July 23, 2011

G98: Red Sox 3, Mariners 1

Mariners - 000 000 100 - 1  9  2
Red Sox  - 000 000 30x - 3 12  0
Blake Beavan, in only his fourth major league game, matched pitches with Josh Beckett for six innings -- and it was Beckett (7-7-1-1-7, 118) who blinked first.

Mike Carp led off the seventh with a solo home run for Seattle, his second dong of this series (and of the year) -- but the Red Sox answered in their half. The seventh inning has been the magical frame this season. It's the inning in which the Red Sox have scored the most runs (93) and allowed the fewest runs (33).

Beavan retired the first two batters, but Jason Varitek (barely able to lay off a few high fastballs) singled to center. Marco Scutaro then doubled down the right field line; Varitek would have scored and tied the game, but a brain-dead fan reached out and grabbed the ball, and Tek could advance only two bases.

Jacoby Ellsbury saved the day by lining a single to center, scoring both runners and giving Boston a 2-1 lead. That was the end of Beavan's (6.2-9-3-0-4, 104) night. Dustin Pedroia singled off David Pauley -- his first-inning double extended his hitting streak to 20 games -- and Ellsbury took third. On Aaron Laffey's 1-2 pitch to Adrian Gonzalez, the Muddy Chicken took off for second. The ball got way from catcher Josh Bard and Ellsbury scored easily.

Daniel Bard got in and out of a huge jam in the eighth. After Dustin Ackley singled, Bard walked Justin Smoak on four pitches. Adam Kennedy dropped down a bunt, and Bard threw to third. Kevin Youkilis was off the bag and umpire Eric Cooper said Yook did not get his foot on the base in time for force Ackley. (The replays looked like Youkilis DID get the out, but he did not gripe when the safe call was made.)

So the bases were loaded with no outs and Bard trying to protect a 3-1 lead (and his 23-inning scoreless streak). Carp flew out to Carl Crawford in shallow left-center. Jack Cust struck out looking at a slider after swinging and missing a 99-mph fastball. Franklin Gutierrez grounded out to third. The Bard has not allowed a run in two months (May 23).

Jonathan Papelbon allowed a leadoff single and stolen base in the ninth, but got two pop-ups and a strike out (Ackley) to give Seattle its 14th straight loss (tied for the worst skid in team history).

The Red Sox improved to 15-3 in July (best in MLB). The win was also the 1,000th victory of Terry Francona's managerial career; the first 285 of those wins were with the Phillies. (His 28 post-season wins with the Red Sox are not included in that career total.)

Earlier in the day, the A's beat the Yankees 4-3, so New York dropped to 3 GB.
Example
Blake Beavan / Josh Beckett

Having won the Felix/Lackey match-up, there is no reason why the Red Sox should not sweep this series.

They are 14-3 in July, while the Mariners have lost 13 games in a row, one shy of the franchise mark set in 1992. In the 13 losses, Seattle is batting .214 and has been outscored 72-31.

AL East: Athletics/Yankees at 1 PM.

160 comments:

allan said...

OAK - 002 001
MFY - 010 00

A's chased Burnett and left the bases loaded in the 6th.

allan said...

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

Jere said...

4-2 us. Looks like Yanks stranded 1st/3rd in 7th, key.

allan said...

I updated the Fastest To 60 Wins post to point out two errors made by the Red Sox in today's press notes - and to show an amusing mistake of my own.

allan said...

Suzuki, RF
Ryan, SS
Ackley, 2B
Smoak, 1B
Kennedy, 3B
Carp, LF
Cust, DH
Gutierrez, CF
Bard, C

***

OAK - 002 001 100 - 4 10 0
MFY - 010 001 001 - 3 9 0

Cano grounds out with tying run on 3rd to end it.

2.5 GA!

allan said...

July 23, 1907 - The Austin Senators (Texas League) steal 23 bases and beat San Antonio 44-0.

I guess the unwritten rule about stealing bases when up by 35 runs hadn't been (not?) written down yet!

(Looks like the game was thrown (in a way) by SA, in protest.)

allan said...

If Ichiro is hitting only .267 and the Mariners are scoring about 10 runs a week, this seems like the perfect time for him to put his magical ability to hit dongs into effect.

Lord Lynch said...

Good evening from London!

allan said...

20 muddy chickens.

Kathryn said...

Pedey is a crazy man.

tim said...

lets go red sox!

time for some wine, beer, salmon, garlic scapes and quinoa...all secondary to the 3 game lead...

tim said...

flouble off of butthead.

SoSock said...

I wish one of these Mariners' games was on TV in my part of the world. It would be very cool to watch a guy (Ackley) on the broadcast who played on opposing teams against my guys, on the very field I'll be coaching on tomorrow. I saw way too much of him about 5 or 6 years ago

Kathryn said...

That is cool, SoSock. I love having connections to people on the field...no matter how remote.

allan said...

okay, time for run(s)

allan said...

Dustin Ackley - Winston-Salem, NC!

meunier said...

I am at TOR @ TEX.

allan said...

@ TEX

Is it warm?

allan said...

GDGD says it's only 100 in Arlington. Meh.

allan said...

How about we see more than 5 pitches this inning, okay?

meunier said...

Still 100 F as of now.

Kathryn said...

Hey SoSock, my son is in NC with the bands he interns for. They had a show in Durham last night and Boone tonight.

Amy said...

Too hot. Glad I am not playing baseball.

Kathryn said...

I thought SoSock's guy was going to hit into a DP there.

allan said...

Big Ass K!

SoSock said...

Katheryn - Waht band? And do you know which venue. I help with sound at a couple of places in booth Durham and Boone.

Amy said...

One more, Josh.

Amy said...

Done!

allan said...

Another 0-0 marathon with Beckett tonight?

Amy said...

Way too hot for 16 innings!

Amy said...

Bert!

allan said...

WHAT THE FUCKIGN FUCK, BERT?

Amy said...

Shit

Kathryn said...

EB!!!!

SoSock--Borrowed Beams of Light and The Invisible Hand. They were at the Pinhook last night and are at the Black Cat in Boone tonight. I'm sure he is loving it, as an 18-year-old.

Boo to EB.

Kathryn said...

And So--you're either typing on your phone, or drunk, or both!

Crap, where are the runs??

SoSock said...

Damn, still scoreless. I could have used a Beckett against Ackley myself a few times. A lot of my former players still bring up the day he hit 5 home runs against us in a Sunday afternoon doubleheader. And we only played 12 innings. One of my pitchers tried to IBB him and he reached out and smacked an oppo single.

allan said...

I'd love another 16 or 26 innings, but I have to grab a 12:20 bus, so maybe some other time.

SoSock said...

I'll check them out. Don't know I've been to Black Cat but only as a spectator.

SoSock said...

Not drunk, or on phone. Highly distracted. Getting ready to head in town for an excellent singer/songwriter. Lizzy Ross. Google her and check out her stuff. She's really good

allan said...

gotta fillet that carp next time.

Amy said...

That running mistake looks worse now.

SoSock said...

Later! I'll be checking in from the bar. I'm kinda getting used to this I-phone stuff....

Kathryn said...

Ohhhh noooooo.

Thanks SoSock, I'll check her out.

Kathryn said...

Have Fun! Maybe by the time you get there, the Sox will have a lead.

Amy said...

Oy

Amy said...

Have fun, Sosock!

allan said...

Embree up

Jere said...

venue, then locale

Kathryn said...

Wow, either venue and either locale in a matter of minutes.

allan said...

+
x minute wait
takes with him
advantage

don is on fire this inning.

Kathryn said...

And, a 21 minute wait!

Amy said...

Wow, nice! Close.

Kathryn said...

YOOOUUUUUKKKKK!

Huge!

Kathryn said...

don is on fire this inning.

He's taking Drew's place.

allan said...

... and why is it that the guy who makes the great play in the field always seems to come up 8th in the order the next inning ...

Amy said...

Did we get bingo with all those?

Amy said...

LOL, Allan!

allan said...

not close to bingo, but they are all grouped in the left side of the card. i missed several innings, though ...

Jere said...

pitch and some Remy commentary missed! On Verizon Rhode Island anyway.

allan said...

bard up too

reddick going for the werth facial hair look?

tim said...

for fuck sakes, we better not lose this 1-0.

allan said...

"again they go up and again he swings"

sigh.

Amy said...

SASAHE

Amy said...

That's better, Tek.

Jere said...

If some fucker reached out and cost us a run....

allan said...

shit, tek can't score.
but it's a rally ...

tim said...

fuck! stupid fan.

allan said...

toss that asshole.

allan said...

toss that asshole.

Amy said...

Idiot fan.

allan said...

should make him give up the ball too.

Jere said...

Yes, he did, and he should be kicked out, and EXECUTED.

Yes, Remy, umps can put runners anywhere, but A. they can't tell it's interference, and B. they might NOT have let the guy score. The key is, guy lets it go, game tied.

And he's kicked out. Sweet. Don't boo, cheer.

tim said...

see ya, asswipe!

allan said...

... sad to not see a fuckload of fans giving that moron the shit he desreves.

allan said...

... sad to not see a fuckload of fans giving that moron the shit he desreves.

Kathryn said...

What the hell is that guy doing?? I think Tek scores on that. As a Sox fan, you gotta know better. They are all excited because he's on TV, but he just screwed up.

tim said...

A, they're too busy doing the wave!

Jere said...

Don't ya love how the guy's all happy and completely oblivious to the fact that he affected the game....

tim said...

ELLSBURY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

allan said...

ELLSBURY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

fucking A

tim said...

that guy is still a bag of dush.

Amy said...

Yes!! LBJ!!

Jere said...

Thank you.

tim said...

fucking J!

allan said...

rut roh - saw ellsbury double point to the sky on the replay going to commercial - laura is not going to like that.

Kathryn said...

Hey Allan, ask Laura whose boy that is?!!!!!

And the fan is off the hook. He's still a dumbass, though.

tim said...

excellent column on the NFL lockout on Edge of Sports today, btw. thanks for that link, allan

Jere said...

Maybe Ellsbury has a good friend who flies planes and said he'd be going over Boston around 9:40.

Jere said...

Didn't you love NESN's shaky hand held zoomed out shot from the back of the right field grandstand after that hit??

Kathryn said...

Another great two-out rally

Jere said...

Ringing single: Ringle.

Amy said...

FY!

tim said...

right on pedey! sosock should get a nice surprise at the bar tonight.

tim said...

right on pedey! sosock should get a nice surprise at the bar tonight.

allan said...

LOVE the two-outs-all-is-quiet rallies!!!

Kathryn said...

This is more runs for the 7th inning.

tim said...

wine time?

possibly, all out of box. may require opening another btl.

Jere said...

spit fail makes us laffey

allan said...

laffey sounds like lackey - i trust we will pound him accordingly.

allan said...

HAHAHH - very smart to throw that away!!!

Jere said...

I'M GETTING ENGAGED

tim said...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

allan said...

UNFUCKINGSTOPPABLE.

allan said...

L email: "are you sure he pointed to the sky? castig said he raised his arms in celebration"

Kathryn said...

Don filling in for Drew...Allan filling in for Laura...Jere filling in for Meunier??

Amy said...

Insurance!

Kathryn said...

Moment of truth Allan...do you tell her the truth and crush her fantasy?

Amy said...

Is Pedroia in every commercial?

allan said...

Yes. I crush it!

Actually, I'll say she can see it on MLBV. (And she will likely not care and decline.)

allan said...

GDGD has Beckett pitching this inning.

Jere said...

5-4-3 TP coming up

Amy said...

Hey, as long as he keeps hitting, do we care who he gives the credit to?

tim said...

fuck sakes.

tim said...

bard = samson

shouldn't have cut that hair!

allan said...

yook's foot got in. ump staring at it - blows it.

allan said...

yook's foot got in. ump staring at it - blows it.

tim said...

obvious out is obvious.

Jere said...

It really did look like toe touching side of bag, but he didn't argue

Jere said...

nice job, WKRP

Amy said...

Shit. Glad we got three runs. Ihope Bard can somehow keep his streak going.

allan said...

andy williams and mr. potatohead up

Jere said...

Cust: a DP waiting to happen

allan said...

fucking sweet

99 fb and then a slider away

cust is fukt

Amy said...

Two!

tim said...

i was going to say, he's a solid K candidate.

then he K'd! w00t!

interesting stat from nesn - cust with a .667 OBP (6 bb) with bases loaded.

Jere said...

just like that!

tim said...

houbardi!

allan said...

Bard does not allow runs.

tim said...

bardini sounds better.

Amy said...

True hiudinism!

Amy said...

Houdinism. Hard to type fast onthis iPod.

allan said...

bare-handed grab by the pitcher!

allan said...

bare-handed grab by the pitcher!

Kathryn said...

Nice to see Bard keep his focus after the missed call at third.

Ouch, that's a nice defensive play...or was he safe???

Jere said...

Also, HouDanny anyone?

tim said...

"full bore"

do we have a bingo yet?

Kathryn said...

Ohhhhh, so close. Nice get, though.

allan said...

no, like i said, i missed a few innings, so i may have missed some -- but we need "in thru the back door" and "pitch count ... rising" for bingo.

Amy said...

One

tim said...

i might buy this.

allan said...

nice shirt - though fake (modern) design

allan said...

that is the only bingo possibility with 2 squares missing. others are equally unlikely.

tim said...

yeah, the 1903 one i saw gave away the "new" design look. still looks decent.

allan said...

heart attack time!

Jere said...

No Don, it wasn't "by the Monster Seats." Cameraman, same thing.

Amy said...

Yikes. Close one there.

allan said...

it's nicer than the one i bought at fenway back in the late 90s.

Kathryn said...

Oh my.....how was that foul? I thought it was gone. Whew.

Re bingo: A 20-game hitting streak is so very close to 3-game. It's gotta count, right?

allan said...

get that ball down, bot.

Jere said...

It was foul because the cameraman thought it was in the Monster seats but it hit the wall halfway up, in the side stands.

Amy said...

Two. Still holding my breath though.

allan said...

sosock's nemesis can end it.

Kathryn said...

Dear Ackley,

You are NOT, I repeat NOT, playing against SoSock's team.

Amy said...

Dirty water!!!

tim said...

DIRTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

allan said...

THREE GAMES UP!

Kathryn said...

Dirty 3 GA water.

Jere said...

"Still holding my breath though."

Dear Jon, some of us know your greatness. I breathed freely the whole time and it was beautiful.

allan said...

Some of us cannot forget.

laura k said...

Dirty 3 GA Water!!!!

(Are you sure LBJ pointed skyward? Castig said he just raised his arms in celebration.)