Sox End Fenway Campaign With a Fizzle, Lose 4-2 to Rays

It was a great night for baseball, with fans out early to catch the announcement of the All-Fenway Team and introductions of half of them (23 of 46 were there plus Dave Roberts and Mike Lowell sent video messages that played on the scoreboard, 11 of them are dead, and Francona was there the night before for the 2004 thing but had to go back to work today), and catch the final home game of the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park. Of course the Red Sox have had a terrible track record this season in games preceded by pomp and presentation, and tonight was no exception as they lost to Tampa Bay by a 4-2 score. Jon Lester got the start in game 81 and began really sharp. When Jose Iglesias made a throw from shallow left field that got Evan Longoria by a step to start the 5th, the crowd started to realize that Lester was on no-hitter pace. Just as that thought start to blossom, Jeff Keppinger singled to burst the bubble. Unfortunately as the crowd was readjusting expectations to a shutout, Carlos Pena and Ben Francisco hit back-to-back home runs and gave the Rays a 3-1 lead. Lester worked through the 6th, giving up 4 hits and a walk while striking out 5 including the last two outs of his mound stint. Clayton Mortensen came in to start the 7th but was yanked after 3 pitches when Keppinger singled again. Rich Hill came in and gave up a single to Pena, but then struck out the next two before giving up a ground-rule double and a run and getting pulled for Mark Melancon. After a strikeout to end the 7th, Melancon stayed in to pitch the 8th and took care of things by striking out the side with a single in the middle of it all. Though he issued a 2-out walk, Craig Breslow also struck out the side when he pitched the 9th. 11 consecutive outs by K hadn’t happened since 2009, and as I figure it anything that happens to begin Friday’s game in Baltimore could get tacked on (ed. Aaron Cook is pitching so don’t expect it to last much longer).

After seeing so many greats in the stadium, it seemed like the team couldn’t remember how to hit. Jarrod Saltalamacchia walked and moved to second on a fielder’s choice, and then scored on a single by Daniel Nava. Dustin Pedroia stole his 17th base of the season in the 3rd, and then his 18th after walking in the 6th, mostly notable for it being the 100th of his career, but then Cody Ross singled moving him to third so that James Loney could drive him in via a sac fly. The only baserunner in the last 3 innings came when James Loney walked to start the 9th. It wasn’t a pretty game (except maybe from the vantage point of Iglesias’ glove) but it is sad to think that it’s the last night of baseball at Fenway until next April.

Today’s Pitcher (game 156): Jon Lester

Jon Lester is here to pitch the last Fenway game of 2012. With this having been the 100th anniversary of the park, the team has been having a series of celebrations throughout the year. With not much to root for on the field tonight, It’s nice to have the spectacle of the unveiling of the All Fenway team (and as long as Jerry Remy isn’t the top 2nd baseman, I won’t complain too much). Lester only needs to keep the scoring to a run every other inning and he’ll wind up with an ERA under 5.00 for the season. (and in regards to the picture below, what is your best caption? something about Lackey’s high-waisted fashion? or is it the fear of seeing him arm-in-arm with Will Middlebrooks)

Today’s game: 7:10 p.m. at Fenway Park vs. the Tampa Bay Rays, NESN
Opposing pitcher: RHP Alex Cobb (9-9, 4.27)
Last start: Loss vs Baltimore, 7 innings, 8 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts

Sox Fall 5-2 as they Honor ’04 Heroes

Some games are really secondary to everything else that goes on when you play a 162 game season. That of course is magnified when the season draws to a close and a team slips out of contention. Tonight’s 5-2 loss to Tampa Bay was one of those situations with most fans either gathered to help recelebrate the 2004 Red Sox team who were feted in a pregame ceremony or else turning out to see prospective Cy Young favorite David Price pitch against the Sox. For Clay Buchholz, tonight falls into the category of bad start – for him that dividing line is clearly set at 5 runs allowed in a game. Buchholz walked the first two batters he faced in the 2nd inning, and then on the next pitch allowed a 3-run home run to Jeff Keppinger. Keppinger would score again along with Carlos Pena on a bizarre single in the 6th by Jose Molina, where Daniel Nava couldn’t grab the ball in left and Molina held at first, getting injured on the play. Scott Atchison replaced Buchholz to start the 7th, and got the first out in the 8th before being tagged out by Andrew Miller who hit a batter while getting two outs. Vincente Padilla allowed a lone single in the 9th to end the game.

Fan appreciation is a big thing at Fenway and when the caliber of play on the field slips to where it is now, it’s nice to watch the Red Sox front office amp up the glitz to keep things fun. Tonight it was a 3 duck boat parade around the stadium with key members of the 2004 team there to party, throw out fake baseballs to the crowd, and to throw out the first pitch – where Keith Foulke threw out the first pitch to Jason Varitek who reenacted the celebratory leap he took into his arms at the end of the series. Meanwhile the current team seemed stifled – they haven’t played well in any of the pomp-filled games for the Fenway 100th anniversary. In the 2nd inning the Red Sox replied to Keppinger’s home run by stringing together three singles and Cody Ross scoring on a Danny Valencia single. They tacked on another run in the 3rd when Pedro Ciriaco and Daniel Nava singled, then after Ciriaco was caught stealing third, Dustin Pedroia hit a double, and then Nava scored when Price balked him in. When a balk is a sign of offensive prowess, it really is a good time to look back to glory days.

Today’s Pitcher (game 155): Clay Buchholz

Clay Buchholz has redeemed himself already this year. The best thing to do is look at his April performance as an extended Spring Training for him to overcome his injuries. Not that those bad games would have had much effect on the course of the season, but Clay’s personal numbers do divide pretty strikingly when you look at the before and after, since before he was on a record breaking pace in regards to have the most games from the start of the year giving up 5 or more runs and afterwards he became enough of an ace that dumping Josh Beckett was mere good riddance.

Today’s game: 7:10 p.m. at Fenway Park vs. the Tampa Bay Rays, NESN
Opposing pitcher: LHP David Price (18-5, 2.58)
Last start: Win at Tampa Bay, 6 innings, 1 hits, 3 runs, 5 walks, 5 strikeouts

Today’s Pitcher (game 151): Clay Buchholz

Clay Buchholz has done a heck of a job in getting people to forget his treacherous April. While he still doesn’t look as though he’s about to hurl another no hitter anytime soon, he does look like a real pitcher worth a slot in next year’s rotation. Hopefully next year he’ll be able to get through his haggard start before he leaves Florida. Tonight, he faces a guy that should find himself in the midst of a Cy Young race especially since no one seems to want to give it to Verlander two years in a row.

Today’s game: 7:10 p.m. at Tropicana Field vs. the Tampa Bay Rays, NESN
Opposing pitcher: LHP David Price (18-5, 2.54)
Last start: No decision at Toronto, 7 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 5 walks, 5 strikeouts

Rays Wreck Red Sox 13-3

Even if their fans have thrown in the towel, the Rays showed they still have some fight left in them tonight. In beating the Red Sox 13-3 it was difficult to tell if they were fighting to still be in the wildcard race or if they were just tired of losing to the Red Sox. Daisuke Matsuzaka was his schizophrenic self, getting out the side 1-2-3 in the 1st, and then loading the bases on 3 singles to start the 2nd, walking in a run, and then escaping thanks to a double play. In the 3rd, it was a leadoff single by Desmond Jennings, a stolen base, and a Ben Zobrist single that added another run. Dice-K wouldn’t get an out in the 4th, instead offering up a leadoff home run to, followed by a single and then a Carlos Pena homer, and a double that brought Alfredo Aceves into the game for mop up duty. After 3 good innings of work, Aceves 6th looked a lot like Daisuke’s 4th – he also put on 4 batters (walk, single, triple, double) before getting replaced. Unfortunately it was Daniel Bard who came in, walked two batters to load the bases, allowed a sac fly, a single, and then a walk to reload the bases before getting yanked for Andrew Miller who walked two batters with the bases loaded and giving way to Scott Atchison, who used the double play as an escape hatch after a dozen batters. Atchison mowed down three pinch hitters in the 7th and Chris Carpenter took on the Rays in the 8th and allowed the lead off hitter to double and score and then load the bases before putting the game out of its mercy.

The offense started things off the right way, with Pedro Ciriaco leading off with a single, stealing a base, and then being driven in by Jacoby Ellsbury. Unfortunately the greater portent for the evening came when Ellsbury got picked off first and caught in a rundown a play after he’d been picked off but called safe. The 3rd inning found the Red Sox resuming the lead with Jose Iglesias leading with a walk, and Ciriaco following with another single. Ellsbury then drove in Iglesias with another single, and Ciriaco scored when Dustin Pedroia grounded into a fielder’s choice. Unfortunately, that 3-1 lead wouldn’t last long as Tampa Bay scored a dozen unanswered runs, as after that Daniel Nava walked and Ellsbury had his third single and then the Rays retired the final 14 Sox batters of the night.

Today’s Pitcher (game 150): Daisuke Matsuzaka

Daisuke Matsuzaka has been a trainwreck of greater proportions than when Tim Wakefield when he couldn’t find his 200th victory last year. He already earned his 50th victory as a major leaguer, elevating him to a rarified pantheon of Japanese pitchers, but his erratic self hasn’t let that part of him that ever pitched well to really emerge. It’s tough to imagine any team really throwing him a flier for next year, but that only means he’s bound to show up in pinstripes next year as a reclamation project that wins 18 again…

Today’s game: 7:10 p.m. at Tropicana Field vs. the Tampa Bay Rays, NESN
Opposing pitcher: RHP Chris Archer (0-3, 3.22)
Last start: No decision at Toronto, 5 1/3 innings, 3 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts

Red Sox Rip Rays 7-5

Somehow it figures that the Red Sox are finally on that roll that has been predicted all season long, except that they waited until there were already enough losses to guarantee a losing season before they started to simmer. Tonight it was a 7-5 victory over Tampa Bay that found the Sox send a reeling Rays out of the playoff picture. Felix Doubront started tonight and after being a hard luck loser against New York last week, he landed in the win column for an even better pitching performance. The 3rd inning was nearly Doubront’s undoing as he walked the bases loaded, allowed a single to Ben Zobrist and a sac fly to Evan Longoria, and just like that 3 runs had scored. However those 3 walks were part of only 5 he allowed in his 6 innings of work, and that hit was the only one that Tampa Bay had with him on the hill. Clayton Mortensen got the first two out in the 7th before he found himself in a similar situation, hitting a batter and then walking the next two, except he was then replaced by Junichi Tazawa. Tazawa also gave up a 2-run single to Zobrist before escaping the inning. Vincente Padilla started the 8th allowing a single and was just as quickly replaced by Craig Breslow who induced a double play to escape potential trouble. Andrew Bailey was called upon to close the game and earned his 5th save by walking only one batter in the 9th.

The Red Sox waited until Tampa Bay kicked off the scoring to add their own numbers to the scoreboard, but then scored in every inning between the Rays two outbursts. In the 4th, Cody Ross led off with a double and was driven in by a James Loney single. The 5th found Jose Iglesias leading off with a walk, followed by a Pedro Ciriaco single and an RBI single by Jacoby Ellsbury, and a sac fly on a short fly to right by Dustin Pedroia. Singles by Ryan Lavarnway and Scott Podsednik became a run in the 6th when Pedro Ciriaco reached on an error and Lavarnway scored before Podsednik was thrown out at the plate trying to sneak in too. Walks were the undoing for Tampa as well, when in the 7th Cody Ross and James Loney both reached base that way before Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled to drive in Ross and Lavarnway doubled to drive in Loney and Salty. Watching the Red Sox find ways to score over and over without homering is enjoyable baseball, it’s just too bad it took so long for the team to get here.

Today’s Pitcher (game 149): Felix Doubront

Felix Doubront pitched well last time out, but he did it while Phil Hughes was shutting out the Sox offense. Today he faces last year’s rookie of the year Jeremy Hellickson. It’s amazing to look at Felix’s numbers and realize that he’s got winning record for the season, and then wonder what Hellickson would have done on this team as his numbers are nearly 2 runs better in ERA yet he comes in 8-10 on the season. Felix is trying to show the Sox he can make it a full season as a starter, but when he walks 5 in a stint, he won’t be getting very deep into those games anytime soon.

Today’s game: 7:10 p.m. at Tropicana Field vs. the Tampa Bay Rays, NESN
Opposing pitcher: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (8-10, 3.22)
Last start: Loss vs New York, 6 1/3 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, 5 walks, 5 strikeouts

Red Sox Turn It On to Beat Tampa 5-2

Pitching duels haven’t been part of this Red Sox season. Rarely has there been the glance at the scoreboard when it’s full of zeros. With a 5-2 victory over Tampa Bay as a final score, you wouldn’t guess that was the case tonight, but through the first half of the game zeros did reign. Aaron Cook started today and he was able to contain his implosion to a single run and thus keep the Red Sox in the game. He earned the win allowing one run on 5 hits a walk and a strikeout over 6 innings of work. The run came in the 5th on a Ryan Roberts safety squeeze that scored Luke Scott. Rich Hill, Junichi Tazawa, and Mark Melancon worked the 7th, 8th, and 9th respectively, each earning 2 strikeouts in their time, and only Melancon putting a runner on with a hit in the 9th. That one runner was BJ Upton who reached base on a single, moved to second on indifference, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and then scored on a grounder to short.

Tampa starter Alex Cobb seemed to have the Red Sox number this afternoon as he was no hitting the team by the time the Rays finally took the lead, only issuing a walk to Jarrod Salatalamacchia in the first 5 innings. In the 6th, you could see him grow tired, beginning when he hit Jose Iglesias with a pitch. The with two out the Red Sox had their first hit of the game when Jacoby Ellsbury sent the ball into the right field stands. James Loney singled to lead off the 7th and then Salty walked to end Cobb’s night. After an error loaded the bases, Mauro Gomez hit a pinch single to drive in Loney and Salty. Iglesias then dropped a bunt which forced Pedro Ciriaco to be intentionally walked and then Ellsbury drove in the final run of the game on a single. While the team threatened again in the 8th (Loney made it to third), that was enough for the Sox to start this series in an eerily empty Trop with a victory as Tampa is reeling and falling fast from the potential playoff picture.