Top Dog Boston goes for another sweep of Tampa Bay while further distancing themselves from the mongrels of the AL East. Diaisuke is on the bump for the Sox while Scott Kazmir hurls for the truly tepid D-Rays. Comment away.
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Who do you include in the ‘mongrels of the AL East,’ AG?
Everyone that’s not in first.
Apparently, Mirabelli is channeling Pudge Fisk today; a nice play on a pop-up for the first out and throwing out a basestealer to end the inning.
But Dougie does not hit like Pudge. Four hits, no runs after two …
I know Kazmir has given us fits before. We really need to work the pitch count today and get this kid out of the game so we can get to the tender belly of the TB bullpen.
Dice had allowed the bases to be loaded, but thankfully managed to work his way out of the jam.
Ortiz hits into another DP.
Two GDIPs for Papi in his first two at-bats. Just bad luck or is he hurting? I’m worried.
I think Papi’s still hurting. His power is WAY down, and that is generated from his legs. His bat speed seems to be OK as his average is good, but he what he used to be able to muscle over the infield for a blooper is now just a weak grounder.
Daisuke with 55 pitches after three. And he was helped by Youk’s unassisted double play.
I’d argue that Papi’s lack of home runs are affected by his knee and leg issues, but I don’t think that has any bearing on his two DPs. His slugging this year is down almost entirely because of his lack of homers. His doubles, on the other hand, are much higher — already surpassing last year’s total and easily on pace to set a career high.
So I don’t think Papi’s overall power is the victim, just his home run power.
Kazmir and Daisuke with identical lines after four (5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K)
Modesto with a lead-off double in the 5th, Belli batting.
(Wishing some scout could figure out why Kazmir is such a problem for the Sox.)
Thanks for that stat, Paul. I wasn’t aware of that.
Sac bunt by Mirabelli gets Wily to 3rd, nice.
Gah, runner stranded (including Ks by Lugo and DPed). Kazmir pitch count at 84, though, so if the Sox are patient maybe there’s only one more inning of him…
Ugh. Sox waste a leadoff double and Mirabelli sac bunt with back-to-back Ks by Lugo and Pedroia. That hurts…
Don’t know if anyone else is suffering through these “dandy” Rays announcers.
QuoSF – I switched over the Boston station, I couldn’t take it.
MannyOrtez both go quickly in the 6th. Youks has got to put together a long at bat and get Kaz up to 100 pitches… Please.
Kevin (does anyone ever call him Kevin anymore?) Ks, inning ovah, Kaz = 97 pitches. Probably see him at the star of the 7th, I’m guessing. Sigh.
1-2-3 inning for Kazmir. Is he getting stronger in the course of the game? We definitely need to get to the Rays’ bullpen.
Yankees currently up 4-2 on the O’s, top of the 5th.
DiceK Ks Gomes to end the 6th, 100 pitches. I assume he’ll be back for another, given his durability.
Hallelujah! Kazmir’s out of the tie ballgame!
Crisp on 3rd, 2 outs… 10 pitch at-bat for Mirabelli ends with a walk… Now at the corners. Gotta get it done here.
Nuthin’ doin’ as Lugo grounds out 5-3 to end the 7th.
And Mr. Lugo is back to his old self 0-0 Mid 7th
Bah, Navaro just destroyed one for a hr, 1-0 Rays.
That’s exactly what I was afraid of. Crap…
“He’ll need a rocket up his *** to get that one.”
Dioner Navarro – he of the .186 average – homers on an 0-2 count. How did that happen?
I was wondering if we weren’t pressing our luck not going to Delcarmen in the seventh… Now, a lineout, homer and single later…
Upton 3 run jack off Delcarmen 4-0.
make that 5-0 Pena jacks one
Well, this game certainly tuend to crap, didn’t it?
Well the Rays still have the worst Bullpen in the league, so you never know. Especially with that 6 run inning last night.
5-1 with Manny’s solo blast, hope?
Back to Back! Youk 5-2
Ovah, Rays snap their 8 game losing streak and avoid getting swept. 5-2 final score.
Quick one.
Who would you rather have had at the plate in the top of the 9th: Wily Mo Pena, or J.D. Drew?
Well if we are to rule out offspeed pitches being thrown I want Pedro Sorano, I mean Willy-Mo. But we live in the real world, and not a controlled environment so I go with Drew.
I would go with Drew, too. Willy Mo strikes out too much. Drew’s more likely to put the ball in play, which more likely than not would result in a hit.