First game at Fenway and the Red Sox win!; Baltimore Orioles vs. Boston Red Sox

Second trip to Boston. Second time at Fenway. Second Red Sox game. First game at Fenway. First regular season Red Sox game.

The first time I came to Boston was 4 years ago in the middle of February. We were going to tour Fenway but we were told it's not worth it due to construction that was being done on the stadium but as we walked around a construction worker told us that if we entered the stadium he wouldn't stop us but he didn't say we could, so of course we went inside and got some photos of the field (tarp on) and the Green Monster. This trip to Fenway was even better we started out eating at a bar called Game On, got to go on the field for the Orioles batting practice, got to go on top of the Green Monster, watched the Red Sox beat my dad's team the Orioles, and got to sit in the Red Sox dugout after the game.

While we watched the Orioles batting practice my father claimed they were having a home run derby, I just let all the trash talk go in one ear and out another because I knew the Red Sox would shut him up...and well they did. The Red Sox had their own home run derby but during the game that put them in first place as the Yankees lost to the Rays to a score of 5-1. The Red Sox had 6 home runs from 6 different players. In the 3rd inning Dustin Pedroia hit a 3 run shot that gave the Red Sox a 3-2 lead. In the 5th Jacoby Ellsbury sent a ball to center field for 2 runs giving the Red Sox the lead again at 5-3. In the 7th inning the Red Sox would go back-to-back-to-back with solo long balls, starting with a shot from David Ortiz, then Josh Reddick, and then Jarrod Saltalamacchia to push the Red Sox over the Orioles 10-3. The Orioles would score 1 more run to make their loss a 6 run deficit at 10-4.

Andrew Miller was shaky in the beginning giving up 2 runs in the 1st and a run in the 3rd, but in the end he recieved the winning decision as he left after 5 innings with a 5-3 lead and gave up 6 hits and walked 4. Miller is now 3-0 on the season in 4 starts. Orioles' starter Jake Arrieta recieved the loss as he pitched 4.1 innings and gave up 6 hits and 5 runs (4 earned) and is 9-6 on the season.

The Red Sox sweep the Yankees; Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees

After a 2-10 start (which those 2 wins came from victories over the Yankees) for the Red Sox, they are now at .500 for the first time this season at 20-20. This is the second sweep of the season for the Red Sox and both were in enemy territory. The first sweep was in Los Angeles versus the Angels April 21-24 during a 4 game series. The Red Sox go into the Bronx with a 2-1 record versus the Yankees and leave with a 5-1 record versus them.


Game 1:

Clay Buchholz was on the mound for the Red Sox and Bartolo Colon for the Yankees. Adrian Gonzalez with a solo home run in this game, which gave him 3 consecutive home runs in 3 consecutive games. Russell Martin also with a 2 run home run for the Yankees in the game.  Those home runs were off the starters. Joba Chamberlain came into relief for Colon and gave up 3 runs to the Red Sox off  a 1 RBI sac bunt by Adrian Gonzalez and a 2 run homer by Kevin Youkilis. Daniel Bard replaced Buchholz and we gave up a lead off triple to Curtis Ganderson in the bottom of the 8th and 2 batters later he threw a wild pitch which brought Ganderson in.

The Red Sox win 5-4. Clay Buchholz received the win allowing 5 hits, 2 earned runs, 1 home run, walked 1, and struck out 7 in 7 innings of work. Bartolo Colon with the losing decision after pitching 6 innings allowing 5 hits, 3 runs 2 of which earned, 1 home run walked 3, and struck out 4. Jonathon Papelbon with the save even though he allowed a run on 2 hits.


Game 2:

Josh Beckett with the start for the Red Sox and CC Sabathia for the Yankees. Beckett pitched 6 innings allowing 4 hits, walked 2, struck out 9, and 0 runs. Beckett pitched a 6 inning shut out, Matt Albers and Rich Hill in their combined 3 innings of relief work kept the shut out and win for Beckett. CC Sabathia pitched 2 outs longer than Beckett allowing 7 hits, 6 earned runs, 1 home run, walked 3, and struck out 6.

Jacoby Ellsbury hit a 2 RBI double in the top of the 4th to put the first runs on the board for either team. Jason Varitek hit an RBI single in the top of the 7th for a 3 run lead over the Yankees and Adrian Gonzalez continued his home run streak, with his 4th consecutive home run in his 4th consecutive game, with a 3 run home run in the 7th.

The Red Sox win 6-0 and shut out the Yankees.


Game 3:

The Yankees start the scoring with an RBI single from Mark Teixeira in the bottom of the 1st to give the Yankees a 1 run lead. In the top of the 2nd the Red Sox tie it back up with a sac fly off the bat of Jed Lowrie. To lead off the bottom of the 2nd Yankees DH Andruw Jones homered to break the tie and Curtis Ganderson homered to give the Yankees a 2 run lead. Red Sox again come back to tie the game in the next half inning this time off the bat of Kevin Youkilis and it was a 3 run home run. Game tied at 4. In the top of 5th David Ortiz hit himself in for an RBI and to give the Red Sox the lead for the first time in the game, 5-4. Dustin Pedrioa scored in the top of the 7th off an error by Alex Rodriguez. Alex Rodriguez then makes it up in the bottom of the inning with an RBI double. Top of the 8th Jarrod Saltalamacchia wanted that 2 run lead back as he homered into right field, his first of the season and first for Red Sox catchers. The Red Sox won 7-5.

Jon Lester started the game for the Red Sox and received the win even though his line reads as; 6 innings pitched allowing 5 hits, 4 runs, 4 earned runs, 4 walks, 7 strike outs, and 2 home runs given up. Freddy Garcia the Yankees starter for the game received the loss pitching 5.1 innings allowing 6 hits, 5 runs, 4 earned runs, 2 home runs, 2 walks, and 4 strike outs. Jonathon Papelbon with another save in a perfect 9th.


Notes:

All 3 of the Red Sox starting pitchers received the win while all of the Yankees starting pitchers received the loss.

All 3 games there was a home run, both teams hit a home run each game besides game 2 where the Yankees hit none.

Jonathon Papelbon with 2 saves in games 1 and 3.

After 13 games the Red Sox get their 3rd win; Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox

This was Josh Beckett's first start since his 8 inning shut out vs the Yankees for the Red Sox 2nd win on the season. Beckett is 2-1 on the season. Beckett pitched 7 innings allowing only 3 hits, 1 earned run, walking 2, and striking out 9 (5 called strike outs). Beckett gave up a double to Aaron Hill in the top of the 2nd and then a RBI single to Travis Snider for the Blue Jays only run on the game. The only other Blue Jay hit Beckett gave up was in the 5th, a single from Jose Molina. Beckett pitched 3 perfect innings; the 1st, 3rd, and 7th. For once the Red Sox bull pen was able to back up the starting staff, though only 2 innings in relief were needed. Daniel Bard came in the start of the 8th gave up a lead off single to John McDonald but he was caught stealing 2nd by Jason Variteck for the 1st out, Yunel Escobar struck out swining for the 2nd out, and Corey Patterson grounded out for the 3rd out. Jonathan Papelbon came in for the 9th and the attempt of a save. Papelbon got the 1st 2 batters out, Kevin Youkilis commited a fielding error allowing Aaron Hill to occupy 1st who then took 2nd and 3rd on defensive indifference, and Travis Snider flew out for the final out. Papelbon protected the Red Sox 4-1 lead and got the save.

The Red Sox offense scored their only runs in the 1st and 2nd innings. Jed Lowrie lead off the 1st with a single, Dustin Pedroia walked, Adrian Gonzalez brought in Lowrie with a single to give the Red Sox the 1st run of the game, and then Youkilis an RBI double bringing in Pedroia. David Ortiz walked with no outs loading the bases but not shocking to Red Sox fans the Red Sox leave the bases loaded. In the 2nd inning Jacoby Ellsbury lead off with a walk and Jed Lowrie hit a 2 run home run, last run of the game (4-1 Red Sox). Every inning besides the 6th the Red Sox had a hit with in the inning. In innings 1, 4, 5, and 8 the Red Sox lead off with a single. The only extra base(s) hit for the Red Sox was from Youkilis in the 1st inning, a RBI double.

The Red Sox are 3-10 on the season, 3-4 against American League East rivals and at home, Fenway Park.

From pessimism to optimism back to pessimism; Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox

As I was starting to write a post on how absolutely awful the Red Sox pitching was in this game, which it was, the Red Sox offense started a rally in the 8th with the help of 2 walks by Blue Jay relief pitcher Marc Rzepczynski scoring 3 runs adding to their 3 runs from the 3rd inning as they still trail the Blue Jays 7-6.

The Red Sox had a 3-0 lead until the 5th inning when Clay Buchholz gave up 2 runs by a 2 RBI triple from Corey Patterson. Alfredo Aceves came into relieve Buchholz in the 6th and gave up a run off a RBI double from Travis Snider. Bobby Jenks gave up 4 runs in the 7th and was replaced by Felix Doubront after Jenks only recorded 1 out. Doubront got the next 2 batters out for no more damage but was stolen off of by Aaron Hill. After all of this the Blue Jays had a 7-3 lead and all hope for a 3rd win for the Red Sox was disappearing until the 8th when Rzepczynski came in relief of Blue Jays reliever Jason Frasor.

Rzepczynski was able to get Adrian Gonzalez to ground out to first base. Rzepczynski then walked back-to-back Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz. J.D. Drew struck out swinging for the 2nd out.  Jed Lowrie came to pinch hit for struggling Jarrod Saltalamacchia as he batted Rzepczynski threw a wild pitch that moved Youkilis and Ortiz both into scoring position for Lowries RBI single to shorten the Blue Jays lead to 3. Blue Jays then took Rzepczynski out of the game and put in Casey Janssen who gave up a 2 RBI double to Marco Scutaro shortening the Blue Jays lead over the Red Sox to 1 (7-6 Blue Jays). Janssen was able to get the 3rd out and stop the Red Sox rally when Jacoby Ellsbury flied out to right field.

Jonathan Papelbon was able to do his part and get 3 outs without allowing a run. Sadly the Red Sox top of the line up couldn't do anything to either win the game or put it into extra innings. Carl Crawford struck out, he went 0-5 in the game as lead off hitter, Pedroia grounded out to short stop, and then Adrian Gonzalez, with his newly signed deal with the Red Sox keeping him in Boston for at least 7 years, grounded out to 1st base for the 3rd out. A perfect 9th for Blue Jay closer Jon Rauch and a save as the Red Sox fall to 2-10 on the season.

It's really hard to be optimistic watching the Red Sox play now. The pitching is giving up runs like nothing and the offense can't keep up with it. I'm wondering when they can snap out of this and start winning. I'm not the type of fan to jump ship so I'll still watch the games on game day since I can't get NESN and I am still a Red Sox fan, a very depressed Red Sox fan.

Grapefruit League: Florida Marlins vs. Boston Red Sox (Picture Post)

On March 12th, 2011 at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers at 1:05 p.m., I watched my Marlins take on my Red Sox.

This is the starting line up for the game. (The hand is some dad explaining the line up to his kid.)

Adrian Gonzalez's first at bat during his Red Sox debut, which he winded up getting a single off Marlins' pitcher Josh Johnson. He only had one more at bat after which was an sac fly which scored Jacoby Ellsbury.

John Lackey recieved the winning decision after pitching for 4.1 innings allowing 6 hits, 1 run (earned), and struck out 3 Marlins, leaving with an ERA of 1.74.

The starting catcher for the Red Sox, Jarrod Saltalamacchia (such a long name), went 1-for-2; walked in the 1st, struck out swinging in the 3rd, and an RBI single in the 5th off of Marlins' pitcher, Ryan Webb.

Josh Johnson, the Marlins' starting pitcher, left the game with an ERA of 10.00. He pitched for 3.2 innings allowing 9 hits, 5 runs (all earned and 1 was a solo home run), walked 1 batter, and struck 2 batters. Also JJ did not get the pick off of Mike Cameron (#23) and Mike actually winded up stealing 2nd base after this picture.

My favorite MLB player, Kevin Youkilis, didn't do so great during my first Red Sox game. He went 0-for-3; flied out to the short stop in the 1st, grounded out to the pitcher in the 2nd, and flied out to the right fielder in the 4th.

Randy Williams came into relieve Lackey in the 5th inning with 1 out and pitched the entire 6th inning. Williams didn't allow any hits, runs, or walks. He did though strike out 3 batters.

Marlins' starting DH, John Baker, started the game off with an RBI single off Lackey in the 2nd, flied out to right field in the 4th, and flied out to left field in the 7th. John is the only Marlin to get an RBI in the game.

Vinny Rottino and Tim Torres almost collide on a routine infield pop fly.

Matt Fox pitched for the Red Sox in the 8th inning allowing 1 hit and 1 run while walking and striking out 1 batter.

Vinny Rottino in his only at bat, of the game in the 8th, flied out to right field and moved a runner to 3rd.

Osvaldo "Ozzie" Martinez, also, his first and only at bat of the game in the 8th inning made contact but by a fielding error by Red Sox 3rd baseman, Ryan Khoury, got to hold first and bring home Chris Lubanski.

Unpictured Notable Players

Marlins:

Logan Morrison went 1-for-3; struck out in the 1st, doubled in the 3rd, and flied out to left field in the 5th.

John Buck went 1-for-3; singled in the 2nd, flied out in the 3rd, and struck out swinging in the 6th.

Donnie "Bleeping" Murphy went 1-for-3; singled in the 2nd, lined out to 2nd base in the 4th, and struck out swinging in the 6th.

Matt Dominguez, who is fighting for a starting spot with the big league club, went 1-for-3.

Tom Koehler pitched for 2.2 innings allowing only 2 hits, walked a batter, and a strike out.

Red Sox:

Jacoby Ellsbury went 3-for-3; doubled in the 1st, 2 RBI double in the 2nd, and hit a solo home run in the 4th.

Dustin Pedroia went 3-for-3; RBI single in the 1st, singled in the 2nd, and singled in the 4th.

David Ortiz went 2-for-3; 2 doubles.

J.D. Drew went 0-for-3; grounded out in the 1st, lined out to the short stop in the 3rd, and grounded out in the 5th.

Marco Scutaro went 0-for-2; grounded out in the 2nd and flied out to right field in the 4th.

Random Photos

Dustin Pedrioa calling for the ball to avoid a possible collision with the right fielder.

Logan Morrison watching as the ball sailed in to center field in the 3rd inning, which he was able to get a double out of.

Josh Kroeger attempting to catch a ball drilled by David Ortiz that bounced off the wall.

John Baker and Donnie "Bleeping" Murphy signing autographs after they ran during the game.

Our usher singing "Sweet Caroline" even after it shut off and the game resumed he continued to sing another usher tried to get him to stop. It was great reminded me of a usher we have in Jacksonville.

Vinny Rottino falling while making the catch.