Guess who showed up last night at Fenway Park for the Boston Red Sox in their series finale against the New York Yankees? Yes I know former Sox first baseman Kevin Millar was in attendance but that’s not who I am talking about here.
Out of guesses already? Well then it was 2007 Josh Beckett. You know the one who was pretty dominant on the mound. And for good measure, 2007 Jonathan Papelbon decided he’d stop by as well.
The final 4-0 score could have been a lot worse but the Red Sox stranded the population of the Boston metro area on the basepaths against CC Sabathia and the Yankees pitchers. But with the way Beckett was pitching last night, it didn’t really matter one bit.
Beckett was simply outstanding. He had a great velocity and movement on his fastball which translated his 12-6 curveball being nasty. He ended up retiring the last fourteen batters he faced, half of them on strikeouts. Of the 24 outs he got, 10 of them were on strikeouts, 11 of them on ground balls (one double play) and just two fly balls.
This was the Beckett the Red Sox signed to a four-year extension last year. Now Beckett needs to build and maintain the momentum in his next outing.
Papelbon came in and was throwing what I deem PapelGas. He struck out Brett Gardner looking, got Derek Jeter on a weak grounder to second and then finished the night by striking out Mark Teixeira looking. Although it wasn’t a save situation, Papelbon showed he means business this season. Then again, it’s a contract year for Paps so we can probably expect him to be at his best all season.
Dustin Pedroia had a series to remember against the Yankees this weekend. For the third straight game, he had three hits. But the big hit of the night belonged to Marco Scutaro who had a two-run bases loaded double to break open the game in the 7th. Scutaro had been scuffling at the plate and had been given Saturday off. But his return to the lineup brought two hits.
David Ortiz got in on the act as he had two hits, including a 420 foot RBI double to the triangle in the 8th. The scare of the night though came when Adrian Gonzalez was hit in the hand by a Sabathia pitch. Gonzalez stayed in the game but his pinky was swollen after the game. Mike Cameron had a hit and a RBI while Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis, J.D. Drew and Jason Varitek had the other hits for the Red Sox.
Carl Crawford‘s struggles in a Red Sox uniform continued on Sunday night as he went 0-for-5 and is hitting just .132 in nine games. But I can say this. He does look like he’s going to break out of it soon enough as his outs have been hard hit. Unfortunately for him, they’ve been right at people. Hopefully, he can get himself going against his former team, the Tampa Bay Rays, tonight.
I’m off to Fenway Park tonight with my father (thanks to my brother for the tix) but I’ll have the usual pregame post up. It won’t be the same as usual but you’ll be able to find most of the same information that’s always there.
Click on the read more button below for the overnight links if you’re on the home page.
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Best Beckett ever? Why Sunday’s outing may have been pitcher’s best with Red Sox [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Delivery man [Boston Globe]
On this night, he was total package [Boston Globe]
Damon’s got ear to ground [Boston Globe]
Pedroia’s spark has lit a fire [Boston Globe]
Scutaro delivers in the clutch [Boston Globe]
Cano has always been comfortable at Fenway [Boston Globe]
Buchholz is signed to a four-year deal [Boston Globe]
Josh Beckett turns back clock, mows down Bombers [Boston Herald]
Deal worth $29.7M for Clay Buchholz [Boston Herald]
Josh Beckett locked in [Boston Herald]
Little certain about Sox’ pricey pitching [Boston Herald]
Mike Cameron: No reservations about bench role [Boston Herald]
Marco Scutaro scores critical hit [Boston Herald]
Red Sox committed to current rotation [CSNNE.com]
Beckett dominant as Sox beat Yankees, 4-0 [CSNNE.com]
Beckett has the answers for struggling Red Sox [CSNNE.com]
Gonzalez: No X-rays needed on hand [CSNNE.com]
McAdam: Should ‘Tek get personal with Beckett? [CSNNE.com]
Special moment for Johnson’s daughter [ESPN Boston]
Rapid reaction: Red Sox 4, Yankees 0 [ESPN Boston]
ESPN broadcast crew breaks down Beckett [ESPN Boston]
Pedroia: Four games back? ‘It looks doable’ [ESPN Boston]
Video: Kruk takes a seat [ESPN Boston]
Putting Pedroia’s weekend in perspective [ESPN Boston]
Josh Beckett puts stop to negative talk of Boston Red Sox [ESPN Boston]
Johnny Damon: ‘You’re welcome for 2004’ [Extra Bases]
Closing Time: Red Sox 4, Yankees 0 [Full Count]
Dustin Pedroia ‘wills’ Red Sox to important win [Full Count]
Junichi Tazawa starts the road back [Full Count]
Beckett Pitches Red Sox To Series Win Over Yanks [Hartford Courant]
Which ‘Idiot’ From the 2004 Red Sox Was Your Favorite? [NESN.com]
Josh Beckett Gives Red Sox a Major Boost With Dominating Effort Against Yankees [NESN.com]
Nuggetpalooza: Sunday Night Nuggets! [Nuggetpalooza]
Beckett answers the call to duty [Providence Journal]
Red Sox give Buchholz four-year extension [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: Cameron attempting to adapt to new role [Providence Journal]
That’s Why We Call Him Commander Kickass [Surviving Grady]
Dustin Pedroia, Marco Scutaro, ‘Normal’ Routine Can Spark Red Sox Into Hot Streak Starting Monday Against Rays [Tom Caron – NESN.com]
To the end, Manny Ramirez was money [Tony Massarotti – Boston Globe]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSNNE, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the New York Daily News, New York Post, New York Times and The Journal News websites. You can also check out our Bloguin brother, NYY Stadium Insider.
