Tuesday, September 4, 2007

In Boston: "The Kids Are All Right!"

(Not the most effective, Matsuzaka still wins.)(Lugo turning two!)(Pedroia busting ass, as usuall.)(Coco bunts in a run!)(Lowell does everything, including stealing bases.)

The Red Sox, continuing to be energized by their September call ups (and youth in general), outlasted the Orioles on Monday night, in a game where the final score was more fitting for that of a New England Patriots game (13-10). After racing out to a 10-1 lead after four innings, the wheel kind of came off of Matsuzaka's start in the sixth. Troy Glaus hit a homerun cutting the lead to 10-5, and Javier Lopez didn't help, relieving Dice-K but allowing 4 more runs to score in the inninjg.

"Certainly there were a few bad breaks in a row," Matsuzaka said through translator Masa Hoshino. "I felt that I could pitch well enough to cover those bad breaks, but since I wasn't able to, that led to that big inning in the sixth."

"There have been a few games in a row where I haven't been happy about my pitching,"
Matsuzaka said. "But even today in that situation, it was great that the team won and I was able to pick up the win. I hope I'm able to use this win as a turning point and carry it forward the rest of the season."

Thankfully th Red Sox Offense was able to outlast the Blue Jays. Youth again reigned supreme with leadoff hitter Jacoby Ellsbury (2-5, 3R) and Dustin Pedroia (3-5, 3R, 2RBI) both having great nights. Mike Lowell continues to put the exclamation point on a renaissance season, clubbing 18th home run and driving in his 100th and 101st runs. To cap off all the weirdness, a balk by Jays reliever Jason Frasor in the bottom of the sixth plated the 13th and final Sox run. Jonathon Papelbon (32 saves) slammed the door in the ninth for the Sox, striking out two.

It is doubtful that this performance will be repeated on Tuesday as both teams aces go to the hill. Toronto's Roy Halladay (14-6, 3.87) is opposed by Boston's Josh Beckett (16-6, 3.29).

GO SOX!

TomC