Jason has been honored by being named or winning the following: Boston Red Sox Rookie of the Year 1998, American League Player of the Week 14-20 May 2001, Boston Red Sox Most Valuable Player 2003, All-Star Team 2003 and 2005, Gold Glove 2005, Silver Slugger 2005, and World Baseball Classic 2006. He has World Series rings for the 2004 and 2007 Boston Red Sox Championships. Jason wears number thirty-three.

Angels Attack Red Sox

BOSTON: 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 - 3 7 0

LA ANGELS: 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 x - 6 10 2

First inning: Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury strikes out, Dustin Pedroia flies out, David Ortiz lines out

Angels: Chone Figgins strikes out, Howie Kenrick out at first, Bobby Abreu walks, steals second, Vladimir Guerrero walks, Torii Hunter hit by a pitch, (bases loaded), Kendry Morales pops out

Second inning: Red Sox: Kevin Youkilis single, J.D. Drew strikes out, Jason Bay walks, Mike Lowell lines out, Jed Lowrie flies out

Angels: Gary Matthews, Jr. walks, moves to second, out at third, Jeff Mathis single, moves to second, scores, Maicer Izturis single, scores, Figgins double, scores, Kenrick single, steals second, moves to third, Abreu single, Guerrero hits into an inning ending double play

Third inning: Red Sox: George Kottaras strikes out, Ellsbury single, steals second, onto third on error, scores, Pedroia walks, steals second, Ortiz flies out, Youkilis flies out

Angels: Hunter out at first, Morales strikes out, Matthews strikes out

Fourth inning: Red Sox: Drew out at first, Bay strikes out, Lowell strikes out

Angels: Mathis pops out, Izturis pops out, Figgins walks, steals second, Kenrick strikes out

Fifth inning: Red Sox: Lowrie flies out, Kottaras single, Ellsbury hits into an inning ending double play

Angels: Abreu single, moves to second, moves to third, Guerrero single, moves to second, Hunter walks, (bases loaded), Morales flies out, Matthews pops out, Mathis flies out

Sixth inning: Red Sox: Pedroia lines out, Ortiz strikes out, Youkilis strikes out

Angels: Izturis out at first, Figgins out at first, Kenrick out at first

Seventh inning: Red Sox: Drew strikes out, Bay out at first, Lowell single, Lowrie strikes out

Angels: Abreu single, steals second, moves to third, scores, Guerrero single, moves to third, scores, Hunter flies out, Morales double, scores, Matthews intentional walk, moves to second, moves to third, Mathis single, moves to second, Izturis out at first, Figgins flies out

Eighth inning: Red Sox: Kottaras flies out, Ellsbury single, moves to third, scores, Pedroia double, scores, Ortiz strikes out, Youkilis single onto second on the error, Drew flies out

Angels: Kendrick strikes out, Abreu out at first, Guerrero flies out

Ninth inning: Red Sox: Bay walks, Lowell hits into a double play, Lowrie flies out

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RED SOX: Starting Pitcher: Tim Wakefield, Losing Pitcher: Tim Wakefield (1)

LA ANGELS: Starting Pitcher: Jered Weaver, Winning Pitcher: Jered Weaver

LA ANGELS: Save: Scott Shields

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RED SOX: Wins: 1, Losses: 3 AL East Standings: Toronto, Baltimore, New York, Tampa Bay, Boston

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Next game: Saturday 11 April 2009, 1:10 p.m., Los Angeles Angels, Angel Stadium, Brad Penny

Rays Rack Red Sox

TAMPA BAY: 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 - 4 10 2

BOSTON: 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 - 3 7 0

The Tampa Bay Rays have won the first series of games with the Boston Red Sox, two games to one game. It was the long ball that gave Tampa Bay all their runs in today's rubber match win at Fenway Park. Boston made a valiant effort in their comeback - even producing a homerun of their own, but, in the ninth inning, fell one run short of tying up the game. The short home stand is over and Boston travels to California to play two series - one with the Angels and one with the Athletics. Let's hope that the road is friendlier to the Red Sox than Fenway was in the past few days. Looking for winning four out of six games on this upcoming trip.

A Sad Note: The Los Angeles Angels are mourning the tragic death of their rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart in a hit-and-run car crash early this morning. He had started Wednesday night's game for the Angels and had pitched six scoreless innings. All of baseball shares in the grief of this sudden ending of the twenty-two year-old player's life.

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TAMPA BAY: Starting Pitcher: Matt Garza, Winning Pitcher, Matt Garza

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Daisuke Matsuzaka, Losing Pitcher: Daisuke Matsuzaka (1)

TAMPA BAY: Save: Troy Percival

TAMPA BAY: Homeruns: Matt Joyce, Evan Longoria, Shawn Riggans

BOSTON: Homerun: Jason Varitek (2)

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RED SOX: Wins: 1, Losses: 2 AL East Standings: Toronto, Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Boston, New York

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Next game: Friday 10 April 2009, 7:05 p.m. PT, Los Angeles Angels, Angel Stadium, Tim Wakefield

Tampa Bay Tags Boston

TAMPA BAY: 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 1 1 - 7 13 0

BOSTON: 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 - 2 8 1

If there was a villain in today's game, it was not one of the Tampa Bay Rays. It was Bob Davidson, home plate umpire. Now I may not have officiated a ball game, but even I know when the ball crosses the strike zone and when it doesn't. And the ball didn't cross the zone a number of times this game, though Davidson called them strikes (and primarily against the Boston Red Sox). Bob Davidson took away legitimate chances for the team to stage a come back. This game and Davidson) needs to be reviewed.

On a positive note, it was the Red Sox debut of New England outfielder Rocco Baldelli. He made a Web Gem of a catch in the fourth inning in Fenway Park's right field. The rubber match of this opening series is tomorrow and Boston needs to come out swinging and have more effective pitching. The Red Sox have to be hungry for the win and do whatever they can for a good outcome. Perhaps they can take a cue from the Rays, who executed a "suicide safety squeeze?" play in today's game.

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TAMPA BAY: Starting Pitcher: Scott Kazmir, Winning Pitcher: Scott Kazmir

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Jon Lester, Losing Pitcher: Jon Lester (1)

TAMPA BAY: Save: Grant Balfour

TAMPA BAy: Homeruns: Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria

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RED SOX: Wins: 1, Losses: 1 AL East Standings: Baltimore, Toronto, Boston, Tampa Bay, New York

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Next game: Thursday 9 April 2009, 10:35 a.m. PT, Tampa Bay Rays, Fenway Park, Daisuke Matsuzaka