July 28, Red Sox vs. Angels Game Blog

Okay, we are sitting through a rain delay as the skies have opened up and cooling off New England, which has been experiencing uncharacterstic heat for an extended period of time, but it's supposed to be a passing shower anyway, so I'm sure they will get started sometime after 8 PM EDT (or maybe it's EST, who the heck knows).

Just a few thoughts prior to the game. Of course, as luck would have it, Jon Lester is starting. This will be the fourth time that I've blogged one of his starts. He got nicked up a bit in his last outing in Seattle, but it was also his hometown, so I hope that coming home had everything to do with his struggling and he will go back to pitching well tonight. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (that will be the last time I refer to them as that. It's the dumbest name for any team in baseball. I'm just glad that the Pats aren't the Boston Patriots of Foxboro.) Anyway, the Angels come to town as one of the hottest teams in baseball and, if I'm not mistaken, they've won 17 of their last 22 games. Kelvim Escobar gets the start for them tonight. He can go either way. He's been in the pen for them this year and he's been on the disabled list, but he's a decent pitcher.
David Wells is starting for the Sox on Monday, which is great, in my opinion. No minor league rehab start, he's just jumping right in. In the spring when he balked at doing the minor league rehab thing, I thought it was dumb for him to not have one, but, for whatever reason, I just feel that he doesn't need it this time. Oh well, still waiting on the game to start.

The Sox have just taken the field at 9:05 PM with Manny leading the way....of course.

First Inning - Red Sox vs. Angels

The third baseman Maicer Izturis leads it off for the Angels vs. Lester. I'm not sure if he's related to the other two Izturis' in MLB, but you would have to think that he is. I mean, not the most common name. Lester's first pitch is not even close. 2-1 pitch and Izturis drives a fly ball to right center and Crisp started out like he knew what he was doing, but then looked like he lost it and went back in the direction of the pen, before making the catch in a little adventure for the out. Here's the Halos' rookie second baseman, Howie Kendrick. He's having a decent year. I think Adam Kennedy is falling out of favor in Anaheim. Lester ties him up as he squirts it weakly back to the mound and Lester fields and throws him out no problem for the second out.
Here's Orlando Cabrera, who is getting a huge standing ovation from the fans that just keeps going and going. I think of all the players that left the Sox from the '04 team, he gets the loudest ovation every time he comes back. OC takes his helmet off to acknowledge the fans and you have to think that he must miss playing in the Hub. He grounds to second where Loretta throws him out to end the inning.

Escobar starts Youk off with a fastball for a strike. 1-2 count as Youk fouls it off. Oooh...close pitch just missed outside for ball two. I didn't realize this, but Escobar is wearing prescription glasses. I assume they are prescription, because it's night and they aren't sun glasses. Full count to Youk. Swing and a miss at a high fastball for the first out.
Here's Loretta. I think I read somewhere that the Angels were first in team fielding last year and this year they are last in the AL and have given up the most unearned runs in the league. That's really hard to believe, but they do have some rookies in there. Loretta goes down swinging on a low sinking fastball.
David Ortiz is our hope for the inning. He's got 34 home runs already and I just can't give credence to Bonds', Sosa's and McGwire's totals of plus 61-homer seasons, so if Papi finished with 62, I really would consider that the ML record. The Sox record is 50 by Jimmie Foxx. Full count. Ortiz fouls it back. Low pitch and Papi checks his swing for ball four after the appeal.
Here's Manny. Manny hit a shot in Seattle that landed just in front of the wall. He must have thought is was gone, because he just stood there and only got a single out of it. I hate when he does that crap. 0-2 count, by the way. Strike three swinging on a 1-2 pitch that is high and just off the plate. Escobar strikes out the side. I don't enjoy that.

Team R H E
Angels 0 0 0
Sox 0 0 0

Second Inning - Red Sox vs. Angels

Not sure if you've seen this, probably not, but it's a Maxima commercial and the guy is driving with his girlfriend or wife or who the heck knows what she is, but he's speeding up and she's just kind of sitting there...classy looking couple and because the new Maxima doesn't make any sound when it automatically switches gears, he stars to immitate the engine sound. Now, that I think about it, I would probably do the same thing, so I will discontinue to make fun of this commercial.

Anyway, Vladimir Guerrero leads off for the Angels and chops a 3-1 pitch up the middle, which Loretta handles and throws to first for the out.
Here's the former Yankees farmhand, Juan Rivera and the centerfielder smacks the first pitch to the left-center gap as NESN has him picture in picture, while showing an interview with Wells about him starting next Monday. Really needed to see that as we miss the hit without audio. Rivera is on second as Garrett Anderson is batting sixth with a 2-0 count. It's odd seeing the left fielder batting sixth. Ground ball that almost hops over Lester's head, but he stabs it, looks to third, but Rivera advances easily and Lester goes to first for the second out.
Here's Tim Salmon. He should have a feline name instead of a fish name, because his career has at least nine lives. How is this guy still playing? He bloops one into right field just in front of Trot Nixon. Looked iffy on if it could have been caught or not, but it drops in and Rivera scores to give the Angels a 1-0 lead.
Here's the rookie catcher Mike Napoli and he skies one to right field and Nixon has a bead on it, but keeps floating back and back and back and makes the catch just in front of he Angels pen. Man, the humidity must be helping these balls, because the same kind of thing happened to Coco when he went back for one. Inning over.

Here's Trot, who grounds the first pitch to Izturis at third, who sails a throw to first, but it comes down in Robb Quinlan's glove at first base.
Here's Varitek, who has been relatively hot over his last 10 games, but still struggling on the season. He walks on four pitches. Maybe they are getting to Escobar. I mean, no one has struck out in the inning yet.
Mike Lowell is up and it's actually "Mike Lowell Night" in Lowell, MA where the Sox short-season single A affiliate plays. He delivers with a booming double to left center field that lands just at the base of the wall at the National League scores part of the Wall.
Here's Coco batting eighth with runners on second and third with one out. 2-0 count. You have to like this. Fouls off a 2-1 pitch to even the count. Wow, nasty splitter from Escobar to fan Coco. Hopefully, Alex Gonzalez can pick him up here. Swings at the first pitch and chops it up the middle, Cabrera waits for the big hop to come down, fields it around second and throws to first for the final out. They gotta get those guys in with less that two outs, but at least they started to hit a little in that inning and it's still so early.

Team R H E
Angels 1 2 0
Sox 0 1 0

Third Inning - Red Sox vs. Angels

*Promotion Alert* The cash and can food drive. Dawn Timlin and Gabe Kapler's wife are both in the booth with Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy, promoting the event. Kapler's wife is telling the audience not to bring expired cans. I was going to say that this type of drive would have solved my Mom's penchant for saving canned foods from 1977, but I guess the expiration technicality rules that out.
Back to the game. Quinlan grounds to short as Gonzalez throws him out with ease and Izturis grounds to the other gold glover Mike Lowell, who throws him out at first for the second out.
0-2 count to Howie Kendrick, who grounds to Lowell on a tough hopper, but he fields on the inbetween bounce as he does so well and throws him out for the third out. Nice inning for Lester.

Some random girl has already left a comment on my blog. I have no idea how she even found it. I'd be very interested to know if some kid in Dubai is reading about the Sox playing the Angels. I'm sure it's thrilling reading instead of picking flies off your face. (Editor's note, I have no idea, but when you have the influence of Sally Struthers to influence your perception of those nations, that's what happens)

Here's Youk. He swings and misses on a 1-2 splitter for his second K of the night.
Loretta stands in there with a 1-1 count. Loretta flies out to center for out number two and here's Papi with nobody on base again. He grounds to deeeeeep second base where Kendrick fields in short right field and throws to first for the third out. The Yankees have already won, by the way, with Wang improving to 12-4 with a two-hit shutout of the Rays.

Team R H E
Angels 1 2 0
Sox 0 1 0

Fourth Inning - Red Sox vs. Angels

This game is flying as Cabrera leads off. He grounds a 2-1 pitch to Lowell at third, who makes the play and throws to first for the out.
Vlad now up. He's really the only hitter in this line-up that scares me, but these guys have been winning. Vlad fouls off the 1-1 offering to put Lester ahead. He tatoos the next fastball over Manny's head. He literally looked like a deer in the headlights as that ball sailed over his head and hit the base of the wall, but Guererro is held to a single with one out.
Here's Juan Rivera, maybe he should scare me. He's knocked in about 20 runs in July so far. Varitek makes like a first baseman and fields Lester's pitch on a hop to even the count at 1-1. Rivera fouls off a sweeping curveball for a 2-2 count. He drives a fastball the other way, but Nixon takes a few steps back to make the catch next to his face.
Here's Garrett Anderson. I was actually at a game in Anaheim a few years ago and Anderson got a hit to extend his hitting streak to 26 game and I'm not making this up, but I stood up and cheered and the rest of the Angels fans had no idea he had a streak going. Sad. The lefty takes a curveball across his body for strike two to make it 1-2. Another thing I like about Lester is that him being a lefty isn't wasted with holding runners. He threw over to first and had Vlad leaning, but he got back in time, but he just threw over again and Vlad was off the bag and the Sox just got him into a rundown for the third out. Gotta love that.

Manny leads off for the Sox with a wild swing at a high fastball for a strike. He just got a hold of a high fastball and flew high to left field, where Anderson just camped right in front of the Monster and waited for it to come down for the out. If he hit that same ball to right field, it's gone with the wind.
Trot steps in with a 2-0 count and grounds weakly to Quinlan at first base. That's awful, a fastball hitter in a fastball count and that's all he can come up with.
Hopefully, Tek and do something here. He hits a rope to right, but Vlad moves to his left and makes the two-handed catch to end the inning.

Team R H E
Angels 1 3 0
Sox 0 1 0

Fifth Inning - Red Sox vs. Angels

Anderson is back up there for the Angels to lead it off. He rips the first pitch on a line just inside the right field foul line and it skips to the stands where a stupid fan touches it for a groud-rule double. Salmon stands in now and fouls off the second pitch for strike two. Lester throws a sweeping curveball that ends up at Salmon's shoes for a 2-2 count. Salmon is working the count well, getting a full count after a curveball in the dirt. Another curveball and Salmon grounds to third where Lowell makes the play, looks Anderson back at second and throws to first for the out. Napoli swings for the fences on the first pitch and misses as he goes to one knee. Strike two on a fastball for a 1-2 count. He fouls off a pitch into the third base stands and then takes a called fastball on the outside corner for strike three. Big K there.
Robb Quinlan now up. First pitch strike. Lester is in a groove here. Fouls off the second pitch for an 0-2 hole as Tek goes out to talk to Lester. Can't imagine what that was about. Oooh, just got a piece of a high fastball. Fouls off a nasty cut fastball slice in on him to keep the count at 1-2. Strike three! Great job by the kid there. Hopefully, the Sox can score some runs here.

Lowell leads off for the Sox. His double has been the only hit for the Sox tonight as he runs the count to 3-1. Sitting on the fastball there, as he pulls it well into the third base seats for a full count. Awe...very disappointing there. Lowell chases a slider outside and didn't have a chance as he whiffs. Here's Coco. Just a run...is that too much to ask? 2-0 count to Coco. Crisp extends his hitting streak to five games as he drills a fastball to the fence in right field on a hop for a one-out double. Gonzo is hitting .275 and was up to .286 last week. He has been awesome over the past month or so. Woo hoo! Drives an 0-1 pitch to the Monster and hits off the out of town scoreboard in the numbers to bring home Coco as he pulls into second with a double.
Now, maybe Youk can get one to drop in here. The Wave is making it's way around as Youk swings through a fastball to fall behind, 0-2. Yoooouk! He just sticks his bat out at a splitter and shoots a liner into right field that just bleeds in front of Guererro for a hit. Gonzo stops at third as Vlad throws a rope to the plate.
Here's Loretta. I'm liking this situation. Fly ball...that's all we need. I'm not sure what's going on, but Escobar is no longer wearing any glasses and he's ahead of Loretta with a 1-2 count. Loretta grounds a fastball to short, where Cabrera fields, throws to Kendrick for one and onto Quinlan for two and that's extactly what Escobar needed, but at least the Sox tied it.

Team R H E
Angels 1 4 0
Sox 1 4 0

Sixth Inning - Red Sox vs. Angels

Izturis leads it off and finds the hole between Lowell and Gonzo for a single to left field on a 1-0 pitch. Kendrick fouls off the first pitch. Another foul to the third base side and Lester is ahead 0-2. If he can ground another one in fair territory, that would be great. Another foul, but this one goes to right field and Nixon runs over full speed, but it lands in the seats foul as he slides into the fence. Lester drops in a good curveball, but Kendick stays back just long enough to spray a line drive to center for a hit, but Izturis stops at second with no outs. I love Mike Lowell! Line drive by Cabrera and hit catches it and then drops it on purpose, picks it up and tags third, but the ump calls no joy and calls it an out on the catch, but still you have to love the effort by Lowell to try and get a double or even triple play there.
Here's Vlad with runners on first and second with an out. Ground ball to Gonzalez at short, feeds to Loretta who takes the throw and has to get out of the way from Kendrick bearing down on him hard, forcing the throw wide, but Youk stretches out to make the catch at first, but his foot comes off the bag, but there is plenty of time, but Youk still can't get his foot back and finally does, but Vlad hits the bag at the same time and tie goes to the runner, much to Tito Francona's chagrin as runners stand on first and third with two outs and Juan Rivera up.
Vlad off on the pitch, Tek throws down, but he's safe to set up second and third. Lester gets out of it, however, as he gets Rivera to pop up to Loretta to end the inning. Whew!

Here's Papi to lead off the inning, but again, he's up with no one on base. They just showed his walk-off homer against the Halos from last year and then as soon as they cut back, Ortiz hits it off the end of the bat and it taps just beyond Escobar on the mound, but he jumps off the mound to field it, but was looking to throw before he actually had it and he can't come up with it and Ortiz reaches on an infield single. Here's Manny, who just fouled a pitch back and just missed it. He looks geared up. Escobar is wearing his glasses again as he drops a nasty slider on Manny for a second strike. He fouls off the 1-2 pitch. Escobar delivers a nasty splitter in the dirt, but Manny holds off to even the count. Yikes, another slider off the plate and Manny just barely fouls it off. Escobar bounces one in front of the plate to run the count full. Woo hoo! With David Ortiz off on the 2-2 pitch, Manny rips a fastball down the third base line that goes just inside the line and runs down along the left field corner all the way to the wall and Ortiz scores all the way from first! 2-1 Sox and Manny's on second with Trot up with no outs. Nixon swings wildly at a splitter down and away to make it 0-2. Escobar uncorks a wild pitch that bounces through Napoli to even the count at 2-2 and Manny moves to third. Just need some contact here, but Trot swings and misses on a changeup for the first out.
Hopefully, Tek and just get a fly ball here. Ground ball toward the middle, but Kendrick cuts it off on the backhand with the infield drawn in and looks Manny back, before throwing to first for the second out. Here's Lowell. He's down 0-2 after fouling a pitch off the end of his bat. The count evens at 2-2 on a fastball outside, but swings and misses at the next pitch outside to end the inning.

Team R H E
Angels 1 6 0
Sox 2 6 0

Seventh Inning - Red Sox vs. Angels

Garrett Anderson leads it off with Lester still in there for the Sox and grounds up the middle for a single to center. Here's Salmon, who promptly lines to left for another single with no outs. The former deaf Sox player, Curtis Pride is into pinch-run for Salmon with Napoli up. He fouls the first pitch into the left field seats, then grounds slowly to Lowell, who fields and throws to second to get the middle man, but that's it. First and third with one down and Quinlan up. He tops a fastball toward third, Lowell charges, but has no play at the plate, barehands it and throws on the run to first, but Quinlan is safe there with an infield hit as the Angels tie it. Izturis sends a shot to left field that has Manny and Coco running forever to get it as it hits off the base of the wall to score Napoli and send Quinlan to third on the double and Tito has seen enough and pulls Lester. He was pitching so well, before all of this too.
You hate to see this, especially with the Yankees having already won, but Kendrick just greeted Manny Delcarmen's first pitch with a single up the middle and Coco trying to show off his arm misses the cutoff man and both runs score and Kendrick ends up at second.
Here's Cabrera. There is just one out. 2-2 count. Cabrera just gets a piece to stay alive. Cabrera grounds the curveball to third and Lowell makes the play, looks to second and throws to first for the out. Here's Vlad, who gets an intentional pass to get to Rivera. He fouls off the first pitch. Foul for strike two. Delcarmen just misses outside with a fastball to even the count at 2-2. Rivera rips a curveball into left field and Kendrick scores with Vlad going to third. 6-2 Angels and Here comes Javier Lopez in from the pen.

This commerical for underarmour actually scares me. This guy seems to be on a heavy dose of steroids. Why does he have to be so insanely angry? They just showed Julian Tavarez warming up in the pen and, apparently, the Sox bullpen pitchers are growing tomatoes out there, because there is a huge tomato plant in the pen.

Lopez faces the lefty Anderson for a lefty-lefty match-up and he singles up the middle with a liner to plate Vlad and now it's 7-2. What a nightmare inning. Reggie Willits is pinch-running for Anderson now and Chone Figgins is pinch hitting. Finally, it's over. Figgins grounds to Gonzo, who underhand flips to Loretta at second for the force and the end of the inning. Ouch, nine hits in the inning.

Willits is now in center field, Juan Rivera is now in left field and Hector Carrasco is now pitching. Let's hope the Sox can chip away now. Coco leads it off and stands in with a 2-1 count. Fouls it off for a 2-2 count. Ball low to run the count full. Coco takes a fastball the other way just over Cabrera at short for a leadoff single. Here's Gonzo. Gonzalez slices a 1-0 pitch just in between the line and the wall for a foul ball in right. Just foul by inches. Foul back off Napoli's head to even the count. Another foul to the screen. Ball three on a curveball low that Gonzo thought about. I'm sure Crisp will be running here, even with no outs. Nope, guess not. Foul out of play, anyway. Another foul. Pitch number nine coming up...make it 10. Another foul. Ball four and patience is a virtue. Youk strides to the plate, looking to get on track with another hit here. Ball one with a soft breaking pitch. If he keeps this up, he doesn't have a chance of not walkign Youk. Line drive to short, Cabrera makes the catch, falls on his butt, throws to second, but Crisp gets back in time. Only one out with Loretta up. Little tapper back to the mound and Carrasco fields and throws him out.
JC Romero is coming in to face Oritz. He's held lefties to under .190 this season. First pitch strike. Misses down for ball one with a fastball. Fastball away for ball two. Ball three on a 55-foot fastball. Ortiz grounds to deep first, Quinlan fields and tosses to Romero, who covers first for the final out.

Team R H E
Angels 7 13 0
Sox 2 7 0

Eighth Inning - Red Sox vs. Angels

Napoli leads it off for the Halos vs. Julian Tavarez for the Sox. Napoli muscles a 1-2 fastball off the hands and drops it into center field for a hit.
Quinlan fouls it off the even the count at 1-1. The Angels keep the hit and run on and Quinlan grounds to short after getting jammed inside and Gonzalez' only play is to first for the out, with Napoli on second. Here's Izturis with a 2-0 count and grounds to Gonzo, who throws to first for the second out as Napoli moves to third. Kendrick steps in and takes a fastball up and inside to brush him off, but then singles through the right side to give the Angels an 8-2 lead.
Here's Cabrera now. He grounds to Lowell on a two-hopper for the final out as Lowell makes the throw to first.

Manny will lead it off and Romero is still out there. He must be getting some work in because he's really ineffective against righties, but I'm sure he's just in long enough for Nixon. 3-1 to Manny and he walks. Gabe Kapler is pinch hitting for the Sox now to face Romero. I think I would rather see Wily Mo Pena. Ball one to Kapler. Kapler grounds a 2-1 pitch on a high chopper to third, Izturis fields and goes to second for the force and onto first, but Kapler beats it. Varitek now up and Romero is still in there. Tek rips a liner to short, Cabrera catches, throws a bullet to first, Kapler diving back, but the throw barely beats him for the double play on the lineout. Inning over. One more chance now.

Team R H E
Angels 8 15 0
Sox 2 7 0

Ninth Inning - Red Sox vs. Angels

I know they're down six runs with an inning to go, but I hate it when Tito gives up. He just took out Manny and Wily Mo is now in left and Mirabelli is now catching Rudy Seanez.
Vlad is leading it off and drives a fastball to deep right, but Kapler makes the catch in front of the Angels' pen. Here's Juan Rivera. There are sooo many people who have left Fenway. That six-run seventh, combined with a two-hour rain delay really chased them away. Fly ball to deep center and Crisp makes the catch. Here's Reggie Willits, who flies to center as Coco chases it down on the run. Onto the bottom of the ninth.

We can only hope for a monumental comeback here.

Brendan Donnelly is now on for the Angels and Lowell just flew out to center field to greet him.
Coco batting from the left side here. Ground ball to Kendrick at second and that brings up Gonzo. 1-2 count and Gonzo hits one high to left that comes down scraping the wall for a double. The Sox are still breathing with Youk up. Swing and a miss to start. 2-1 count now. Youk taps a 2-2 pitch to Cabrera, he charges, gloves it, double pumps and throws to first, but Youk beats it and they rule it a hit and Gonzo moves to third with Loretta up. 3-0 to Loretta with Big Papi on deck. Ball four and the sacks are loaded for David Ortiz. Ball one. Ortiz turns on it and grounds it foul to the right. Wild pitch! and Gonzo scores to make it 8-3! Rally time! Ball three. 3-1. Ortiz checks his swing, but fouls the ball off the third base side. Ouch, Ortiz, check swing on a pitch in the dirt, but the third base umpire rings him up on the swing to end the game.

Team R H E
Angels 8 15 0
Sox 3 9 0

That was awful.

Boston Red Sox
Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
K Youkilis 1B	5	0	2	0	0	2	2	.294
M Loretta 2B	4	0	0	0	1	1	2	.306
D Ortiz DH	4	1	1	0	1	1	5	.279
M Ramirez LF	3	0	1	1	1	1	1	.315
W Pena LF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.317
T Nixon RF	3	0	0	0	0	1	1	.294
a-G Kapler PH-RF	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.271
J Varitek C	3	0	0	0	1	0	2	.240
D Mirabelli C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.184
M Lowell 3B	4	0	1	0	0	2	1	.293
C Crisp CF	4	1	2	0	0	1	2	.275
A Gonzalez SS	3	1	2	1	1	0	2	.280
Totals	34	3	9	2	5	9	19

J Lester (L, 5-1)	6.1	10	5	5	0	2	0	92-64	3.49
M Delcarmen	0.1	2	2	2	1	0	0	20-12	4.18
J Lopez	0.1	1	0	0	0	0	0	8-5	4.15
J Tavarez	1.0	2	1	1	0	0	0	14-8	5.27
R Seanez	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7-4	4.12
Totals	9.0	15	8	8	1	2	0	141-93

July 18, Red Sox vs. Royals Game Blog

Hopefully, the Sox can keep it going tonight vs. the Royals after that horrible weekend vs. Oakland where the offense just disappeared. Questions surround whether Tim Wakefield will go on the disabled list, but tonight's starter is rookie lefty Jon Lester. Of course, this is the third time I've blogged this guy! I just want him to command and not get into jams tonight. 95 degrees at game time. It's been this hot for about four or five days. Willie Harris and Javier Lopez were optioned to Pawtucket today and Wily Mo Pena makes his return along with Jermaine Van Buren. Personally, I like Lopez, so I'm not sure why they are sending him down. Brandon Duckworth is pitching for KC. He was a former big prospect for the Phillies, but just never panned out.

First Inning - Red Sox vs. Royals

Here's David DeJesus leading off for the Royals. I don't even know who half these guys are, which should explain why KC is so bad. He hits Lester's second pitch up the middle, Loretta goes to his right a few stutter steps as he backhands the chopper and throws him out at first.
Here's the DH, Esteban German. Lester is behind 2-0. 3-0. How can you get behind like that to this guy? That phrase will be repeated throughout the night, I'm sure. He walks on four pitches. Are you kidding me? The only good thing about putting guys on from this team, is that there's nobody else in the lineup who will make you pay.
Mark Grudzielanek is the three hitter for this team. That's awful. 2-2 count. Fastball for a strike, he goes down looking. I love this home plate ump! He's the one who, on the third strike call, raises his forearm straight up from his elbow as if he's pulling a string.
Here's Emil Brown in the clean-up spot. I know, you're asking who he is. He's actually been with them about three years. He's probably the equivilent of Kevin Romine for us. Ouch. Just struck out on a 1-2 pitch around his eyes, swinging.

Duckworth starts Youk off with a fastball for a ball. Youkie's been struggling, but everyone still loves him as he grounds out to Mark Teahen at third base, who throws from the bag with an strong over hand toss to get him. One down.
Mark Loretta is up. He started the game-winning rally last night with a single in the eighth. 1-1 count here. Just fouled off a 2-1 pitch to even the count. Wow, fastball on the outside corner and Loretta just stodd there and took it like he forgot to read his "How to hit a fastball" manual before the game started. He had to have been looking for something offspeed there. Two outs.
David Ortiz now. He's up to .280 now. Sick numbers with 32 homers and 90 RBI. Sounds like a Dwight Evans season with about three weeks left to go in September. Duckworth fools him with a nasty change-up to even the count at 2-2. Ball three, but that didn't miss by much. That was a reputation call that Ortiz benefitted from, but no matter, Duckworth fans him with an inside overhand curveball.
Red Roof in is back. "How low can you go" as that dopey guy bounced on the bed and the other guy yells out, "Ah, that deal's hot!" It's not so bad when you're not getting hit over the head with these commercials like we were for a solid two months. Made you want to go to a red roof inn and dump a huge vat of blue paint on the roof.

Team R H E
Royals 0 0 0
Sox 0 0 0

They just showed the other annoying Red Roof commercial. "Chances of me working? Are slim." "Multiiiiitaaaasking" the guys sings as I hope that lightning strikes my TV.

Second Inning - Red Sox vs. Royals

Tony Graffanino leads it off for the Royals. Just goes to show you how different guys react to different markets. He thrived in Boston, but he's struggled to begin the season, but now he's up to .272 as he bails out Lester grounding a 3-1 pitch to Lowell at third, who, like Remy's "Buenos Noches, Amigos" call prior to every night game, is automatic. One out.
Here's Teahen and he grounds one up the middle that skips through for a hit.
The former rookie of the year, Angel Berroa is up and helps out Lester as well, fouling off a curveball out of the zone to even the count at 2-2. Awful, awful awfu. That's all you can say about this swing at a big curveball that bounced in the dirt for a strikeout. The only good thing for the Royals was that Teahen was off on the pitch and is now safe at second, but with two down. Here's Joey Gathright, the center fielder. You might remember him with the Devil Rays, but when Baldelli came back, they shipped him to KC. Ground ball to Lowell, he fields, low throw, but Kevin "Boomer" Youkilis digs it out to end the inning.

Okay, that Ford commercial with that American Idol guy is the new commercial to be beaten to death. Out of protest, I refuse to learn the guy's name.

Here's Manny to lead off the second. He hit a sac-fly to give the Sox the eventual game-winning run last night. He's behind 1-2. Duckworth is right around the plate the whole time, which is nice if you're the Royals. Fouls off a curveball just off the plate to keep it at 2-2. Great sinking fastball down and in to get Manny swinging for the first out.
Hopefully, Trot can do something with him. Big, wild swing on the big 12/6 curveball for a strike. Trot just stuck his bat out and just kind of caught that pitch in the air and directed it into right field for a hit. Mike Lowell now. Tek has been moved down in the order, which is smart, since he's struggling big time. He gets ahead 2-0. I love this. If he gets a fastball, he might put it through the wall. Foul ball to third. 3-1. Duckworth isn't missing by much at all. Nice job by Duckworth, he gets Lowell to saw one to the opposite field in right for a fly ball to Emil Brown in right. Two outs. Tek is up, but Don and Jerry are talking about Jerry's new TV. He's seen two pitches and I don't even think they know that he's up. They haven't said anything since the pre-game about him playing in his 991st career game behind the plate for the Sox, which passes Carlton Fisk for the most in franchise history. 3-1 count. A hit here would be huge. He grounds weekly from the left side of the plate to short and Berroa actually built a sand castle waiting for it to get to him, fields it and take three steps to step on the bag to force Nixon for the last out.

Team R H E
Royals 0 1 0
Sox 0 1 0

Third Inning - Red Sox vs. Royals

The catcher, John Buck leads it off and hits a high chopper over Lester, but he gets a glove on it to slow it down as it lands in front of Loretta, who quickly throws to Youk for the out.
Here's DeJesus. He grounds to Loretta as well as he fields easily and throws to first for the out. German (pro-nounced Herman) grounds to Gonzalez at short for a 1-2-3 inning with the throw to first and minimal pitches thrown. Yes!

Red Roof in count. Four so far and we are 44 minutes into the game. That's one every 11 minutes! Come on!

Here's Coco, he fakes a bunt, but it drops in for a strike. He's been hot, lately. He fouls that pitch off the left for a 1-2 count. He stands in there left-handed with the righty pitching. Full count. Coco grounds hard to Grudzielanek, but Grud fields and throws to first for the out.
Gonzalez rips the first pitch to DeJesus in left on a line, but he's out.
Youk takes a strike for the first pitch. Youk just hit a 1-2 pitch off the handle for a bleeder over shortstop for a hit. Here's Loretta. Youk was 3-26 before that hit. Loretta just doesn't look good at the plate tonight as he's so late on the fastball for an 0-2 count. Duckworth's fastball has a lot of movement as he misses high with a fastball. Ground ball to Berroa, he could have been sitting in a chair, he fields and throws to second to force Youk and end the inning.

Team R H E
Royals 0 1 0
Sox 0 2 0

Three innings in the books and it's not even 8:00 p.m. on the East coast.

Fourth Inning - Red Sox vs. Royals

*AFLAC Trivia Question* Who was the last Royal to win a Gold Glove? I'm saying Frank White.

Here's Grudzelanek to lead off the inning. He just fouled off the 1-1 pitch for a 1-2 count. Lester just dropped a sweeping curveball into Tek's glove just where he set up, but the ump thought it was a ball and the count is full. Just missed with a fast ball down and in and walked him.
Here's Brown. I still can't believe this guy is the four-hitter. Lester misses with a curveball in the dirt to fall behind 2-0. A double play would be nice here. He fools Brown on the same pitch for a check swing strike. Lester picks off Grud as he was off trying to steal. Youk takes the Lester toss and relays to Gonzalez at second for the out. That was pretty big to get the leadoff guy, but now Lester throws ball three. Strike two with a cut fastball that drops in. Lester breaks his bat as Brown grounds out to Loretta, who throws to Youk for the second out.
Here's Graffanino. He got a nice hand last night. Lester hasn't given up a fly ball all night. Lester goes full to him and misses high with a fastball for his second free pass of the inning.
Mark Teahen now up. He stings the first pitch on the nose, but right at Gonzalez, who fields on a hop and then has to sprint to second to beat Graffanino to the bag for the final out.

*AFLAC* answer. Jermaine Dye won a gold glove in 2000. He wasn't nearly as big then.

Here's Ortiz to lead it off. He rips one foul down the left field line in the stands. Watches a tough curveball for a ball to even the count at 2-2. Papi strikes out on a fastball running down and away from him. Here's Ramirez. Strike one. Manny takes a fastball outside for a 1-2 count. The curveball almost hits him as he bends back out of the way. Manny's eyes just lit up on a fastball that stays up, but he pops it up to center field for the second out.
Trot Nixon to try and get it going now. I just realized this, but Graffanino is playing first as Nixon grounds one in the whole, he Graf ranges to his right, gloves it and feeds to Duckworth for the out and the inning. Four complete.

Team R H E
Royals 0 1 0
Sox 0 2 0

Fifth Inning - Red Sox vs. Royals

Berroa leads it off for the Royals as he fouls it off to the left for a strike. He grounds the 1-1 pitch on one hop to Gonzalez, who makes the easy throw to first for out number one.
Here's Gathright. He goes from Tampa to Kansas City. That's got to be rough. He fouls off the 1-0 pitch to the left to even the count. He tries to bunt an inside fastball for a hit, but it's way high and he fouls it off. 1-2. Lester drops a curveball in there and Gathright goes with it, grounding to Loretta at second, who makes the throw to first.
John Buck takes ball one and then hits a shot to left, but Manny takes care of it going away for the end of the inning and the first flyout pitched by Lester tonight.

Okay, the Ford commercial is on for the third time. They have a shorter version, so just as you're about to vomit it ends. If that's not bad enough, this same commercial plays on the radio during the game as well!

Mike Lowell stands in under .300 for the first time in a couple months. He's at .299. Hits a rocket to the left of third base with a 2-0 count. He misses with a curveball, but comes back with a fastball and Lowell fouls it into the crowd on the left side. Lowell grounds to short, where Berroa makes the play on backhand, double pumps and gets Lowell, who is one of these guys, who shuts down his wheels once he hits it to an infielder. If he runs hard there, he might have a single. Varitek just picked him up with a Wall ball scraper. That just missed the seats for a homer, but Tek is standing on second. At least he hustled.
Cocol takes strike one on a fastball. Duckworth wastes it high and outside as Buck's arm almost came out of the socket trying to catch that ball to make it 1-2. He comes back and gets Coco to look stupid, swinging wildly at a change up inside and at his spikes. Two outs.
Here's A-Gon. Takes a curveball for a strike. I feel pretty good about a hit here. Ball one. A-Gon takes a fastball on the corner for a strike. The ump took a while to call it. A-Gon stays alive spoiling the 1-2 pitch off the plate. He takes ball two, which doesn't miss much either. Fouls another one off and another. Gonzalez grounds the eighth pitch of the at-bat up the middle and just through the middle infielders as Tek comes around to give the Sox a 1-0 edge.
Here's Youk taking ball one. Duckworth misses outside with a curveball to fall behind, 2-0. Youk lift the next pitch to left center field and it probably would have dropped in against anyone else, but Gathright runs like an olympic sprinter, closes the gap, quick dive and comes up with the grab to end the inning.

Team R H E
Royals 0 1 0
Sox 1 4 0

Sixth Inning - Red Sox vs. Royals

They just showed it on the scoreboard at Fenway that Tek has passed Carlton Fisk and the whole place gave him an ovation as he came out of the dugout and he waved to the crowd.

Left handed hitting DeJesus is now up with a 2-2 count as Lester almost gives him a huge headache with a fastball near his head for ball three. Strike three fastball on the inside corner.
German now stands in. First pitch fastball almost hits him for ball one. 2-1 now after another inside fastball. Just missed off the outside corner for ball three. German gets under a low fastball and flies to Crisp in center, who takes two steps over to his left and makes the catch.
Grudzielanek now up as he fouls off the first pitch. Ground ball to Lowell, who drops his glove down, takes a little hop and throws a strike to first to end the inning.

Loretta leads it off for the Sox and grounds on one hop to Teahan, who is in on the lip of the grass, and throws to first for the out.
Here's Ortiz. Duckworth has handled him with two strike outs tonight and he's ahead 0-2. Duckworth's change up is really a good pitch. He's giving a clinic on how to pitch to Ortiz. It's 1-2. Ortiz got a hold of a curveball and launched it to left, but the wind knocks it down and DeJesus has to run hard to make the catch at his head.
Manny steps in. Curveball high for a ball. 2-1 now. Wow, Manny just crushed a curveball to left, but he hit it so high that the wind knocked it down and the ball landed just behind DeJesus in the corner in left for a Manny double with two outs.
It would be nice to see Trot do something here. Well, he will do something, intentionally walk to bring up Lowell. He takes ball one just outside. Good pitch, good movement, strike one. He misses way outside to make it 2-1. Lowell drives it to right, but Brown catches it going back to end the inning. Already on to the seventh!

Team R H E
Royals 0 1 0
Sox 1 5 0

Seventh Inning - Red Sox vs. Royals

Brown leads it off for the Royals as Lester makes his first major league pitch in the seventh inning for a ball. Ground ball to Lowell, who cuts the topper off and throws him out.
Graffanino now up. Lester falls behind, 3-0. Lester gets the automatic strike, but loses him on the next pitch. Here's Teahen. Curveball for a strike to the lefty. He just gets his bat on it to foul it off to make it 1-2. Ground ball to Loretta, he fields, turns to his right, throws to Gonzalez coming across the bag and throws to first for the double play. Onto the seventh inning stretch.

Here's Tek to face relief pitcher Andrew Sisco, who gets Tek on a strike out.
Coco just gave it a ride to center, but Gathright runs it down and almost overruns it for the catch. Gonzalez up for the Sox. He cues it off the end of his bat along the first base line. Sisco comes off the mound, fields and underhand shovels to Graffanino, who settles it in his chest for the out and the end of the inning.

Team R H E
Royals 0 1 0
Sox 1 5 0

Eighth Inning - Red Sox vs. Royals

Lester is back out for the eighth to face Berroa and starts him off 0-2. Berroa waits for the curveball to break into the zone and lifts it to right field where Nixon camps under it for the out.
Here's Gathright. The lefty faked a bunt, then took a swing and missed. He bunts again, but Lowell was ready for it, playing in, comes in and fields it just to the left of the mound and throws out Gathright easily. Now John Buck flies out on the first pitch to Nixon in right for the third out.

It would be nice if the Sox could add some runs here.

Okay, here's a tongue-twister for you. Ambiorix Burgos is now on to pitch for the Royals. He goes full on Youk, who checks his swing, but can't hold back and fouls the pitch off. Youk grounds it through the hole on the left side. Hopefully, the Royals stay true to form and their pen blows it. Here's Loretta. Loretta drops a nice sacrifice bunt down the first base line, Graffanino comes into to field it and tags out Loretta as Youk moves to second. Of course, this sets up an intentional walk to Ortiz to bring up Manny with runners on first and second. Manny gets ahead 2-0. This is going to be dangerous for Burgos. The intentional walk pays off as Manny grounds to Berroa at short, he throws to Grudzielanek at second and he makes he throw to Graffanino for the twinkilling.

Team R H E
Royals 0 1 0
Sox 1 6 0

Ninth Inning - Red Sox vs. Royals
All indications are that Papelbon will be coming into the game. Yep, here he is.
DeJesus leads it off. Strike one fastball. Strike two foul. Lester gave up one hit in eight innings, by the way. DeJesus stays alive getting a piece. Strike three on a nasty splitter.
Here comes pinch-hitter Matt Stairs. I can't believe this guy is still playing. He shoots the first pitch he sees to first as it takes a weird hop into Youk's mid-section, but he plays it and beats Stairs to first. Two outs.
Papelbon misses outside with his first pitch to Grudzielanek. Foul to third for a strike. Big bounding ground ball to Lowell at third, who makes the play on the ascending hop and throw him out at first. Sox win! 1-0. I would have made a bigger deal about his being a one-hit shutout, but this was the Royals. They should be one-hitting them. I'm more concerned that they only scored one run!

Next Sox blog will be next Wednesday. I had to switch it to Tuesday this week.

Boston Red Sox
Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
K Youkilis 1B	4	0	2	0	0	0	1	.289
M Loretta 2B	3	0	0	0	0	1	1	.298
D Ortiz DH	3	0	0	0	1	2	0	.277
M Ramirez LF	4	0	1	0	0	1	2	.306
T Nixon RF	2	0	1	0	1	0	0	.304
M Lowell 3B	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	.297
J Varitek C	3	1	1	0	0	1	1	.243
C Crisp CF	3	0	0	0	0	1	1	.270
A Gonzalez SS	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	.282
Totals	28	1	6	1	2	6	9

Boston Red Sox
Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
J Lester (W, 5-0)	8.0	1	0	0	4	4	0	100-57	2.38
J Papelbon (S, 28)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	8-7	0.55
Totals	9.0	1	0	0	4	5	0	108-64

July 13, Red Sox vs. Athletics Game Blog

It's the first game of the second half of the season, although, the Sox have played 86 games and 81 would be the midway point, but the All-Star break is considered the halfway mark.
Jon Lester starts for the Sox tonight. The young lefty has perfected the art of pitching out of jams. While, I like that the kid doesn't get rattled in those situations, I don't like that he gets into them or that sometimes his control gets him in trouble. You would have to think that if he keeps pitching on the edge like this that it's just a matter of time before it comes back to get him. Anyway, the game is set for a 7:05 start, but it's looking more like 7:10 or a few minutes later. The Yankees signed Sidney Ponson, who was released by the Cardinals. I thought the Sox trading for Jason Johnson was desperate, but this is pretty bad. Johnson has been shipped to Single A Wilmington, by the way. Manny just ran onto the field all by himself, as has become customary now. The knee looks fine, funny how he's recovered, despite missing the All-Star Game because of it.

First Inning - Red Sox vs. Athletics

Jason Kendall, the catcher, leads it off. One of the rare catchers in baseball, who is a leadoff hitter. I think Craig Biggio also did that when he caught for the Astros. First pitch is a strike for Lester, as is the second. Wasted the 0-2 and now another ball for 2-2. This guy is less likely to hit a home run than Jerry Remy when he played. He's fouled off a couple pitches on 2-2. Grounds a curveball to Lowell at third, takes a quick hop and throws to first for the out.
NESN is giving us some camera shots from the Hood Airship. Here's the first baseman Nick Swisher, who had a great rookie season last year and is pretty much the team's best power hitter this year. 1-1 the count. Ground ball to Gonzalez at short, double pump and throws him out by plenty. Here's the left fielder Bobby Kielty. I'm kind of surprised he's hitting third, but I guess he was pretty hot going into the break. Lester's behind with him, 2-0. He has thrown a lot of pitches in his outings and hasn't really gone deeper than five or six innings. Gets a strike on the 3-0 count with a fastball. He walks him. I hate two-out walks!
Here's Frank Thomas, who just filed suit against the White Sox doctors. First pitch strike with a fastball letters high. D.O. informs us that big Frank is hitting just .152 against lefties, which is pretty significant. 2-1 count. Misses with the curveball. Please, not another bases loaded situation. Full count after the Big Hurt fouls it off. Thomas keeps fouling off pitches as Lester's pitch count goes to 23. Thomas rips a line drive that stays about five feet off the ground the whole way and one-hops the wall, as Kielty goes to third. Here's Mr. Impatient. Jay Payton. All, he had to do was hang in with the Sox a couple more weeks last year and he would have been playing full-time for Nixon, but he had to whine and cry like a little baby and put Tito in a bad spot. As, I'm bemoaning him, Lester gets strike one, then goes up top as Payton swings to put it on the pike and misses and then strikes out in three pitches on a curveball in. Lester does it again! Sox coming up.

Esteban Loaiza is on the hill for the A's. I can't believe the White Sox traded this guy for Jose Contreras. Anyway, Youk just grounded to Antonio Perez at third, who throws him out. He's in for Chavez. If anyone wins the gold glove over Lowell and would be deserving, it's Chavez.
All-Star Second Baseball Mark Loretta with a 1-2 count now. Fouls one off. I hope the Sox do the same number on Loaiza that they do on every pitcher. Make this guy work. Darn, looks like Loretta was looking offspeed, because he just struck out on a fastball that was just off the plate, but he was so far behind it.
Big Papi is up. The A's shift is kind of weird. The third baseman is playing right of second base, where the second baseman would play in double-play depth and the shortstop is playing in his normal position. Usually in the shift, the third baseman is still the only infielder to the left of second base, but not here. Anyway, Papi walks on five pitches and only the 3-0 was even close.
Here's the ailing Manny Ramirez, I hope his knee holds up. Loaiza evens it at 1-1. His fastball has some pretty good movement on it, catching the outside corner, starting outside but tailing in. He also works so fast, I'm just trying to keep up with the guy writing this! Manny drills a 2-1 pitch over shortstop for the Sox first hit and Ortiz moves up to second.
Here's Trot. This guy was hitting around .335 about 10 days ago, but is now at .311. I guess going 0-9 in a 19-inning game will do that to you. He combined to go 0-17 with Varitek in that game. Perez make the play at third moving to his left to cut the ball off and throws Nixon out at first.

Teams R H E
A's 0 1 0
Sox 0 1 0

Second Inning - Red Sox vs. A's

The shortstop Bobby Crosby leads off the second. This kid has received so much hype. The A's were supposed to not really care that they let Tejada get away because this kid was ready to come up. He was hurt last year, and I can honestly say that I've never really seen him play, so it's hard for me to judge, but I just don't see what all the fuss is about. Oh yeah, Lester just struck the kid out looking on a fastball.
Mark Kotsay, the center fielder is up. This kid turned in a huge performance in the College World Series the year he was drafted. We have a 3-1 count here as Kotsay just sits on the fastball and drives it right past Lester and into center field for a single.
The second baseman, Mark Ellis now up. He's having a terrible year, but he's no Mark Bellhorn. Lester goes 2-0 on him. Fastball for a strike to make it 2-1. He serves a low fastball that floats into left field and that's how Manny plays it...he just floats over and in to make the catch for the second out.
Here's Antonio Perez in the nine hole, playing third. Lester gets a strike to start him off. He's wearing Carney Lansford's number four. That's an insult to Carney! Ball two. 2-1. 43 pitches already! Come on! Fastball down and away for a strike. Full count. Ball four and two men on. Jason Kendall already up the second time in the game now. Nice curveball. I love that his curveball handcuffs righties the way it does. 1-1 now. Kendall goes the other way, but it's to Youk at first, who takes it himself as Lester continues to try and lead the league in stranding runners on base.

Tek leads off for the Sox. He's at .232 on the year. Let's hope he doesn't go below .230, that would be sad. 2-1 count. Great change up from Loaiza for the second strike, before Tek grounds the next pitch to Crosby, who takes one step in, gloves it on the descending hop with one hand, transfers and throws him out at first.
Mike Lowell taking a fastball to make it 1-2. 2-2. I hope Loaiza pitches all nine. At this rate, this game will be over by 8:45, but Lester needs to have a few 10-pitch innings. Lowell fouls off another pitch. Full count. Uh oh. Mike Lowell is in the middle of a power surge, just lifted a breaking pitch over the monster to give the Sox a 1-0 lead. His first career hit vs. Loaiza in 11 at-bats. Here's Coco, he wastes no time in showing his futility at the plate, grounding a five-hopper back to the mound on the first pitch and Loaiza throws him out.
1-1 to Gonzalez now. He's up to .284 on the season! Who needs Edgar, Nomar or the OC? It's 3-1 now. He's really cut down on his strikeouts too. They just showed a graphic. 27 Ks in April and May, just 11 in June and July and he's hitting .363. Not bad for your nine-hitter.
Here's Youk. 2-0 to Youk. Let's put money on it that this goes at least five pitches. 2-1. 3-1. I'm smelling walk. 3-2, full count. Did I call it? How many does he foul off now? One so far. Do I know this kid or what? Ball four. He's an on-base machine and leads the league in pitchers per plate appearance.
Two outs and two on for the Sox and Loretta. Starts him off with a curveball for a strike on the outside corner. Fastball at the knees and the outer half for strike two. Wow. Strike three on three pitches. Loretta doesn't whiff all that often either.

Teams R H E
A's 0 2 0
Sox 1 1 0

Third Inning - Red Sox vs. Athletics

Nick Swisher leads it off taking the first pitch for a strike. 2-1 now. 3-1. I hate when he does this. See ya later. Swisher connects off a fastball that Lester leaves up and just barely makes it into the first row of the monster seats. Tied at one now.
Here's Bobby Kielty. His red beard is striking. It's like orange. Don't really see that many guys in baseball with an orange beard, but his last name is Kielty as he grounds to Lowell at third, who throws to first for the out.
Frank Thomas, taking an inside looping, sweeping curveball for a ball. 3-1 now. Come on! This drives me nuts! Especially, because this kid has good stuff. He walks him. Three walks already.
Jay Payton up now. Lines a curveball to Manny on one hop in left for a single to push Thomas to second with one down.
Crosby fouls the first pitch straight back. Crosby grounds to Gonzalez' right, the fields and throws to second all-in-one motion and Loretta turns it over to Youk at first for the twin killing. Many, A-Gon gets rid of that ball as fast as anyone I have ever seen. Lester bailed out again.

We're just an hour into this game and already, three Red Roof Inn commercials! They must have paid their bill, because Red Roof Inn had taken about three weeks off. Now, they're back with a vengeance asking, "How low can you go?"

Ortiz just ripped a pitch down the right field line that skipped into the stands prior to the Pesky Pole. Here's Manny with a 2-1 count. Dangerous for a pitcher. 3-1, the danger level just went up. I think it's at red right now. Fouls it off. Full count. Manny hits a slow grounder to second, where Ellis throws him out, but he gets the job done, moving Ortiz to third with Nixon up.
Ball one. 2-0. All we need is a fly ball here. Should get that on 2-0. Nixon delivers with a shot near the base of the Wall, closer to the corner, and despite a throw from Kielty that takes 17 hops to get to second, Nixon settles for a single.
The Sox playing some National League baseball now, Nixon takes off on the first pitch and Varitek hits it to the vacated hole at second as Nixon takes third for first and third with an out and Mike Lowell up. The A's pitching coach just came out to tell Loaiza to knock it off and the home plate ump was out pretty quick to break it up, but I'm not sure that anyone noticed him because he's about four feet, nine inches tall. "Hey kid get off the field, oh, whoops, sorry blue".
Lowell grounds into the hole, Crosby with kind of a slide/dive to make the play to his right, turns and gets the out and second and no chance for the double play as Nixon scores to give the Sox a 3-1 lead.
Crisp jumping on the first pitch, swinging from the left side, smacking it off the base of the wall as Kielty does three spins trying to figure out how to play the Wall and the ball finds his hand on the ricochet as Crisp slide into second with a double and Lowell moves to third.
Now Gonzalez hits the first pitch as well (these guys are killing me trying to keep up) and flies to right field. Whew. Sox up 3-1 after three.

Teams R H E
A's 1 4 0
Sox 3 6 0

Fourth Inning - Red Sox vs. Athletics

Let's hope that Lester can have a clean inning here. *AFLAC Trivia Question* Excluding Oakland, who is the last AL team to have back-to-back Rookies of the Year?
Mark Kotsay leads it off as he helps out Lester, fouling off the 2-1 pitch to even it up. Oooh...Lester just misses outside with a fastball, but nevertheless (is that one word?), he goes to a full count. Eh, single to left field. Ugh!
Mark Ellis now. Expect a double play. Heard it here first. Lester's ahead at 1-2 and evens the count with a high fastball. Shocker, the count runs full. So much for calling the twin killing. He walks him. No outs and two on, but Antonio Perez is here to bail us out. He showed bunt, but Lester almost hit him on the foot with a fastball, so 1-0 instead. 2-0 now as Tek goes out to talk to the kid. Just give me five innings at this point! 2-1 as Perez was hoping for the walk. Swing and a miss for 2-2. The A's have the dumbest logo with that dopey elephant holding a bat in its trunk, while balancing on a ball. Who came up with calling it a trunk, anyway? No other animal has a trunk. Strike three! Lester gets him.
Here's Kendall. 2-0 count. Are you kidding me? Get ahead just once! Guess what everybody? Yep, you guessed it. Ground ball to Lowell, fields it, steps on the bag, takes two minutes to set himself and throws across the diamond to throw out Kendall for the double play and the end of the inning and Lester does it again. The new Houdini. Screw David Blaine. Anybody can sit in a block of ice for a week, try getting out of bases loaded and two-on jams every time you have an appearance.

Youk leads it off and has a 2-2 count. 70 pitches for Loaiza, who must be trying to keep up with Lester, because he has 87, already through four, as Youk fouls off another pitch. Youk takes a tough pitch for strike three, down and in on his knees.
Mark Loretta trying not to strike out here. Ball one, it's a start. 2-0! Woo hoo! 3-1. This is more like it. Ball four on a curveball well off the plate. *AFLAC Trivia Answer* The Seattle Mariners with Kaz Sasaki in 2000 and Ichiro Suzuki in 2001 as the ROY.
David Ortiz with a 2-0 count. It looks like he's going to be unintentionally, intentionally walked a lot in the second half. Maybe not. Two tough pitches later and it's 2-2. Ball three. Loretta off on the pitch, but Papi fouls it off. I was wondering if he would be running. I like that :-) Ortiz strikes out looking at a fastball on the outside corner, but Loretta steals the bag on a high throw to second. Hopefully, Manny can get him in here. He is an RBI machine, afterall. Awe...soft liner to Ellis at second. Inning over.


Teams R H E
A's 1 5 0
Sox 3 6 0

Okay, it's official. The Ford commercial with that American Idol guy has officially reached "let's not beat a dead horse" status. Just like all of the other commercials on these games! Oh my gosh...it's on again! Twice in one commercial break!


Fifth Inning - Red Sox vs. Athletics

Nick Swisher leads it off. Okay, cross your fingers, rub your rabbit's foot, get your horseshoe out and let's hope for a 1-2-3 inning here. 3-1 count. He walked him. Must have been a some other foot that I had.
Kielty is up. Weak pop-up to second base, sounds like he broke his bat as Loretta puts it away for the first out.
Frank Thomas takes the first pitch for a ball. He is easily the only line-backer type player I have ever seen play, except for maybe Dave Winfield, but Thomas is a mountain at the plate, just huge! 2-2 count after he fouls off a pitch. His thighs are bigger around then a lot of women's waists. Full count and he flies to Nixon in right for two outs.
Payton steps in. It's pretty much guaranteed that he'll reach. I mean, there's only one guy on base right now. Fouls off the first pitch, which was number 101 for Lester. Miracles never cease as Manny takes care of a shallow fly to end the inning and now Lester qualifies for a win if the Sox can hold on.

Nixon leads off for the Sox and hits a little roller to Swisher at first, who feeds to Loaiza covering the bag at first for out number one.
Varitek now up. Probably relieved that he's gotten his hit out of the way. He could finish the night 1-4 and it would raise his average. 2-1 count. 3-1. He walks! Yes!
Mike Lowell to the plate. Can't you just sense a double here? (or a double play) 2-0, I'm thinking double again. Lowell, pops up a 2-1 pitch to Ellis at second for the second out.
Here's Coco, flapping the fingers on his top hand against the handle of the bat with a 2-0 count. He's got some dirt on his shirt from the slide into second and takes ball three. Ball four on the 3-1 pitch. Runners on first and second with Alex Gonzalez up. He doesn't have a hit yet, so look for it here. Gonzalez rips pitch number 104 to left, falling fast, but Kielty makes the grab, chest-high, coming in.

Teams R H E
A's 1 5 0
Sox 3 6 0

Sixth Inning - Red Sox vs. Athletics

Craig Hansen is in for the Sox. He's one of the few guys that had normal work on Sunday in the marathon game. 95 mph fastball. On Sunday, I don't think he was hitting higher than 91. Strike two. He just missed with a fastball on the outside corner to even the count at 2-2. Oh yeah, Bobby Crosby is up. Full count. Crosby lofts one into left field that floats long enough for Manny to trot in and sticks his glove up to grab it out of the sky as he almost overruns it for the first out. Mark Kotsay at the dish now. Hansen is proving to be the anti-Lester with two strikes right away. 2-2 as Kotsay fouls off the pitch. Full count on an outside fastball. Kotsay sticks his bat out at a sinking fastball, hops past Hansen, who gave a thought to barehanding it, but let it go on to Gonzalez, who throws him out at first. Two dead.
Mark Ellis swings through a high 95 fastball to become the third hitter to start off 0-2. Ellis hits a soft, little liner back to Hansen for the final out of the inning. 1-2-3! Yippee!

The A's also have a new pitcher for the sixth with right-hander Chad Gaudin facing Youk. 2-1 pitch and Youk pops it up on the infield, the pitcher, the catcher and first baseman all going for it as it straddles the first baseline and Gaudin knocks into Swisher, but makes the catch.
Loretta skies the first one high behind home plate and Kendall is all over the place trying to make the catch, but it falls behind him and they give him an error. Loretta takes advantage on the 1-2 pitch and lines it to right field where Payton slides to make the catch, but traps it on the warning track closer to the pole and Loretta gets the single.
Here's Ortiz. He starts him off 0-2, ball one now. Gaudin throws to first and the ball hits off Swisher's glove, but stays in the infield as Ellis is there, so no damage. Papi works the count full. Loretta's off with the pitch and ball four to Ortiz on a pitch way outside.
Here's Manny. First pitch strike on the outside corner. That fastball was a ball and Manny actually complained, something he never does, but you couldn't blame him on that one. Manny looks pretty serious in there as he grounds a curveball foul of third base for a 1-2 count. He does a great job to foul off an outside pitch that could have been called either way, but based on the first pitch, you can't take the chance. Another foul. Manny gets under a slider and pops it up to short where Crosby squeezes it for the second out.
Ken Macha tells Gaudin to hit the showers and it looks like he'll bring in a lefty for Nixon as the American Idol guy croons for Ford again! Back-to-back Red Roof Inn commercials! At least they were different ones.
Here's Brian Halsey, the former over-hyped (aren't they all?) Yankee prospect, in to face Nixon. Lefty on lefty action. Ball one with a big, looping curveball. Ball two. I'm feeling good about this. Halsey is swallowing hard, but evens the count at 2-2. I still like Nixon's chances. Full count. Good swing, but grounds out to Ellis at second base, who tosses to first.

Teams R H E
A's 1 5 0
Sox 3 7 0

Seventh Inning - Red Sox vs. Athletics

Hansen is still in there and throws his first first-pitch ball to a hitter. Antonio Perez lines the next pitch through the hole on the left side for the A's first hit since the fourth inning.
Here's Jason Kendall. Fundamentally sound, Kendall uses and inside-out swing to go the other way and it drops in for a single to put runners on first and second. Hansen always does this! Has a good inning, then will give up at least a run. I'm scared. Here's Nick Swisher batting left-handed now. Fouls off the first pitch. Hansen's velocity appears to be down again, his last two pitches were 92 and 93, respectively, as Swisher grounds to Gonzalez, who has to charge and makes the play and throws him out, but the runners both move into scoring position. One out and Tito summons Delcarmen to replace Hansen on the mound.
Delcarmen will face Kielty. Wow, ground ball to Loretta's glove-side and he took his eye off the ball as the ball goes right under his glove and into right field and both runs score to tie the game at 3-3. Instead of 3-2 with two outs and a runner on third, it's 3-3 with a runner on first and one out and Frank Thomas up. Thomas hits a screamer to Lowell at third, who catches it on a line for the second out. Strike one to Jay Payton. Big hop ground ball to Gonzalez, who fields it even with his face and throws to first for the out.

Justin Duchscherer is on to pitch the seventh vs. Varitek. This kid was an eighth round pick of the Sox, who they traded to get Mirabelli from Texas in 2002. 1-2 to Varitek. He grounds off the end of the bat to Crosby at short, who throws him out.
Mike Lowell will try and get something started now. This bothers me to no end. Whenever Orsillo refers to a pitcher's earned run average as "nifty"...A nice flip by a shortstop to the second baseman behind his back is nifty, an earned run average is not nifty! 2-2 count. Fly ball to center where Kotsay camps under it for the out.
Coco hoping to get something started with two outs. He's ahead 2-0. Takes a slider over the outside corner for a 2-2 count. Full count. Ball four.
Here's A-Gon, who I still say is due. Starts him off with a strike. Fouls off a pitch with an off balance swing to get in the hole at 0-2. Crisp is off on the 1-2 pitch, it's a curveball outside and Coco gets his hand just barely in before the tag on the head first slide for the stolen base, but Gonzalez flies out to Payton in right to end the inning.

Teams R H E
A's 3 7 1
Sox 3 7 1

Eighth Inning - Red Sox vs. Athletics

Delcarmen is still in the game to face Bobby Crosby and falls behind 3-1. Lowell is amazing...Crosby just chopped a ground ball to third, Lowell, runs in on it, fields it on the in-between hop and throws him out on the run.
Here's the left-handed hitting Kotsay. He sends a chopper to Lowell at third, who handles it easy and throws him out for the second out.
Ellis swings at the first pitch and fouls it straight up where Tek just turns and waits for it to come down, squeezes and the inning's over. Nice work.

Kiko Calero is now pitching for the A's to face Youk. You might remember this kid from the '04 World Series, when he pitched for the Cardinals. He was dealt to the A's in the Mark Mulder trade. 1-2 pitch to Youk right near the stands in foul territory just past the tarp, but Swisher can't make the play as it goes off his glove. His second chances results in a fly ball to center for the first out. Hopefully, Loretta can make up for the costly error here. 1-2 count. He misses outside with a slider to even the count. Another fly to center as Kotsay puts it away. Looks like it's up to Mr. Clutch. 2-0 count. If you're Calero, you just pitch around him and take your chances with Manny here. Papi, as has been the norm all season, swings on 3-0 and singles to right field.
Here comes Manny. Let's hope the three days off result in a happy fan base. Awful. Manny just reaches out and tops a grounder to second. Ellis fields it and throws him out. Onto the ninth in a tie ballgame.

Teams R H E
A's 3 7 1
Sox 3 8 1

Ninth Inning - Red Sox vs. Athletics

Mike Timlin is on to face Antonio Perez and starts him off with a strike. Foul ball for 0-2. Perez works the count full after three balls outside of the zone. Perez, drives the next pitch to left field, sending Manny back, back, back and glides out there with his glove out to make the catch. Jason Kendall now up. 0-2 the count. At least Timlin's getting ahead of these guys. Kendall fouls it off his leg and that hurt. Kendall grounds a curveball to third, Lowell snags on the backhand and throws to first as Youk digs it out for the second out.
Nick Swisher now up. Power threat. Swisher sends a 1-0 fastball right over Timlin's shoulder for a single to center. Here's Bobby Kielty, who fouls the first pitch off for strike one. He hits a nubber in front of the plate, Tek fields and throws to first to end the inning.

Calero is still out there for the A's to face Nixon. He's ahead 2-0. Slider misses low for 3-0. Calero comes back with two strikes, before missing low with a fastball for the walk.
Here's Tek with Nixon on first and no outs. Willie Harris now pinch-running for Nixon. His days are numbered as Wily Mo gets closer to being activated. Tek squares to sacrifce bunt, but takes a ball. Willie Harris, if you might recall earlier in the season, getting thrown out on a steal attempt when Nixon was at the plate in a rally situation, just got picked off of first for the first out and Tito just made a mental note to have Theo pack this guy's bags ASAP! 2-0 to Tek. He takes a slider in the dirt for ball four.
Mike Lowell stepping in. The A's closer, Huston Street, is now coming into the game. He won the Rookie of the Year award last year. First pitch he sees, he lifts to left field, but it's shallow and Kielty makes the catch.
Coco Crisp is the last hope for the ninth. 2-1 count. The A's have already walked nine Sox batters tonight, but none have come around to score. 2-2 now. Full count on a close pitch. Tek will be off with the pitch. Inside fastball that darts back over the plate to set Coco down looking. Extras again for the Sox.

Teams R H E
A's 3 8 1
Sox 3 8 1

Tenth Inning - Red Sox vs. Athletics

As you might expect, Gabe Kapler is in right for Nixon and Jonathan Papelbon is now in the game to face Frank Thomas. Paps seems unaffected by the 50-odd pitches on Sunday, throwing a pair of 95 mph fastballs to Thomas, but they are both balls. 2-1 now. Two more strikes and Paps strikes him out on a 96 heater. Here's Jay Payton. I'm sure he would like to do something in this park and he bloops one off a slider into shallow center for a hit.
Here's Bobby Crosby. Fastball for a strike. Crosby hits is sharply to A-Gon's right, he knocks it down, but that's all he can do. First and second with one out and Mark Kotsay up. Paps is ahead 1-2. Long fly ball to left-center field, Crisp tracks all the way to the wall and makes the catch in front of the wall for the second out. It's up to Mark Ellis now, who takes a high fastball for a strike. Oooh..in on the hands and he fouls it back for an 0-2 count. I would say he has no chance of making contact here. In on the hands again and he pops up to Gonzalez.

Street still in the game for the A's as Alex Gonzalez leads it off. 0-2 count. Strikes him out on a 1-2 slider down and away.
Back to the Sox top with Youk coming up. 0-2 to Youk. He grounds it right down the third base line, where Perez was playing flush with it to prevent a double, he fields it and throws out Youk at first. Mark Loretta with another chance to atone for the error. Street gets ahead 0-2 again. He chops it to third and Perez plays the short hop right at him and throws him out. Onto the 11th.

Teams R H E
A's 3 10 1
Sox 3 8 1

Eleventh Inning - Red Sox vs. Athletics

I guess Tito is afraid of burning Papelbon out after the weekend, because Julian Tavarez is on in the 10th. He takes on Antonio Perez, who is hitting .103 for the season. He starts off ahead, 0-2, as Perez fouls off the first two pitches. Fastball backs up Perez for strike three on the inside corner. Kendall takes his turn now as Perez still argues the call with the umpire. He pulls a breaking pitch down the left field corner for a double on an 0-1 pitch.
Nick Swisher now. At least Tavarez is staying ahead of the hitters, throwing a first pitch strike here. Huge call on a 2-2 pitch. Swisher checks his swing and is called out on the appeal to the third base umpire. Two outs. Here's Bobby Kielty, huge at-bat here. The fans are really on these guys now. You can here a few different guys really getting on them with choice comments. Kielty serves a low change-up off the Wall for an RBI single to score Kendall to give the A's a 4-3 edge. It will be interesting to see if Street is still in the game for a third inning. Kielty just stole second. His first of the season as the count moves to 2-1. Frank Thomas rips a single past Lowell at third into left field and Kielty's stolen base becomes really big as he scores to make it 5-3. So, the Loretta error really hurts now as well.
Jay Payton bounces it to Loretta at second, who throws him out at first for the final out. The Sox need two to tie with the heart of the order coming up.

Former Sox lefty Scott Sauerbeck is on to face Ortiz and has a full count. Papi fouls out to third base as Perez makes the catch.
Ken Macha brings in the righty, Kirk Saarloos to face Manny. He fools Manny on a 1-1 pitch and the Sox left fielder grounds weakly to Perez, who cuts in front of Crosby to field and throw out Ramirez.
Gabe Kapler now batting. 1-2 count. Kapler fouls off a few 2-2 pitches. Full count now. The fans are all standing. Hoping. Ball four and the Sox have a chance with Tek representing the tying run at the plate. Swing and a miss at the first pitch. 1-2 count as Tek swings through a change-up. Another change-up low for ball two. I'm not sure how it happened, but Varitek just got enough of the bat on the ball to send a ball up the middle to score Kapler, who had moved to second on defensive indifference. Now, Tek is the tying run on first and Mike Lowell is the winning run at the plate. Strike one. Strike two looking. Lowell grounds it back to Saarloos. He makes the grab and throws him out at first.

Next blog will probably be next Wednesday.

Boston Red Sox
Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
K Youkilis 1B	5	0	0	0	1	1	0	.292
M Loretta 2B	5	0	1	0	1	2	2	.303
D Ortiz DH	4	1	2	0	2	1	1	.281
M Ramirez LF	6	0	1	0	0	0	4	.303
T Nixon RF	4	1	1	1	1	0	4	.310
W Harris PR	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.159
G Kapler RF	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	.355
J Varitek C	4	0	2	1	2	0	0	.236
M Lowell 3B	6	1	1	2	0	0	4	.304
C Crisp CF	3	0	1	0	2	1	1	.269
A Gonzalez SS	4	0	0	0	1	1	5	.279
Totals	41	4	9	4	11	6	21

Boston Red Sox
Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
J Lester	5.0	5	1	1	5	3	1	103-54	2.89
C Hansen	1.1	2	2	1	0	0	0	28-17	4.85
M Delcarmen	1.2	0	0	0	0	0	0	16-10	3.28
M Timlin	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	16-11	2.51
J Papelbon	1.0	2	0	0	0	1	0	18-12	0.57
J Tavarez (L, 1-3)	1.0	3	2	2	0	2	0	23-14	4.84
Totals	11.0	13	5	4	5	6	1	204-118

July 11, All-Star Game Blog

Okay, this opening promo is really dopey. Shooting stars and people looking up at the sky at the stars. Players faces on oversized pointy stars. Let's just play the game already!

Little pre-game pep talk from Phil Garner. "We have a great team, we have to get off the snide, blah, blah, blah" This is all for show and I hate it! Now, crazy boy, Ozzie just told all his guys that he couldn't promise they would all play. Well, of course not! How are they all going to play when all of the White Sox are going to play the whole game?

A little retrospective on the history of the Pirates now, which is actually pretty cool. Forbes Field, Honus Wagner, Bill Mazeroski, Roberto Clemente. Willie Stargell, the 1979 World Series team. Steve Blass. What I really have a problem with is that Pittsburgh just hosted 12 years ago! This is its fifth All-Star Game.

Okay, All-Star promotional contest. I hate this. Kid hits off a tee at five balls to hit a spot on the field for a prize. Al Oliver coached him. This guy looked ancient when he played...it's like he skipped right from the 70s to the present. Still has those afro sideburns.

Okay, Joe Buck is introducing every player from each side. It looked like Mark Redman from the Kansas City Royals almost expected people to boo him, because he's just an awful token all-star. One thing I have always liked about the baseball All-Star game is that the players always wear their own team's uniforms and not some dumb league uniform.

This is like a who's who of former Sox players. Nomar, Bronson Arroyo, Freddy Sanchez, David Eckstein. Let's see, who did we get for all of those guys? Orlando Cabrera, Doug Mientkiewicz (I didn't even check if that's spelled right, that's how confident I am), Wily Mo Pena, Jeff Suppan and I don't even know. Ortiz is batting third, by the way and Loretta is hitting eighth. A nice round of boos for Kenny Rogers...no not the singer, although they should boo him too. Oh, forgot to mention Edgar Renteria in the former Sox category. We got Andy Marte for him. The Pittsburgh crowd is going nuts for Jason Bay as they did earlier for Freddy Sanchez. Renteria is batting fifth. Of course, we have a commercial break before they can play the National Anthem for this 8:05 start, which is now going on 8:26 edt, 4:26 am Baghdad time.

They were saying on EEI today that it's too bad that Joe Castiglione wasn't doing the play-by-play for the home run derby last night. Everytime a guy would pop it up, you know it would be, "Here's the pitch, swing and a pop up and that's out number seven", but of course he would do it in that voice where he sounds like he just found out that Jerry Trupiano just ate the last hot dog down in the pressroom leaving him with nothing. Of course, if you have Joe for his downer call on the non-homers, you need Trupiano for the home runs..."Swing and a drive, way back, way back!...Caught 20 feet in front of the left field wall. That looked like he got all of it on the swing (as he tries to cover himself)".

I think Leanne Rymes is singing the national anthem and then the jets just flew over. I'm sure I spelled her name wrong, but at least I think I got Mientkiewicz's right. Anyway, another commercial as Fox tries to turn the All-Star game into the Super Bowl with a commercial break every chance they get. I wonder if they will break for a commercial if a batter calls for time or if a beach ball falls onto the field.

Pretty good Holiday Inn commercial. Joe Buck is waiting for the elevator with some yahoos who are all kissing his ass, and want him to say, "Swing and a miss" as they hold their fingers against his throat...he does it and keeps doing it for like four of them, before he gets weirded out (it took that long?) and takes the stairs. You can't appreciate how dumb it was on here.

Joe Buck and Tim McCarver are doing the game tonight. McCarver! This is going to be chocked full of comedy! I was actually kind of groaning about doing this game on the blog, but now that I think of it, McCarver makes it all worth while.

Another behind the scenes look....oooh, ahh...Phil Garner telling the NL guys that there are no signs. What?! Another commercial?! What did we just come back from the last one for? Is my wallet still in my back pocket? Can I have those four minutes back?
Okay, I personally think that this commercial is disturbing. Little kids, playing either basketball or football, but the computer generate the heads of real pro-athletes on them. Peyton Manning's head on some little kid! Why?

Chuck Tanner threw out the first pitch. I like that.

First Inning - AL at NL

Ichiro leads it off for the AL as Ozzie Guillen wishes that Scott Podseknik was leading off. Brad Penny is the starting pitcher for the NL. Ichiro has a full count. Joe Buck has already beaten to death the fact that Ozzie told his guys that if they don't play, tough, make the team next year. Ichiro just struck out on an outside pitch. Here's Jeter...just swung and missed at a high 96 mph fastball and then again at a 98 mph heater. Just missed with another 98. Looks like he's trying to prove something here as he almost hits Jeter with a 99 mph fastball. This gun has got to be fast. Full count. Well, it wouldn't surprise me if Penny was out for a few weeks after this game, he's looking to blow his shoulder out as he fans Jeter on a high and inside fastball.
Here's Big Enormous Papi. 97 fastball, swing and a miss. 2-2 count after a 99 mph fastball. I don't think he has thrown anything offspeed and Ortiz actually fouled off a 99 fastball. Ortiz fouls it off after they showed a shot of Bronson and Nomar hanging out in the NL dugout. 98 mph fastball at the knees freezes Ortiz. Penny strikes out the side. That was very impressive.

Alfonso Soriano is leading off and just hit the first pitch off AL starter Kenny Rogers to right field for an out. Carlos Beltran just fouled a ball down the left side and this ball kid fell on his butt trying to field it. Awful. The Sox have way better ball people as Beltran rips it past A-Rod at third. and yes, Lowell would have had it. Double for Beltran. Here's Albert Pujols. He pops it up to Jeter in shallow left field. Two outs and here's Jason Bay, the local kid. Well, local, in that he plays for the Pirates. 1-1 count to Bay. Oh my gosh...this ball kid is horrible! He just did it again...he slides both feet first trying to field a foul ground ball. 2-2 the count. The Gambler gets him on a slow curveball on the outer half of the plate. Three down, no runs.

Teams R H E
AL 0 0 0
NL 0 1 0

Second Inning - AL at NL

Here's A-Fraud to lead off the inning. 97 mph fastball for an 0-2 count. Wow, Penny just broke off a nasty curveball. He must have caught the home plate umpire off guard, because he called it a ball. 1-2 count on A-Rod. He actually made contact in fair play! Ground ball to Renteria at short, who makes the play, must be because it's not the Fenway dirt, and throws him out.
Vladimir Guerrero just brought Penny back to reality with an opposite field homer to right field. 1-0 AL. Ivan Rodriguez up now. Liner to second base and Chase Utley puts it away. Okay, never fails, Fox just introduced their dumb kids instruction for the night. Crayon instructions accompanied by bad Disney music as they mark where your shoulders, knees and toes should be in your batting stance. Oh yeah, Vernon Wells just flew out to center.
It's official. Jon Lovitz career is officially over. He was just in a Subway commercial. Now he's on the same level with the fat guy, who lost all that weight. Lovitz! He starred on SNL, now he stars for Subway. I don't think we'll see Dana Carvey or Mike Meyers doing Quiznos anytime soon.

Edgar Renteria leads it off. I personally think that he had a decent year offensively for the Sox last year, of course he was horrid in the field, but everyone piles on him like he should have hit .330 with 25 homers and 90 RBIs for the Sox. His numbers were decent. Full count, by the way. He taps to Rogers at the mound and Kenny steps and throws to first.
David Wright from the Mets wasted no time in tying the game, pulling a laser to left field over the fence. 1-1. Utley steps in from the left side for the Phillies. Rogers hangs a curveball inside for a 2-1 count. Paints a pitch on the outside to even it up. Utley hits a slow roller past a diving Kenny Rogers that Jeter fields and throws late to first with. (Editor's note: Alex Gonzalez would have thrown him out)
Paul LoDuca steps in for the Mets. 1-1 the count. Another comebacker to Rogers. He fields, turns, throws to second, Jeter coming across the bag, catches and throws to first for the 1-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Teams R H E
AL 1 1 0
NL 1 3 0

Third Inning - AL at NL

Wow...Loretta leading off the third just hit a sharp grounder to first and it took a weird hop and Pujols fielded it barehanded and then beat Loretta to the bag for the out.
Magglio Ordonez is hitting for Kenny Rogers. Oh, and Roy Oswalt started the inning for the NL. 2-1 to Ordonez. Two strikes now and Oswalt strikes him out for out number two.
Here's Ichiro with a 2-0 count. 3-0. Fouls off the 3-0 and then lines the next pitch to right field for the third out.

Roy Halladay is now on for the AL to face Matt Holliday of the Rockies, who is pinch-hitting for Oswalt. Hits a bounding chopper to Jeter, who gloves and throws across his body for the out at first. Soriano just took a curveball for a ball and then another big curveball and serves it into left field for a single. Wow, Soriano just got a huge jump off Halladay and Pudge Rodriguez didn't have a chance to throw him out at second. If that's how Halladay is, then the Sox should run all day on him. Carlos Beltran just hit a single to center field and here comes Soriano around third trying to score, but Vernon Wells is no Johhny Damon and guns out Soriano at the plate on one hop to Pudge. Beltran takes second on the throw.
1-0 count to Pujols and Beltran bolts for third and steals it. Halladay throws a 55-foot curveball that skips away from Pudge and Beltran scampers home with the go-ahead run to give the NL a 2-1 edge. Halladay strikes out Pujols on a curveball out of the strike zone on the outer half.


Teams R H E
AL 1 1 0
NL 2 6 0

Fourth Inning - AL at NL

Brandon Webb pitching for the NL now as Jeter fouls off an 0-2 pitch. 2-2 count. Webb just got Jeter out on his front foot swinging at a big, slow curveball for the first out of the inning. Here's David Ortiz, the greatest clutch hitter in the history of the universe. 2-2 count. Ortiz pops up to Wright in foul ground near third base. Two outs. Here's A-Rod. 2-0 count. Grounds a curveball to Renteria, who gobbles it up and throws to first for the final out.

Okay, could be the dumbest movie of the year. Snakes on the Plane! What? Samuel L. Jackson. Just further proof that he never should have been allowed to ruin Star Wars. Since when are there going to be hundreds of snakes on a plane in the air?

*The Subway Trivia Game* There are 25 fresh faces in tonight's All-Star game, what is the record for first time players? 32 in 1988 and 2003. I contest the answer though. What about the first All-Star game ever? They were all new players!

Halladay is still out there in the fourth as Jason Bay greets him with a single to center.
Renteria doing his thing, grounds to Loretta at second, who pivots like an All-Star, throws to Jeter, who throws to Ortiz, who catches it like an All-Star for the double play. Two outs.
Here's David Wright. 2-1 count. Halladay gets it in on the hands of Wright, who manages a weak ground ball to short and Jeter throws him out.

Teams R H E
AL 1 1 0
NL 2 7 0

Fifth Inning - AL at NL

Okay, because the game wasn't moving at a slow enough pace, now there is a ceremony to commemorate Roberto Clemente. Bud Selig is presenting the Commisioner's Historic Achievement Award to Clemente, accepted by his widow, Vera, who is wearing this retched olive green pants suit. Bud actually made a really good speech and it's actually pretty moving, especially for the Latin players.
Commercial time as the fifth inning waits and it hits 10 PM in the Eastern U.S.

Bronson starts the fifth for the NL and gets Vladi to sky a high pop-up to foul ground on the left side as Freddy Sanchez basically knocks Wright out of the way to catch it. Pudge Rodriguez just flied to deep center field for the second out. Vernon Wells is up. He smacks a ground ball past the outstretched glove of Wright at third and into left field for a hit. Here's Loretta with two outs and a runner on first, takes ball one low. Loretta smokes a liner to short, but Freddy (the Sox gave me away for Jeff Suppan!) Sanchez leaps up to catch it. Great catch! Inning over.

A bunch of changes in the AL defensive line-up, but who can keep track. I do know that Michael Young is now at second for Loretta and Barry Zito is pitching to Chase Utley to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Utley pops behind first and Papi just kind of wanders over and lets Young make the grab for the first out.
Here's Paul LoDuca, hot shot to third base, E-Rod has it bounce off him, then panics, picks it up, throws it in the dirt, but All-Star first baseman David Ortiz makes the pick in the dirt for the out. Matt Holliday just hit a drive to left field that left you believing that it had a shot to get out of town, but Gary Matthews, Jr, makes the catch. How is this guy an All-Star?

Teams R H E
AL 1 2 0
NL 2 7 0

Sixth Inning - AL at NL

The left-handed hitting Grady Sizemore hits in the pitcher's spot to lead it off vs. the Rockies' Brian Fuentes. He's behind 0-2 at the plate and Fuentes gets him on a flailing swing on a pitch down and away and out of the zone for a strikeout.
Here's Ichiro. 1-2 after a terrible swing on a slider away. Ichiro grounds to short as he looks like he's running to first at the same time as he's swinging his bat. David Eckstein now at short, fields it, and just barely has enough to throw out Ichiro at first. Here's Jeter. He gets Jeter way out in front on an 0-1 pitch that he grounds to Wright at third for the out at first to end the inning.

Scott Kazmir is now pitching for the AL and gets leadoff man Freddy Sanchez to ground out to Miguel Tejada at short for out number one.
Carlos Beltran is now up. 2-1 count. Beltran grounds a ball foul to the left side to run the count full, before flying out to left to Matthews for the out. Pujols hits a deep fly to Grady Sizemore in center field, who goes back a few steps on the track for the out. On to the seventh.

Teams R H E
AL 1 2 0
NL 2 7 0

Seventh Inning - AL at NL

Derrick Turnbow takes over for the NL to face Paul Konerko. 0-2 count misses outside for 1-2. Konerko works a full count. He muscles a fast ball into the gap in left center field.
Troy Glaus now up for the AL. 96 fastball on the outer half to the righthanded Glaus to even the count at 2-2. Ground ball to Wright, he fields the high hop, onto Sanchez, he steps on second has trouble on the transfer, throws high to first, but Ryan Howard comes up with it for the double play. Michael Young pops up high to shallow left field and there's Sanchez again, now at second base, but Holliday calls him off to make the catch.

Here's John Legend to sing God Bless America for the seventh inning stretch.

Okay, I have to comment on this commercial. Flomax. Are you kidding me? They name it Flomax. Basically, it's for men with problems urinating. It supposed to help you when you have to go. This is more funny dancing around the whole, I'm having trouble peeing, than the erectile dysfunction commercials. I hope they show that flomax commercial again. There's more stuff to make fun of there, but I couldn't get it all. Only had 30 seconds to write and watch.

Johan Santana pitching for the AL to Jason Bay. I'm sure he might play the entire game in his home park. Santana strikes him out with a nasty change-up on a 1-2 pitch for the first out.
Lance Berkman is pinch-hitting for the pitcher. Santana walks him on four pitches. David Wright still in the game is now up. I wonder what Miguel Cabrera is thinking as he sits on the bench. Wright gets jammed and hits a weak ground to Young, who, fields, has to hurry with a great pivot and throw to Tejada, who turns it over and throws to first for the double play and the end of the inning.

Teams R H E
AL 1 3 0
NL 2 7 0

Eighth Inning - AL at NL

Tom Gordon starts the eighth by pitching to the Twins great, young catcher, Joe Mauer. 1-2 count. Gordon gets Mauer on a 2-2 low, sharp-breaking curveball. One out and here's Gary Matthews, Jr. I liked his Dad. 1-1 count. Matthews takes the 1-2 pitch right where it's pitched and goes the other way through the hole between third and short for a hit. Jim Thome pinch hits for the pitcher. Thome shatters his bat on the hit-and-run and Matthews coasts into second as Freddy Sanchez makes the play at second and throws out Thome for the second out. Grady Sizemore up for the AL. He scorches a ground ball to the right of second, but Sanchez is there and throws him out for the end of the top of the eighth.

Brian McCann, the catcher for the Braves leads off the eighth and the lefty faces another lefty, BJ Ryan, who gets McCann to ground out to Tejada for the first out.
David Eckstein up for the NL with an 0-2 count. Eckstein fouls off a couple pitches, but succumbs with a swinging strikeout. Holliday wastes no time, lining the first pitch from Ryan to Glaus at third for the end of the inning and onto the AL's last chance.

Teams R H E
AL 1 4 0
NL 2 7 0

Ninth Inning - AL at NL

Trevor Hoffman, the ultimate closer with 460 career saves, second all-time is on to face Jermaine Dye, who hits a squibber back to Hoffman, who throws him out.
Miguel Tejada at the plate and is down 0-2 in the count. Tejada does his best Jermaine Dye imitation and grounds a change-up back to Hoffan, who gets his second assist in as many batters. Here's Konerko, who smacks the first pitch past Miguel Cabrera at third for a hit. Troy Glaus just drove an 0-1 pitch to left field that just got over the head of Carlos Lee in left field and into the stands for a ground-rule double to put runners on second and third for the AL.
Now, Michael Young is up with an 0-1 count. Make that 0-2. Talk about clutch! Young just drove a pitch the other way to the gap in right-center field to score Jose Lopez, who pinch-ran for Konerko and Glaus to give the AL a 3-2 lead.
Joe Mauer steps in and sends an 0-1 pitch back to Hoffman, who makes the play to first for his third assist of the inning. That has to be some kind of record.

Mariano Rivera is on to close the door for the AL as Freddy Sanchez leads it off. Takes an 0-2 pitch low for ball one. Sanchez grounds to third, where Jose Lopez is playing out of position, but throws to first for the out. Carlos Beltran is still in the game for the NL and has a 1-1 count, now 1-2. 2-2 pitch and Beltran goes the other way with a hard grounder to third where Lopez bobbles it, gathers, throws, but too late. One out, one on and Ryan Howard is at the plate as the go-ahead run. Howard grounds the 1-1 pitch to the right side, Young ranges to his left and throws out Howard for out number two as Beltran moves to second base.
Carlos Lee is now up for the NL. 1-2 on Lee now. Beltran was on the move on the pitch, but Lee fouled it off. Lee bloops one to short right field, but Young backpedals out and makes the catch to give the AL another All-Star win. It hasn't lost since 1996.

Teams R H E
AL 3 7 1
NL 2 7 0

Final: AL 3, NL2

American All-Stars
Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
I Suzuki RF	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000
J Dye RF	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
D Jeter SS	3	0	0	0	0	2	0	.000
M Tejada SS	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
D Ortiz 1B	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000
P Konerko 1B	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	1.000
J Lopez PR-3B	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	.000
A Rodriguez 3B	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
T Glaus 3B-1B	2	1	1	0	0	0	1	.500
V Guerrero LF	2	1	1	1	0	0	0	.500
M Young 2B	2	0	1	2	0	0	0	.500
I Rodriguez C	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
J Mauer C	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	.000
V Wells CF	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	.500
G Matthews Jr LF	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1.000
M Loretta 2B	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
B Zito P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
S Kazmir P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
J Santana P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
b-J Thome PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
B Ryan P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
M Rivera P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
K Rogers P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
a-M Ordonez PH	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000
R Halladay P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
G Sizemore CF	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	.000
Totals	33	3	7	3	0	7	4

American All-Stars
Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
K Rogers	2.0	3	1	1	0	1	1	30-20	4.50
R Halladay	2.0	3	1	1	0	1	0	22-13	4.50
B Zito	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8-7	0.00
S Kazmir	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9-6	0.00
J Santana	1.0	0	0	0	1	1	0	11-5	0.00
B Ryan (W, 1-0)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	10-10	0.00
M Rivera (S, 1)	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	17-12	0.00
Totals	9.0	6	2	2	1	4	1	107-73

National All-Stars
Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
A Soriano LF	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	.500
B Webb P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
F Sanchez SS-2B	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
C Beltran CF	4	1	2	0	0	0	0	.500
A Pujols 1B	3	0	0	0	0	1	2	.000
R Howard 1B	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
J Bay RF-LF	3	0	1	0	0	2	1	.333
C Lee LF	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
E Renteria SS	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
B Arroyo P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
B Fuentes P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
D Turnbow P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
b-L Berkman PH	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.000
M Cabrera 3B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
D Wright 3B	3	1	1	1	0	0	1	.333
T Gordon P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
T Hoffman P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
C Utley 2B	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	.500
B McCann C	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
P Lo Duca C	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
D Eckstein SS	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000
B Penny P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
R Oswalt P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
a-M Holliday PH-RF	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Totals	30	2	6	1	1	4	7

National All-Stars
Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	PC-ST	ERA
B Penny	2.0	1	1	1	0	3	1	36-24	4.50
R Oswalt	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	13-7	0.00
B Webb	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	16-10	0.00
B Arroyo	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	10-7	0.00
B Fuentes	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	9-8	0.00
D Turnbow	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	14-8	0.00
T Gordon	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	14-8	0.00
T Hoffman (L, 0-1; B, 1)	1.0	3	2	2	0	0	0	13-13	18.00
Totals	9.0	7	3	3	0	7	1	125-85

Next blog will be on Thursday, July 13 when the Sox host Oakland at 7:05 Eastern time.