June 5, 2009

G55: Rangers 5, Red Sox 1

Rangers - 000 041 000 - 5  8  1
Red Sox - 000 000 010 - 1 7 0
Julio Lugo's inability to field his position and record the third out extended Texas's fifth inning and Ian Kinsler crushed a three-run home run to left.

With two outs, Elvis Andrus's grounder to Lugo's right should have been scooped up for the final out. But the ball trickled under his glove -- he may have been screened by Marlon Byrd breaking for third, but the play was not that difficult -- and into left field. That scored the Rangers' first run. Then Kinsler stepped to the plate.

The Red Sox tried to rally in the eighth. Millwood was sent out after seven innings and 105 pitches. His fatigue was obvious. He fell behind Jason Bay 3-1 before Bay reached on an infield error. He walked Mike Lowell on four pitches. David Ortiz lined a single to right, scoring Bay and ending Millwood's night.

Eddie Guardado came in with the potential tying run on deck -- and slammed shut the door. He struck out Jason Varitek, got Jacoby Ellsbury to fly to left and retired pinch-hitter Rocco Baldelli on a fielder's choice.

***

Kevin Millwood (3.23, 142 ERA+) / Brad Penny (5.63, 86 ERA+)

Back at Fenway Park for two three-game series, against the Rangers and Yankees. After that -- 15 interleague games. One big question: How much time will David Ortiz get at first base?

The Red Sox finished their 6-4 road trip on a strong note. In the last run through the rotation (five games), the starters had a 2.01 ERA.

After an 8.66 ERA in April, Penny has pitched extremely well, for a fifth starter. He had an ERA of 4.17 in six May starts, tossing 36.2 innings and allowing 46 hits but only six walks, while striking out 27. Those hits gave opponents a .305 average against him, but he limited them to a .333 OBP.

Millwood had a good April, but slumped in May: 4.28 in six starts and an opponents line of .280/.354/.490.

Also at 7: Tampa Bay at New York (Price/Sabathia) and Royals at Blue Jays (Greinke/Romero).

327 comments:

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9casey said...

It's raining pretty well here in CT, not sure if they will get this one in...

Unknown said...

Now would be a pretty awesome time to put Ortiz on the DL and have him get in a couple weeks worth of minor league at bats as a "rehab" assignment.

Maybe crushing a bunch of scrubs would be good for his confidence.

nick said...

I hope for a game, but I won't be around. I'm taking emma to see Bjorn Again. What I do for my kid (though I may secretly enjoy it).

allan said...

Pedroia, 2B
Drew, RF
Youkilis, 1B
Bay, LF
Lowell, 3B
Ortiz, DH
Varitek, C
Ellsbury, CF
Lugo, SS

Kinsler, 2B
Young, SS
Blalock, DH
Cruz, RF
Murphy, LF
Byrd, CF
Davis, 1B
Saltalamacchia, C
Andrus, 3B

laura k said...

Have fun Nick! I'm sure it will be a great father-daughter night, whether or not the Queen of the Desert shows up.

Zenslinger said...

According to Mazz today, "With yesterday's win, the Sox are now 25-1 when leading after six innings."

Wow.

laura k said...

How's the weather out there, Boston-area folks?

Zenslinger said...

Yanks already PPD.

Jere said...

Looks like it's not even raining at Fenway.

Amy said...

Not raining here in western MA, or at least not hard enough for me to see it out the window. We had a few sprinkles earlier, but nothing that would stop a ballgame.

Amy said...

I haven't seen the start of a game in a week or so---nice to be home and at a TV for a change.

laura k said...

Love those 1 pitch outs.

Lord Lynch said...

Good evening all...

Lord Lynch said...

Drizzling in London, England. Not that that is relevant in any way..

allan said...

I'll have NESN in my ear, but working. Have fun!

Amy said...

Hi, Lord. Isn't it generally drizzling in London this time of year?

Lord Lynch said...

Of course, amy. Wouldn't want you to think any different!

Amy said...

Isn't it also like midnight in London?

OTT, good start, Penny.

Lord Lynch said...

just past midnight... nowhere to go tomorrow. This game is actually on live TV tonight.

Amy said...

Cool. And we complain about 10 pm starts. We are just weak here across the pond.

Jere said...

[holds tongue]

Amy said...

Except Jere, who is the most dedicated RS fan in the world. :)

laura k said...

If games started at midnight, I couldn't be much of a fan. I'd never see a game.

laura k said...

"[holds tongue]"

Hard to type that way, I think.

Patrick said...

Sigh, I was threading on the wrong post. It did seem a bit lonely.

Lord Lynch said...

I'm going to Scotland for a holiday and internet connection isn't common. But we made sure we've booked a place that has wi-fi just to watch the baseball!

laura k said...

walk and walk

Jere said...

It's not about dedication, I never claimed to watch every game, it's simply an issue of not understanding how people can sleep if the game's on. If I'm at a wedding I'm able to at least check the score constantly. Choosing to sleep is knowing the game's right there, could be watched, but not watching. Just to clarify what I was talking about. Maybe someday the "tiredness" gene will win out while a game is on for me. We'll see.

Amy said...

Lord, how did you get to be a Red Sox fan? Did you live in the US at some point? Like Laura, I cannot imagine how I would ever get to watch games from England, except for day games, of course.

laura k said...

"But we made sure we've booked a place that has wi-fi just to watch the baseball!"

That sounds familiar. :)

We do the same thing if we travel during baseball season. We try to travel either before or after, but sometimes it can't be done. For that, wi-fi.

Amy said...

Patrick, that is so cute. I have been known to post a thread comment on the wrong blog! Ask Laura...

Lord Lynch said...

No Amy, Londoner born and bred. Love the sport, watched it when I could, but really got into the Sox due to one man - Pedro. And one game won me over - the one I was kindly sent by redsock!!!

laura k said...

For me it's not a choice. My body shuts down. Eyes close, and I fall asleep whether I want to or not. I'm just not someone who can stay up late.

Lord Lynch said...

Two left on... looks glorious there tonight!

laura k said...

Pedro had a lot to do with my becoming a Sox fan. There were a lot of factors, and it wasn't a choice so much as "it just happened," but Pedro really figures in.

Patrick said...

I have a friend that is into soccer. He got into it on his own. I don't understand it. I inherited this from my dad.

Patrick said...

I did want to mention, as I did on the wrong post, that Dave O'brien has already poked fun at Orsillo. He is relentless.

Lord Lynch said...

Trust me - I'm a light sleeper and my new mobile phone contract has unlimited wap internet on it. I wake up every hour every night and check the score. Both for the Sox and my beloved wife's team.

Now we face her team this week.... she's upset with me for cheering Cleveland's walk off win last Sunday and coming down the stairs gloating! I am a terrible winner.

allan said...

It was simply a wiseass remark, Jere. Jeez.

Amy said...

And your significant other is a Yankee fan, as I recall. I imagine there aren't not a lot of people in London who follow baseball. Nice that you both like baseball, even if not the same team.

Pedro was magical. I remember taking my daughters to Fenway when they were pretty young, and Pedro was pitching. I told them to watch the game because they were going to see one of the greatest pitchers ever.

Lord Lynch said...

England have just lost their opening game in the shortest form of cricket's world cup tonight.

To the Netherlands.

Like USA losing a baseball game to England.

Jere said...

I just have been waiting till the time when I said I was doing something else while a game was on, and having everyone say "you got mad at me for missing a game!" And I wanted to clarify it's a sleeping issue, not a "missing games" issue.

laura k said...

I love the name Marlon Byrd cuz he goes on both the fish and bird teams, and of course the all-animal team.

laura k said...

"I just have been waiting till the time..."

I think maybe you do that a lot.

Lord Lynch said...

My wife has a reason. She's American. She can't understand how I am so into baseball! As is my brother! Two London Red Sox fans, and we aren't alone. There is a London Red Sox Fan Club.

laura k said...

To the Netherlands! Embarrassing.

Do you follow cricket, the world's most incomprehensible sport?

Patrick said...

AHHHH! The advertisements are like 12decibels louder than the game.

STFU!

Jere said...

Well since the last conversation about it ended and I missed my chance to say that, what was I supposed to do, put out a JoS press release?

laura k said...

"There is a London Red Sox Fan Club"

That's good to know, in case I ever fulfill my fantasy of living there.

Lord Lynch said...

I play it laura. Plus I've been to Australia and South Africa to watch England play!

Penny very impressive so far. Is he pitching for his job with Smoltz imminent, or are they really going to go with a 6 man rotation?

Lord Lynch said...

Trust me L-Girl. London "Ain't all that".

laura k said...

"Well since the last conversation about it ended and I missed my chance to say that, what was I supposed to do, put out a JoS press release?"

Let's see there's... let it go? Realize it is unimportant and move on? Probably a few other options along those lines.

Amy said...

Cricket is a game I have never tried to learn, but did watch some when we were in Bermuda about 20 years ago. It looks somewhat like baseball. Somewhat.

London Red Sox fans...maybe we should tell Remy to run for President of Red Sox World.

Patrick said...

I'm really curious about the pitching situation too, Lynch. It would be hard to part with this guy, when he's pitching like this.

laura k said...

I love London. I've been there several times and I'm sure I'd like to live there for a time. But I don't know if I'll ever have the chance. One international move in a lifetime might be it for me.

laura k said...

I've been told it's a lot easier to understand cricket if you ignore baseball altogether.

Baseball more resembles a silly game called Rounders.

Lord Lynch said...

Ortiz all at sea. All the composure of our Prime Minister!

laura k said...

That's my boy!

Amy said...

LBJ! He wants that leadoff spot back.

I cannot imagine a six man rotation, but having a sixth starter in the back pocket would be nice.

laura k said...

"I play it laura. Plus I've been to Australia and South Africa to watch England play!"

Oh, very cool!

I think Allan would be a good match for cricket. It seems so dense and arcane, full of numbers. Plus games go on forever. All Allan-y things.

Patrick said...

Lugo will be 1/1,000,000 forgiven if he drives in LBJ

Amy said...

Lugo...not to be forgiven. But that was a hell of a catch, so I will give him that.

Patrick said...

I miss Lowrie.

Lord Lynch said...

Play for 5 days and you can still draw!

Lyndon - remember, because I'm on internet, I am about 2 minutes behind you lot!

(Can only get the pay channel with the baseball upstairs, and the wife is sound asleep. I'm brave, but not suicidal!)

Amy said...

I even miss Green. Not a Lugo fan. Won't he be gone when Lowrie returns?

laura k said...

Miss Green? Not me.

OWWW Yook

Lord Lynch said...

If only our fielder could have caught like that tonight. We might have seen the Dutch off. Your fielding standards, even with gloves on, always astounds me. The accuracy of throwing in particular. Our lot couldn't hit a cow's backside with a banjo tonight.

Benjamin said...

Nice.

laura k said...

nice dp!!!

Amy said...

NICE!! Great DP!

allan said...

WOW FY!!!

Patrick said...

"there's not a second basemen even close to Pedroia at second base in the AL, that we've seen" -Joe

I'm going to quickly look through fangraphs and see, I suspect, that this isn't true at all...

Amy said...

Sometimes I remember to be amazed that I can be chatting in real time with someone in London by typing onto a keyboard. Amazing.

laura k said...

Spend $75 on MLB crap and get a $15 gift card so you can buy more overpriced crap at Olympia Sports.

That is not what I call a good deal.

laura k said...

Amy, I'm the same way. I'm so not jaded about the internet. I still love it and am amazed by it.

Patrick said...

According to fangraphs, Pedroia's defense is 6th in the AL. Middle of the pack. Kinsler is one of the players ahead of him.

Lord Lynch said...

I do like the hanging sox cap. May have to get one next time I've over. Whenever that may be (sigh).

laura k said...

How does Fangraphs measure that?

Lord Lynch said...

Sheeesh. Lost Hi-definition. I may just be a minute behind you now!

laura k said...

ON FIRE with the infield hit

Amy said...

The internet has changed almost every aspect of my life. What was life like before it?

Sox need to score this time. Please.

Patrick said...

Honestly, I don't understand how they measure it. The metric is UZR. I know how the +/- system works, and I imagine this one is similar, but I'll have to look it up now.

laura k said...

Allan and I had a long distance relationship before the internet. I say that to my nieces & nephews like I'm talking about horse & buggies or gas lamps.

laura k said...

Patrick, I don't know what that is either. I think it's really hard to accurately measure defensive skills, tho.

Lord Lynch said...

C'mon my password!

fusionmouse said...

Bay's got a man on so he can hit a dong...

Lord Lynch said...

double for my password!

fusionmouse said...

not quite... but still little THUNDER.

laura k said...

Canuckouble!

Patrick said...

All I wanted to see was that the eyes do deceive when it comes to defense. Spectacular looking plays aren't the best measure.

laura k said...

Lord, looks like you don't have much of a delay now.

Amy said...

Harvey and I were far apart our first year as a couple. We

YAY!! BAY!!

used to feel lucky to get to make one phone call a week and exchange letters several times a week.

We would have died to have had email or instant messaging. Or Skype.

But there was something romantic about getting real letters.

fusionmouse said...

Will they pitch around Lowell to get to Flo?

laura k said...

Patrick, yes, definitely.

And spectacular plays by the team you watch every night, too! The radio guys act like they watch every team every night, and can somehow compare.

laura k said...

Yeah, it was romantic, but it was awful, too. Waiting for the mail to arrive, only once a day, then if there was no letter, a whole other day until mail. *sigh*

Amy said...

Damn!

allan said...

my mlbtv just went out.

Benjamin said...

Bleh.

laura k said...

oh shit. squander.

Patrick said...

The radio guys act like they watch every team every night, and can somehow compare.

Exactly!

laura k said...

Hi fusionmouse. Is this your first gamethread? Or maybe you've been around for a game I missed.

Amy said...

Yeah, I hated coming home and finding no letter.

And phone calls were so expensive. No such thing as unlimited long distance...or maybe there was, but it was prohibitively expensive. We would wait until 11 pm to talk because the rates went down.

And yes, I would stay up for that. :)

Patrick said...

Greinke is getting hammered. His ERA is skyrocketing past 1.

laura k said...

We had to limit our calls, too, because of phone bills.

On the other hand, if we hadn't had our 1.5 years of long distance, I don't think we would have formed a r'ship. I hated it, but it was good for us.

laura k said...

"His ERA is skyrocketing past 1."

:>)

What's the score?

Patrick said...

Lugo forgiven, || this much.

fusionmouse said...

First post to a game thread, lurked through several.

In Cambridge, MA. Gotta go cycle through the drizzle to go home so I won't be on the thread much longer.

Found JoS through FF two years ago and have followed it since.

allan said...

good god, michael young is overrated.

Lord Lynch said...

L and Amy. We had Skype. What a saviour.

Rob said...

Hey everyone. Just finished with dinner. Homemade chicken burritos! With the cilantro lime rice, red peppers, marinated chicken, cheese, etc. I even folded the burrito correctly and it didn't fall apart!

My punishment? I get to catch up on the thread! :>)

Amy said...

Distance makes the heart grow fonder?

We saw each other almost every weekend (we were about 4-5 hours apart, depending on whether it was by car or bus). I hated it, but I guess it did make us realize how real our feelings were.

laura k said...

Eck: "You gave me bad information, made me look like a moron!"

Don having trouble speaking because he's laughing so hard.

Patrick said...

yikes, 6-0 Toronto over KC. Greinke is experiencing that humbling phenomenon known as 'regression.'

fusionmouse said...

This has officially become a pitcher's duel... but are lads are working the pitch count better on Millwood. How good is the Texas bullpen?

Patrick said...

omg, Ish, that sounds delicious!!!

That's one of my favorite meals.

laura k said...

"Distance makes the heart grow fonder?"

I don't think so, but distance slowed things down and gave us time to think about what we wanted.

The most we were ever able to see each other once one weekend a month, but usually much less than that. Do you remember People Express airline? that was our saviour.

Amy said...

Nice recovery there. Unfortunately.

fusionmouse said...

Ouch... I meant our lads. My third grade teach just spun in her grave!

laura k said...

"First post to a game thread, lurked through several.

...

Found JoS through FF two years ago and have followed it since."

Well, welcome! Glad you un-lurked at last.

laura k said...

Our - are - funny about typing. Your fingers hear the sounds and type it. I sometimes type "won" for "one".

Amy said...

A food report from Ish!

We were supposed to have chicken with a mango salsa tonight, but when we got home from the grocery store, we realized that they had failed to pack the chicken. We were too tired to go back and get it (we called and were told we could pick up a new package at our convenience), so we had cheese omelettes for dinner instead.

laura k said...

Skype! That would have helped. I can't imagine how different it would have been if Allan and I could have texted or emailed.

Allan used to send me music *on cassette*.

fusionmouse said...

Did 3 years of long distance with my wife in CA, before marriage... she in northern CA and me down in SoCal. Used to meet half-way and drive into the Sierra Nevada mountains. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks were our courtin' country.

Amy said...

I do recall People Express, though I never flew it. Fortunately for me, I could take a bus because that was in my pre-xanax days.

laura k said...

Fusionmouse, that sounds nice. Were you a Sox fan then too? Or is that since being in Boston?

Amy said...

Fusionmouse, that sounds like a beautiful place to meet up. We were not quite as far apart as northern and southern CA, just NY to Ithaca, so we went the whole way. But it was tiring.

fusionmouse said...

Hey, I lost WRKO stream! Now there's no reason not to ride through the "English" weather to get home. Just like East Anglia.

laura k said...

People Express used to have seat sales. Some seats would be $79, some $59, some $29... some $19! As soon as we saw an ad, we'd call and try to get a cheap flight.

We were both totally poor then. We never could have done it w/o PE.

When Allan moved to NYC, they went out business! Coincidence? :)

allan said...

i am blanking on what FF could be.

Patrick said...

I lost the WRKO stream as well. I've switched to the Rangers station.

Lord Lynch said...

People's Express.... that ages me!

laura k said...

Brooklyn to Burlington - and neither of us had a car. (Although I did "borrow" (without asking) a car once to drive up for a week.)

Amy said...

Were there no buses you could have taken? I used to get rides sometimes, and Harvey had a car, but mostly I took Greyhound. They are still in business, so I guess I wasn't a major contributor to their finances.

laura k said...

Yup, ages me too!

I was wondering what FF is.

I find that the RKO feed blacks out every once in a while, then comes back. I guess this time it didn't.

fusionmouse said...

Became a Sox fan in 96... the early Nomah and Pedro years. Grew up Dodger Blue, but following a West Coast NL team from the east just seemed silly at the time (not to mention that the Blue Crew was spledidly mediocre at the time.)

Been a great 13 years now and the Sox are the ONLY team for my two sons.

Amy said...

Yeah, I was going to ask about FF, but I forgot. And I figured no one else asked, so I didn't want to ask a dumb question. I am saving that for later. I try to limit it to one a night.

Lord Lynch said...

L - Burlington, Vermont?

laura k said...

I have a soft spot for the Dodgers. If I could follow another team, that would be it.

I love Dodger Stadium. And Vin Scully. And I have Brooklyn roots.

fusionmouse said...

FF is fragile freddy's blog. Awesome place for clever Sox analysis.

laura k said...

Yes, Burlington, VT, where Allan is from. I lived in Brooklyn. He moved to NYC in 1987.

laura k said...

Quite the pitchers duel going on here. How many good starts is this now for Penny?

Lord Lynch said...

I spent a couple of days in Burlington last year. I loved it there. Really loved it.

laura k said...

I think Penny deserves a JoS nickname.

allan said...

FUCK LUGO

Amy said...

Like I said, I do not like Lugo.

laura k said...

It's very nice. Different when you come from a place, of course.

Damn! 1-0 them. Fucking Lugo.

allan said...

Jeterian.

Amy said...

Oh, SHIT. Now I REALLY hate Lugo.

Lord Lynch said...

Ouch.

laura k said...

Oh boy. What was I saying about pitchers duel?

allan said...

Julio Lugo is not a major league shortstop.

fusionmouse said...

I agree, Vin Scully is the best. The voice I truly associate with baseball. I can still recall working in the lab (grad school) listening to Vin call game 1 of the '88 WS when Gibson cranked a 2 run dong off Eck on a full count 2 out slider.

Baseball MAGIC!

Lord Lynch said...

I had a glitch with the Lugo play- what happened?

Rob said...

I am up to date!

You're probably better off not having the internet for long-distance relationships. Perhaps. Thing that would bug me would be sitting at the computer for hours and hours on end checking e-mail or a website wishing, hoping, waiting. Not being productive at all. At least without internets, you live your life and you have some or good idea of when you'll be in contact again.

fusionmouse said...

What the?!?!?!? This game went in the crapper awfully fast...

Amy said...

Lord, Lugo failed to stop a ground ball. It went under his glove. Runner scored. And then the next batter hit a three run HR. So we are down 4-0.

laura k said...

No crapper yet. It's only the 5th. Plenty of time.

Lord Lynch said...

Lugo goes further to advance his popularity with the Sox faithful..

laura k said...

"At least without internets, you live your life and you have some or good idea of when you'll be in contact again."

You live your life wondering when you'll be in contact again.

In any case, there's no going back. The internet is here, and no LDR will exist w/o it now.

fusionmouse said...

At least my mood fits the weather now.. time for a ride. Nice threading with you all.

Hope the Sox rally!

Amy said...

Ish, even back then you waited for phone calls and mail when you were unsure of relationships. The internet means that IF the person wants to talk to you, at least you know they can and for free. In the old days, even if the person did want to talk to you, you had to wait for snail mail or pay big bucks for a phone call.

I am not sure I explained that well.

laura k said...

Vin Scully is so far above everyone else in his field, his job ought to be called something different.

Rob said...

So I guess internet would be better. It all depends on all sorts of circumstances. Anywho.

laura k said...

By FM, ride safely!

Lord Lynch said...

OK. Eyes waning now. Looks like I'll be off to the land of nod.

Night all. Hope we come back...

laura k said...

Amy, you're explaining it perfectly. :)

laura k said...

Good night, Lord. Nice to see you here tonight.

Amy said...

Good night, Lord and Mouse.

Sounds like the title to a kid's book.

fusionmouse said...

And it's so much more difficult "sexting" through snail mail--probably illegal, too.

Amy said...

Was Lugo ever any good in the field, or has he gotten worse since joining the Red Sox? It's just awful to watch him play.

laura k said...

I don't think it's illegal. But it's a lot less satisfying!

laura k said...

"Good night, Lord and Mouse.

Sounds like the title to a kid's book"

HA ha, I like that.

andy said...

What up motherfuckers

laura k said...

Hi Andy. How are things? Getting any sleep?

Amy said...

Good evening, Andy. The transatlantic representative leaves, and the west coast rep shows up. The magic of time zones.

laura k said...

SHOW THE GAME
SHOW THE GAME
SHOW THE GAME

laura k said...

DO NOT PUT THE GAME IN A BOX TO SHOW US BAD COMEDY!!!!!!!!

Rob said...

Go from 1:45 AM to 5:45 PM

andy said...

Girl not here yet. Only pregnant at this point. Sorry I did not make that clear. Due in November.

allan said...

pablo cruise millars that one, whew.

allan said...

that ref is an age test for sure!

laura k said...

One time last season we were talking about doing a game thread in Chile - the most vertical country we could think of. One time zone.

Rob said...

Due in November? Good thing she's not here yet!

andy said...

Chilean Soccer Blog

Amy said...

Yeah, I thought you were still expecting, so was confused about the sleep question. You know it is a girl?

andy said...

It's Friday night and the feeling's right.

Rob said...

L, China's one time zone too!

Seriously, it is. Of course it's about three time zones wide. Maybe 2.5

laura k said...

November! We all thought you had the baby. But you just got the results and know it's a girl. Ah-ha.

I thought June seemed way early, but assumed it was my bad memory. :)

andy said...

Yeah we had the 4D sham of an ultrasound to the tune of $125. 15 minutes on a DVD later it's a girl.

laura k said...

Yes, China is all on Beijing time. People who live in the hinterlands are not fond of this, from what I read.

Amy said...

FUCK LUGO! WHY IS HE PLAYING BASEBALL?

Amy said...

OK, Eck, tell me. Was he always this bad?

allan said...

He ain't playing baseball. He's doing something, but it ain't what we call baseball.

laura k said...

Amy, a few nights ago Andy said, "Baby is a girl" and we all started congratulating him. :)

Amy said...

Eck, you are allowed to be critical, aren't you?

laura k said...

"that ref is an age test for sure!"

what does this mean?

Amy said...

Ahh, it must have been a game I missed. I did not see that comment from Andy.

Rob said...

Alaska is about three time zones wide as well.

There are places in western AK where the sun rises at 10 AM and sets at 6 PM.

laura k said...

Any chance we'll score any runs tonight?

Amy said...

Luckily that went into the stands.

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