Jacoby Ellsbury now has 13-game hitting streak for the Red Sox.
The Boston Red Sox took to the field last night with a chance to clinch a playoff spot. After the game, they walked back into the clubhouse with a magic number of 1 still. And to make matters worse, the Tampa Bay Rays won last night, putting the Red Sox 2.5 games behind them and dropping their magic number to 4 to clinch the AL East.
We saw two very different sides of Josh Beckett last night. We saw the dominating Josh and we saw the wild Josh. It looked like he would have an easy time of things after the 1st inning but then wild Josh came out in the 2nd inning where he gave up a double, hit 2 two batters and walked in a run. One of the batters he hit was Ryan Garko and Beckett was none too pleased about Garko’s body armor.
“You hit two guys after you get two outs, then you walk in a run, and that ends up being the difference in the game,” said Beckett. “I don’t think I had control difficulties. One guy (Ryan Garko) had (expletive) body armor on the whole (expletive) left side of his body. Get 1-2 on him and he leans over the (expletive) plate and it hits him in his (expletive) elbow pad. Whether or not he has a doctor’s note for it, I don’t know. I don’t think they enforce those rules. Some guys are just going to do that when you get 1-2. I don’t think that pitch was that far off the plate. It is what it is. I had two more batters to get one out. I couldn’t get it done.”
Maybe Garko should just go up there wearing catcher’s gear. Who does he think he is? Jose Canseco?
Terry Francona wasn’t sure as how the Red Sox would celebrate had they won last night.
Victor Martinez and Fausto Carmona both appealed their suspensions stemming from their role in a brawl last week against the Detroit Tigers.
Justin Masterson is becoming the go-to guy in the Red Sox bullpen not named Jonathan Papelbon.
Jhonny Peralta won’t say no to playing for the Dominican Republic in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
J.D. Drew went for another epidural shot on his troublesome back.
Tim Wakefield and Paul Byrd are on the bubble for the 4th rotation spot in the playoffs.
Jed Lowrie’s struggles continued last night, striking out in 2 key situations.
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant and Providence Journal websites.
And if you must see what the enemy papers are saying, you can check out The Plain Dealer and Akron Beacon Journal websites.
