After getting their butts handed to them on Thursday night by the New York Yankees, it was up to Josh Beckett to help the Boston Red Sox get back to the business of winning baseball games. Beckett did his job but his Florida Marlins buddy A.J. Burnett was equal to the task.
Beckett allowed just 4 hits and 2 walks over 7 innings while Burnett allowed 1 hit and 6 walks over 7 2/3 innings leaving it to the bullpens to get it done. There was some bumps in the roads from the bullpens but ultimately Alex Rodriguez broke through with a 2-run homer in the 15th inning off of Red Sox rookie Junichi Tazawa who was making his big league debut.
You really have to feel for Tazawa as you know this wasn’t the situation that Terry Francona wanted to put him in. But Francona was left with no choice as Tazawa was the only pitcher he had left in the 14th inning.
Tazawa was definitely impressive though despite the situation. Two of the hits he gave up were off the bloop variety and kept his poise. He should definitely have a bright future with the Red Sox and if he continues to impress, he could be here for the long haul.
What’s frustrating is the Red Sox managed just 4 hits all evening. 5 hours and 33 minutes of baseball and the Red Sox had just 4 hits. That’s not going to win ballgames even if Beckett is at his best. Jacoby Ellsbury had two of those four hits and had two stolen bases. The two stolen bases brings him to 50 on the year, matching his career-high and leaves him just 4 short of Tommy Harper’s Red Sox record of 54.
Yes the Red Sox are missing Jason Bay from the lineup right now and given his numbers against the Yankees, it hurts not to have him in. But would you rather have Bay play hurt and further injure himself. He did say he came back too quick when he left the game earlier in the week.
Now the Red Sox will need Clay Buchholz to give them as many innings as he can this afternoon. Let’s hope that he can and that the Red Sox offense helps him out this afternoon. Otherwise, the Red Sox will find themselves 5.5 games behind the Yankees and find the Rays and Rangers even closer in the wild card standings.
Links coming up after a 10-second break on the Red Sox blogging network.
Pushed to the limit [Boston Globe]
Leading with conviction [Boston Globe]
A day to remember for Tazawa [Boston Globe]
After getting clocked, Smoltz’s time has ended [Boston Globe]
Epstein in crisis control [Boston Globe]
Coming out on the short end of a long night [Boston Globe]
City says Red Sox must end open bar [Boston Globe]
New York’s `pen now much mightier [Tony Massarotti]
Sox suffer crushing defeat in epic 15 inning duel, 2-0 [Projo Sox Blog]
A nerve-wracking debut for Tazawa [Projo Sox Blog]
Wakefield shows improvement, could throw simulated game at Fenway Monday [Projo Sox Blog]
Red Sox decide to cut their losses with John Smoltz [Providence Journal]
With Lowrie hurting, Red Sox pick up veteran Woodward [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: Tazawa will begin in bullpen, but is an option to start [Providence Journal]
A-Rod Gives Yanks A Happy Ending To A Boston Marathon [Hartford Courant]
Smoltz Designated For Assignment By Red Sox [Hartford Courant]
Red Sox’ loss extra brutal [Boston Herald]
No offense, bats can’t get it done [Boston Herald]
Rookie Junichi Tazawa makes memorable Red Sox debut [Boston Herald]
John Smoltz set free [Boston Herald]
Junichi Tazawa’s fast track stops in Bronx [Boston Herald]
Fenway Futures take center stage [Boston Herald]
Theo calls on troops to rise to challenge [Boston Herald]
Buchholz fine with being underdog [RedSox.com]
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Providence Journal websites.
And if you must see what the enemy papers are saying you can check out the NY Post, NY Daily News, Newsday and Lo Hud websites.
