Editor’s note: I’m an idiot and forgot to publish this in the morning. I had it all typed and ready to go. Instead of changing it to published, I hit the save button. So my sincere apologies for this coming wicked late.
Wow!!! Where the heck was that offensive explosion this past weekend in Baltimore?
The hits just kept coming and coming last night for the Boston Red Sox and the by-product of that was seventeen runs. And after hitting four home runs on Sunday in Baltimore, the Red Sox added another four to that total last night. And people were worried about the offense.
The offensive explosion by the Red Sox last night couldn’t have come at a better time after the weekend they had in Baltimore. Things weren’t looking good for them especially with the upcoming schedule. But with an Angels team that was going through the same kind of season as the Red Sox, something really had to give last night and it did.
Angels starter Joe Saunders has had command issues all season long and it showed last night. Given his career numbers at Fenway Park, one might have thought he would have turned it around. Instead it was the Red Sox who turned things around.
Mike Lowell had a rough go of things in Baltimore but went 4-for-4 last night while J.D. Drew, who got off to a slow start, added four hits as well. In fact, every member of the starting nine had at least one hit with Marco Scutaro and Dustin Pedroia the only ones without multiple hits.
Clay Buchholz has been the most consistent and probably the best starter the Red Sox have had all season long. Last night he gave them what I like to call a serviceable outing. He wasn’t great but he wasn’t bad. The one thing I liked from him last night was that when he got into trouble on the mound, he remained poised.
As Buchholz goes through the growing pains of becoming a big league starter, he’s matured more as time goes on. This can only bode well for him and the Red Sox as the season goes forward.
Now does anyone know why we didn’t give Alan Embree a chance especially after watching Scott Schoeneweis suck up the joint in the 9th last night. Schoeneweis was tagged for four runs in the 9th but thankfully the game was well out of hand at that point. Both Embree and Schoeneweis are the same type of pitcher but the Red Sox never gave Embree a chance after calling him up.
I wonder if the Red Sox are regretting that decision after last night’s outing by Schoeneweis.
You also have to be happy that Victor Martinez threw out another basestealer last night. After watching teams runs rampant on the Red Sox, VMart and Jason Varitek have thrown out the last six runners attempting to steal on them. This could be key as the Red Sox face running teams and could change their game plans if both of them can keep up that pace.
We’ll be back later with the lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and afternoon links but for now enjoy the overnight links.
Things We Learned: Red Sox’ heart of the order has a pulse [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Red Sox’ lineup proves capable of making some noise [Boston Globe]
Francona quick to help [Boston Globe]
Roberts won’t run from this [Boston Globe]
Sox Recap: Red Sox rout Angels [Boston Herald]
Bad press for Victor Martinez [Boston Herald]
Red Sox soak up success [Boston Herald]
Red Sox ’04 postseason hero fighting cancer [Boston Herald]
Water woes cut sports teams’ drinks lineup [Boston Herald]
Lowell unlikely to play tonight [Clubhouse Insider]
Red Sox explode for 17 in win over Angels [CSN New England]
Quick hits: Sox 17, Angels 8 [ESPN Boston]
Video: Something to build on for Red Sox? [ESPN Boston]
Lowell: ‘Hits seem like the ultimate cure’ [ESPN Boston]
Closing Time: Red Sox 17, Angels 8 [Full Count]
Pedroia addresses the fans of New England … sort of [Full Count]
Lowell: ‘I understand the situation’ [Full Count]
Building Block [Hit and Run with Dan Roche]
Hot Dogs Keeping Antsy Red Sox Fans Satisfied at Fenway [NESN.com]
After Long Wait, Red Sox Finally Find Groove in Rout of Angels [NESN.com]
Will Theo Epstein’s Words Give Red Sox Motivation? [NESN.com]
Red Sox Understand Value of Patient Approach at Plate Includes Taking Walks [NESN.com]
Despite four-hit night, Lowell may go to bench again [Projo Sox Blog]
Bats bust out at last [Providence Journal]
Former Red Sox hero Dave Roberts has lymphoma [Providence Journal]
Prize prospect Kelly thrives in the limelight [Providence Journal]
Red Sox journal: Youkilis, Hermida return [Providence Journal]
Francona: Red Sox might be pressing [RedSox.com]
Cameron turning a corner [RedSox.com]
Youkilis returns, homers in first at-bat [RedSox.com]
Lowell trying to make decisions tough [RedSox.com]
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 paper, head over to the LA Times, LA Daily News and Orange County Register websites.
