Boston Dings Detroit, 8 to 2

DETROIT: 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 - 2 3 1

BOSTON: 0 1 2 0 5 0 0 0 x - 8 11 0

Yes, the Boston Red Sox are surely home. Today the Red Sox won the third game of the four-game series against the Detroit Tigers, Boston's third win in a row. The game at Fenway Park displayed wonderful Beckett (Major League leading wins) pitching and good Red Sox hitting. Great! The final result of Tuesday's ("Ejection Day") game was the five-game suspension of Boston's Kevin Youkilis and Detroit's Rick Porcello for their little second inning ruckus. Youkilis will not appeal his suspension and can play again on Tuesday 18 August in Toronto. In the meantime, Lowell will have more opportunity to play and he is homerun hot right now. It has been awhile, but the Boston Red Sox will be going for a series sweep tomorrow.

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DETROIT: Starting Pitcher: Zach Miner, Losing Pitcher: Zach Miner

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Josh Beckett, Winning Pitcher: Josh Beckett (14)

DETROIT: Homeruns: Carlos Guillen, Marcus Thames

BOSTON: Homeruns: Mike Lowell (14), Jason Bay (24)

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RED SOX: Wins: 65, Losses: 48, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Thursday 13 August 2009, 10:35 a.m. PT, Detroit Tigers, Fenway Park, Clay Buchholz

Red Sox Tater Tigers, 7 to 5

DETROIT: 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 - 5 7 1

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

Election Day (in the U.S.) is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. In a slight twist to that established activity, the Boston Red Sox may want to declare the first Tuesday after the second Monday in August "Ejection Day". The main participants in today's ejection were Boston's third baseman Kevin Youkilis and Detroit's starting pitcher Rick Porcello. The action of being hit by a pitch led Youkilis to confront Porcello and other members of both teams decided to join in the meeting of hands across Fenway Park. Not surprisingly, the game eventually continued without Youkilis and Porcello. The final participant in "Ejection Day" was Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who was unhappy about J. D. Drew being called out on an attempted steal of second. He was invited to spend the rest of the game in silent contemplation. The winner on "Ejection Day" was the Boston Red Sox over the Detroit Tigers by a margin of two runs. Not an overwhelming victory, but no recount will be required. Also of note in this "Ejection Day" game was the first Major League win by Junichi Tazawa. Welcome to Friendly (most times) Fenway Junichi!

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DETROIT: Starting Pitcher: Rick Porcello, Losing Pitcher: Chris Lambert

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Junichi Tazawa, Winning Pitcher: Junichi Tazawa (1)

DETROIT: Homerun: Curtis Granderson

BOSTON: Homeruns: Jason Bay (23), Mike Lowell (12, 13)

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RED SOX: Wins: 64, Losses: 48, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Wednesday 12 August 2009, 4:10 p.m. PT, Detroit Tigers, Fenway Park, Josh Beckett

Boston Red Sox logo is from the website mlb.com

Boston Blasts Detroit, 6 to 5

DETROIT: 0 0 0 2 1 0 2 0 0 - 5 10 0

BOSTON: 2 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 x - 6 12 0

First Inning: Tigers: Curtis Granderson (CF) flies out to center, Placido Polanco (2B) singles to right, Marcus Thames (LF) fouls out to catcher, Miguel Cabrera (1B) walks, Polanco moves to second, Carlos Guillen (DH) flies out to left

Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury (CF) doubles to left, Dustin Pedroia (2B) homers, Ellsbury scores Victor Martinez (C) flies out to left, Kevin Youkilis (3B) singles to left, David Ortiz (DH) flies out to left, J. D. Drew (RF) singles to center, Youkilis moves to second, Jason Bay (LF) walks, Youkilis moves to third, Drew moves to second (bases-loaded), Casey Kotchman (1B) lines out to second

End of first inning score: Red Sox 2, Tigers 0

Second Inning: Tigers: Magglio Ordonez (RF) ground-rule doubles to right, Brandon Inge (3B) grounds out to third, Gerald Laird (C) lines out to second, Adam Everett (SS) flies out to center

Red Sox: Nick Green (SS) homers, Ellsbury singles to center, Ellsbury steals second, Pedroia strikes out swinging, Martinez strikes out swinging, Youkilis singles to center, Ellsbury moves to third, Ortiz singles to right, Ellsbury scores, Youkilis moves to third, Ortiz out at first

End of second inning score: Red Sox 4, Tigers 0

Third Inning: Tigers: Granderson flies out right, Polanco singles to center, Thames grounds into double play, Polanco out at second

Red Sox: Drew walks, Bay grounds to fielder's choice at third, Drew out at second, Kotchman singles to third, Bay moves to second, Green strikes out swinging, Ellsbury flies out to right

End of third inning score: Red Sox 4, Tigers o

Fourth Inning: Tigers: Cabrera hit by a pitch, Guillen flies out to center, Ordonez triples to right, Cabrera scores, Inge singles to center, Ordonez scores, Laird grounds out to third, Inge moves to second, Everett grounds out to shortstop

Red Sox: Pedroia grounds out to third, Martinez pops up to shortstop, Youkilis hit by a pitch, Ortiz flies out to right

End of fourth inning score: Red Sox 4, Tigers 2

Fifth Inning: Tigers: Granderson doubles to left, Polanco grounds out to shortstop, Granderson moves to third, Thames flies out to right, Granderson scores, Cabrera strikes out swinging

Red Sox: (Detroit pitcher Fu-Te Ni relieves Detroit starting pitcher Edwin Jackson), Drew grounds out to first, Bay homers, Kotchman walks, Green pops out to shortstop, Kotchan to second on wild pitch, Ellsbury grounds out to first

End of fifth inning score: Red Sox 5, Tigers 3

Sixth Inning: Tigers: Guillen grounds out to first, Ordonez grounds out to second, Inge strikes out swinging

Red Sox: Pedroia walks, Martinez flies out to center, Youkilis grounds out to shortstop, Pedroia moves to second, Ortiz flies out to right

End of sixth inning score: Red Sox 5, Tigers 3

Seventh Inning: Tigers: (Boston pitcher Manny Delcarmen relieves Boston starting pitcher Brad Penny), Laird doubles to left, Everett grounds out to third, Laird moves to third, Granderson grounds out to catcher, Polanco singles to right, Laird scores, Thames doubles to left, Polanco scores, Cabrera intentional walk (Boston pitcher Ramon Ramirez relieves Boston pitcher Manny Delcarmen), Guillen pops out to shortstop

Red Sox: (Detroit pitcher Zach Miner relieves Detroit pitcher Fu-Te Ni), Drew singles to right, Bay flies to center, Kotchman singles to center, Drew moves to third, Green flies out to center, Drew scores, Ellsbury grounds into fielder's choice to shortstop, Kotchman out at second

End of seventh inning score: Red Sox 6, Tigers 5

Eighth Inning: Tigers: Ordonez doubles to left (Clete Thomas pinch runs for Ordonez), Inge hit by a pitch, Laird grounds out to third, Thomas moves to third, Inge moves to second, Everett strikes out swinging, (Boston pitcher Jonathan Papelbon relieves Boston pitcher Ramon Ramirez), Granderson fouls out to catcher

Red Sox: Pedroia pops out to third, Martinez grounds out to second, Youkilis grounds out to pitcher

End of eighth inning score: Red Sox 6, Tigers 5

Ninth Inning: Tigers: Polanco flies out to center, Thames strikes out swinging, Cabrera flies out to right

Red Sox: Game over

End of game score: Red Sox 6, Tigers 5

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DETROIT: Starting Pitcher: Edwin Jackson, Losing Pitcher: Zach Miner

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Brad Penny, Winning Pitcher: Ramon Ramirez (6)

BOSTON: Save: Jonathan Papelbon (28)

BOSTON: Homeruns: Dustin Pedroia (9), Nick Green (6), Jason Bay (22)

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RED SOX: Wins: 63, Losses: 48, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Tuesday 11 August 2009, 4:10 p.m. PT, Detroit Tigers, Fenway Park, Junichi Tazawa

Red Sox Recap, 31 July to 9 August

Between Friday 31 July and Sunday 9 August 2009, the Boston Red Sox played nine games on the road – three against the Baltimore Orioles, two against the Tampa Bay Rays, and four against the New York Yankees. Here are the breakdowns over the time period.

Total Each Series

Red Sox: 28 runs, 47 hits, 2 errors
Orioles: 15 runs, 32 hits, 1 error
Three wins, no losses (sweep)
Analysis: Red Sox had 65% of the total runs, 60% of the total hits, 66% of the total errors

Red Sox: 6 runs, 14 hits, 1 error
Rays: 10 runs, 16 hits, 2 errors
No wins, two losses
Analysis: Red Sox had 38% of the total runs, 46% of the total hits, 33% of the total errors

Red Sox: 8 runs, 25 hits, 2 errors
Yankees: 25 runs, 46 hits, 1 error
No wins, four losses
Analysis: Red Sox had 24% of the total runs, 35% of the total hits, 67% of the total errors

Combined Series Totals

Red Sox: 42 runs, 86 hits, 5 errors
Opponents: 50 runs, 94 hits, 4 errors
Three wins, six losses
Analysis: Red Sox had 46% of the total runs, 48% of the total hits, 56% of the total errors

Season-To-9 August 2009

Red Sox: 562 runs, 990 hits, 67 errors
Opponents: 487 runs, 1007 hits, 73 errors
Sixty-two wins, forty-eight losses
Analysis: Red Sox had 54% of the total runs, 50% of the total hits, 48% of the total errors

AL East Standings (at the start of Monday 10 August 2009)

New York 69 42 .622
Boston 62 48 .564
Tampa Bay 61 50 .550
Toronto 53 57 .482
Baltimore 46 65 .414

Yankees Rope Red Sox

BOSTON: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 - 2 9 0

NY YANKEES: 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 x - 5 10 0

All right, I can appreciate the art/skill of pitching duels, but enough is enough! Thirty-one straight innings without a run is just not believable. Time for the Boston Red Sox hitters to not only step up to the plate, but to break it to pieces. Yes, they did break the runless streak today, but they still lost (though that could be argued to be a relief pitching problem) and were swept by the New York Yankees. Boston does still lead the season series against New York. Happily, Boston leaves Yankee Stadium and heads home to Fenway Park to end their six game losing streak. Boston behind, not buried!

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

NY YANKEES: Starting Pitcher: Andy Pettitte, Winning Pitcher: Phil Coke

BOSTON: Homerun: Victor Martinez (17)

NY YANKEES Homerun: Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, Mark Teixeira

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RED SOX: Wins: 62, Losses: 48, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Monday 10 August 2009, 4:10 p.m. PT, Detroit Tigers, Fenway Park, Brad Penny

Yankees Rout Red Sox

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

NY YANKEES: 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 2 x - 5 9 0

Another day, another New York Yankees win, another shutout loss for the Boston Red Sox. Boston has been experiencing the wrong type of streak for the past five games. Five losses in a row and runs have been hard to come by for the Red Sox recently. They have to get back on the hitting track. Boston's road trip ends tomorrow in Yankee Stadium and it would a great boost if they avoid being swept and head back to Fenway on a positive note. This losing skid has to stop and the climb back up the AL East has to start. Runs, Boston, runs!

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Clay Buchholz, Losing Pitcher: Clay Buchholz (2)

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

NY YANKEES: Homerun: Derek Jeter

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RED SOX: Wins: 62, Losses: 47, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Sunday 9 August 2009, 5:05 p.m. PT, New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium, Jon Lester

Yankees Yard Red Sox

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

NY YANKEES: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 - 2 9 1

Tonight in Yankee Stadium the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees presented a pitching exhibition that lasted five and a half hours. And, unfortunately, the Red Sox were not successful in prevailing in that demonstration of ball handling. Starters and the bullpen for Boston and New York were excellent. But the game ending pitch, which resulted in the two-run, walkoff homer by Rodriguez, was thrown by newly called up Junichi Tazawa making his Major League debut. An inglorious beginning for the young pitcher, but I'm sure he'll have many more opportunities to redeem himself against the Yankees. Such a hard loss. Speaking of loss, John Smoltz has been lost from the starting rotation and designated for assignment. Not surprising. The fifteen inning game was the longest for both teams this season. It won't be a long wait until Saturday's game and Boston needs to be victorious.

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

NY YANKEES: Starting Pitcher: A. J. Burnett, Winning Pitcher: Phil Coke

NY YANKEES: Homerun: Alex Rodriguez

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RED SOX: Wins: 62, Losses: 46, AL East Standings: New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore

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Next game: Saturday 8 August 2009, 1:10 p.m. PT, New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium, Clay Buchholz