Tampa Bay Blanks Boston

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

TAMPA BAY: 0 0 4 2 1 1 0 5 x - 13 18 0

First Inning: Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury strikes out swinging, Dustin Pedroia grounds out to shortstop, David Ortiz flies out to center

Rays: B. J. Upton strikes out looking, Carl Crawford grounds to second, Evan Longoria flies out to left

Second inning: Red Sox: Kevin Youkilis flies out to right, J. D. Drew strikes out looking, Jason Bay strikes out looking

Rays: Carlos Pena strikes out swinging, Pat Burrell singles into left, Gabe Gross strikes out swinging, Akinori Iwamura strikes out swinging

Third inning: Red Sox: Mike Lowell pops out to shortstop, George Kottaras strikes out swinging, Julio Lugo flies out to right

Rays: Jason Bartlett singles to third, Michel Hernandez strikes out looking, Upton singles to third, Bartlett moves to second, Crawford walks, Bartlett moves to third, Upton moves to second (bases-loaded), Longoria doubles to center, Bartlett scores, Upton scores, Crawford scores, Pena strikes out swinging, Burrell singles into right, Longoria scores, Gross walks, Burrell moves to second, Iwamura strikes out swinging

Fourth inning: Red Sox: Ellsbury flies out to left, Pedroia flies out to left, Ortiz strikes out swinging

Rays: Bartlett grounds out to shortstop, Hernandez homers to left, Upton doubles to left, Crawford doubles to left, Upton scores, Crawford steals third, Longoria lines out to shortstop, Pena walks, Burrell lines out to shortstop

Fifth inning: Red Sox: Youkilis strikes out swinging, Drew grounds out to shortstop, Bay strikes out looking

Rays: Gross flies out to left, Iwamura doubles to left, Bartlett strikes out swinging, Hernandez singles into left, Iwamura scores, (Boston pitcher Hunter Jones relieves Boston starting pitcher Josh Beckett), Upton flies out to center

Sixth inning: Red Sox: Lowell grounds out to shortstop, Kottaras strikes out swinging, Lugo lines out to third

Rays: Crawford grounds out to pitcher, Longoria homers to left, Pena singles to right, Burrell strikes out looking, Gross strikes out swinging

Seventh inning: Red Sox: Ellsbury singles to pitcher, (breaks-up Tampa Bay pitcher Matt Garza's perfect game), Pedroia grounds into double play, Ellsbury out at second, Ortiz walks, Jeff Bailey (replaces Kevin Youkilis) grounds out to third

Rays: (Boston pitcher Takashi Saito relieves Boston pitcher Hunter Jones), Iwamura flies out to center, Bartlett pops up to first, Hernandez singles into center, Upton strikes out swinging

Eighth inning: Red Sox: Jonathan Van Every (replaces J. D. Drew) strikes out looking, Bay strikes out swinging, (Tampa Bay pitcher Grant Balfour relieves Tampa Bay starting pitcher Matt Garza), Nick Green (replaces Mike Lowell) strikes out swinging

Rays: (Boston pitcher Javier Lopez relieves Boston pitcher Takashi Saito), Crawford grounds out to second, Longoria singles to center, Pena singles to right, Longoria moves to second, Burrell walks, Longoria moves to third, Pena moves to second (bases-loaded), Gross doubles to left, Longoria scores, Pena scores, Burrell moves to third, Iwamura ground rule double to right, Burrell scores, Gross scores, (Boston Rightfielder Jonathan Van Every relieves Boston pitcher Javier Lopez who then replaces Van Every in right), Bartlett fouls out to third, Hernandez doubles to center, Iwamura scores, Upton walks, Ben Zobrist (hits for Crawford) fouls out to first

Ninth inning: Red Sox: Kottaras flies out to second, Lugo walks, Ellsbury flies out to center, Pedroia grounds out to third

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Josh Beckett, Losing Pitcher: Josh Beckett (2)

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

TAMPA BAY: Homeruns: Michel Hernandez, Evan Longoria

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RED SOX: Wins: 14, Losses: 8, AL East Standings: Boston, Toronto, New York, Baltimore, Tampa Bay

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Next game: Friday 1 May 2009, 4:38 p.m. PT, Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana Field, Justin Masterson

Boston Busts Cleveland, 6 to 5

BOSTON: 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 1 - 6 10 1

CLEVELAND: 2 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 5 8 1

The Boston Red Sox end their three-game series against the Cleveland Indians in Progressive Field with a win; thereby taking the series two games to one game and starting (I hope) a new winning streak. Although the Indians managed to have twice as many homeruns in this game as the Red Sox, it was Boston's one homerun that made all the difference. One catch might have made the difference yesterday - one hit did that today.

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Jon Lester, Winning Pitcher: Hideki Okajima (2)

CLEVELAND: Starting Pitcher: Fausto Carmona, Losing Pitcher: Jensen Lewis

BOSTON: Save: Jonathan Papelbon (6)

BOSTON: Homerun: Jonathan Van Every (1)

CLEVELAND: Homeruns: Mark DeRosa, Kelly Shoppach

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RED SOX: Wins: 14, Losses: 7, AL East Standings: Boston, Toronto, New York, Baltimore, Tampa Bay

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Next game: Thursday 30 April 2009, 4:08 p.m. PT, Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana Field, Josh Beckett

Cleveland Crushes Boston

BOSTON: 1 4 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 - 8 14 3

CLEVELAND: 1 2 4 0 0 0 1 0 1 - 9 13 0

A hitting fest game today for the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians. A very long night in Progressive Field and a large number of runs. Errors ended up being the determining factor in the game (not pitching or hitting) and the Red Sox winning streak has ended. How difficult is it to catch a ball that is flipped to you? Pay attention to the ball!! I knew that the streak would eventually end, but the indignity of losing that way is embarrassing. Being out hit or out pitched is one thing, but on a routine playable error??? An unworthy loss.

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Brad Penny, Losing Pitcher: Javier Lopez (2)

CLEVELAND: Starting Pitcher: Anthony Reyes, Winning Pitcher: Kerry Wood

CLEVELAND: Homeruns: Ben Francisco, Mark DeRosa

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RED SOX: Wins: 13, Losses: 7, AL East Standings: Toronto, Boston, New York, Baltimore, Tampa Bay

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Next game: Wednesday 29 April 2009, 4:05 p.m. PT, Cleveland Indians, Progressive Field, Jon Lester

Boston Bursts Cleveland, 3 to 1

BOSTON: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 - 3 8 0

CLEVELAND: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 - 1 4 1

The Boston Red Sox are on the road again and hoping that it is a happier experience than the first road trip. First stop is Progressive Field for three against the Cleveland Indians. Pitching duel today, but neither starter gets the win. Either Boston is exhausted from all the runs (25) that they scored against the Yankees and has nothing left for the Indians or the Cleveland pitching is very good. But wait, the Cleveland closer enters the game and... a Red Sox homer and three runs on the board!! Boston's closer was a little more effective and only allowed one run. Both starters did great work. Perhaps keeping the starters in for the whole game would have been the way to go. Anyway, the Red Sox winning streak is still alive at eleven and the road trip does begin on a happy note.

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BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Tim Wakefield, Winning Pitcher: Manny Delcarmen (1)

CLEVELAND: Starting Pitcher: Cliff Lee, Losing Pitcher: Kerry Wood

BOSTON: Save: Jonathan Papelbon (5)

BOSTON: Homerun: Jason Bay (5)

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RED SOX: Wins: 13, Losses: 6, AL East Standings: Boston, Toronto, New York, Baltimore, Tampa Bay

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Next game: Tuesday 28 April 2009, 4:05 p.m. PT, Cleveland Indians, Progressive Field, Brad Penny

Red Sox Recap, 17 to 26 April

Between Friday 17 April 2009 and Sunday 26 April 2009, the Boston Red Sox played nine games in Fenway Park - four against the Baltimore Orioles, two against the Minnesota Twins, and three against the New York Yankees. Here are the breakdowns over this time period.

Totals Each Series

Red Sox: 30 runs, 45 hits, 3 errors

Orioles: 14 runs, 30 hits, 3 errors

Four wins, no losses (sweep)

Analysis: Red Sox had 68% of the total runs, 60% of the total hits, 50% of the total errors

Red Sox: 17 runs, 19 hits, 3 errors

Twins: 4 runs, 11 hits, 1 error

Two wins, no losses (sweep)

Analysis: Red Sox had 81% of the total runs, 63% of the total hits, 75% of the total errors

Red Sox: 25 runs, 34 hits, 2 errors

Yankees: 16 runs, 35 hits, 4 errors

Three wins, no losses (sweep)

Analysis: Red Sox had 61% of the total runs, 49% of the total hits, 33% of the total errors

Combined Series Totals

Red Sox: 72 runs, 98 hits, 8 errors

Opponents: 34 runs, 76 hits, 8 errors

Nine wins, no losses (sweep)

Analysis: Red Sox had 68% of the total runs, 56% of the total hits, 50% of the total errors

Season-To-26 April 2009

Red Sox: 109 runs, 174 hits, 11 errors

Opponents: 79 runs, 157 hits, 16 errors

Twelve wins, six losses

Analysis: Red Sox had 58% of the total runs, 53% of the total hits, 41% of the total errors

AL East Standings (at the start of Monday 27 April 2009)

Toronto 14 6 .700

Boston 12 6 .667

New York 9 9 .500

Baltimore 9 10 .474

Tampa Bay 7 12 .368

Red Sox Rebuke Yankees, 4 to 1

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

BOSTON: 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 x - 4 7 1

First inning: Yankees: Brett Gardner grounds out to shortstop, Derek Jeter grounds out to second, Mark Teixeira strikes out

Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury singles into left, Dustin Pedroia flies out to center, David Ortiz lines out into double play second to first, Ellsbury out at first

Second inning: Yankees: Nick Swisher strikes out swinging, Robinson Cano grounds out to first, Jorge Posada flies out to left

Red Sox: Kevin Youkilis grounds out to second, J. D. Drew strikes out looking, Jason Bay singles to third, Mike Lowell singles into right, Bay advances to second, Jason Varitek flies out to left

Third inning: Yankees: Hideki Matsui singles into left, Melky Cabrera singles to third, Matsui advances to second, Angel Berroa out at first, Matsui advances to third, Cabrera advances to second, Gardner flies out to left, Matsui scores, Jeter singles to third, Cabrera advances to third, Teixeira flies out to right

Red Sox: Nick Green safe at first on third baseman's error, Ellsbury grounds into fielder's choice to pitcher, Green out at second, Ellsbury steals second, Pedroia on first on third basemen's throwing error, Ellsbury advances to third, Ortiz flies out to left, Ellsbury scores, Pedroia out trying to steal second

Fourth inning: Yankees: Swisher strikes out swinging, Cano singles to right, Posada fouls out to third, Matsui singles to right, Cano advances to third, Cabrera grounds out to second

Red Sox: Youkilis strikes out swinging, Drew strikes out swinging, Bay walks, Bay steals second, Lowell strikes out looking

Fifth inning: Yankees: Berroa grounds out to third, Gardner strikes out looking, Jeter singles to left, Teixeira flies out to right

Red Sox: Varitek walks, Green strikes out swinging, Ellsbury walks, Varitek advances to second, Pedroia flies out to center, Oritz doubles to left, Varitek scores, Ellsbury advances to third, Youkilis intentional walk, (bases loaded), Ellsbury steals home! (first straight steal of home by a Red Sox player since Billy Hatcher on 22 April 1994), Drew ground-rule double to right, Oritz scores, Youkilis to third, Bay strikes out

Sixth inning: Yankees: Swisher flies out to left, Cano singles to right, Posada walks, Cano advances to second, Matsui flies out to right, Cabrera strikes out swinging

Red Sox: Lowell grounds out to third, Varitek grounds out to second, Green singles to left, Green out trying to steal second

Seventh inning: Yankees: Berroa fouls out to first, Gardner flies out to left, Jeter strikes out swinging

Red Sox: Ellsbury grounds out to pitcher, Pedroia flies out to center, Oritz pops up to second

Eighth inning: Yankees: Teixeira flies out to left, Swisher grounds out to pitcher, Cano strikes out swinging

Red Sox: Youkilis singles into center, Jonathan Van Every (replaces Drew) walks, Youkilis advances to second, Bay hit by a pitch, Youkilis advances to third, Van Every advances to second, Lowell grounds into a fielder's choice at third, Youkilis out at home, Varitek strikes out swinging, Green grounds into a fielder's choice at second, Lowell out at second

Ninth inning: Yankees: Posada pops up to second, Matsui pops up to third, Cabrera singles into right, Cabrera steals second, Johnny Damon (pinch hits for Angel Berroa) flies out to right

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NY YANKEES: Starting Pitcher: Andy Pettitte, Losing Pitcher: Andy Pettitte
BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Justin Masterson, Winning Pitcher: Justin Masterson (2)
BOSTON: Save: Takashi Saito (2)
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RED SOX: Wins: 12, Losses: 6, AL East Standings: Toronto, Boston, New York, Baltimore, Tampa Bay

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Next game: Monday 27 April 2009, 4:05 p.m. PT, Cleveland Indians, Progressive Park, Tim Wakefield

Red Sox Ruin Yankees, 16 to 11

NY YANKEES: 2 0 2 2 0 2 2 1 0 - 11 15 1

BOSTON: 0 0 0 5 3 1 3 4 x - 16 13 1

Yesterday pitching, today hitting. Three home runs each for the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, including a grand slam by Red Sox starting catcher Jason Varitek. In several opportunities, Boston even did well and scored runs with the bases loaded. And no matter what happens tomorrow, the Red Sox have won the first series against the Yankees and have exceeded my expectations for this Fenway Park homestand. Wonderful!

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NY YANKEES: Starting Pitcher: A. J. Burnett, Losing Pitcher: Jonathan Albaladejo

BOSTON: Starting Pitcher: Josh Beckett, Winning Pitcher: Hideki Okajima (1)

NY YANKEES: Homeruns: Robinson Cano (twice), Johnny Damon

BOSTON: Homeruns: Jason Varitek (4) Grand Slam, Jacoby Ellsbury (1), Mike Lowell (4)

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RED SOX: Wins: 11, Losses: 6, AL East Standings: Toronto, Boston, New York, Baltimore, Tampa Bay

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Next game: Sunday 26 April 2009, 5:05 p.m. PT, New York Yankees, Fenway Park, Justin Masterson