Checking in from Tampa
ST. PETE - A few things as we watch an 8-6 Sox lead over the D-Rays here in the bottom of the 9th....
*First of all, we have been unable to update our blogs this evening due to technical difficulties. Our apologies on that front.
* Going back to the early part of tonight's game we have to mention David Ortiz' first-inning triple followd by a fourth-inning infield hit he beat out. You just aren't going to see that too often in the life and times of Big Papi, who by the way has his Mercedes on E-bay for auction. Wonder if it's any more than $160 grand, the last bid I saw?
* That five-run fourth inning was certainly action packed. The Sox had four straight hits. Coco Crisp and Julio Lugo each drove in a pair with doubles, while Jason Varitek's bloop single drove in another run.
* You can see Kevin Youkilis' frustration. He argued with the umpire on strike three in the third and then held his head in disbelief when he struck a ball really well, only to have it lined right at right-fielder Delmon Young in the seventh.
* The D-Rays show some fight. They were down 7-2 to Jon Lester when Akinori Iwamura belted a three-run homer in the fifth.
* The Sox eeked out an important run in the seventh. Dustin Pedroia, who started the inning with a double, rode home on an error by Tampa Bay shortstop Josh Wilson on Manny Ramirez' routine grounder.
* One scary moment in the fourth when Mike Lowell was struck on the left wrist with an Andy Sonnanstine fastball. He shook it off and remained in the game. Bet you that is really sore tomorrow.
* Didn't appear as though Jon Lester was too pleased with his 5-1/3 innings tonight. He walked off the mound with his head down. He allowed five runs, four hits, walked four and struck out four.
* There are several scouts on hand here tonight. Some are looking for possible roster additions before rosters expand to 40 on Sept. 1 so they'll be playoff eligible. Others are scouting free-agents for next season. The Yankees are here advance scouting the Red Sox for their series early next week at Yankee Stadium.
* The Devil Rays are certainly getting some love. Both Johnny Damon and Curt Schilling have both said they would enjoy playing here for the Rays. Would Curt pitch for, say, $500 grand for the opportunity to work these good young arms here? How about Damon, would he give up his 8-figure salary to play for the D-Rays? I think I know the answer to that question.
* Interesting minor league matchup tonight. Rocco Baldelli was on rehab assignment for Vero Beach for the D-Rays, facing Mark Mulder, on rehab assignment for the Palm Beach Cards. Baldelli grounded out twice against Mulder.
*A few quotes from new PawSox first baseman/DH Chris Carter, acquired from Washington via Arizona in the Wily Mo Pena deal:
“It’s a dream come true,” Carter told the Arizona media. “I’m excited. I think they really want me. I think I can really contribute to that team. It’s the best team in baseball right now."
Carter said that “My dad is a big Red Sox fan, and I used to listen to his stories of Carl Yastrzemski and Ted Williams. He bought me books on Ted Williams. His history. The Science of Hitting. My dad loves baseball more than anybody. As a little kid, out in the back yard, I’d always be playing in Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium.”
