Last night was one of those would of, could of, should have won games for the Boston Red Sox against the Los Angeles Angels at Fenway Park.
After falling behind on a Howie Kendrick home run in the third inning, Jacoby Ellsbury got the Red Sox on the board with a solo home run in the fourth to break up Ervin Santana’s perfect game. A few batters later, Jason Bay brought in Victor Martinez with a 2-run blast.
The Angels would get the run back in the top half of the fifth and with the way Beckett was pitching though, you thought the lead might be safe. Well guess what, when your catcher can’t block a pitch for the second night in a row, bad things can happen.
And they did.
Beckett had gotten the first two outs in the inning and then gave up a single to Kendrick. Macier Izturis hit a pinch-hit ground rule double to put runners on 2nd and 3rd. Beckett had two strikes on Chone Figgins when Jason Varitek came to the mound to discuss the pitch.
What Jason Varitek should be wearing behind the plate. Goalie pads.
Even though he knew what was coming, Varitek didn’t do a good enough job to get down and block the ball as Figgins swung and missed. The ball went through the wickets of Varitek and he stumbled to get the ball as the tying run would score.
The Angels would get their revenge from Wednesday night to win the game in the 9th on a bloop single just over the outstretched glove of Dustin Pedroia.
Beckett has definitely turned the corner now after struggling while being under the weather. Although he didn’t get the win, he showed that the Red Sox top three of himself, Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz will be a formidable rotation to face in the playoffs.
Speaking of playoffs, the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers were both idle last night. This means the Red Sox fall to seven games behind the Yankees in the AL East standings. The Red Sox lead in the wild card is at six games over the Rangers.
As for the site today, I will not be around so there won’t be an afternoon lineup post.
Hitting the road with something to prove [Amy K. Nelson – ESPN Boston]
Red Sox still petitioning to start 2010 on road [WEEI.com]
Visitors’ Hour [Boston Globe]
Roster business is just too much [Boston Globe]
Hometown calls a subject for debate [Boston Globe]
Dialed in elsewhere [Boston Globe]
Red Sox need to ramp it up on the road [RedSox.com]
Huge Win [Hit and Run with Dan Roche]
Los Angeles goes small to snap Boston’s seven-game winning streak [Providence Journal]
Wednesday wasn’t a perfect night at the ballpark, for the teams or the umpires [Providence Journal]
Red Sox journal: Youkilis misses another game, but says he’ll return to the lineup Friday [Providence Journal]
Umpires complain of verbal abuse by Angels [Providence Journal]
Postgame tidbits: Beckett continues his resurgence [Providence Journal]
Five Things We Learned Thursday Night: Sox Can Coast Into Playoffs [Joe Haggerty – WEEI.com]
Red Sox Can’t Come Back This Time, Lose To Angels, 4-3 [Hartford Courant]
Angels end Red Sox streak [Boston Herald]
Umpires file complaint against Angels coaches [Boston Herald]
Angels have no chance? You’re nuts [Boston Herald]
Mike Scioscia, umps differ on views [Boston Herald]
Billy Wagner talks the walk [Boston Herald]
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 LA Times, Orange County Register and LA Daily News websites.
