June 7, 2011

G60: Red Sox 6, Yankees 4

Red Sox - 310 020 000 - 6  7  0
Yankees - 100 020 001 - 4  9  0
Jacoby Ellsbury slammed Freddy Garcia's fifth pitch of the evening deep into the right-center bleachers for his 7th home run of the year. Dustin Pedroia walked, Adrian Gonzalez tripled (!) and Kevin Youkilis delivered a sac fly. Boston led 3-0 after only 15 pitches.

Lester (6-8-3-1-5, 112) threw 53 pitches in the first two innings, but was not seriously threatened, despite the pronouncements of impending doom from both Don Orsillo (TV) and Dave O'Brien (radio). Lester left the bases loaded in the first, allowed a two-out single in the second, gave up a leadoff single in the third but did not allow the runner to advance, stranded two in the fourth, and one in the fifth. His only 1-2-3 inning was the sixth.

Lester has received credit for a win in his last five starts against the Yankees (dating back to May 2010). It's the longest streak since Roger Clemens had five from June 1986 to June 1988. The club record is eight, by Tex Hughson (1942-43); Bill Lee had seven.

David Ortiz crushed a no-doubt, two-run dong (#14) in the fifth to give the Sox a 6-1 lead (which is also Boston's record against the MFY this season) and although New York answered with two runs in their half of the inning, there was not much real worry. After the Sox's lead was cut to 6-3, the Yankees brought the potential tying run to the plate only once - and that was the final batter of the game, Alex Rodriguez, who struck out against Jonathan Papelbon.

Bobby Jenks took over for Lester and threw only four pitches to Jorge Posada to start the seventh before having to leave the game because of back pain/tightness. ... Mark Teixeira was hit flush on the right knee by a pitch in the first inning and left the game in considerable pain. X-rays were negative.
Hector Noesi threw six innings of relief for the Yankees. It's not as rare as I thought.

The victory puts the Red Sox (34-26) into a first place tie with the Yankees (33-25), though New York's winning percentage is actually .002 better than Boston's. We'll deal with that tomorrow.
Example
Jon Lester / Freddy Garcia

            W   L   PCT   GB    RS   RA  DIFF    PYTH
Yankees    33  24  .579  ---   293  222  + 71   36-21
Red Sox    33  26  .559  1.0   290  262  + 28   32-27
Rays       31  29  .517  3.5   248  238  + 10   31-29
Blue Jays  30  30  .500  4.5   292  265  + 27   33-27
orioles    27  31  .466  6.5   233  276  - 43   25-33
PYTH is each team's expected record, based on their runs scored and runs allowed.

The Post's George King writes: "Welcome to the real start of the baseball season." King says these games mean "a lot more than the seventh, eighth and ninth games of the season did."

But do they mean more than the 38th, 39th, and 40th games of the season, i.e., Boston's three-game sweep in the Bronx on May 13-15? King grudgingly mentions those games, in which the Yankees were 3-for-22 (.136) with RATS, towards the end of his article. Anyway, no matter when the games are played, each one "means" the same thing in the standings. Perhaps King means the anticipation is higher for this series.

Mike Lupica says this series is the start of "baseball summer ... a perfect time to find out what it looks like when the Red Sox are finally playing the way they are supposed to and the Yankees are doing the same."

The Red Sox are 5-1 against the Yankees in 2011, out-hitting them .292 to .216 and posting a better ERA, 3.67 to 5.37. ... Alex Rodriguez is only 6-for-29 (.207) against Lester, but has two doubles and three home runs. ... Among David Ortiz's 11 hits against Garcia are four doubles and three homers.

On this date in 2007, Curt Schilling was one out away from a no-hitter when Oakland's Shannon Stewart singles to right field. Schilling completes his one-hit, 1-0 win two pitches later.

AL East: Blue Jays/Royals at 8 PM and Rays/Angels at 10 PM.

331 comments:

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Jere said...

The home team has won all four June 7th Yanks-Sox matchups. The road team is due!

allan said...

Ellsbury, CF
Pedroia, 2B
Gonzalez, 1B
Youkilis, 3B
Ortiz, DH
Crawford, LF
Saltalamacchia, C
Drew, RF
Scutaro, SS

Scutaro is back. Lowrie is hitting .222/.293/.299 vs RHP this year and is 12-of-53 (.226) in his last 14 games.

Rob said...

"with RATS"

They're all rats!

rml said...

Allan,

Long time reader of your blog, but I've never posted before. I just wanted to thank you for your review of Knocking on Heaven's Door. My wife recently got it for me for my birthday, and I have been thoroughly enjoying it.

-Ryan
Chas, SC

allan said...

Ryan: You're welcome! I think Amy is also reading it, or ordered it.

allan said...

Jeter, DH
Granderson, CF
Teixeira, 1B
Rodriguez, 3B
Cano, 2B
Martin, C
Swisher, RF
Jones, LF
Nunez, SS

allan said...

Nationals prospect Bryce Harper blew a kiss toward Greensboro Grasshoppers (Marlins) pitcher Zachary Neal after hitting a home run off him on Monday. ... Harper better not dig in too deep the next time he faces Neal (or any 'hopper pitcher), me thinks.

Amy said...

I just finished it! I really enjoyed it also---thanks again for the recommendation. I will never look at a minor leaguer the same again.

BTW, rml, although I did not know it when I bought the book, Jim Masteralexis is actually a colleague of my husband. It made it especially interesting to read the book!

Amy said...

I don't know how long I will be threading tonight. Laptop is too HOT for my lap! I probably will chime in now and then.

allan said...

LBJ says "PLAY BALL!!!!!!!!"

Amy said...

YES!!!!

allan said...

L: "THAT"S MY BOY!!!!!!!!!"

Dr. Jeff said...

Awesome!

Maxwell Horse said...

Damnit, Ellsbury, you're supposed to set the table, not destroy it!

Jere said...

Lead off fucking dong right at the culmination of the Bleacher Cretins' Prick-Call, perfect!

allan said...

OB: "First 2 have reached"

well, yes, but ..........

allan said...

PIANO CARRYING TRIPLE!!!!!!!!!!!

Jere said...

don't stop. i want this game out of reach before an out is made

Amy said...

OMG!!!

Jere said...

My gf on Freddy Garcia: "what a chump"

allan said...

MAKE TITO APOLOGIZE!!!!!!!!!!

Rob said...

Don was truped on Youk's fly-out

allan said...

so was I, thanks to OB's WAYBACK call. plus it looked like the LF gave up on it.

then after the catch, OB says he just missed a dong. no. not even to the track.

Jere said...

They're under our spell

Jere said...

you can't teach that kind of near infield hit

Dr. Jeff said...

That was a sweet curve for strike 2.

Dr. Jeff said...

Heidi Watney.

Dr. Jeff said...

Papelbon is so eloquent.

allan said...

got the mfy feed. slo-mo of HBP - OUCH!

allan said...

"that's a shame"

Maxwell Horse said...

Crap.

Over/under on the percentage of Yankees fans that will believe Lester was aiming for his knee there?

laura k said...

OB: "Posada is going to run for him". I burst out laughing.

laura k said...

That did look painful.

Jere said...

NESN's first gratuitous Jeter shot of the night.

Dr. Jeff said...

Dude drinking the red wine in a glass!

Dr. Jeff said...

laura you have to put "run" in quotes.

Kathryn said...

Nice start in the top of the inning. Now finish this off, Lester.

allan said...

Dude drinking the red wine in a glass!

That reminds me...

allan said...

Good thing Dumbo agreed to play today, I guess.

Dr. Jeff said...

Allan I saw that Harper video on Jim Rome (which I never watch) today. Hilarious. Here's the quote:

"Check out my man, styling and admiring that shot like he’s Reggie Jackson or something. Needless to say, the pitcher Zach Neal doesn’t care how big Harper’s signing bonus was or that he was taken first overall; he didn’t like being shown up and let him Harper know it. So Harper blew him a kiss. Can’t wait until he tries that with Kyle Farnsworth or (Brett Myers). ...You just went yard on some dude from the Greensboro Grasshoppers not Tim Lincecum in the NLCS. If pulling that garbage in the low minors doesn’t fly it’ll probably get you killed in the majors.

Nothing like a Single A style job. Because if you can’t check yourself, and your manager and teammates can’t, the game will."

Amy said...

Damn, Lester, cut it out!

Dr. Jeff said...

Reminds you to open a bottle? Let us know what you pick.

Maxwell Horse said...

That Yankee fan screaming "you bum!" indignantly is an idiot.

9casey said...

He is own worst enemy

Kathryn said...

Nine HBP this year. Wow. That seems like a lot.

allan said...

lester is a "knee hunter"

wine? cheap white in a big box

Jere said...

That's how you take one in the knee, Tex, ya big wuss.

NESN showing a total douche in the stands calling for Lester's head. Dumb as a bag o' rocks.

Amy said...

Lester up to 30. How many were strikes?

Kathryn said...

cheap white in a big box? That was college days, in the sorority, watching Magnum P.I.

allan said...

long wait for garcia, i assume ....

Kathryn said...

Yeah, that guy was hollering, 'you bum'

Jere said...

22 minute wait for Fred. WINS 1010-style

Amy said...

We did not have wine in a box when I was in college. We had Boone's Farm Apple Wine. True rotgut for a dollar a bottle.

I could use some to get through this half inning.

Amy said...

Finally...

9casey said...

This game is on a 5 hour pace.....

Kathryn said...

YOOUUUUKKK!! Looking like FY!

Amy said...

Hey, Jere, great photos in the Knocking on Heaven's Door book!

allan said...

on pace for a 27-9 final.

Kathryn said...

So Dumbo can play first?

Jere said...

Thanks Amy. Was glad to help the guy out.

Jere said...

"So Dumbo can play first?"

Yeah I think he can paint too

Dr. Jeff said...

BP continues.

Dr. Jeff said...

I can't believe you are drinking wine from a box. Though it is cost effective!

laura k said...

Bert's gotta hit for the cycle tonight. A player like that gets a triple in the 1st, I'm thinking cycle.

Jere said...

Does NESN really need to play a New Kids song during the inning just because they're doing the spot for the New Kids concert? (Do they really need to do the spot during the inning at all?)

nick said...

I turned on the TV on a hopeless whim and wadya know. I've got the game on the --is it a Fox affiliate?. Cool!

Checking back...Posada as PR in the first is pretty damn funny.

Amy said...

It gets to feel like a small world when I recognize both one of the individuals in the book and one of the photographers!

allan said...

Brand is Colio. (I call it Coolio)

I need a white that is drinkable but cheap. And the box is a much better value than 2 big bottles. So ...

laura k said...

This white wine is not as bad as college stuff, not even close. In my day that was Fetzer. The Dreaded Fetzer.

Amy said...

The box is easier to store and carry also, I assume.

allan said...

MFY pen up - Ayala

Amy said...

LBJ needs a B2B dong.

laura k said...

Dr Jeff, here in Ontario all kinds of wine comes in a box, some of it pretty good!

Jere said...

"is it a Fox affiliate?"

Some Yanks games are on "My9," usually Friday night, but they'll show special games like Sox. Same announcers and everything, but just a chance for non-cable people to see a game. (Like the Red Sox were doing with Fox 25 until they finally went all NESN)

allan said...

"There's a laser!"

laura k said...

We have the Channel 9 feed tonight.

Naturally we have MLB Audio on.

Dr. Jeff said...

Yook HR would be awesome.

allan said...

It's Sweat Machine Time!

Dr. Jeff said...

I'm going with scotch and soda tonight.

Kathryn said...

C'mon, he can't hit for the cycle if you're walking him.

laura k said...

Whoa, nice start Freddy!

allan said...

Freddy's Dead

Jere said...

neeev zneeev, freddy is the devil.

Nice try, Freddy.

Kathryn said...

Nice, use up the pen the first game of the series.

RedSoxDiehard said...

Bases loaded... I guess they can't plunk Youk now. My father was predicting he'd get hit next time up. Or are they saving him for Joba?

Jere said...

Maybe Gonza will get a Cycle with a twist o'walk.

allan said...

12 batters faced for Garcia.

nick said...

yup it's "my9" on "my4" on my8.

Shoulda left him in at least through the 4th.

Jere said...

I miss Benny Ayala

allan said...

Nunez: .255 OBP!!!!

laura k said...

Cycle with a walk should be called something extra. I think Jayson Stark calls it a... perfect cycle? (?)

RedSoxDiehard said...

I am slow getting here and getting caught up on the thread. But "piano carrying triple" made me actually LOL.

Jere said...

oh that is a guaranteed hit. easy grounder to SS, throw in dirt. guaranteed hit. Yup. So fucking ridiculous. There are no errors anymore.

laura k said...

I have my usual red wine. From a glass bottle, not a box. :)

Amy said...

They just want to help Jeter improve his batting average.

Jere said...

How is getting 3000 of what Jeter just got an accomplishment?

nick said...

The breast shots in this Adirondack Tire are not remotely subtle.

allan said...

And Don and Jerry will continue using fielding % as the sole measure of defense. "Boston is 3rd the league in defense with x errors." God, I HATE that. It's more Remy than Don.

But Jeter, with 2986 hits, playing at home? Scutaro could air mail into the 2nd deck and CI would get credit for a hit.

laura k said...

I think he may have gotten a few other type of hits.

Jere said...

I've heard people (rightfully) say that they think Jeter's 3,000th will be a bloop to right. I think it'll be a grounder through someone's legs.

allan said...

SSalty.

Kathryn said...

Granderson is good.

Maxwell Horse said...

I'm genuinely glad that early scans of Teixeira's knee are negative. I remember back in the days when I was actually a physically active human being I had a few incidents where I hit my kneecap and ended up writhing on the ground for minutes afterwards. Hopefully today's incident was similar to my experiences, putting aside the fact that he's a high-profile multi-millionaire of course. The bastard.

laura k said...

Drew! WOW!

Amy said...

Great catch, JD!

allan said...

DREW CARES!!

Amy said...

Allan and Laura, did you see the article in today's NYTimes about noise in sports arenas? The article is mostly about basketball, but speaks generally about increased noise in sports events.

Jere said...

drew able to save his own ass there.

he's got some vertical, eh?

allan said...

Amy: No, will check it out after the game. Thanks.

Kathryn said...

Jonathan just recalled a similar catch Drew made in an extra innings game against the Yankees last year, 16th inning or so? Sox ended up losing that game, though.

allan said...

now on pace for 12-3 win.

Jere said...

The NBA's ridiculous because they actually play loud drumbeats and music during play. Even the worst baseball park doesn't have music while pitches are being thrown or when the ball is in play.

nick said...

I'm gonne get me a pair of Air Drews.

Jere said...

"now on pace for 12-3 win."

--> Relevant.

laura k said...

Thanks, Amy. I'll take a look. I don't see anything in the Times anymore except book reviews. So I'm glad you alert me!

Maxwell Horse said...

I have a sudden inexplicable urge to visit Hanes.com.

Jere said...

Girardi to pitcher: Throw over to first a few times. In the dirt. {makes evil glance toward Posada}

nick said...

That was a pretty nice throw.

Amy said...

You're welcome. I try to keep a lookout for articles you two might find interesting. :)

Yes, Jere, they talk about how they even amplify the sneaker squeaks. I always wondered whether the floors had microphones in them or something.

allan said...

I have a gut feeling that the huge noise assault at NBA games has undoubtedly leaked over into baseball games, where baseball teams think they need to do some watered down version.

Jere said...

The great Yankee fan Paul Simon gets up to leave at the START of the inning.

Amy said...

I can't imagine what it must be like at a basketball game---all that noise INSIDE.

But I find basketball so boring that even if it were quiet and outdoors, I'd never go to a game.

laura k said...

I find any live sport fun. I'm not a basketball fan at all, but the few games I've gone to (either women's pro or men's college), I've really enjoyed. I *hate* football, but the two NFL games I've been to, I had a great time. But I'd do just about anything rather than watch a football game on TV.

I'd love to see a really good rugby game, on the national level.

RedSoxDiehard said...

I have only been to one Celtics game and one Bruins game, and both times I was appalled at the constant noise and gimmicky stuff that goes on every time there's a pause in the play. Not so much because I hate the noise - and I do hate it - but because I fear it creeping into baseball.

Even watching sports I know nothing about, it's so distracting. The hockey game was actually a good game - why not let us appreciate the beauty of whatever sport it is.

laura k said...

*what RSD said*

RedSoxDiehard said...

And yeah, WTF with the giant freaking Hanes ad in the middle of the inning! Should I just be glad it was quiet?

Jere said...

lester got curt

laura k said...

Houdini strikes again

laura k said...

The silver lining to having the My9 feed: no ads.

Amy said...

I don't follow football, but find it okay to watch on TV. I have no interest in being out in the freezing cold, however, to watch a game.

Basketball I just find repetitive and dull. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Tennis also.

Anyway, is Lester the new Houdini tonight?

allan said...

Lester was the original Houdini (at JoS, anyway).

Amy said...

Really? Why did I think it was DiceK?

My memory sucks.

allan said...

Lester got good and then Dice came to town. ... Now Dice is gone and Lester is roughing it a bit this year, so he's the old new 'dini.

laura k said...

I hate tennis. Most people seem to really enjoy it. I draw a complete blank. To me it's like watching paint dry.

Amy said...

And yet I find soccer very pretty to watch. Despite being back and forth.

No rhyme or reason, I guess.

nick said...

flipped the bat like he was blowing a kiss.

Amy said...

Papi!!!

Jere said...

FloMo

RedSoxDiehard said...

PAPI!!!!! <3

laura k said...

Let me dispose of this bat before I take this trot, says Papi. :)

allan said...

CRUSH!

then look away and toss the bat into the trash!!!!!!!!!!!

Rob said...

Large Father!

Jere said...

Don, when David does that, you can assume it "has enough", no need to ask.

laura k said...

Amy, when you described your take on basketball, I was going to say, that's how I see soccer, a bunch of people running back and forth, back and forth.

Cabin Mirror in the house.

allan said...

Does it have enough?

Will Don be hitting the dessert cart a second time?

...

MILLAR!

Jere said...

I was told I'd like hockey if I just saw it live. I did and I came out un-liking it even more.

laura k said...

Rob/Ish, how are you feeling about your Bruins? Must be a relief it didn't go to 0-3.

nick said...

Emma and I were talking about Kevin Millar a bit ago (reading the 1-a-day trivia calendar she got me at christmas).

What was the scenario when he was playing for the O's and high-fived a Sox fan?

Amy said...

Millar!

Amy said...

Nice try!

allan said...

posada safe by an ear.

nick said...

They're really hitting this Scutaro is a slacking fielder thing.

laura k said...

I love hockey live. But then, I do really enjoy hockey, I just don't follow it.

Amy said...

Laura, I find the kicks, passes and head shots aesthetically pleasing in soccer. That being said, I do not think I have ever watched an entire soccer game. Except when my daughter played, and that was NOT pretty! :)

Amy said...

Hockey for me is the ultimate back and forth, back and forth---even worse because nothing much happens until...BOOM! Score! and then it's over before I even saw it. Skating is nice, but not in circles over and over.

Amy said...

What is Lester's pitch count at this point?

Amy said...

Oh, never mind...90. Stupid question.

allan said...

1st pitcht o swisher was 91

laura k said...

The thing I hate more than any of these sports is when people try to make a case for a certain sport being superior to any other - not that they like it more, but that the sport itself is somehow objectively better. As if it's something you could prove.

laura k said...

That was not a cheap hit.

Jere said...

Thank you Russel Martin! I always say fielders should step up onto the wall if it's low enough to try and make the catch. But I never actually see it. Glad he didn't catch it though.

Dr. Jeff said...

That was a sweet catch by Cano, I have to say.

Amy said...

You know I wasn't saying any sport was better than any other, just stating my personal preferences, right?

Except baseball, of course, is the best sport. Hands down.

Kathryn said...

I've been watching, but was distracted from threading looking for a hotel in Philly. I give up right now.

Papi!!

Regarding sports...I love just about any sport, except the NBA. I don't think you could pay me to watch an NBA game.

Jere, I have told many people the same thing about hockey. I like it on TV, but LOVE it live.

Kathryn said...

How many will Lester throw tonight?

laura k said...

I wasn't talking about you or anyone here! We are just talking about personal preferences.

I mean (eg) soccer fans who have tried to explain to me why soccer is the highest level of sport.

Kathryn said...

There's that blazing speed from EB!

laura k said...

A graphic on our feed had the name Bubba Starling, former KC player. How many others on the bird team, I wonder?

Mark Fidrych, of course. Hawk Harrelson. Who else?

Kathryn said...

Robin?

Kathryn said...

Crow(e)?

I'm too lazy to look them up now, I'm just thinking of birds.

Amy said...

Fidrych is a bird??

Robin Yount

Jere said...

Doug Bird and Marlon Byrd come right to mind. And Birdy Tebbets.

Hey this sounds familiar.... not that I wouldn't play this game every night....

laura k said...

Robin Yount, very good.

Mark Fidrych's nickname was The Bird.

Amy said...

Jay Payton

laura k said...

I love Marlon Byrd's name because he's both a fish and a bird.

Were you doing a bird team recently? I don't thread every day, so I must have missed it.

Jere said...

What about everyone who's ever played for the O's, Jays, or Cards...

Kathryn said...

John Sterling???

laura k said...

Jay! I never would have thought of that.

Jere said...

Good call on guys named Jay.

Robin Roberts.

No, haven't done it recently but I'm definitely getting a deja vu feeling about this one.

Kathryn said...

Oh never mind, it's starling not sterling.

My brain has been fuzzy all night, even during Zumba.

laura k said...

Where's Benjamin when you need him? He is always good for searching BRef for names.

Finch is a good bet.

Jere said...

Does Jose Cardenal count?

laura k said...

this just in, Bubba Starling is a draft pick, not a former player. Sorry Bub.

Amy said...

Trevor Crowe (never heard of him, I admit)

allan said...

Kerry Woodpecker

Jere said...

I'm starting from memory, have not called to the BR pen yet.

Jere said...

Sid Finch!!!!!

laura k said...

What about everyone who's ever played for the O's, Jays, or Cards...

Oh come on! :)

Amy said...

There were two players named Sparrow.

laura k said...

Jose Cardenal definitely counts.

Amy said...

Sparrow Morton and Sparrow McCaffrey

allan said...

Turkey Mike Donlin

Jere said...

"Turkey Mike Donlin"

haha, shoulda had that one!

Jere said...

Rory Sparrow....for the NBA version

Kathryn said...

Kerry Woodpecker

Ha, I started to look him up before I caught on. Did you add *pecker* for a reason (other than it's a bird)?

laura k said...

Amy, you might remember this magazine cover? Very famous.

allan said...

Ducky Medwick

Amy said...

Goose Gossage

laura k said...

Sidd Finch, let's stick to nonfictional players. :)

allan said...

I maintain that nicknames (Donlin, Hunter, Gossage) should not count.

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