May 26, 2010

G48: Red Sox 11, Rays 3

Red Sox - 013 020 005 - 11 13  0
Rays - 010 100 001 - 3 10 0
Boston's first three-game sweep in Tampa Bay since 2001* moves the Red Sox from 8.5 GB to 5.5 GB in three days. They are now in third place, two games behind the Yankees.

* Boston swept two consecutive three-game series at the Trop in 2001: April 17-19 and June 19-21. The following season, Boston swept two four-game series (May 3-6 and September 9-12, 2002), so the "first three-game sweep" tidbit is a bit of a trick.

Adrian Beltre went 4-for-5, with a single, triple, two long home runs to left, and tied a career high with 6 RBI. It was the 19th four-hit game of Beltre's career, but his first with a triple and two dongs. His other game with 6 RBI was July 27, 2000 in Colorado. (Alex Cora followed Beltre in the Dodgers order that day and had 5 RBI! And Eric Gagne started for LA!)

David Ortiz hit a two-run bomb in the fifth and Darnell McDonald had a two-run double in the ninth.

Lackey (6.1-8-2-4-1, 115) was the very definition of "winning ugly", allowing at least two base runners in each of his first five innings, thanks to seven hits and four walks up to that point. ... Garza (5-5-6-5-3, 103) also struggled -- 75 pitches in the first three innings -- and the Red Sox were able to hit three dongs to make his mistakes translate into runs.

Back in April, when Tampa swept a four-game series in Boston for the first time ever, I checked how many four-game series the Rays had played at Fenway by going through Tampa's schedules at B-Ref year by year. Soon after I did that, though, I realized there was a far easier way. I should have looked at this page, which lists every game the two teams have played. Boston is now 131-80 (.618) against the (Devil) Rays.

The Yankees resumed their suspended game and beat the Twins 1-0, then won the regularly scheduled game 3-2. The Jays lost to the Angels 6-5.

New York is 3.5 GB, Boston is 5.5 GB and Toronto is 6 GB.
Example
John Lackey / Matt Garza
Scutaro, SS
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Youkilis, 1B
Beltre, 3B
Hermida, LF
Varitek, C
Cameron, CF
McDonald, RF
Short-staffed tonight, as Martinez, Ellsbury, and Drew will not be in the starting lineup.

The Red Sox finally have a chance to move into third place with a win and a Blue Jays loss. (Blue Jays/Angels and Yankees/Twins at 7 PM. The Yankees and Twins will resume their suspended game at 5 PM.)

Lackey's last three starts: 18 innings, 23 hits, 12 walks, 13 strikeouts, 7.50 ERA, .922 opponents OPS. ... Walk totals in last four starts: 2, 3, 4, 5.

Looking at Lackey's 2010 splits, we see that he is at his worst the second time through the lineup, innings 2-4, and pitches 26-75. Part of that can be chalked up to a very high BABIP. ... Also, with 2 outs in an inning, batters against Lackey are hitting .323/.429/.523 (which is much better than they do with 0 or 1 out).
Example
This Date in Baseball History:

1959: Pittsburgh's Harvey Haddix pitches 12 perfect innings against Milwaukee before losing the game in the 13th. Joe Adcock hits a three-run home run off Haddix, but he "passes" Hank Aaron on the bases (actually, Aaron left the field), so he gets credit for a double and the final score is 1-0.

1976: Ken Brett of the White Sox has a no-hitter against the Angels with two outs in the ninth inning when Jerry Remy hits a slow roller down the third base line. Jorge Orta lets the ball roll and it is ruled a hit. Brett allowed another hit in the 10th and finally won the game 1-0 in 11 innings.

1993: Cleveland's Carlos Martinez hits a fly ball that bounces off the head of Rangers outfielder Jose Canseco and over the fence for a home run.

303 comments:

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nick said...

why would it be preferred -- outside of $$ considerations?

They should put 'em underground.

allan said...

grant ball four in for fkr.

Amy said...

Maybe some teams like being able to see the pitchers warming up? Or the pitchers warming up want to see the field?? GOT ME!

nick said...

I would've been surprised if he'd got that out, but a nice play.

allan said...

that will give rays tv something to talk about

Pepe Lepew said...

Grant Balfour, related to "I'll give you ONE BILLION DOLLARS [hic]," Eddie Balfour?

Pepe Lepew said...

Shite, Mauer hits into double play.

Minnesota is 1-10 in their last 11 games against the Yankees.

allan said...

if his brother's name is wright, i'd think their father loved jim bouton.

nick said...

I figure they must have these big complexes of weight rooms, soft serve machines, lending libraries, etc. The pitching staff could actually sit w/ the rest of the team and warm up down there when needed. but yeah, visual feedback is nice.

nick said...

Jim Bouton lives 'round here. A few years back he did a fundraiser for our radio station--a breakfast talk followed by a pitching workshop for kids on the ball field.

Benjamin said...

For baseball's inaugural year at the Trop, the bullpens were in the enclosed areas that the Corona Beach Bar and Checkers Bullpen Cafe now occupy.

http://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/american/tampabay.html

allan said...

i like bouton a lot.

jeemer looks ready

Benjamin said...

According to the Devil Rays' Web site, "Tropicana Field's asymmetrical outfield dimensions closely follow those of
the Brooklyn Dodgers' old home; a fact that became evident only after those measurements had been
determined." In actuality, none of the respective outfield dimensions or wall heights are in any way similar to
Ebbets Field.


http://www.ballparktour.com/Tampa.html

Pepe Lepew said...

Swisher home run. Krap.

Pepe Lepew said...

i like bouton a lot.

jeemer looks ready


Jim Bouton, you magnificent bastard! I read your book!
About 30 years ago....

allan said...

i think ramram is up now

allan said...

lackey hates to come out of a game?

how about not pitching like poop? then you can stay in.

nick said...

Interesting read, Benjamin. Thanks.

Kathryn said...

LBJ would have had that.

Amy said...

Did you say Ramram is up? WHAT? We are neither 10 runs up nor 10 runs down. No way should he pitch.

nick said...

Gotta dash to radioland. it'll be GDGD for me hereon.

allan said...

looks like he'll have the 8th.

Pepe Lepew said...

Wow, Rivera coming in twice in one day.

Pepe Lepew said...

This guy is batting .190 and on pace for 90 RBIs. Interesting.

Kathryn said...

JEEMER! Whew.

allan said...

nesn said earlier that the last 3-game sweep at the trop was in 2001. hard to believe.

Kathryn said...

I'm with Amy. No RamRam.

Pepe Lepew said...

Yankees win.

Kathryn said...

Damn. Toronto ties it up in the top of the 9th

allan said...

we are sweeping the first place team and moving from 8.5 to 5.5. i have decided that is all that matters.

Kathryn said...

That's a good attitude Allan. I am not at all concerned about the Jays.

Benjamin said...

Even when the FKR were cellar dwellers, they still kicked around Sox pitchers not named Wakefield at the Trop.

Kathryn said...

My son just got home...



with a new amp.

Aaagghhh.

Zenslinger said...

Just a quick check in to say Yay, Sox. Bummer the Yanks won again, tho.

allan said...

it'll be nice when the jays get back to normal and slip behind us.

Kathryn said...

Can RamRam hold this?

allan said...

yes.

ramram is just misunderstood, is all.

RedSoxDiehard said...

Bullpens on the field are so dangerous! You'd think they'd want to protect the millions of dollars they've invested in their pitching staff.

allan said...

up:
mdc, bot
cormier, choate

Kathryn said...

I'd understand him a lot better if he threw strikes.

buffwarrior said...

what the heck.. ramon's actually getting outs versus the home runs he like to toss up there.

allan said...

they do have a coach standing guard with a glove!

Kathryn said...

Nice job. He made it look easy.

RedSoxDiehard said...

ramram is just misunderstood, is all

Ah, thanks for clearing that up!

Benjamin said...

You'd think they'd want to protect the millions of dollars they've invested in their pitching staff.

But think of the Coronas they can sell to a small fraction of 12,000 fans this way. Your priorities are backwards.

allan said...

3 guys behind the 1B dugout with Boston Sucks shirts on. i had seen one guy on and off tonight. now 2 of them just rolled up their sweatshirts to show them underneath. lame.

meunier said...

Kedrick Perkins was ejected from the C's game for getting a technical...while walking 10 feet away from the ref with his back to the ref.

meunier said...

The NBA should be investigating Eddie Rush right quick.

buffwarrior said...

Papi!! I need to ask for his forgiveness..He's even figured out how to hit to left.. I will not complain again.. or until the next slump.

allan said...

one more time, oh snakecharmer.

buffwarrior said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Amy said...

Wow, Beltre! Almost three in a game, but I will take a two run triple.

allan said...

yook like 1/2 step behind flo!

allan said...

NOTICE IS SERVED!

meunier said...

9-2 Hermida with a hit.

Amy said...

Now who was that pessimist who was just hoping for one win out of three?

Silly, silly me. Live and learn.

nick said...

hangdang!

allan said...

shit, flo has been in a GOOD mood on the bench tonight!

allan said...

Patrick
The odds are clearly stacked against us this game. It would be HUGE if we could battle it out for a win.
Good defense and timely hitting.


Done and done.

buffwarrior said...

someone asked about Beltre being hated out here in the Northwest. I think the big thing was he wasn't productive and he had a huge salary.
Mariners have been a graveyard for many of players careers. It's no different then us hating Lackey right now. Beltre had 45 home run and rbi with Dodgers and just looked like poop for the Mariners.

Pepe Lepew said...

BTW, my Mariners friends say Beltre sucks!

allan said...

bot down
joe nelson up

Patrick said...

Amen!

Amy said...

Who are these guys? Are they really the team with the best record in MLB?

allan said...

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kathryn said...

Cameron was running like Papi there.

Patrick said...

Pile it on these FKRS. Demoralize them!!!

tim said...

Still lurking...haven't fired up the hookah yet, but enjoying this rout right about now.

Steph is on teh interwebz with her friends getting updates on Winston (our pup) so we'll head out for the shisha afterwards.

allan said...

up 6-2, but you bat around in the 9th to rub their noses in it.

tim said...

5 run 9th...can't complain.

Patrick said...

Joe Nelson gets a chance to do something.

Pepe Lepew said...

Scutaro, you SUCK!!!!

Sorry, channeling my inner Mariner.

allan said...

Joe Nelson has a 2004 WS ring.
He is unstoppable.

Amy said...

Hall at 2d...guess we have a big enough lead.

allan said...

also sounds like your inner blue jay.

buffwarrior said...

Who would have thunk it that the Sox would just bitch slap the Rays in Tampa?...

Kathryn said...

Joe Nelson has a 2004 WS ring.

So do the security guards.

allan said...

maybe we should have had one of the cops close it out then ...

allan said...

nelson has a big heart. he heard zobrist's grandma was in the stands. he let her see her boy hit a dong. he also saved a drowning kitten earlier today.

Kathryn said...

Hahaha.

I keep forgetting, it's okay for me to count now.

One.

allan said...

um, and longoria's niece is at her first game tonight ..

...

come on nelson, you bald fucker.

buffwarrior said...

WTF who the crap is Nelson and why didn't we just bury them instead of giving them life support. I hate that they bring some guy that's going to be released next week to finish the game.

Pepe Lepew said...

Nelson, you SUCK!!!!

Sorry, sorry, hopelessly infected by Mariners friends...

allan said...

we are up by 8

whatever - take all the time you need, joe.

allan said...

trust me, we buried them.

allan said...

Lackey wins ugly and the water is Muddy!!!

Drink up, Tamper.

laura k said...

Dirty Sweeping Water!

meunier said...

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPP

Patrick said...

Where's Amy?!?! You see that sweep?

laura k said...

Wow wow wow, picking up 3 whole games!!!

(We are up by 8 runs and people are yelling at the pitcher? Holy cow.)

buffwarrior said...

Even Nesn announcer says "you come out throw strikes and use your defense"

allan said...

nelson is a vulcan, btw...

Pepe Lepew said...

Broomhilda!

Kathryn said...

Two. Three.

Sorry, distracted by some insurance mail.

Dirty>>Clean

allan said...

Yook did not go deep on Garza, but I'll use it here anyway:

Sweat > Spit

Pepe Lepew said...

L-girl said...

Wow wow wow, picking up 3 whole games!!!

(We are up by 8 runs and people are yelling at the pitcher? Holy cow.)


[Psssst] Sounds like a Mariners fan.

Pepe Lepew said...

I come not to bury the Red Sox, but to praise them!

RedSoxDiehard said...

But think of the Coronas they can sell to a small fraction of 12,000 fans this way. Your priorities are backwards.

LOL, of course. I stand corrected.

buffwarrior said...

what a pleasure... who can't we beat right now? 13 game stretch 9-4 - RED HOT against toughest teams.

Amy said...

Yes, Patrick, I saw---and already admitted my foolishness!

allan said...

"Still, We Swept These Motherfuckers And Dominated The Fucking Shit Out Of Them On Their Turf, Outscoring Them 17-4"

On DVD now!

Benjamin said...

Actually first sweep at the Trop since 2002 -- we swept a four game series there May 3-6, 2002.

allan said...

Actually first sweep at the Trop since 2002 -- we swept a four game series there May 3-6, 2002.

Just posted about that! We also swept 4 games in September 2002.

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