Think the games in this series might go fast? The highest ERA of any of the six starters in the Red Sox-Padres set that opens tonight is 4.18 — posted by Tim Wakefield and Daisuke Matsuzaka.
In each game of the series, the Sox appear to be putting up the lesser pitcher, something to which this club is certainly unaccustomed. Tonight, Matsuzaka (two runs of support in three June starts, with both Lowell and Drew sitting tonight) faces Maddux. Young v. Old. Rookie v. Veteran. Japan v. Texas. (Have I mentioned Maddux was born in the same city where I’m typing this entry? Oh, I have? Never mind). Though Maddux comes in with the better ERA, Matsuzaka has the slightly better ERA+. This could be a fantastic pitchers’ duel.
I’m loath to bring up the postseason when we haven’t even hit the All-Star break, but pay attention to these matchups. If Game 3’s Peavy v. Beckett showdown isn’t just crying out for an October rerun, I don’t know what is. Both these teams have pitching staffs designed to go deep into the playoffs. The Sox have the better offense, and they’ll need every one of those bats this weekend against probably the best three starters any one team has to offer.
Comment away!
In other news, David Murphy is up for this series, and deservedly so. I’d feel far more comfortable with him at the plate in a key situation than with Wily Mo. I don’t suppose there’s a way to package Pena, Kottaras and a pitching prospect for Saltalamacchia and an Atlanta reliever is there? Wishful thinking. Also, Kason Gabbard — not Jon Lester — will make his second start of the season on Tuesday in place of Schilling.
Red Sox:
- Coco Crisp, CF
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- David Ortiz, 1B — 1 for 3, solo HR vs. Maddux
- Manny Ramierz, LF — 0 for 8, 1 BB
- Kevin Youkilis, 3B — 0 for 1, 1 K
- Jason Varitek, C — .286/.333/.571, 2 2B, 1 3B
- Wily Mo Pena, RF — .357/.357/1.143, 3 HR, 5 RBI
- Julio Lugo, SS — 1 for 8, 3 Ks, 1 RBI
- Daisuke Matsuzaka, P
Padres:
- Marcus Giles, 2B
- Jose Cruz, RF
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Mike Cameron, CF
- Michael Barrett, C
- Khalil Greene, SS
- Russell Branyan, LF
- Kevin Kouzamanoff, 3B
- Greg Maddux, P
Crisp singles to start the game
Crisp steals second
Pedroia sacrifices to Maddux. Crisp in to 3rd.
Ortiz lines out to 2nd
Ramirez flies out to deep right.
Maddux with 10 pitches, we strand Crisp at third.
Giles walks to lead off for the Padres
Cruz walks….
2 on, no outs
Dice with a wild pitch…runners advance to 2nd and 3rd with no outs.
Gonzalez walks, bags juiced, no outs.
Cameron fouls out to 2nd. Perhaps Dice K can manage to get himself out of this crap sandwhich he has made.
Yo la tengo, Ortiz. Get your big batting butt out of the way and let Dustin get it.
Mike “Fists of Fury” Barret singles for the Padres scoring one, bags still juiced.
doubleplay and we’re good.
Tito looks pissed.
Greene K’s.
He should be, Dice’s first 19 pitches resulted in three walks. Pretty crappy way to start the game.
bats need to come alive.
1-2-3 second for Matsuzaka
I realize that Dice-K has this rubber arm and all but c’mon, throwing 30+ pitches an inning is BAD.
lowell must be more hurt than we know. he’s a .367 hitter against maddux with 4 hrs and 8 rbi.
three singles produce two runs for the sox. 2-1. lugo is completely inept.
I hope Lowell’s ok, I hope his finger’s not broken or cracked or anything.
If lowell had broke bones, Boston would have DL hjim already and brought someone up from the minors.
Yuck, I just tuned in and Coco gets caught stealing.
I have been really impressed with Coco’s play of late. Defense has always been nails but now he’s hitting too- hot damn!
I’ve always kind of liked him so it’s nice to see.
Lowell’s finger?
I thought it was the thumb on his glove hand.
DiceK is over 100 pitches – and a guy on first with no outs. Isn’t it time to call on the bull pen?
DiceK is over 100 pitches – and a guy on first with no outs. Isn’t it time to call on the bull pen?
Way to Dice-K, he wanted that and he got it.
I stand corrected. Happily.
i think Gameday froze what happened after Lugnut grounded out?
Here comes Manny Delcarmen, oh shizz… not sure what to think about this one.
Hinske struck out , Coco singled, and then dPod grounded out. Who’d a thunk that Coco would be our one bright spot??
Just tow outs until we can go to Okajim and Paps. Breath being held….
um that’s two, not tow. Too many maragaritas…
Glad to see only one run for Matsuzaka, but five walks is brutal…
Okajibon time.
I’m impressed Mr. Delcarmen! Nicely done.
Shesh, how many Padres pitchers have either a. Played for the Sox, or b. Been discussed as potential trades to the Sox in the past two years? It’s ridiculous. Linebrink and Peavy were both talked about as trade bait heavily. Meredith and Wells are former Sox. Rudy Seanez used to be. Between the Pads and the Dodgers, it’s like a Red Sox Lite on the West Coast…
just one insurance run wouldn’t kill anyone, would it?
I’d like to see Youk take this into his own hands and jack one.
GameDay says the ump was blind on at least one if not both the called strikes to Youkilis.
Okajima gets Greene on three pitches. One down in the eighth.
Hiram Bocachica (???) pinch hits.
I hope is last name isn’t Spanish. Hiram Mouthgirl? Weiiiird.
Mouth Girl lines out on the first pitch.
Yeah! Okajima strikes out Kouzmanoff on the full-count change-up! To the ninth!
Sure would be nice to bring a two-run lead into the bottom of the ninth. Only five minutss until the NESN blackout is over…
Mouth Girl is in right.
Tek went down easy.
We’re making it very easy for the Padres’ bullpen. Varitek and Murphy both down swinging on a total of seven pitches.
And Lugo makes it three Ks on 10 pitches. Wow. Is Royce Ring really that good?
Time for Papelbon to shut the door. Time for me to watch it on TV.
Lugnut now batting .198 on the season.
King now has 6 Ks in 3 innings this season.
There’s a dancing San Diego chicken in a red sox jersey- is that against the rules? Wally will be mad.
oh noes! A base hit! crappers…
Sox Win!
Barry Bonds homered to make it 6-3 Yankees but Jeter is at third with 1 out in the 9th
*whew*
Whew. That was scary — and very exciting. Once Matsuzaka starts getting his stuff together (i.e., cuts down on his walks), he’s really going to put up some incredible numbers.