Toronto Trumps Boston

TORONTO: 0 2 3 0 3 2 0 1 1 - 12 17 0

BOSTON: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 3 0

The day after the Boston Red Sox clinched the AL Wild Card, the reward was to rest most of the regular lineup in the final game against the Toronto Blue Jays. With the Red Sox non-regulars, the Toronto regulars and their pitcher Halladay, it is not surprising that the Blue Jays completed the three-game sweep of Boston with still ailing knuckleballer Wakefield on the mound. I'm sure no one is shocked that Halladay threw a shutout against the team that Boston fielded in Fenway Park today; after all he has done so against teams fielding their usual players. On Dave Magadan's (Boston's hitting coach) birthday, it would have been great if there had been more hitting displayed. The next time the Red Sox face the Blue Jays will be in Toronto for a three-game series from 26th to 28th April 2010. Bye, until next year in Canada!

Boston's last series of the regular season begins tomorrow and it is a four-game set against the Cleveland Indians. Perhaps the Red Sox can return to their usual winning ways and stop their current losing streak at six games, which matches a previous streak this year. Boston needs to experience a few good wins before heading out to California to face the Angels. Bring a winning momentum to the West coast! But first the Red Sox have to get past the Indians and handle them well.

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TORONTO: Starting Pitcher: Roy Halladay, Winning Pitcher: Roy Halladay

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Tim Wakefield, Losing Pitcher: Tim Wakefield (5)

TORONTO: Homeruns: Lyle Overbay, Rand Ruiz (two), Jose Bautista

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RED SOX: Wins: 91, Losses: 67, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Thursday 1 October 2009, 4:10 p.m. PT, Cleveland Indians, Fenway Park, Jon Lester

Happy 47th Birthday David Joseph Magadan!!

David Magadan was a left-handed batting and right-handed throwing infielder who is now the Batting Coach for the Boston Red Sox. David made his Major League debut with the New York Mets on Sunday 7 December 1986 when he was twenty-three years, eleven months, and eight days old. His final Major League appearance was with the San Diego Padres on Wednesday 26 September 2001 when he was thirty-eight years, eleven months, and twenty-seven days old. The Boston Red Sox named David the hitting coach on Friday 20 October 2006 when he was forty-four years and twenty days old. David wears number twenty-eight.

Blue Jays Bomb Red Sox

TORONTO: 4 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 - 8 11 0

BOSTON: 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 - 7 14 1

An incomplete rally for the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays take the second game of the three-game series. It was homerun derby time in Fenway Park today, but unfortunately it was the Blue Jays who supplied most of the long balls, with fifty percent of Toronto's blasts coming from one player. Although the Red Sox did manage to out hit the Blue Jays, it was the Toronto balls leaving the field that hurt Boston. Another rough start for Boston pitching - hope these last few games will shake out the problems and that they will be well-prepared for the postseason. Good to see aggressive play on the bases by the Red Sox (two steals today) - that intense attitude will most definitely be needed when Boston plays the Angels next week. Yes, playing the Los Angeles Angeles is no longer a speculation - BOSTON CLINCHES AL WILD CARD!!! See you soon Los Angeles!

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TORONTO: Starting Pitcher: Ricky Romero, Winning Pitcher: Ricky Romero

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Clay Buchholz, Losing Pitcher: Clay Buchholz (4)

TORONTO: Save: Jason Frasor

TORONTO: Homeruns: Jose Bautista, Adam Lind (three), Aaron Hill, Kevin Millar

BOSTON: Homerun: J. D. Drew (22)

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RED SOX: Wins: 91, Losses: 66, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Wednesday 30 September 2009, 4:10 p.m. PT, Toronto Blue Jays, Fenway Park, Tim Wakefield

Toronto Tramples Boston

TORONTO: 4 0 3 2 2 0 0 - 11 14 0

BOSTON: 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 - 5 7 0

The question is - if it had to rain on today's game, why couldn't it have rained during the third inning, not the seventh? That way, when the game was called, it wouldn't be an official game and the Boston Red Sox would not have started their final regular season homestand with a defeat. Or alternatively, that Boston be able to finish the rally they had begun. Instead, the Toronto Blue Jays contributed a pouring of runs at Fenway Park and Boston was ungraciously welcomed home. Coming off a .500 road trip, the Red Sox need to have a winning homestand to propel themselves into the postseason with a positive attitude. Hope Beckett's back gets better soon! And let's hope that Boston's last regular season Tuesday game fares better than their last regular Monday one. Still waiting to clinch the postseason.

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TORONTO: Starting Pitcher: Scott Richmond, Winning Pitcher: Scott Richmond

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Michael Bowden, Losing Pitcher: Michael Bowden (1)

TORONTO: Homeruns: Aaron Hill, Rod Barajas, Jose Bautista

BOSTON; Homeruns: Kevin Youkilis (26, 27), David Ortiz (28)

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RED SOX: Wins: 91, Losses: 65, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Tuesday 29 September 2009, 4:10 p.m. PT, Toronto Blue Jays, Fenway Park, Clay Buchholz

Red Sox Recap, 18 to 27 September

Between Friday 18 September and Sunday 27 September 2009, the Boston Red Sox played ten games on the road – three against the Baltimore Orioles, four against the Kansa City Royals, and three against the New York Yankees. Here are the breakdowns over the time period.

Total Each Series

Red Sox; 23 runs, 42 hits, 0 errors
Orioles: 9 runs, 26 hits, 1 error
Three wins, no losses (sweep)
Analysis: Red Sox had 72% of the total runs, 62% of the total hits, 0% of the total errors

Red Sox: 29 runs, 41 hits, 1 error
Royals: 22 runs, 42 hits, 6 errors
Two wins, two losses (won third and fourth games)
Analysis: Red Sox had 57% of the total runs, 49% of the total hits, 14% of the total errors

Red Sox: 7 runs, 18 hits, 1 error
Yankees: 16 runs, 31 hits, 2 errors
No wins, three losses
Analysis: Red Sox had 30% of the total runs, 37% of the total hits, 33% of the total errors

Combined Series Totals

Red Sox: 59 runs, 101 hits, 2 errors
Opponents: 47 runs, 99 hits, 9 errors
Five wins, five losses
Analysis: Red Sox: had 56% of the total runs, 51% of the total hits, 18% of the total errors

Season-To-27 September 2009

Red Sox: 828 runs, 1427 hits, 81 errors
Opponents: 690 runs, 1419 hits, 107 errors
Ninety-one wins, sixty-four losses
Analysis: Red Sox had 55% of the total runs, 50% of the total hits, 43% of the total errors

AL East Standings (at the start of Monday 28 September 2009)

New York 100 56 .641
Boston 91 64 .587
Tampa Bay 79 76 .510
Toronto 72 84 .462
Baltimore 60 95 .387

AL Wild Card Standings (at the start of Monday 28 September 2009)

Boston 91 64 .587
Texas 85 70 .548
Minnesota 81 74 .523
Seattle 80 76 .513
Tampa Bay 79 76 .510

Yankees Rest Red Sox

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

NY YANKEES: 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 x - 4 10 1

It's another Red Sox/Patriots game combo at the New England sports living bar I frequent. Once again there is one winner and one loser - and this time the Patriots won and the Red Sox lost. Sadly, the Boston Red Sox lost their final regular season game against the New York Yankees and with that loss, Boston experienced the following: being swept in the three-games series at Yankee Stadium, splitting the season series at nine games apiece, and watching New York celebrate clinching the AL East division title. However, like the breakfast buffet I had during the games, there were some good items: Boston took the lead for the first time in the three-game series and Boston's magic number is now two to clinch a postseason position. The next time the Red Sox are scheduled to meet the Yankees is for a three-games series in Fenway Park - during April 5th through 8th 2010. But if Detroit (or perhaps Minnesota) does not favor us with eliminating New York in the ALDS, then the Red Sox will see the Yankees again in about three weeks for what is sure to be another memorable ALCS between the two teams. Yes, I am assuming another Red Sox ALDS victory over the Angels - not a problem, right? So for now, see you later New York!

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Paul Byrd, Losing Pitcher: Paul Byrd (3)
NY YANKEES: Starting Pitcher: Andy Pettitte, Winning Pitcher: Andy Pettitte

NY YANKEES: Save: Mariano Rivera

NY YANKEES: Homeruns, Melky Cabrera, Mark Teixeira

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RED SOX: Wins: 91, Losses: 64, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Monday 27 September 2009, 4:10 p.m. PT, Toronto Blue Jays, Fenway Park, Josh Beckett

Yankees Yard Red Sox

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

NY YANKEES: 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 x - 3 7 0

The tenor of today's Boston Red Sox game against the New York Yankees was very different from yesterday's hitfest. But unfortunately for the Red Sox, the result was the same - a loss to the Yankees and another day added until Boston clinches a playoff spot. On the positive side, Matsuzaka pitched extremely well and has a good bid to be in the postseason rotation. And Martinez had the best defensive play of the game with getting Jeter out at home in the fifth, as well as extending his hit streak to twenty-five games. Tomorrow in Yankee Stadium, the Red Sox will try to salvage the series with a win (thus avoid viewing the Yankees clinching) and head back to Boston on a good note.

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Daisuke Matsuzaka, Losing Pitcher: Daisuke Matsuzaka (6)

NY YANKEES: Starting Pitcher: C. C. Sabathia, Winning Pitcher: C. C. Sabathia

NY YANKEES: Save: Mariano Rivera

NY YANKEES: Homerun: Robinson Cano

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RED SOX: Wins: 91, Losses: 63, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Sunday 27 September 2009, 10:05 a.m. PT, New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium, Paul Byrd