My apologies for not getting something posted about the Boston Red Sox this morning. Sometimes real life takes over and there’s nothing you can do about it. I had wanted to recap the events of last night so I will take care of that and also recap today’s events plus the game against the Baltimore Orioles.
Our rivals to the south, the New York Yankees were in town last night to take on the Red Sox at City of Palms Park. The Red Sox ended up winning 8-4 on the strength of a 7-run 2nd inning off of Yankees starter Chien-Mien Wang. But that’s not the big story to come out of last night’s game.
The big story is that at least for now, the battle at shortstop appears to be over. Julio Lugo took the field for the Sox in the top half of the 1st inning but left the game before even taking an at-bat with a sore knee. He was sent for an MRI and today the report is that he may have a torn meniscus. And now Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe is reporting that Lugo will head back to Boston tomorrow and could have arthroscopic surgery as early as Tuesday. A knee scope will most likely sideline Lugo 4-6 weeks, meaning that Jed Lowrie will most likely be the opening day shortstop.
Last night brought the first game in the field for Mike Lowell and he said it went well. He even had a good night at the plate (2-for-2), hitting the first pitch he saw from Wang for a home run. David Ortiz made his return to the Red Sox a good one as he also blasted a 2-run homer off of Wang. Ivan Ochoa, who filled in for Lugo, also had 2 hits and 2 RBIs.
Tim Wakefield started last night and caught his first game with George Kottaras behind the dish. Wake went 2 1/3 innings and allowed 4 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks while striking out 3. The big thing though is that Wake said he felt comfortable with Kottaras behind the plate. This could mean that the battle for the backup catchers spot is still open.
Jonathan Papelbon worked a perfect inning and Takashi Saito gave up a hit while striking out 2 in his inning of work. Daniel Bard continues to impress Terry Francona and the Red Sox as he was lighting up the radar gun again last night in a perfect inning of work with a strikeout. Junichi Tazawa went 2 innings, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out 2.
Today, the Red Sox headed across the state to take on the Orioles in Ft. Lauderdale and came away with a 9-8 loss. Adam Mills took the start for Jon Lester who stayed behind in Ft. Myers to pitch in an intrasquad game and then take his physical for his new contract to be announced tomorrow. Mills worked 3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits with 2 strikeouts. Every Red Sox pitcher who worked today gave up at least 1 run.
Rocco Baldelli had a good afternoon at the plate going 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs. Josh Bard and Josh Reddick also both had 2 hits and an RBI while Angel Chavez added 2 hits as well. Lowrie ended up going 1-for-2 with an RBI and was walked twice.
The other big news that came out today was the strained oblique muscle suffered by Dustin Pedroia during a workout at the WBC yesterday. He’s on his way back to Ft. Myers to be examined by the Red Sox team doctors and was replaced by Brian Roberts of the Orioles.
Red Sox links after the jump
Lowell passes first test [Full Count]
Mike Lowell gets hip with it [Boston Herald]
Penny gets in his grunt work [Boston Globe]
Lowell handles return to third [Boston Globe]
Wakefield all over the zone, but happy with Kottaras [Projo Sox Blog]
Not looking up for Lugo [Full Count]
Lugo may have torn meniscus [Extra Bases]
Lester throws in minor league game, announcement tomorrow [Projo Sox Blog]
Francona: Baldelli’s lived up to all expectations . . . and then some [Providence Journal]
Sox pass on Bonds [Extra Bases]
Lowrie ready for full-time shortstop role [redsox.com]
Quotes from Pedroia [Full Count]
Lugo fighting for starting job [ESPN.com]
Sox Nation needs to let it go [mlb.com]
Spring training: Ortiz returns; Four Red Sox players vie for final roster spot [Naples Daily News]
