The Boston Red Sox are heading into the 2010 MLB All-Star break on a positive note after getting a 3-2 win yesterday afternoon over the Toronto Blue Jays behind a strong effort on the mound by Daisuke Matsuzaka and home runs from Darnell McDonald and David Ortiz.
It was a much needed win for the Red Sox as it allowed them to keep pace with the two teams they are chasing in the standings. The Red Sox enter the break trailing the New York Yankees by five games for first place in the AL East and are three games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for second place and in the AL wild card.
Ironically enough, the Red Sox have the fourth most wins in MLB this season but are in third place in their own division. This just tells you how tough the AL East is and will be for the rest of the season. It really could come down to who makes the best moves during the upcoming trade deadline frenzy.
The break couldn’t have come soon enough for the Red Sox either. With a good portion of the team on the disabled list and a few others battling nagging injuries, the All-Star break will give the team time to heal.
Surprisingly yesterday, the good Dice-K showed up. He attacked the strike zone and commanded the ball well with all of his pitches. Now if he just do this consistently, it could really help the Red Sox in the second half.
The good news for Red Sox fans is that Josh Beckett should be back soon. He made the first of two rehab starts yesterday for the Pawtucket Red Sox and looked good on the mound.
Beckett threw mostly fastballs in his 68 pitch, four inning effort. He retired 12 of the 14 batters he faced and allowed just two hits and one run while striking out four.
With the Red Sox off for the break, we’ll be sure to keep you updated on any news that comes about but for now enjoy the overnight links after the jump.
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All-Star Futures Notebook: Casey Kelly’s year of development [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
He was in control and in command [Boston Globe]
It strains the imagination: Now Beltre hurt [Boston Globe]
Beckett displays good form in rehab outing [Boston Globe]
Futures scouts are peer group [Boston Globe]
Light at end of tunnel for Sox [Boston Globe]
Recap: Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 2 [Boston Herald]
Sox miracle in bandages [Boston Herald]
Adrian Beltre limps into break [Boston Herald]
First half highs and lows [Boston Herald]
Josh Beckett quietly does job [Boston Herald]
Darnell McDonald super sizes effort [Boston Herald]
Black & blue crew [Boston Herald]
Sox end first half with solid win over Jays, 3-2 [CSN New England]
Lowrie headed to Pawtucket [ESPN Boston]
Francona: ‘I don’t remember doing it’ [ESPN Boston]
Beltre: ‘I won’t risk anything’ [ESPN Boston]
Roof, shadows cause difficulties [ESPN Boston]
McDonald continues to serve [ESPN Boston]
Red Sox: 88 down, 74 to go [Extra Bases]
McDonald’s heroics not done [Full Count]
Sox pitching prospect Pimentel gets a taste of Futures [Full Count]
Jays make three relievers available [Full Count]
Wagner ready to catch on in 2nd half [Full Count]
Ortiz to hit 6th in Home Run Derby [Full Count]
Adrian Beltre’s Strained Hamstring Shouldn’t Keep Him Down Too Long [Heidi Watney – NESN.com]
WAR, What Is It Good For? Picking All-Stars [Joe Posnanski – SI.com]
Ryan Kalish Scorches Triple-A, Kolbrin Vitek Debuts on Red Sox Prospects Rankings [NESN.com]
First-Rounder Kolbrin Vitek Impressing Lowell After Moving to Third [NESN.com]
Red Sox Draft Pick Anthony Ranaudo Excelling in Cape League [NESN.com]
Adrian Beltre Can’t Escape Injury Problems Before All-Star Break [NESN.com]
Red Sox End First Half on Positive Note, Optimistic About Second Half [NESN.com]
Can the Red Sox Reach 100 Wins This Season? [NESN.com]
Pawtucket Pitchers Happy to Watch and Learn from Visiting Josh Beckett [NESN.com]
Josh Beckett’s Rehab Start Highlights Strong PawSox Pitching Performance [NESN.com]
David Ortiz, Miguel Cabrera, Matt Holliday Bring Experience to Home Run Derby [NESN.com]
McDonald, Ortiz provide just enough offense [Providence Journal]
Beckett lets his pitching do the talking in Pawtucket [Providence Journal]
For most, All-Star break a chance to exhale [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: Strain might derail Beltre’s All-Star appearance [Providence Journal]
Red Sox tab Wake to open second half [RedSox.com]
Francona pleased with club’s first half [RedSox.com]
Sox continue to struggle in day games [RedSox.com]
Cameron sits day after hit-by-pitch [RedSox.com]
Beltre exits, expects to play in All-Star Game [RedSox.com]
Papi, McDonald power Red Sox past Jays [RedSox.com]
Beckett sharp in first Triple-A rehab start [RedSox.com]
For Red Sox, first half a matter of rights and wrongs [Tony Massarotti – Boston Globe]
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal and WEEI websites.
And if you must read the enemy papers, head over to The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star and Toronto Sun websites.
Photo credit: Getty Images
