Yankees Rampage Red Sox

BOSTON: 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 2 - 6 8 1

NY YANKEES: 0 0 1 8 2 1 1 0 x - 13 18 0

Another long Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees matchup. However, for the first time this season the game did not go in Boston's favor. Everything was going New York's way. Red Sox starting pitcher Smoltz had his shortest outing of the season. He just doesn't appear to have settled into pitching consistently (that is, consistently well) this year. Smoltz today - fewer innings pitched, larger ERA. Does Terry still have faith in him? Mine is dwindling (or has dwindled?). Pitching is not Boston's long suit at the moment and it needs to be rectified. Even when the hitting tapers off, I know it will come back - even in a game that saw Boston leave fifteen men on base. On a good welcoming note, Casey Kotchman had a homerun for his first Red Sox hit. Welcome Casey! Tomorrow Boston will play the second game of the four-game series in Yankee Stadium. A Red Sox win is needed to even up the series with the Yankees and to keep a winning road trip.

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: John Smoltz, Losing Pitcher: John Smoltz (5)

NY YANKEES: Starting Pitcher: Joba Chamberlain, Winning Pitcher: Joba Chamberlain

BOSTON: Homeruns: Dustin Pedroia (8), Casey Kotchman (7)

NY YANKEES: Homeruns: Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera, Jorge Posada, Mark Teixeira

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RED SOX: Wins: 62, Losses: 45, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Friday 7 August 2009, 4:05 p.m. PT, New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium, Josh Beckett

Rays Romp Red Sox

BOSTON: 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 - 4 7 0

TAMPA BAY: 0 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 x - 6 7 1

First Inning: Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury (CF) grounds out to second, Dustin Pedroia (2B) flies out to center, Victor Martinez (1B) grounds out to shortstop

Rays: Jason Bartlett (SS) grounds out to shortstop, Carl Crawford (LF) grounds out to shortstop, Evan Longoria (3B) flies out to center

End of first inning score: Red Sox 0, Rays 0

Second Inning: Red Sox: Kevin Youkilis (3B) flies out to center, Jason Bay (LF) homers to left, Mike Lowell (DH) strikes out swinging, Rocco Baldelli ( (RF) fouls out to first

Rays: Ben Zobrist (2B) singles to right, Pat Burrell (DH) strikes out swinging, Zobrist steals second, Carlos Pena (1B) homers to right, Zobrist scores, B. J. Upton (CF) flies out to right, Gabe Kapler (RF) strikes out looking

End of second inning score: Red Sox 1, Rays 2

Third Inning: Red Sox: Jason Varitek (C) doubles to left, Jed Lowrie (SS) strikes out swinging, Ellsbury grounds out to second, Varitek moves to third, Pedroia grounds out to third

Rays: Michel Hernandez (C) singles to center, Bartlett flies out to center, Crawford homers to left, Hernandez scores, Longoria walks, Zobrist flies out to center, Longoria steals second, Burrell flies out to left

End of third inning score: Red Sox 1, Rays 4

Fourth Inning: Red Sox: Martinez fouls out to third, Youkilis doubles to left, Bay fouls out to first, Lowell strikes out looking

Rays: Pena strikes out swinging, Upton singles to left, Upton steals second, Kapler flies out to right, Hernandez strikes out swinging

End of fourth inning score: Red Sox 1, Rays 4

Fifth Inning: Red Sox: Baldelli strikes out looking, Varitek flies out to center, Lowrie singles to left, Ellsbury doubles to left, Lowrie moves to third, Pedroia flies out to center

Rays: Bartlett grounds out to second, Crawford grounds out to shortstop, Longoria lines out to center

End of fifth inning score: Red Sox 1, Rays 4

Sixth Inning: Red Sox: Martinez homers to left, Youkilis flies out to right, Bay strikes out swinging, Lowell grounds out to shortstop

Rays: Zobrist grounds out to second, Burrell homers to left, Pena walks, Pena caught attemping to steal second, Upton strikes out lookiing

End of sixth inning score: Red Sox 2, Rays 5

Seventh Inning: Red Sox: (Tampa Bay pitcher Lance Cormier relieves Tampa Bay starting pitcher David Price), Baldelli safe at second on the second basemen error, Varitek grounds out to second, Baldelli moves to third, Lowrie grounds out to second, Baldelli scores, Ellsbury grounds out to shortstop

Rays: (Boston pitcher Manny Delcarmen relieves Boston starting pitcher Brad Penny), Gabe Gross (PH for Kapler) strikes out looking, Hernandez flies out to right, Bartlett homers to left, Crawford grounds out to third

End of seventh inning score: Red Sox 3, Rays 6

Eighth Inning: Red Sox: (Tampa Bay pitcher Jeff Bennett relieves Tampa Bay pitcher Lance Cormier), Pedroia walks, Martinez doubles to right, Pedroia moves to third, (Tampa Bay pitcher Dan Wheeler relieves Tampa Bay pitcher Jeff Bennett), Youkilis grounds out to third, Pedroia scores, Bay grounds out to shortstop, Lowell flies out to shortstop

Rays: (Boston pitcher Hideki Okajima relieves Boston pitcher Manny Delcarmen), Longoria strikes out swinging, Zobrist grounds out to shortstop, Burrell walks, Pena flies out to center

End of eighth inning score: Red Sox 4, Rays 6

Ninth Inning: Red Sox: (Tampa Bay pitcher J. P. Howell relieves Tampa Bay pitcher Dan Wheeler), J. D. Drew (PH for Baldelli) walks, Varitek strikes out looking, Lowrie strikes out looking, Ellsbury grounds out to second

Rays: Game over

End of game score: Red Sox 4, Rays 6

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Brad Penny, Losing Pitcher: Brad Penny (6)

TAMPA BAY: Starting Pitcher: David Price, Winning Pitcher: David Price

TAMPA BAY: Save: J. P. Howell

BOSTON: Homeruns: Jason Bay (21), Victor Martinez (16)

TAMPA BAY: Homeruns: Carlos Pena, Carl Crawford, Pat Burrell, Jason Bartlett

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RED SOX: Wins: 62, Losses: 44, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Thursday 6 August 2009, 4:05 p.m. PT, New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium, John Smoltz

Tampa Bay Taters Boston

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

TAMPA BAY: 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 - 4 9 1

This game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays should have ended in the ninth inning with a Boston shutout of Tampa Bay. Instead, Terry choose to take Lester out in the seventh inning with only a two-run Red Sox lead and, unfortunately, the Boston bullpen faltered today and the Rays won in extra innings. Stay with the starter!!! Why is that so hard to do? Don't give the opponents an opportunity to face a pitcher they can hit when there's a small lead. It's so frustrating when Boston suffers an unnecessary loss. Tomorrow in Tropicana Field Boston will try for a split of the two-game series.

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

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

BOSTON: Homeruns: Kevin Youkilis (20), Dustin Pedroia (7)

TAMPA BAy: Homeruns: Evan Longoria (two)

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RED SOX: Wins: 62, Losses: 43, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Wednesday 5 August 2009, 4:08 p.m. PT, Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana Field, Brad Penny

Happy 47th Birthday John Edward Farrell!!!

John Farrell was a right-handed batting and throwing pitcher who is now the pitching coach for the Boston Red Sox. John made his Major League debut with the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday 18 August 1987 when he was twenty-five years and fourteen days old. His final Major League appearance was with the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday 22 May 1996 when was thirty-three years, nine months, and eighteen days old. John made his Major League pitching coach debut with the Boston Red Sox in 2007 when he was forty-four years old. John wears number fifty-two.

Red Sox Reduce Orioles, 18 to 10

BOSTON: 4 2 1 7 0 2 0 1 1 - 18 23 0

BALTIMORE: 0 0 6 0 1 2 1 0 0 - 10 15 1

A sweet, sweep Sunday! The New England sports living bar was full of happiness today as the Boston Red Sox swept the Baltimore Orioles in Oriole Park. Boston has started this road trip well. Although it wasn't a happy day for Red Sox starting pitcher Buchholz, the Boston batters had a great day with season high hits and runs. There were several bases-loaded situations and Boston came through with runs scored. For Josh Reddick, called up from the minors a few days ago, his happiness today was hitting his first homerun of his major league career. Even though he was not part of the slugfest, Ortiz did get on base via a walk and had an RBI for his jaunt. Not one pitch was thrown today by Tim Wakefield, but nevertheless, it was a day of happiness for him. Tim celebrates his forty-third birthday today. Have a happy day Tim! Boston will attempt to continue the happiness when they play Tampa Bay for two games beginning on Tuesday. Let happiness prevail!

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Clay Buchholz, Winning Pitcher: Manny Delcarman (4)

BALTIMORE: Starting Pitcher: Jason Berken, Losing Pitcher: Jason Berken

BOSTON: Homeruns: Josh Reddick (1), Rocco Baldelli (5)

BALTIMORE: Homerun: Adam Jones

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RED SOX: Wins: 62, Losses: 42, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Tuesday 4 August 2009, 4:08 p.m. PT, Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana Field, Jon Lester

Happy 43rd Birthday Timothy Stephen Wakefield

Tim Wakefield is a right-handed batting and throwing pitcher. He is a starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. Tim made his Major League debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday 13 July 1992 when he was twenty-five years, eleven months, and twenty-nine days old. The Pittsburgh Pirates played the St. Louis Cardinals that day and Tim threw a complete game in the three to two win. He was released by the Pirates in 1995 and Tim signed with the Boston Red Sox on Thursday 27 April 1995 when he was twenty-eight years, eight months, and twenty-five days old. Tim made his Fenway Park debut on Sunday 4 June 1995 when he was twenty-eight years, ten months, and two days old. The Boston Red Sox played the Seattle Mariners that day and Tim went the distance in the two to one win. Tim was named American League Comeback Player of the Year 1995, he has World Series rings for the 2004 and 2007 Boston Red Sox Championship, and he was named to the American League All-Star team 2009. Tim wears number forty-nine.

Boston Blanks Baltimore, 4 to 0

BOSTON: 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 - 4 13 0

BALTIMORE: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 8 0

The Boston Red Sox had an excellent shutout game in Oriole Park today. Beckett went deep into the game, almost everyone in the lineup had a hit, including the new acquisition Victor Martinez, and no errors were committed. Wonderful! Boston has won the series against the Baltimore Orioles. The Red Sox have a three game wining streak and tomorrow will go for the sweep against the Orioles. The road is being good to Boston!

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Josh Beckett, Winning Pitcher: Josh Beckett (13)

BALTIMORE: Starting Pitcher: David Hernandez, Losing Pitcher: David Hernandez

BOSTON: Homeruns: Dustin Pedroia (6), Kevin Youkilis (19)

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RED SOX: Wins: 61, Losses: 42, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Sunday 2 August 2009, 10:35 a.m. PT, Baltimore Orioles, Oriole Park, Clay Buchholz