Rangers Run Over Red Sox

Teams	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	Runs	Hits	Errors
Rangers	0	4	3	0	0	1	0	8	2	18	21	0
Red Sox	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	10	0

Rangers highlight: Six homeruns
Rangers lowlight: Ten men left on base
Red Sox highlight: Two homeruns
Red Sox lowlight: Pitching

My Comment: The amazing aspect of this game for me is that with all the hitting (although one-sided), there were no errors. Guess that indicates that on a particular level Boston played well - just not in the area that scores runs.

TEXAS: Starting Pitcher: Colby Lewis; Winning Pitcher: Colby Lewis
BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Jon Lester; Losing Pitcher: Jon Lester (2)
TEXAS: Homruns: Mike Napoli, Michael Young, Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre, Nelson Cruz
BOSTON: Homeruns: Dustin Pedroia (3), Adrian Gonzalez (2)

Red Sox: Wins 4, Losses 7, Percentage: .364

Next game: Wednesday 18 April 2012, 4:05 p.m.PT/7:05 p.m.ET, Texas Rangers, Fenway Park, Josh Beckett

Texas Rangers logo from the website mlb.com

"Red Sox Box" logo created by Adrean Darce Brent

American League East Standings: Monday 16 April 2012

American League East Standings

Baltimore	6	4	.600
Toronto	5	4	.556
New York	5	5	.500
Tampa Bay	5	5	.500
Boston	4	6	.400

American League logo from the website mlb.com

"Red Sox Box" logo created by Adrean Darce Brent

Boston Silent And No Sweep Of Tampa Bay

Teams	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	Runs	Hits	Errors
Rays	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	7	0
Red Sox	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0

Rays highlight: Seven hits
Rays lowlight: Eleven men left on base
Red Sox highlight: Relief pitching
Red Sox lowlight: Five men left on base

TAMPA BAY: Starting Pitcher: James Shields; Winning Pitcher: James Shields
BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Daniel Bard; Losing Pitcher: Daniel Bard (2)
TAMPA BAY: Save: Fernando Rodney

Red Sox: Wins 4, Losses 6, Percentage: .400

Next game: Tuesday 17 April 2012, 4:05 p.m.PT/7:05 p.m.ET, Texas Rangers, Fenway Park, Jon Lester

Tampa Bay Rays logo from the website mlb.com

"Red Sox Box" logo created by Adrean Darce Brent

Boston Wins Third In A Row Against Tampa Bay, 6 To 4

Teams	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	Runs	Hits	Errors
Rays	0	0	0	0	3	1	0	0	0	4	13	0
Red Sox	0	3	0	1	0	1	1	0	X	6	8	0

Rays highlight: One homerun
Rays lowlight: Ten men left on base
Red Sox highlight: Two homeruns
Red Sox lowlight: Five men left on base

My Comment: I'm in my favorite New England sports living bar on this Jackie Robinson Day. On this day Major League baseball celebrates the thirty-fifth anniversary of the day Jackie Robinson made his baseball debut and broke the eighty-year color barrier. Throughout baseball every uniformed person wears the number 42 to honor the man who changed the face of baseball under unbelievable pressure.
I've always considered it a great shame for the Boston Red Sox that they passed on signing Jackie Robinson when they had the chance and could have been first instead of dead last in the integration of Major League Baseball.
In the bar are regular Rich and two other women watching the game.
First inning - no runs for either team.
Second inning - no runs for the Rays, three runs for the Red Sox on a Cody Ross homerun!
A few more people have arrived.
Third inning - Rays and Red Sox score no runs
Fourth inning - one run for the Red Sox
an older couple are at one of the high tables and a little later their son showed up.
Fifth inning - Rays are threatening and a potential homerun is under review. Still a foul ball. But the Rays get three runs. Red Sox go out 1,2,3.
The noise level has increased in the bar and there are a few more people in a booth.
Sixth inning - Rays have added a run to tie it up. Scott Atchison in to pitch. No outs, men on first and second. Strike out on a bunt attempt. Vicente Padilla come in to pitch. One out, still men on first and second. Two outs. No more damage. The Red Sox are up. Ortiz gets another double and the Red Sox retake the lead. Intentionally walk Cody Ross. The runners are moved along to second and third. Another intentional walk. Bases loaded and two outs. Just the one run.
Seventh inning - Rays do not get any runs. Now it's the Red Sox turn. Homerun!
Eighth inning - Rays are runless. Red Sox go down 1, 2, 3.
Ninth inning - Alfredo Aceves is closing. No Rays runs. Boston wins!

TAMPA BAY: Starting Pitcher: Matt Moore; Losing Pitcher: Matt Moore
BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Felix Doubront; Winning Pitcher: Vicente Padilla (1)
BOSTON: Save: Alfredo Aceves (2)
TAMPA BAY: Homerun: Luke Scott
BOSTON: Homeruns: Cody Ross (2), Mike Aviles (2)

Red Sox: Wins 4, Losses 5, Percentage: .444

Next game: Monday 16 April 2012, 8:05 a.m.PT/11:05 a.m.ET, Tampa Bay Rays, Fenway Park, Daniel Bard

Boston Red Sox logo from the website mlb.com

"Red Sox Box" logo created by Adrean Darce Brent

Boston Tramples Tampa Bay, 13 To 5

Teams	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	Runs	Hits	Errors
Rays	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	6	0
Red Sox	0	2	1	0	2	0	3	5	X	13	15	0

Rays highlight: One homerun
Rays lowlight: Four men left on base
Red Sox highlight: Five homeruns
Red Sox lowlight: Six men left on base

My Comment: On this day of powerful hitting by the Red Sox, I'd like to specially mention David Ortiz. A 4-for-5 day, with a homerun and five RBIs, David is indeed an extraordinary designated hitter and as such should have been offered a multi-year contract - multi as in two or three. No matter, Big Papi will continue to show his worth to the club this season. Oh, and by the way, David's batting average as of today is .406.

TAMPA BAY: Starting Pitcher: Jeremy Hellickson; Losing Pitcher: Burke Badenhop
BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Clay Buchholz; Winning Pitcher: Clay Buchholz (1)
TAMPA BAY: Homerun: Luke Scott
BOSTON: Homeruns: Jarrod Saltalamacchia (1), Dustin Pedroia (2), David Oritz (1), Mike Aviles (1), Cody Ross (1)

Red Sox: Wins 3, Losses 5, Percentage: .375

Next game: Sunday 15 April 2012, 10:35 a.m.PT/1:35 p.m.ET, Tampa Bay Rays, Fenway Park, Felix Doubront

Boston Red Sox logo from the website mlb.com

"Red Sox Box" logo created by Adrean Darce Brent

Boston Busts Tampa Bay, 12 To 2

Teams	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	Runs	Hits	Errors
Rays	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	6	1
Red Sox	0	0	3	1	0	0	0	8	X	12	16	0

Rays highlight: One homerun
Rays lowlight: Throwing error
Red Sox highlight: Eight runs in the eighth
Red Sox lowlight: Ten men left on base

My Comment: Welcome Home Red Sox!

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Josh Beckett; Winning Pitcher: Josh Beckett (1)
TAMPA BAY: Starting Pitcher: David Price; Losing Pitcher: David Price
TAMPA BAY: Homerun: Ben Zobrist

Red Sox: Wins 2, Losses 5, Percentage: .286

Next game: Saturday 14 April 2012, 1:05 p.m.PT/4:05 p.m.ET, Tampa Bay Rays, Fenway Park, Clay Buchholz

Boston Red Sox logo from the website mlb.com

"Red Sox Box" logo created by Adrean Darce Brent

Diamond Defined: Batter To Battery

From the 2006 book, The Official Rules of Baseball Illustrated, by David Nemec, I will present Rule 2 of the Code - the definitions of baseball terms - over the course of the 2012 baseball season. Today’s terms are: Batter, Batter-Runner, Batter’s Box, Battery.

Batter – an offensive player who takes her position in the batter’s box.

Batter-Runner – a term that identifies the offensive player who has just finished his time at bat until he is put out or until the play on which he became a runner ends.

Batter’s Box – the area within which the batter shall stand during her time at bat.

Battery – the pitcher and catcher.

Images:
Left: Batter’s Box (diagram) from the website meetup.com
Center: “Diamond Defined” logo created by Adrean Darce Brent
Right: Batter’s Box (photo) from the website webball.com
Below: "Red Sox Box" logo created by Adrean Darce Brent