Thursday night was very kind to the Boston Red Sox. Before the game, they found Hideki Okajima would be their 6th representative at the All-Star Game. Then after that, they went out and took care against the Devil Rays, pounding out 21 hits and 15 runs enroute to a 3-game sweep. The win kept the Devil Rays slide going as they have now lost 11 straight games. It seemed like everyone hit the ball. Most of the starters did, well everyone except Eric Hinske. Even Jacoby Ellsbury had 2 hits off the bench.
The only bad news of the night came for Ellsbury when he found out after the game that he was being sent back down to Pawtucket. In his 6 game stint with the big club, he was 6 for 16 (.375 avg), 2 RBI, 3 walks and had 1 stolen base. Folks, this isn’t a bad thing that he was sent down as he proved he can play in the big leagues. He was sent down to further his development. It makes no sense to keep him in Boston if he’s going to be sitting on the bench. This kid needs to play and the only way to do that right now is to be in Pawtucket. He will be playing in the Futures Game on Sunday along with the top pitching prospect, Clay Buchholz.
With all that being said, let’s see what the mainstream media in the Boston and Tampa Bay area have to say about last night’s game and happenings.
Beckett Makes All-Star Case. [Hartford Courant]
Bad 1st makes 11th the worst. [St. Petersburg Times]
Belated fireworks: Sox bats Explode vs. Rays. [Boston Herald]
Rays Beaten Badly In Boston. [Tampa Tribune]
Fireworks continue. [Boston Globe]
Friedman places blame on entire organization. [St. Petersburg Times]
Maybe it’s time for the Red Sox to make Lowell a high priority. [Providence Journal]
Shields Gaining Confidence In Repertoire. [Tampa Tribune]
After Game, A Down Note For Ellsbury. [Hartford Courant]
A sixth All-Star? Oka-Doke. [Boston Herald]
Crisp’s plate was full. [Boston Globe]
Crisp straightens up and becomes big hit. [Pro Jo]
Beckett deal a winner: Early signing pays off. [Boston Herald]
Ellsbury back to Pawtucket. [Boston Globe]
For more headlines and stories, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant, Providence Journal, St. Petersburg Times and Tampa Tribune websites.
