Angels Agitate Red Sox

BOSTON: 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 4 5 0

LA ANGELS: 0 0 5 1 1 1 0 0 x - 8 14 0

Starting out well but ending up badly, the Boston Red Sox dropped the second game of the three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. The knuckleball did not work well in Angel Stadium today for Tim Wakefield. The Angel bats were able to find a way to hit against that pitch and the Red Sox bats were silent after the second inning. Tomorrow offers Boston a chance for retribution against Los Angeles in the rubber match of the series.

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Tim Wakefield, Losing Pitcher: Tim Wakefield (2)

LA ANGELS: Starting Pitcher: Matt Palmer, Winning Pitcher: Matt Palmer

BOSTON: Homerun: Jason Bay (10)

LA ANGELS: Homeruns: Mike Napoli, Torii Hunter

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RED SOX: Wins: 21, Losses: 13, AL East Standings: Toronto, Boston, New York, Tampa Bay, Baltimore

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Next game: Thursday 14 May 2009, 12:35 p.m. PT, Los Angeles Angels, Angel Stadium, Brad Penny

Red Sox Rally Angels, 4 to 3

BOSTON: 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 - 4 8 2

LA ANGELS: 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 - 3 6 0

First inning: Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury pops out to second, Julio Lugo walks, David Ortiz lines out to center, Jason Bay flies out to center

Angels: Chone Figgins grounds out to second, Maicer Izturis singles to left, Bobby Abreu walks, Izturis moves to second, Torii Hunter walks, Izturis moves to third, Abreu moves to second,(bases-loaded), Kendry Morales flies out to left, Izturis scores, Mike Napoli grounds into fielder's choice, Abreu out at third

End of inning: Red Sox 0, Angels 1

Second inning: Red Sox: Mike Lowell flies out to center, J. D. Drew homers to center, Jeff Bailey flies out to center, Jason Varitek singles to left, Nick Green strikes out swinging

Angels: Juan Rivera strikes out swinging, Howie Kendrick walks, Jeff Mathis singles into left, Kendrick moves to second, Figgins pops up to center, Izturis hit by a pitch, Kenrick moves to third, Mathis moves to second, (bases-loaded), Abreu fouls out to left

End of inning: Red Sox 1, Angels 1

Third inning: Red Sox: Ellsbury grounds out to shortstop, Lugo pops out to shortstop, Ortiz strikes out swinging

Angels: Hunter grounds out to shortstop, Morales grounds out to shortstop, Napoli singles to second, Rivera pops up to right

End of inning: Red Sox 1, Angels 1

Fourth inning: Red Sox: Bay strikes out swinging, Lowell pops out to center, Drew pops out to second

Angels: Kendrick walks, Mathis singles to right, Kendrick moves to second, Figgins grounds out to pitcher, Kendrick moves to third, Mathis moves to second, Izturis flies out to right, Kenrick scores, Mathis moves to third, Abreu flies out to left

End of inning: Red Sox 1, Angels 2

Fifth inning: Red Sox: Bailey flies out to center, Varitek strikes out swinging, Green pops out to right

Angels: Hunter singles to left, Hunter out attempting to steal second, Morales strikes out swinging, Napoli lines out to left

End of inning: Red Sox 1, Angels 2

Sixth inning: Red Sox: Ellsbury bunt single to third, Ellsbury steals second, Lugo flies out to right, Ellsbury moves to third, Ortiz flies out to left, Ellsbury out at home

Angels: Rivera grounds out to third, Kendrick grounds out to third, Mathis strikes out swinging End of inning: Red Sox 1, Angels 2

Seventh inning: Red Sox: Bay pops out to shortstop, Lowell singles to center, Drew flies out to right, Bailey fouls out to first

Angels: (Red Sox pitcher Manny Delcarmen relieves Red Sox starting pitcher Justin Masterson), Figgins on first due to third base throwing error, Izturis grounds out to second, Figgins moves to second, Abreu flies out to center, Hunter singles to center, Figgins scores, Morales grounds out to second

End of inning: Red Sox 1, Angels 3

Eighth inning: Red Sox: (Angels pitcher Jose Arredondo relieves Angels starting pitcher Jered Weaver), Varitek pops up to shortstop, Green singles to right, Ellsbury singles to right, Green moves to third, Lugo walks, Ellsbury moves to second, (bases-loaded), (Angels pitcher Darren Oliver relieves Angels pitcher Jose Arrendondo), Ortiz hit by pitch, Green scores, Ellsbury moves to third, Lugo moves to second, (Angels pitcher Scot Shields relieves Angels pitcher Darren Oliver), Bay grounds out to right, Ellsbury scores, Lugo moves to third, Ortiz moves to second, Lowell grounds out to third

Angels: (Red Sox pitcher Ramon Ramirez relieves Red Sox pitcher Manny Delcarmen), Napoli on first due to error by shortstop, Reggie Willits (hits for Rivera) out on bunt to first, Napoli moves to second, Kendrick flies out to center, Mathis strikes out swinging

End of inning: Red Sox 3, Angels 3

Ninth inning: Red Sox: Drew singles to center, Bailey flies out to center, Varitek doubles to center, Drew scores, (Angels pitcher Jason Bulger relieves Angels pitcher Scot Shields), Varitek moves to third on wild pitch, Green walks, Ellsbury fouls out to third, Lugo grounds out to pitcher

Angels: (Boston pitcher Jonathan Papelbon relieves Boston pitcher Ramon Ramirez), Figgins flies out to center, Izturis grounds out to first, Abreu walks, Abreu steals second, Hunter strikes out swinging

End of game: Red Sox 4, Angels 3

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Justin Masterson, Winning Pitcher: Ramon Ramirez (4)

LA ANGELS: Starting Pitcher: Jered Weaver, Losing Pitcher: Scot Shields

BOSTON: Save: Jonathan Papelbon (9)

BOSTON: Homerun: J. D. Drew (5)

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RED SOX: Wins: 21, Losses: 12, AL East Standings: Toronto, Boston, New York, Tampa Bay, Baltimore

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Next game: Wednesday 13 May 2009, 7:05 p.m. PT, Los Angeles Angels, Angel Stadium, Tim Wakefield

Red Sox Rub Rays, 4 to 3

TAMPA BAY: 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 - 3 7 0

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

It was close, but the Boston Red Sox take the third game against the Tampa Bay Rays and win this series two games to one game. Fortunately Boston has some breathing room from Tampa Bay, who they don't meet again until August. The Green Monster in Fenway Park made the difference in the game with two doubles in a row off the wall in the eighth inning by David Ortiz and Jason Bay, with Ortiz scoring the winning run. The Red Sox leave for the West Coast and three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels and the Seattle Mariners.

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TAMPA BAY: Starting Pitcher: Matt Garza, Losing Pitcher: Brian Shouse

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Josh Beckett, Winning Pitcher: Ramon Ramirez (3)

BOSTON: Save: Jonathan Papelbon (8)

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RED SOX: Wins: 20, Losses: 12, AL East Standings: Toronto, Boston, New York, Tampa Bay, Baltimore

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Next game: Tuesday 12 May 2009, 7:05 p.m. PT, Los Angeles Angels, Angel Stadium, Justin Masterson

Happy 26th Birthday George Kottaras!!!

George Kottaras is a left-handed batting and right-handed throwing catcher. He is the backup catcher for the Boston Red Sox and is the personal catcher for knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. George made his Major League debut with the Boston Red Sox on Saturday 13 September 2008 when he was twenty-five years, four months, and three days old. The Red Sox played the Toronto Blue Jays in Fenway Park that day and George scored the team’s single run in the eight to one loss. George made his starting debut on Friday 10 April 2009 when he was twenty-five years and eleven months old. Boston played the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim that day and George had a single in the fifth inning and Boston went on to lose six to three. George wears number sixteen.

Tampa Bay Topples Boston

TAMPA BAY: 2 0 0 0 6 5 1 0 0 - 14 17 2

BOSTON: 0 1 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 - 5 10 1

No super run producing sixth inning today for the Boston Red Sox. Although the Red Sox managed to launch twice as many long balls in Fenway Park as the Tampa Bay Rays, it was the shorter hits that did the job for Tampa Bay. The Rays are the recurring pain that every time you think it has been cured, it comes back again just as strong and annoying. Boston's winning streak ends at two and their errorless games ends at three. Let's start new streaks in the rubber match tomorrow.

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

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Jon Lester, Losing Pitcher: Jon Lester (3)

TAMPA BAY: Save: Lance Cormier

TAMPA BAY: Homerun: Evan Longoria

BOSTON: Homeruns: Rocco Baldelli (1), Julio Lugo (1)

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RED SOX: Wins: 19, Losses: 12, AL East Standings: Toronto, Boston, Tampa Bay, New York, Baltimore

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Next game: Sunday 10 May 2009, 5:05 p.m. PT, Tampa Bay Rays, Fenway Park, Josh Beckett

Red Sox Sink Rays, 7 to 3

TAMPA BAY: 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 - 3 9 0

BOSTON: 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 2 x - 7 15 0

For the second night in a row, the sixth inning was the turning point in the game for the Boston Red Sox and their win over the Tampa Bay Rays. With two victories, a new winning streak has begun at Fenway Park. Boston has also played three games in a row without committing an error.

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TAMPA BAY: Starting Pitcher: James Shields, Losing Pitcher: James Shields

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Brad Penny, Winning Pitcher: Brad Penny (3)

BOSTON: Homeruns: Jason Bay (9), J. D. Drew (4)

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RED SOX: Wins: 19, Losses: 11, AL East Standings: Boston, Toronto, New York, Tampa Bay, Baltimore

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Next game: Saturday 9 May 2009, 12:40 p.m. PT, Tampa Bay Rays, Fenway Park, Jon Lester

Boston Batters Cleveland,13 to 3

CLEVELAND: 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 - 3 7 0

BOSTON: 1 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 x - 13 13 0

Well, the absent bats of Jacoby Ellsbury, David Ortiz, and Kevin Youkilis were not needed in Fenway Park today. The Boston Red Sox scored twelve runs in the sixth - the most runs they scored in one inning this season and in so doing, established a new American League record by scoring those runs before an out was recorded. Boston broke the record of the Detroit Tigers who, on Wednesday 17 June 1925, scored eleven runs in the sixth inning before making an out against the New York Yankees. This Red Sox short series ends in a split with the Cleveland Indians. It is encouraging to see run production throughout the lineup. Run production will be required against the Tampa Bay Rays tomorrow.

Okay, my input regarding Los Angeles Dodger Leftfielder Manny Ramirez's (formerly of the Boston Red Sox) fifty game suspension for testing positive for a performance enhancing drug. I applaud Manny for taking responsibility for his actions (or non-action for not determining the legality of the medication). However, it is another strike against the game of baseball and brings into question who to believe in, who to cheer for, who to trust. Is the quest for winning so all encompassing that players willing risk their health and the esteem of their fans and baseball fraternity? Yes, I want my team to win, but I also want them to play fair and to naturally develop their talent. Manny will serve his suspension (even if the PED was accidentally taken), the games will go on, and surely this topic will rise again.

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CLEVELAND: Starting Pitcher: Jeremy Sowers, Losing Pitcher: Jeremy Sowers

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Tim Wakefield, Winning Pitcher: Tim Wakefield (4)

BOSTON: Homerun: Jason Bay (8)

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RED SOX: Wins: 18, Losses: 11, AL East Standings: Toronto, Boston, Tampa Bay, New York, Baltimore

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Next game: Friday 8 May 2009, 4:10 p.m. PT, Tampa Bay Rays, Fenway Park, Brady Penny