Red Sox at Rays, ALCS Game 2
IT'S OVER (1:37, END 11, 9-8 RAYS)
Upton hit a sacrifice fly just inside the line to right. Drew threw a two-hopper up the line, and Perez slid in safely.
Timlin gets the loss, Price the win.
WINNING RUN 90 FEET AWAY (1:33, BOT 11, 8-8)
The Rays attempted a double steal, which worked out when Bartlett chopped to third -- Youkilis's only play was throwing to first. Timlin intentionally walked Iwamura to set up a force at home with Upton coming to the plate.
FARRELL EJECTED, WINNING RUN IN SCORING POSITION (1:30, BOT 11, 8-8)
Timlin walked Dioner Navarro, who left in favor of pinch runner Fernando Perez. Zobrist tried bunting three times, pulling back each instance. On the third, John Farrell argued and got rung by Sam Holbrook. Timlin lost Zobrist. Two men on, none out.
PRICE IS RIGHT (1:21, MID 11, 8-8)
First, these were probably not the words you wanted to hear: Mike Timlin is the new pitcher.
Now, what just happened. Price walked Drew, then struck out Kotsay on a 95-mph fastball. Up came Crisp, who was already 3 for 5 with two doubles on the night. Price got him to ground to third, and Longoria tossed to second for a force out. The Sox had two chances to drive in the go-ahead run and couldn't do it.
PRICE CHECK (1:11, TOP 11, 8-8)
The Dan Wheeler show is over, 3 1/3 innings after it started. David Price is coming on. Wheeler got one out (Jason Bay) but then walked Lowrie. Price, a lefty, will face Drew with one out and a man on first.
Also, both Mike Timlin and Paul Byrd are warming for Boston.
MAKE IT 22 (1:03, END 10, 8-8)
Longoria smoked the first pitch of the inning down the line. Youkilis had him played well. He fumbled the ball briefly, but Longoria hit it hard enough that Youkilis had plenty of time to throw him out. Crawford drilled a pitch right back at Papelbon. It deflected hard off his right hip and toward Pedroia at second. He coralled the ball tossed to Kotsay for the out. Aybar flied to right on a 1-2 pitch. Inning over. To the 11th.
Holy Lord, Dan Wheeler is coming out for a fourth inning! David Price, the first overall choice of the 2007 draft, is warming up.
WHEELER MANS UP (12:51, MID 10, 8-8)
Dan Wheeler had already pitched two full innings, but he came out for the 10th, anyway, to face Pedroia, Ortiz, and Youkilis, only three of the most dangerous hitters in the league. He mowed through them with stunning efficiency: Pedroia looked at an outside 87-mph fastball for strike three, Ortiz popped to very shallow center, and Youkilis tore the cover off a fastball. But Upton drifted back and snagged a ball that may have left seam marks on his left hand.
Papelbon is still out there, putting his scoreless streak and the game on the line against Longoria, Crawford, and Aybar.
NAILS (12:43, END 9, 8-8)
Make it 21 full postseason innings without an earned run allowed. Papelbon added one out to his record, and it was a big one. He blazed a fastball by Pena, sending the game to extra innings and stranding Iwamura.
A note on why Francona went with Papelbon there: Pena was 1 for 3 with a homer off of Papelbon, but he was 3 for 5 with a homer off Masterson.
HERE COMES PAPELBON (12:35, BOT 9, 8-8)
Masterson did his job for the most part, getting Bartlett to ground out, surrendering an infield hit to second base by Iwamura, and striking out Upton. Now Papelbon is on to face Carlos Pena with two outs and Iwamura on first. With Iwamura's speed, a double would probably win the game.
ELLSBURY'S LONG NIGHT GETS LONGER (12:23, MID 9, 8-8)
Ellsbury came to the plate 0 for 5 and armed with an opportunity to make that wholly irrelevant. Crisp had just knocked a ground-rule double, his third hit of the game, over the center field wall with two outs. Ellsbury's first hit had a chance to be the one that gave the Red Sox the lead and a chance at an improbable victory.
It never came. Ellsbury got down 1-2, took an exceedingly close pitch for ball two, then struck out on an 88-mph fastball.
Drew led off and submitted a good at-bat but lined sharply to center. Kotsay struck out swinging at an 87-mph fastball. And then Crisp came up, his double nothing but a tease.
Masterson is in for Boston, his job to ensure extra innings. Ross is catching. Drew is in right. Ellsbury is out.
OKAJIMA STAYS STRONG (12:12, END 8, 8-8)
Six up, six down for Okajima. He retired Aybar, Navarro, and pinch hitter Ben Zobrist without issue. Papelbon and Justin Masterson are both ready for the ninth.
How do you like this? J.D. Drew is on deck, ready to pinch hit for Varitek.
ALMOST FOR LOWRIE (11:59, MID 8, 8-8)
Lowrie rocketed a line drive to center, but Upton jogged over a step or two and grabbed it, reaching slightly over his head. Aybar, Navarro, and Gross are due up.
CRAZY EIGHTS (11:54, TOP 8, 8-8)
Of all the ways the Red Sox could tie the score, this had to be the least likely. Youkilis grounded the second pitch Wheeler threw, a fastball, to Bartlett at short. Bartlett flipped to Iwamura, who made a flawless turn and nailed Youkilis by half a step. Pedroia went to third. Three pitches later, Wheeler misfired well over Navarro's head, and the ball bounced to the backstop. Pedroia bolted home to make it 8-8. Bay eventually walked, and Lowrie is now up.
MILLER DONE (11:49, TOP 8, 8-7 RAYS)
Miller could not do his job -- he walked Ortiz and forced the tying run into scoring position with no outs. Bay and Youkilis -- two of the hottest hitters on this big, green planet -- are due up next. The task falls to Dan Wheeler.
Youkilis, Pedroia, and Bay tonight are 9 for 12 with all seven RBIs. Crisp has the other two hits.
MILLER IN (11:43, TOP 8, 8-7 RAYS)
Pedroia, who had two hits in the whole playoffs before tonight, knocked his third hit of the game, a single to right, to send Bradford into the clubhouse. Joe Maddon summoned Trever Miller to face Ortiz with no outs.
RAYS, AT LAST, GO IN ORDER (11:37, END 7, 8-7 RAYS)
For the first time tonight, the Rays went 1-2-3. It was still eventful. Carlos Pena, after attempting to bunt away from the shift, sent a rocket down the first base line, but Kotsay snared it. Longoria, alredy two doubles and a homer under his belt, ripped a liner to left that found Bay's glove. Lowrie ranged to his left and made a nice play on Crawford's grounder.
Pedroia is leading off against Bradford. Dan Wheeler and Trever Miller are both warming.
SOX STILL TRAIL, OKAJIMA IN (11:28, MID 7, 8-7 RAYS)
After a rocky entrance last inning, Chad Bradford kept the Sox off the board and kept the Rays lead at one. Varitek struck out looking at a Bradford slider that the radar gun clocked at 66 miles per hour. Seriously. Kotsay flied high to center. Crisp hit one back at Bradford, and it deflected off his glove for an infield single.
Bradford worked Ellsbury to 3-2. He threw him a 79-mph sinker. Ellsbury made good contact, but the ball skidded right into Bradford's glove, and he made the easy throw to first.
Hideki Okajima has replaced Delcarmen, who again provided some excellent work out of the bullpen.
A ZERO! (11:15, END 6, 8-7 RAYS)
Is Manny Delcarmen becoming the best reliever outside of Jonathan Papelbon the Red Sox have? In his past 26 2/3 innings, he has allowed one earned run, and he's yet to give one up in the playoffs. When the Sox needed someone -- anyone -- to calm down this Rays lineup, Delcarmen did so with little trouble. Gross tapped back to him and he made a nice, turnaround throw. Bartlett rolled an infield single to shortstop. Iwamura grounded to first. Delcarmen struck out Upton looking at a pitch on the outside corner.
SOX BACK ON BOARD (11:05, MID 6, 8-7 RAYS)
Something tells me the Rays' lead -- now one run -- might not be all that safe. Bradford immediately allowed a run. Youkilis smacked a single -- his sixth already this series -- into left field, putting two men on for Bay. Bradford started Bay with a ball, Bay fouled a ball off, and then Bay ripped a single to center, scoring Pedroia. Youkilis scampered to third on Upton's throw home.
Lowrie could not give the Sox the lead, though, flying weakly to center. Rays' turn.
BRADFORD IN FOR HOWELL (10:58, TOP 6, 8-6 RAYS)
Ortiz looked at Howell's final pitch for strike three, and submariner Chad Bradford entered. There are two outs, and Dustin Pedroia, who walked, is on first with Youkilis coming to the plate.
DELCARMEN GETS OUT OF IT (10:48, END 5, 8-6 RAYS)
Take a breath after that fifth inning. Wow. Delcarmen got two fly balls to get out of the inning with the Sox still down two.
Some perspective on Beckett's dreadful start: Only nine other starters have thrown 4 1/3 innings or less and allowed at least eight runs in playoff history. Beckett's start could be fairly labeled one of the worst in postseason history. And yet his team is down two runs.
LONGORIA KOs BECKETT, CRAWFORD KOs LOPEZ (10:39, BOT 5, 8-6 RAYS)
Fittingly, the man who finally knocked out Beckett was Longoria, who smoked a home run and two doubles off Beckett. The final hit was a rocket double down the left field line and into the corner that scored Pena from first. Cut-off man Lowrie fired home despite Pena's easy slide into home plate, allowing Longoria to scoot to third.
Lopez has come in, and a few commenters believe -- even before Longoria's hit -- that it's a few batters too late. Beckett was absolutely shelled. He allowed nine hits, six for extra bases.
Lopez's first pitch was slapped to right by Crawford, who drove in Longoria. That run is credited to Beckett, who allowed eight runs in 4 1/3 innings.
Lopez threw only that pitch. Delcarmen has entered. We aren't out of the fifth, and we've seen seven homers and six pitchers. What a wild night.
NO QUIT IN THE RAYS (10:33, BOT 5, 6-6)
It seemed for a moment the extended top of the inning had helped Beckett, but no. Beckett blazed a 92-mph pitch over the inside corner, and Iwamura could only watch for strike three. But then he walked Upton, who stole second on a 2-2 ball to Pena. On the full count, Pena ripped a single through the Sox' infield shift to right. Upton cruised around third, and he hadn't even touched the bag when Ellsbury scooped the ball. His speed, though, allowed him to easily beat Ellsbury's multiple-hop throw home.
Farrell came out for a chat, but Beckett -- who has thrown 90 pitches -- remains in the game with Lopez and Delcarmen still up.
HOWELL RESTORES ORDER (10:20, MID 5, 6-5 SOX)
How's that for half of a playoff game? Howell got out of the inning when Kotsay flied to the right field warning track and Crisp struck out. Beckett received about a 25-minute break between innings. It will be interesting to see how or if the rest affects his performance. Lopez and Manny Delcarmen are both warming up as the inning begins.
BALFOUR GETS WILD, LEAVES (10:13, TOP 5, 6-5 SOX)
Howell is entering for Balfour, who walked Lowrie and Varitek after he surrendered Bay's blast. One of the best relievers in the AL this season, Balfour had an awful and short night. There's one out, men on first and second for Kotsay.
The Red Sox are one homer away from tying the record for dingers in a playoff game; five teams have hit five in one game. The last time it happened? The Red Sox gave up five in the 2005 ALDS to the White Sox.
GONE BAY GONE (10:05, TOP 5, 6-5 SOX)
Wow wow wow. Bay, the first batter Grant Balfour faced, obliterated a pitch to left field, another monster homer and the third home run in four Red Sox at-bats. It's a laser show inside Tropicana Field. J.P. Howell is warming.
The seven home runs combined sets a new ALCS and ties the CS record. And we're only in the fifth.
ANOTHER HOMER, ANOTHER PITCHER (9:59, TOP 5, 5-5)
Youkilis crushed the game's sixth home run, a laser to left that took about 1.4 seconds to leave the yard. Kazmir's third meatball forced him to leave early, and Grant Balfour has come into the game. Wild, wild game so far.
PEDROIA DOES IT AGAIN (9:55, TOP 5, 5-4 RAYS)
Say goodbye to that Dustin Pedroia playoff slump. He just led off with another home run, cutting the lead in half and inching Kazmir closer to the showers. He's thrown 90 pitches now. The homer went to left, into the first few seats.
BOMBS AWAY (9:45, BOT 4, 5-3 RAYS)
Floyd led off with a monster home run to centerfield, crushing a 1-1 fastball right down the pipe about 420 feet. Never a doubt. Beckett has not given up three home runs in a game May 18 this year in Milwaukee.
Lopez started warming again before Floyd circled the bases. Navarro follwed a deep shot to right center that nearly made the warning track.
Last postseason, Beckett gave up four runs in 30 innings. So far this year, he's allowed nine runs in 8 1/3 innings.
CRISP DOUBLES, GETS STRANDED (9:38, MID 4, 4-3 RAYS)
Kazmir remains in the game, and he scrapped enough to keep the lead for the Rays. Varitek popped weakly to first in foul territory. Kotsay lined to Iwamura at second. Crisp roped a double to right center. Ellsbury, with a chance to tie the score, popped to shallow left, where Bartlett made an easy catch. Ellsbury has taken some ugly swings off Kazmir tonight. Kazmir has thrown 85 pitches.
No one is warming in the Sox bullpen as Beckett prepares for the fourth.
RAYS LEAD, SOX BULLPEN STIRS (9:28, END 3, 4-3 RAYS)
Crawford crushed a liner to left, a single that scored Longoria easily. Javier Lopez started throwing in the 'pen, but Beckett never even threw a pitch to Floyd. He picked off Crawford, who was simply caught sleeping.
The jury, it seems, is in: Beckett throwing like the Beckett of Octobers past is a distant hope.
UPTON GOES DEEP (9:24, BOT 3, 3-3)
For the second time, the Rays have responded immediately to a Red Sox rally. Upton destroyed 2-0, 89-mph cutter that Beckett left slightly inside and up over the plate. The ball went about 25 rows deep in left, and almost nicked the D Ring catwalk on the way down. What a bomb. And a huge hit for the Rays psychologically.
Beckett retired Pena, but then Longoria smoked a hard double to left. Crawford is up with two outs.
Beckett has been really sharp tonight at times -- he struck out the side last inning -- but the Rays better hitters have drilled him. He doesn't look himself overall. He's been a little deliberate -- not as bad as his last start, but not as crisp as usual. His results, certainly, are not Becketarian by any means.
RED SOX GO QUIETLY (9:16, MID 3, 3-2 SOX)
Kazmir retired the Red Sox in order after Ortiz's walk, but it wasn't all that smooth. Youkilis drove a 2-2 fastball to the warning track in right. Bay followed with another deep fly to right, not as hard or as deep as Youkilis's, but struck pretty well. Lowrie ended the inning with a standard fly, again to right. Chad Bradford was warming up when the inning ended. Kazmir has now thrown 71 pitches.
YARD WORK FOR PEDROIA (9:10, TOP 3, 3-2 SOX)
The Red Sox took the lead on Pedroia's home run to lead off the second, his third hit of the postseason. Pedroia tagged a 3-2, 91-mph tailing fastball over the plate, yanking it into the first row in left field. A young fan made a nice, nonchalant grab and then threw the ball back toward the infield.
Ortiz just walked. Kazmir's chances for lasting much longer seem slim. He's now thrown 62 pitches and hasn't recorded an out in the second with Youkilis batting.
BECKETT STRONG IN THE SECOND (9:03, END 2, 2-2)
Beckett struck out Cliff Floyd looking at a 3-2, low 92-mph fastball that had some nice late, sinking action. Beckett threw a similar pitch on 2-1 to Dioner Navarro, but it stayed up just a bit and Navarro laced it to left, the opposite field, for a single. Beckett then struck out Gabe Gross (which is not hard to do) and ended the second by striking out Jason Barlett looking at another 92-mph heater. He's spotting his pitches pretty well -- even the homer by Longoria wasn't a bad pitch.
KAZMIR SETTLES (8:50, MID 2, 2-2)
After a rocky first inning, Kazmir carved the Red Sox 1-2-3. Mark Kotsay drilled a liner a to center, but right at Upton. Coco Crisp grounded to short, and Ellsbury popped to shallow center.
As that was a big one for Kazmir, this is huge for Beckett. TBS showed him having an animated -- not heated, mind you, just animated -- talk with pitching coach John Farrell on the bench.
RAYS RESPOND (8:40, END 1, 2-2)
The Rays looked to be in bad, bad shape. My, how fast that has changed. With two outs, Carlos Pena smacked a double to the opposite field. Evan Longoria then blasted a 3-1, 87-mph cut fastball from Josh Beckett over the left field fence. It was not even a bad pitch. Longoria had to reach down and get it, and he yanked it right out of the field.
Beckett is throwing about 93-mph on the gun. Better than his last start, not quite vintage. He got Carl Crawford to ground to short. That was an enormous inning for the Rays -- the crowd is back in it, and, more importantly, so are they. This is a big inning for Kazmir.
GREAT START FOR SOX (8:26, MID 1, 2-0)
Jason Varitek struck out to end the first, but not before Bay's double gave the Sox an early lead. They also moved Kazmir pretty close to the ropes -- he needed a whopping 38 pitches to get out of the first.
BAY STRIKES FAST (8:24, TOP 1, 2-0 SOX)
Jason Bay continued his excellent postseason, and the Red Sox continued their playoff trend of scoring with two outs. After Scott Kazmir struck out Jacoby Ellsbury and got Dustin Pedroia, who entered 14 for 25 in his career against Kazmir, to fly to center, the Red Sox got four straight base runners and scored a pair of runs.
David Ortiz walked. Kevin Youkilis lined a hard single to left. Youkilis received a loud, extended "Yooouuuukkk" cheer, which didn't happen as emphactically on any of his three hits last night. And then Bay pummelled a double off the left field wall, scoring both Ortiz and Youkilis. Jed Lowrie walked, and there are two outs.
With two outs this playoffs, the Red Sox have scored 16 of their 22 runs and are batting .333.
B.K. JACKSON OWNS (8:12, TOP 1, 0-0)
Saxophone player B.K. Jackson, a 17-year-old from this area, played the national anthem tonight, as he did in Game 1. What an immense pleasure. He played the best anthem I've personally seen at a sporting event. And then Dick Vitale tossed the first pitch.
Just goes to show that josh is not the same pitcher this year. He choose his worse pitch on a 3-1 count. That's the only pitch that he could have pulled out of the park.
Floyd is still looking for that pitch. It was nasty...
How does the little pony do it? MVP-MVP-MVP .
Pitch count way to high for Kazmir, Bullpen already active and only the 3rd inning.
Go - Sox !
This is big inning for josh coming up. He must shut them down.
If Only Josh would stop serving up gophers! :o(
Seriously, what is the deal with Caray's exaggerated enthusiam for the Rays?
Beckett's two home run pitches to Longoria and Upton were right over the plate, what is he thinking?
Josh has not thrown the ball consistently (96-97) all year. If he doesnt throw with his normal velocity it makes his secondary pitches (changeup especially) much easier to hit. He must have some kind of injury with his elbow and I wouldnt be surprised to see some sort of surgery at the end of the year.
"The jury, it seems, is out: Beckett throwing like the Beckett of Octobers past is a distant hope."
--actually, it's that the jury's back in. without a good verdict, as you note.
@Ben
I wish knew the answer. It seems that the networks are ALWAYS anti-Sox. Aren't our guys loved by all. At first I was happy we didn't have to listen to Tim and Joe, but these guys are even more anti-Sox than the Fox guys.
Why is Varitek hitting 7th? Is he still gonna complain when Francona finally pinch hits for him when he is 0 for 16 in this series?
"Seriously, what is the deal with Caray's exaggerated enthusiam for the Rays?"
I guess you don't remember Caray's bias toward Boston during the Angels series. He did the same thing last year, he likes to side with the underdogs.
How many people have to complain to which person to get Chip Caray out of the broadcast booth?
Floyd hits one out that was right over the plate, hello Paul Byrd!!!! Take Beckett out now!!!
I live in the Tampa area (Sox fan!!!!!!!) and am forced to watch this on TBS (Don't know about anyone else)...I am insulted by the favoritism the announcers have shown towards the Rays (it was the same in the Angels series)...It really has been obvious and dispicable and I wish someone would talk more about it.
@David M.
McCarver is an upgrade from Caray.
It's not just his jubilance for Rays extra base hits, it's his indifference to anything great the Sox do (i.e. Pedroia's two HRs).
Kat - I feel your pain
Hopefully El Caballito's 2 homers will shut Martinez up.
Wow, could you get a bigger contrast from yesterday's game?
It seems like these teams are pretty well matched. I'm glad the Sox managed to take advantage of the end of Kasmir's outing and get those two homers in. Let's see if the scoring slows down with the bullpens starting to come in.
Josh isn't himself. Now that the Sox have the lead, 6-5, take him out.
WOW . I thought the H-O-M-E R-U-N derby is mid-season during the All-Star break.
@Ben
Agreed, McCarver is definitely an upgrade. I'm just whining because I miss my 2 homers in Don and Jerry. Go Sox !
@expat
I was wondering if you were here with us. Definitely an opposite to last night's great pitching and defense. Tonight,the hitters are the headlines.
@David M.
McCarver is an upgrade from Caray.
It's not just his jubilance for Rays extra base hits, it's his indifference to anything great the Sox do (i.e. Pedroia's two HRs).
Jason Bay is better than Manny! Go Zags!
It's obvious to everyone that Beckett shouldn't be in there, so what's preventing Francona from taking him out? He wants him to get the win? This guy can't manage his way out of a paper bag.
What is Francona doing? How many leads can he let Beckett give up! I am a Tito fan but this has been very poorly managed. Longoria has owned Beckett all night and he leaves him in!!
Oh my... The seesaw returns to the Rays favor. Thank goodness we won last night. Neddo is right, why in the wide world of sports did Tito leave Josh in so long.
But, overall, Tito is a good manager, he just gives his starters too many 2nd chances. Tonight, this was Josh's 3rd 2nd. chance.
Down, 7-6 is there yet another comeback left in the sox ?
I agree. There was no reason for josh to continue pitching especially to longoria. Now the rays got the 2 run lead again and its over. 1-1 coming back home.
Beckett, you're killing me ova heah. You too, Lopez.
8-6 now sheesh. This game is going to give me a haaaaaht attack. My Dad is rolling over in his grave right about now, getting all squirmy like only the Sox can make you.
I just knew Beckett shouldn't face Longoria.
I so hate TBS commentators too, and posted a comment on it here the other night. They sound like they're going to explode out of their polyester pants every time the Rays do anything positive.
I couldn't agree with Neddo more. I thought Paul Byrd should have been warming up in the 2nd and could have come in for the 3rd. If Tito had done that, we would be coasting to a win now, and heading to the World Series. Now, we have given the Rays all the confidence they will need. Everyone think we are going to win 3 straight in Fenway? We better or we are in trouble. This game was totally winable.
This is worse than Grady's decision to leave Pedro in...that's how bad it is.
Where is Francona getting his information?? This is ridiculous. First the blunder (luckily it didn't come back to bite them) against the Angels with Lester and now this with Beckett?? WTH Tito??
Neddo - Amen. This is the second time that Beckett obviously didn't, should not have started the 5th and Francona does it anyway. And what in the world made him think that he was going to pitch to Longoria better this time around. I feel like he's frigging channeling Grady Little.
Now we know why Tito is not considered one of the "Great" managers. He just doesn't get it. Joe Torre would never let a starter stay in like Tito did. Torre was more concerned about winning not someones feeling!
If I hear one more bad word about Dice K, I"m going to smack someone.. BEckett is HORRENDOUS>.. give me Dice K any day.... any important game... BECKETT has been lousy all year..but hey, Dice K walks too many batters.. better than getting hit all over the friggin place.... FRANCONA is a dope too.. .leaving him in there with Longoria...
And to think, it is ONLY the 5th . inning. Down 2 with 4 more at-bats. Still plenty of game left tonight. Of couse, the Rays get 4 more at-bats as well.
"Step right up, try your hand at the home run derby. RBIs for everyone, nobody goes home empty handed!"
@ d
Wouldn't miss it for the world.
I would have possibly understood the move of keeping in josh if we didnt have an off day tomorrow(save the bullpen) but with the off day and us taking the lead back from the rays the sox had a chance to calm things down by removing him. This game so far has been managed very poorly by tito. I dont want to hear about how good a manager he is (which I do think he is a good manager overall). When you see a poorly managed game we have a right to complain about it.
Darling better retractpr that comment about Pedroia being "dirty" I'm sure it wasn't what he meant, but all the same, it didn't sound right.
Sure would be nice if we could get Ortiz back for this series as well. Wow!!
I'd like to see a percentage on first pitch strikes after a pitching coach/manager goes to the mound. Seems to me it happens around 99.999% of the time.
First what is wrong with Terry leaving Josh in there in the 5th. makes no sense.
Pull him after he puts the second guy on. Why leave him in. That could be the game right there. If not that then all the guys were leaving base. Come on get a clunch two out hit
Beckett blew this game--3 times! He is terrible. Lester is the best pitcher on this team hands down. He is the ace not Beckett.
"Sure would be nice if we could get Ortiz back for this series as well."
You ain't kiddin'. As injured and weak as our stars are, it's amazing we're looking as good as we do. Basically, we've got a Rays-style young team with some high-paid stars that are injured.
Me thinks that maybe someone different other than J.D. Drew should have had the night off. Oh, maybe Jacoby comes to mind.
And Crisp can't even attempt to steal 2nd....
The bottom of the order and Ellsbury couldn't hit their way out of a paper bag. Looks like the next inning is our last best chance...
The bottom of the order and Ellsbury couldn't hit their way out of a paper bag. Looks like the next inning is our last best chance...
I agreed with Tito leaving Beckett in a little longer than normal despite his struggles. After winning last nite, you could afford to stretch tonite. I am sure he was hoping he could work some things through to help him settle down if they need him for Game 6. But, there is no way he should have let him face Longoria a third time after he had already homered and doubled. Tito, you left him in one batter too many.
re: ndsmith and Ted
Yeah, it's not quite looking like a complete team tonight is it?
Nice to see Pedey hotting up again... just as Longoria does too. It's really like dueling it out with your own reflection. Okajima turned in a nice inning, too.
Thank god this is an EAST COAST game and a Saturday night. These slowwww games are killing me. Ortiz sure does take a lot of pitches, I would have liked the bunt early in his count, but it worked out. Youk and Bay up next, I like these odds right now.
Not quite what I was expecting... Double-play and then the wild pitch. BUT, I'll and I am guessing the rest of us, will take it !!!
Wild pitch! Score's tied. This game's driving me nuts.
What the heck are they saying, calling Okajima a "situational " pitcher? Don't these jerks do their homework on TBS? Okajima;s situation is usually (when he is on) the 8th inning. And of course, we have 2 guys warming up. Masterson if we are tied, and Pap if we are in the lead. Sheessh, we can do as good a job as these talking heads on the tube.
I like Drew PHing for Varitek even though he flied out. If we go to extra innings, he'll no doubt take Coco's place. Does that mean Francona has to pinch hit for Coco, too? He has two hits.
ellsbury needs to be hitting 9th he is killing the team w/ this crap! worst managed tito game in a long time
I dont know who is worse at the plate right now. tek or jacoby. Horrible at bat. 88 mile per hour junk and he makes him look like riveria.
Crisp in CF and Drew in RF next game. Kid is gagging something awful. Don't know if he's pressing, but since those games in LA he has been a no show. If this gets to 10 and we don't score in the 10th, we're toast and it's 1-1.
Here's an out of left field question. Why did Beckett make the trip to LA in the last series, when he wasn't going to pitch? He needed two cross-country plane trips when he's recuperating? Will we have him for a Game 6? Will we want him in a Game 6?
FROM ADAM: He needed to be with the team for a side session. Don't foget, these guys aren't exactly flying coach.
Tito, it is hard to support you when you do this to us! Why can't Justin pitch to Pena?
@Adam,
And I thought you were just lurking let us do all of the work. Nice job with this blog, it really makes the game more enjoyable. and fun to share with the others.
Now, I'm predicting that J.D. Drew does something special in the 1qth, if it gets that far.
I had a thought about the the tbs announcers who are definitely a little more excited about the Rays than the Sox. Maybe this is just the result of having been such a good team over the last few years, with plenty of money to purchase expensive players. It's like the Yankees in the ten years ago: Sox are top dogs now and it's not quite as much fun for people who don't have a stake to see them win. In which case, fans like us just have to be good winners and losers, not get arrogant (after all it's not us at the plate) and enjoy the great baseball the Sox are playing.
What do you think, if it goes 10, does Wakefield throw an inning? He must be do to throw a good side session tomorrow, I mean today.
@expat
Good analysis. You are probably right in that our Sox are now the best team money could buy. And, we need to be good about wins & losses.
But, I do believe our young players through development are something to be appreciated as well. While the Rays have the youngest starting pitching staff, much or our team isn't ready for AARP yet. Maybe we can merge their starting pitching with our infield / outfield. Sorry v-tek, I didn't forget you.
Beckett is hurting and not 100 percent and that idiot francona left him in for 8 runs. This game should be over if we had a manager , many comments about how francona is good but why did he leave beckett in, get real, francona one of the worst game managers in baseball, just lucky to be with a team that can over come his idiocy
wheeler is thowing 88 mph crap and he is making our hitters look like chumps! little papi 4 for 23 ...king of the popups over 2nd base...he shouldn't be talking about the the Rays looking tight! he needs to get that wrist fixed in the offseason!
The next guy unfortunately will be timlin. If it gets that far. I think the rays will it in the bottom of the 10th.
Timlin will overcome. He is a veteran who will go out a champion. Many pitchers of his age/stature can overcome their loss of a fastball quit guile and control.
Okay, so I'm an optimist, one has to be at nearly 01:00 in the morning as we wouldn't want to have stayed up so late for nothing, now would we?
These announcers are supposed to be bringing the game to life for us. So, are they expecting us to believe that NEITHER bullpen is active right now? Inquiring minds want to know? Who is warming up for either team?
I wouldn't be surprised to see Wakefield take over at some point and pitch the rest of the game, no matter how long it goes. He's got to be more likely to get a win starting the 11th than in game 4 (better in domes, Rays have used lots of pitchers, he doesn't have to pitch quite so many innings to finish it).
I'm just glad Dice-K didn't run up his pitch count early yesterday. A routine Dice-K start followed by this would have gone much worse.
Thanks Adam. We learned about David Price from you long before the talking heads mentioned it.
Timlin is a fairly quick warm-up. but, Byrd? Are we planning on the 14th? Does Byrd warm up fast enough to be of use in the next inning or so?
PS: kuodos to Adam for letting us know the bullpen status. - Thanks
So is Cash batting leadoff now?
@Expat
Yes, Cash is due up first in the 12th. Just hope we get to it.
we're all done now, timlin is in
Putting Timlin in a game like this is just letting the Rays win... it feels like it happens all the time. Timlin comes in during extra innings or with the game on the line and the other team wins.
nice. Timlin is sacrificial lamb. Poetic.
.... is Francona even expecting to GET to the 12th by putting in Timlin? Oh god bases loaded only one out. I'd BELIEVE that they'd pinch hit for Cash and put Ross in as the catcher. Maybe use Drew since he's not out of the lineup because of his injury? That's assuming we even get to the 12th though
Based on the computer strike zone, that is the 2nd call in 2 halves against the Sox. Farrell was right, the computer umpire had it as a strike.
Not to mention the ump has been blowing strikes and balls all night, loser...
WHY, WHY, WHY Timlin? Are they trying to lose?
Darn it. Good night everyone. see you all Monday night... - - Dave
who's surprised that Timlin loses it for the Red Sox? ... didnt think anyone would be.
TImlin = Just another loser from Mildand, TX
The worst managed game of the year by Francona
What a game.. I hope we don't see too much more of Timlin in this post season. G'night all.
Timlin effing sucks now!!! Get him off the roster! Yes he was good ........ once.... NOT NOW!!! WTF!!
13 LOB lost it. Not old man Timlin
KEEP PAPELBON IN LONGER, EVERYTIME SAME OLD STORY, ITS THE F**N PLAYOFFS HE CAN PITCH 3 INNINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you knew when timlin went in we were going to lose. I considered going to sleep then knowing the outcome. I should have. Why the hell did they not put papelbon back in?
Why is Timlin on the PS roster AT ALL? His career expired a long, long time ago.
That Price K of Kotsay was absolutely the worst call in the game and that's saying a lot. No way a rookie who can't find the strike zone should get a call on a ball that far off the plate...horrible.
Hmmm so let me see if I follow....the reason why Timlin made the ALCS roster over David Aardsman was because Aardsman walks too many people....and in Timlin's first appearance he walks 3 out of the 6 batters he faces, pitches .2 of an inning and gets the loss! Great move adding him. Why not Byrd in that position, at lest he throw strikes. Can someone please grab Timlin, tie him to a chair in TB and leave him there until the plane leaves for Boston!
@ David - Well JD Drew didn't do anything special at all in the 11th unfortunately. He made a lousy throw too far up the line after some poor pitching from Timlin. Beckett, this one rests squarely on your shoulders. Think about it good and hard.
What a disappointment. Beckett stayed in way too long and Papelbon could have thrown another inning with a rest day tomorrow. And after 2 walks, and some poor calls from the umpire, we should have gone back to the bullpen and woken up whoever was left.
Timlin is a joke. Francona's loyalty is admirable on some level, but it's gone way too far in this case. Raise your hand if you didn't know this game was over the minute you saw him on the mound. No one? That's right.
I knew that Masterson should have stayed in the game longer.
Okay, Francona is a great manager, but WHY TIMLIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Virutally a guaranteed loss every time!
tomlin should never be on the roster worst game Francoma managed ******timlin
Are you people as fed up with the control umpires have over this sport? As bad as Timlin was, the umps stole that from him to a criminal degree. UNBELIEVABLE. I'm very close to giving up on this sport until the day that they institute electronic strike zones. You old school purists need to find a cause worth livng for. The role of a homeplate umpire is like the two party system. Too much power in the hands of people who aren't even in the game. This sport sucks.
I turned the TV off as soon as Timlin came in, the game was over! I knew it, everyone new it, including Grady, sorry Tito. Watch him come up with some lame @## excuse for handing the game over to Tampa. Nice one Tito.
Okay, Francona is a great manager, but WHY TIMLIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Virtually a guaranteed loss every time!
This was Beckett's loss. Your score 8 runs and you still can't win. Starting pitching SUCKED, plain and simple. Hang your head, Josh...
This was Beckett's loss. Your score 8 runs and you still can't win. Starting pitching SUCKED, plain and simple. Hang your head, Josh...
I just don't understand why Timlin is in and not Byrd. I realize we always second guess the manager and that's part of baseball, but how do millions of us Red Sox fans KNOW that Timlin is going to lose the game (and he does it again) but yet Francona still puts him in? This is one of those few instances when we are all right and Francona just doesn't get that Timlin is DONE!
I'm guessing FranCOMA was ready to go home. That's the only explaination I can think of for putting Timlin in...he pretty much gift wrapped the win for the Rays. Thanks a lot Tito...you bum
Francona has once again proven that he is fortunate to have such a good team. He is one step up from Grady Little. I know we have 2 WS championships with him as the manager. But I prayed that Torre could have been hired to replace him. To keep Beckett in after we got the lead because he wants him to get the win is just plain stupid. He does this all the time. Why did he pull Masterson out. Masterson could have pitched 2 innings. Than Paplebon could have pitched 2 innings. But no we are forced to watch Timlin do what he has done in his last 4 or 5 appearances. Why did Francona decide that suddenly Timlin needed to be on the roster. We will win this series because of the talent. However, Tito will be given all the praise again. Wenneverg
What does Francona see in Timlin that no one else can see? Why do we all know the outcome of the game as soon as we see Timlin warming up, yet Francona still puts him in? After all the hard playing to keep this game in control, this JERK BLOWS another game. Good God, send him out to pasture so he can throw his meatballs at the cows out there and let them all ring their bells. I did see an extremely discusted look on Francona's face after the 2d walk. Serves him right, but the rest of the players didnt deserve it. PLEASE TIMLIN, RETIRE SO WE DONT HAVE TO GO THRU THIS NEXT YEAR!!!
Terry Francona has a lot to answer for with the way he managed this game, by leaving Beckett in he cost the team a chance to win.
countless called third strikes off the plate on Sox batters. No called strikes on pitches over the plate for Timlin. Then the missed strike three on the check swing.
Either the home plate umpire was incompetent or they should get rid of that damm computer generated strike zone because something is terribly wrong
what a slime job
Why in the hell does Tito kepp puting me in and letting me blow every big game!!
I turned the game off when Timlin came in?
What happened?
Did I miss anything?
Why Timlin in this game so late?
I knew he blew this game when he got into this game.
Why not Byrd in stead of Timlin?
Timlin has been typical loser since Toronto get lid of him.
He was the famous blown saver in Seattle.
Hope Timlin had pitched his last game for Boston
Are you people as fed up with the control umpires have over this sport? As bad as Timlin was, the umps stole that from him to a criminal degree. UNBELIEVABLE. I'm very close to giving up on this sport until the day that they institute electronic strike zones. You old school purists need to find a cause worth livng for. The role of a homeplate umpire is like the two party system. Too much power in the hands of people who aren't even in the game. This sport sucks.
Beckett, francona and timlin sucks!!
Last play: Drew's throw to the plate sure looks like it nicked the first baseman. Look at it from both angles, from first base side and especially from behind Drew. The ball suddenly loses juice and tails away from plate once it crosses the first baseman. What was he doing so close to the throw???
I am so sick to my stomach right now...Timlin over Byrd in that spot is suicide, period! Timlin's '04 & '07 performances are now completely tarnished in my mind...anyone ever heard of leaving on a good note?! The guy could have been remembered as one of the pivital parts of the 2004 WS, instead he's now an over the hill, should have retired last year goat that cost us the W tonite....
Crisp, Youk, Petey, & Bay played their freakin buts off, and this is how they get repaid....what a joke! Lost so much respect for Tito tonite by once again making the wrong decision....Becks didnt have it tonite either, but ultimately Tito cost the team a W....i'm going to throw up now!
Time to hang it up Timlin! You suck.
the way Beckett pitch tonight i would send him to AA with Buchholz and call him back in april, i think byrd should pitch game 6, if we are winning 3-2, but if we are losing 3-2 then Lester has to pitch
Just wondering if there is a reporter on the Globe staff with the STONES to tell Tito that every fan in this thread called for pulling Beckett BEFORE Beckett finally lost the lead the Sox mustered. That's not second-guessing. Tito owes Red Sox Nation more than an explanation, he owes them an apology. There's just no excuse.
And speaking of yanking non-performers - it's time (and then some) to yank Papi. We all love him, but it's a TEAM game. Not a popularity contest. Time for Casey.
This game was decided by Sam Hollbrook the umpire behind the plate. It was a joke the strike calls he gave Wheeler in his 3rd inning of work when Pedroia was up and then the 3rd strike on Kotsay in the 11th from a rookie. It was clear the neither pitcher was happy with the strike zone but its fair to say the Rays recieved a liitle help in the late innings from good ole boy Sammy Hollbrook. Did anybody see the no strike call on Zobrist in the 11th too. the one that set Farrell off what a joke that such a good had to be ruined by bias in the most important part of the game. Hopefully the sox don't get treated to him for another game behind the plate.
This game was jsut a giant dissapointment. Beckett was left in way way way too long. It was like batting practice, he was gettign shelled and still Francona didnt take him out. And why would Francona ever put Timlin in? Thats like basically saying your giving up or hopeing for a miracle. O well hopefully Lester will pitch well tonight.
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