Boston Over Oakland, 5 to 2

OAKLAND: 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 2 7 0

BOSTON: 0 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 x - 5 9 1

With this win over the Oakland Athletics, which has evened the three-game series, the Boston Red Sox have become the first team in the American League to record fifty victories. Beckett had a decent outing in winning his tenth game of the season and the Boston bats returned tonight in Fenway Park. The final game of the three-game set tomorrow will be for the series win. Let's hope the mantra - "series win, best (AL) record, leading East" - will be recited on Wednesday!

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OAKLAND: Starting Pitcher: Dana Eveland, Losing Pitcher: Dana Eveland

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Josh Beckett, Winning Pitcher: Josh Beckett (10)

BOSTON: Save: Jonathan Papelbon (21)

OAKLAND: Homerun: Scott Hairston

BOSTON: Homerun: Jason Bay (20)

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RED SOX: Wins: 50, Losses: 33, AL East Standings: Boston, New York, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Wednesday 8 July 2009, 4:10 p.m. PT, Oakland Athletics, Fenway Park, Tim Wakefield

Athletics Amaze Red Sox

OAKLAND: 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 1 - 6 15 1

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

The Oakland Athletics stayed with their starting pitcher for the whole game and the Boston Red Sox were prevented from facing a relief pitcher who they may have been able to hit and score runs. My pitching position perfectly presented by the opposition. Fenway Park saw the return of former Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra (positively received by the fans) for the first time in five years. Also seen was the Major League debut of Aaron Bates who covered first base for Boston today after being called up from Triple-A Pawtucket. Nomar had a good return - went two for four. Aaron did not have a good debut - went zero for three. Nomar and Aaron are reflective of their respective teams' play today. Tomorrow - a reversal of play!

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OAKLAND: Starting Pitcher: Brett Anderson, Winning Pitcher: Brett Anderson

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: John Smoltz, Losing Pitcher: John Smoltz (2)

OAKLAND: Homerun: Orlando Cabrera

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RED SOX: Wins: 49, Losses: 33, AL East Standings: Boston, New York, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Tuesday 7 July 2009, 4:10 p.m. PT, Oakland Athletics, Fenway Park, Josh Beckett

Boston Stuns Seattle, 8 to 4

SEATTLE: 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 - 4 8 0

BOSTON: 2 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 x - 8 9 1

Andrew and I arrived at the New England sports living bar at the same time - he via his motor vehicle and I via public transportation. While waiting outside, until Andrew had prepared enough to let me in, I began diagramming a book I might publish. Soon I was rescued from my layout attempt and prepared to watch the Boston Red Sox in this third and final game of the series against the Seattle Mariners. The other regular on Sunday mornings, Rich, arrived and he said that his wedding gift to his son was the honeymoon trip - a cruise to Bermuda. Though I've never been on a cruise, it sounds wonderful. And wonderful today was the Red Sox not being swept away in Fenway Park. It was a strike first and rally back ballgame for Boston, not exactly smooth sailing, but they did reach their victory destination and that's what counts. Unfortunately for Lester, the Red Sox rallied in the bottom of the inning (seventh) in which he had been taken out, so no win for him. The book on the Seattle Mariners is closed for the Boston Red Sox for the rest of the regular season (and likely for the postseason). And now for another story.

In a week, Red Sox players will be taking various modes of transportation to different places. However, six players will be heading to the same place - St Louis, Missouri. These special six have been named American League All-Stars and will be participating in the Eigthieth Major League All-Star Game being held in Busch Stadium. The players are:

Jason Bay (OF) - Voted in by fans and starting (third All-Star appearance, first in AL)

Dustin Pedroia (2B) - Voted in by fans and starting (second All-Star appearance)

Josh Beckett (P) - Voted in by players (second All-Star appearance)

Jonathan Papelbon (P) - Voted in by players (fourth All-Star appearance)

Tim Wakefield (P) - Selected by AL Manager Joe Maddon (first All-Star appearance)

Kevin Youkilis (1B) - Selected by AL Manager Joe Maddon (second All-Star appearance)

The Red Sox Six are the largest group of All-Stars from any team, American League or National League. And there is such an even distribution in the three ways that they could make the AL All-Star team. Perhaps Boston is truly the current standard of baseball. Congratulations to the Red Sox and to the All-Stars of both Leagues. Looking forward to another American League victory!

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SEATTLE: Starting Pitcher: Brandon Morrow, Losing Pitcher: Miguel Batista

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Jon Lester, Winning Pitcher: Justin Masterson (3)

BOSTON: Homeruns: Dustin Pedroia (3), David Ortiz (9), Jacoby Ellsbury (5)

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RED SOX: Wins: 49, Losses: 32, AL East Standings: Boston, New York, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Monday 6 July 2009, 4:10 p.m. PT, Oakland Athletics, Fenway Park, John Smoltz

Mariners Maim Red Sox

SEATTLE: 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 - 3 7 1

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

There will be no series win for the Boston Red Sox against the Seattle Mariners in this three-game series at Fenway Park. The starting pitching for Boston was good, the hitting was poor. Penny's outing was fine, but not enough run support was forthcoming. Only three batters had hits for the Red Sox, while the hits for the Mariners were spread across six batters. Boston needs to get back into hitting mode tomorrow in order to salvage a win in the final game of the series. The first place Red Sox must not be swept at home.

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SEATTLE: Starting Pitcher: Garrett Olson, Winning Pitcher: Roy Corcoran

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Brad Penny, Losing Pitcher: Takashi Saito (2)

SEATTLE: Save: David Aardsma

BOSTON: Homerun: Jason Varitek (12)

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RED SOX: Wins: 48, Losses: 32, AL East Standings: Boston, New York, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Sunday 5 July 2009, 10:35 a.m. PT, Seattle Mariners, Fenway Park, Jon Lester

Seattle Sinks Boston

SEATTLE: 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 - 7 13 0

BOSTON: 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 - 6 11 0

Try as they might, the Boston Red Sox could not make it a two in a row, extra-innings comeback game. Unlike yesterday, this time Boston was unable to recover from five consecutive scoreless innings to gain the victory. The return to Fenway Park has begun with the Seattle Mariners taking the first game of the three-game series. Tomorrow, Boston will attempt to even the series. Despite the loss, the Red Sox still have the best record in the American League and lead the AL East. With today's game, Tim Wakefield now has a record three hundred eighty-three starts for the Boston Red Sox, passing Roger "Traitor" Clemens. Congratulations Tim!

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SEATTLE: Starting Pitcher: Felix Hernandez, Winning Pitcher: Chris Jakubauskas

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Tim Wakefield, Losing Pitcher: Ramon Ramirez (3)

SEATTLE: Save: Mark Lowe

SEATTLE: Homeruns: Ronnu Cedeno, Jose Lopez

BOSTON: Homeruns: J. D. Drew (11), George Kottaras (1)

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RED SOX: Wins: 48, Losses: 31, AL East Standings: Boston, New York, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Saturday 4 July 2009, 10:05 a.m. PT, Seattle Mariners, Fenway Park, Brad Penny

Red Sox Recap, 23 June to 1 July

Between Tuesday 23 June and Wednesday 1 July 2009, the Boston Red Sox played nine games on the road - three against the Washington Nationals, three against the Atlanta Braves, and three against the Baltimore Orioles. Here are the breakdowns over the time period.

Total Each Series

Red Sox: 20 runs, 32 hits, 2 errors
Nationals: 16 runs, 27 hits, 2 errors
Two wins, one loss (won the first and second games)
Analysis: Red Sox had 56% of the total runs, 54% of the total hits, 50% of the total errors

Red Sox: 6 runs, 18 hits, 2 errors
Braves: 3 runs, 18 hits, 2 errors
Two wins, one loss (won the first and second games)
Analysis: Red Sox had 67% of the total runs, 50% of the total hits, 50% of the total errors

Red Sox; 20 runs, 37 hits, 0 errors
Orioles: 16 runs, 28 hits, 2 errors
Two wins, one loss (won the first and third games)
Analysis: Red Sox had 56% of the total runs, 57% of the total hits, 0% of the total errors

Combined Series Totals

Red Sox: 46 runs, 87 hits, 4 errors
Opponents: 35 runs, 73 hits, 6 errors
Six wins, three losses
Analysis: Red Sox had 57% of the total runs, 54% of the total hits, 40% of the total errors

Season-To-1 July 2009

Red Sox: 411 runs, 718 hits, 44 errors
Opponents: 337 runs, 695 hits, 59 errors
Forty-eight wins, thirty losses
Analysis: Red Sox had 55% of the total runs, 51% of the total hits, 40% of the total errors

AL East Standings (at the start of Thursday 2 July 2009)

Boston 48 30 .615
New York 45 32 .584
Tampa Bay 44 36 .550
Toronto 43 38 .525
Baltimore 35 43 .449

Red Sox Rally Orioles, 6 to 5

BOSTON: 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 - 6 10 0

BALTIMORE: 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 5 6 1

Today's game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles is a good example of my belief that, when you have a pitcher who is effectively shutting down the opponent, you keep him in the game. Of course I'm pleased that Boston won the game, but I do believe that if Bergesen had pitched in the ninth, the Red Sox would not be leaving Oriole Park with a series win. It was simply that, from the ninth inning on, Boston faced a string of Baltimore pitchers off whom they could hit and score runs. A similar result was seen on Sunday 13 May 2007 at Fenway Park, also against the Orioles. In that game, Boston came back in the ninth inning to score six runs and win the game by a score of six to five (same as today's).

It has been called the "Mother's Day Miracle", however I think that it should have been called the "Mother's Day Mistake". Starting Baltimore pitcher Jeremy Guthrie did begin the ninth inning, but manager Sam Perlozzo took him out of the game after a misplayed pop up (which would have been the second out) resulted in a Boston runner on first. That action I do not understand - it was the catcher's fielding error and having a batter pop up is desirable and indicates to me that the pitcher is still not throwing anything good to hit. So with one out and and a man on first, the Orioles bullpen proceeded to give up four runs before recording the second out and then a single scored the tying and winning runs. I will always remain baffled by why Perlozzo took the ball away from Guthrie, but will also remain grateful for that error in management.

A final note on today's game. With his twentieth save today, Jonathan Papelbon has become Boston's all-time saves leader, passing Bob Stanley. Congratulations Jonathan!

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Josh Beckett, Winning Pitcher: Ramon Ramirez (5)

BALTIMORE: Starting Pitcher: Brad Bergesen, Losing Pitcher: Danys Baez

BOSTON: Save: Jonathan Papelbon (20)

BOSTON: Homerun: Kevin Youkilis (14)

BALTIMORE: Homeruns: Luke Scott, Ty Wigginton

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RED SOX: Wins: 48, Losses: 30, AL East Standings: Boston, New York, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Friday 3 July 2009, 4:10 p.m. PT, Seattle Mariners, Fenway Park, Tim Wakefield