Author Archives: ianbethune

Video: Middlebrooks’ RBI Single Gets Red Sox to .500

We aren’t used to the Boston Red Sox not playing winning baseball. They spoiled us last year after the unnamed manager debacle of 2012. And much like the weather, the local nine started off cold.

But as the warmer temperatures start to move into the New England region, the Red Sox are starting to warm up on the field.

Needing a sweep of their interleague series with the Cincinnati Reds to get to .500, the Red Sox achieved that mark on Wednesday night when Will Middlebrooks singled in Jonny Gomes with the eventual winning run in a 4-3 win at Fenway Park.

Koji Uehara finished it off by striking out the side for his eighth save of 2014. Craig Breslow picked up the win. Jake Peavy started this one for the home team and allowed three runs on four hits and three walks in six innings of work.

Shane Victorino, David Ortiz and A.J. Pierzynski all had two hits for the Red Sox. Ortiz and Pierzynski added RBIs as well. Mike Napoli had the other RBI on a double.

The Sox are off today as they travel to Texas for a weekend set with the Rangers.

PC/ MOBILE/TABLET LINK (full game recap)

For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.

And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the Cincinnati Enquirer and Journal News websites.

photo credit: getty images

Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 5/7/14

After winning last night, the Boston Red Sox look to get to .500 on the season tonight against the Cincinnati Reds in the finale of two-game interleague set at Fenway Park.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. The game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Reds’ television market, you can catch the game on Fox Sports Ohio. And if you can’t catch the game on television, you can always listen on the 2014 Red Sox Radio Network.

Jake Peavy gets the ball for the Red Sox in his seventh start of 2014. In his previous six starts, Peavy is 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA. He last faced the Reds in 2009 as a member of the San Diego Padres when he picked up a complete game win after allowing just one run. He’s made 10 career starts against the Red Stockings and is 6-0 with a 2.14 ERA.

Mike Leake makes his seventh start of 2014. In his previous six stars, Leake is 2-3 with a 3.53 ERA. Tonight marks his first career start against the Red Sox and at the Fens.

15-17		16-17
1. Skip Schumaker	CF	1. Dustin Pedroia	2B
2. Joey Votto	1B	2. Shane Victorino	RF
3. Brandon Phillips	2B	3. David Ortiz	DH
4. Todd Frazier	3B	4. Mike Napoli	1B
5. Brayan Pena	C	5. Grady Sizemore	LF
6. Ryan Ludwick	DH	6. A.J. Pierzynski	C
7. Roger Bernadina	RF	7. Jackie Bradley, Jr.	CF
8. Chris Heisey	LF	8. Will Middlebrooks	3B
9. Zack Cozart	SS	9. Jonathan Herrera	SS
Mike Leake	SP	Jake Peavy	SP

NOTES:

Here is how the hitters have fared against the starting pitchers during the regular season over their careers.

More links (bolded) will be added if/when they become available so please check back often.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

Xander Bogaerts’ learning curve extends to hitting with runners on base [clubhouse insider]

Sizemore’s walkoff another giant step in comeback [csn new england]

After a rough night, Bogaerts sits [espn boston]

Sox face Reds, take aim at .500 [espn boston]

Grady Sizemore’s Walk-Off Hit Was a Long Time in the Making [extra bases]

Red Sox Minor League Notebook: Matt Barnes Finding His Groove [extra bases]

Reds P Homer Bailey, once a franchise savior, now a $105 million man [full count]

John Farrell on D&H: ‘We just have to stay the course’ [full count]

Xander Bogaerts’ struggles with RISP derive from expanding the strike zone [providence journal]

Andrew Miller emerging as reliable late-inning arm [providence journal]

With no need for DL, Edward Mujica is available out of the bullpen [providence journal]

Red Sox, Reds to close out brief two-game series [red sox]

Pipeline Perspectives: Betts off to Minors’ best start [red sox]

For Grady Sizemore, a walk-off reminder of what could have been and what could be [alex speier – weei]

photo credits: getty images, getty images

Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 5/7/14

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Football links

UConn, Indiana To Play Football Series [sox & dawgs]

Some Huskies With Long-shot Chances At Going Pro [hartford courant]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Today at 1:30 PM – UConn Coaches To Participate In Leadership Panel At Pentagon [sox & dawgs]

UConn Website Says Tuck Granted Her Medical Redshirt [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Old Friends Together Again: Stefanie Dolson and Bria Hartley [wnba]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Today at 1:30 PM – UConn Coaches To Participate In Leadership Panel At Pentagon [sox & dawgs]

Ollie Sends Reassuring Tweet To UConn Fans, But No Update [hartford courant]

Effort pays off for Kevin Ollie [espn]

Destination Red Sox Nation – 5/7/14

Destination Red Sox Nation is our look at how the minor league teams of the Boston Red Sox fare each night. Game story and box score links as well as links to team rosters, team stats and league standings can be found below.

If you would like to listen to any of the Red Sox minor league affiliates’ games, MiLB.com offers them for free.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

Pawtucket Red Sox

The Toledo Mud Hens got two late runs to secure a 4-1 win over the PawSox.

PawSox Fall Short in 4-1 Loss [pawsox]

Wilson’s been thumbs-up in PawSox’s bullpen [pawtucket times]

Barnes gets little support [providence journal]

Toledo Mud Hens @ Pawtucket Red Sox 5/6/14 box score [milb]

Pawtucket Red Sox 2014 Roster

Pawtucket Red Sox 2014 stats

International League 2014 Standings

Pawtucket Red Sox website

Portland Sea Dogs:

The Sea Dogs shut out the Reading Fightin Phils 4-0.

Sea Dogs blank the Fightins 4-0 [portland sea dogs]

Sea Dogs get their second straight win at Reading [portland press herald]

Betts Named Eastern League Player of the Month [portland sea dogs]

Sea Dogs logging serious miles for Tourette’s [portland sea dogs]

Capacity Field Expected for Mother’s Day 5K [portland sea dogs]

Portland Sea Dogs @ Reading Fightin Phils 5/6/14 box score [milb]

Portland Sea Dogs 2014 Roster

Portland Sea Dogs 2014 stats

Eastern League 2014 Standings

Portland Sea Dogs website

Salem Red Sox:

The Wilmington Blue Rocks got four in the 9th to beat Salem 6-3.

Dozier Slams Rocks Past Sox 6-3 [salem red sox]

Grand slam lifts Wilmington over Salem Red Sox [roanoke times]

Wilmington Blue Rocks @ Salem Red Sox 5/6/14 box score [milb]

Salem Red Sox 2014 Roster

Salem Red Sox 2014 stats

Carolina League 2014 standings

Salem Red Sox official blog

Salem Red Sox website

Greenville Drive:

The Drive were off on Tuesday.

Greenville Drive notes: Cody Kukuk promoted, Safe Kids, Mother’s Day, etc. [spartanburg herald-journal]

Greenville Drive 2014 Roster

Greenvillle Drive 2014 stats

South Atlantic League 2014 Standings

Greenville Drive website

Lowell Spinners:

The Lowell Spinners 2014 season kicks off on Friday, June 13 when they’ll host the Vermont Lake Monsters.

Final Lowell Spinners 2013 Roster

Final Lowell Spinners 2013 stats

Final NY-Penn League 2013 Standings

Lowell Spinners Blog

Lowell Spinners website

Gulf Coast League Red Sox

The GCL Red Sox kick off their 2014 season on Friday June 20 when they’ll host the GCL Twins.

Final GCL Red Sox 2013 Roster

Final GCL Red Sox 2013 stats

Final Gulf Coast League 2013 Standings

Gulf Coast Red Sox website

Video: Sizemore Gives Red Sox 4-3 Walk-Off Win Over Reds

There was no Carlton Fisk home run nor was there a Joe Morgan World Series winning single. While the memories of the 1975 World Series were there between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox, it was a different kind of feeling at Fenway Park on Tuesday night. It was the feeling of triumph this time for the home team when Grady Sizemore singled in David Ortiz to give the Red Sox a 4-3 walk-off win over the Reds. Sizemore’s walk-off single was his third hit of the night and second RBI. Dustin Pedroia also had three hits while Mike Napoli had the other two Red Sox RBIs with a single and bases loaded walk. Felix Doubront started this one and didn’t pitch all that badly allowing just one run on five hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. His only problem was the high pitch count that saw him exit the game earlier than he would have liked. This seems to be one of his consistent issues. Burke Badenhop did his job to get it to the Japanese combo at the end of the game in Junichi Tazawa and Koji Uehara. Unfortunately, Tazawa had an off night and gave up two runs. But the rest of the bullpen picked him up Andrew Miller striking out four over two innings and Craig Breslow picking up the win. PC/ MOBILE/TABLET LINK (full game recap) For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites. And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the Cincinnati Enquirer and Journal News websites. photo credit: getty images

UConn, Indiana To Play Football Series

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut football team will play a home-and-home series against Indiana University during the 2019 and 2020 season. The Huskies will travel to Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on September 21, 2019 while the Hoosiers will visit Rentschler Field on September 26, 2020.

Indiana will be the second team the Huskies play from the Big Ten Conference during those seasons as UConn plays home against Illinois in 2019 and returns the game in 2020.

UConn and Indiana have met two previous times in the sport of football as the Huskies defeated the Hoosiers by a 34-10 score on August 30, 2003 in the Dedication Game of Rentschler Field. UConn then won by a 14-7 score on September 23, 2006 in Bloomington.

The following is a summary of all future non-conference UConn football games under contract.

2014: August 28, BYU; September 6, Stony Brook; September 13, Boise State; November 8, Army (Yankee Stadium).

2015: September 5, Villanova; September 12, Army; October 31, at BYU.

2016: September 17, Virginia.

2017: September 16, at Virginia.

2018: September 8, at Boise State.

2019: September 7, Illinois; September 21, at Indiana.

2020: September 12, at Illinois; September 26, Indiana.

UConn and Tennessee have a two-game home-and-home series under contract with dates to be determined.

Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 5/6/14

After enjoying a day off on Monday, the Boston Red Sox will take on the Cincinnati Reds tonight in the first game of two-game interleague set at Fenway Park.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. The game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Reds’ television market, you can catch the game on Fox Sports Ohio. For those of you who don’t live in either market you’re in luck as the MLB Network will have coverage of the game as well. And if you can’t catch the game on television, you can always listen on the 2014 Red Sox Radio Network.

Felix Doubront steps to the home mound for the fifth time in his seventh start of 2014. In his previous six starts, Doubront is 1-3 with a 5.70 ERA. He has never faced the Reds in his career.

Homer Bailey makes his seventh start of the season for the visitors. In his previous six starts, Bailey is 2-4 with a 5.50 ERA. He took the loss in the lone start of his career against the Red Sox after allowing five earned runs in 2.1 innings back on June 15, 2008. Tonight marks his first start at the Fens.

15-16		15-17
1. Chris Heisey	RF	1. Dustin Pedroia	2B
2. Joey Votto	1B	2. Shane Victorino	RF
3. Brandon Phillips	2B	3. David Ortiz	DH
4. Todd Frazier	3B	4. Mike Napoli	1B
5. Ryan Ludwick	LF	5. Grady Sizemore	LF
6. Skip Schumaker	CF	6. Xander Bogaerts	SS
7. Zack Cozart	SS	7. A.J. Pierzynski	C
8. Neftali Soto	DH	8. Will Middlebrooks	3B
9. Tucker Barnhart	C	9. Jackie Bradley, Jr.	CF
Homer Bailey	SP	Felix Doubront	SP

NOTES:

Here is how the hitters have fared against the starting pitchers during the regular season over their careers.

More links (bolded) will be added if/when they become available so please check back often.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

Futures at Fenway and “Field of Dreams” on Sunday, July 13 [sox & dawgs]

Mariano Rivera: ‘I’d have a hard time taking anybody over Dustin Pedroia as my second baseman’ [clubhouse insider]

Farrell: Koji Uehara ‘confident he’ll get back to a level similar’ to last year [clubhouse insider]

Xander Bogaerts: Boston’s future, Aruba’s everything [csn new england]

Xander Bogaerts: Boston’s future, Aruba’s everything (Part 2) [csn new england]

Minihane: Red Sox ‘not a playoff team’ [csn new england]

Notes: Mujica passing tests to avoid DL [csn new england]

Red Sox wary of Hamilton’s speed [csn new england]

Farrell: ‘Game is intended’ to manufacture runs [csn new england]

What you need to know about Reds [espn boston]

Farrell on Rivera: ‘Incredible compliment’ [espn boston]

Quick hits: Sox offense, Koji, Mujica [espn boston]

Rivera wrong on Cano vs. Pedroia [espn new york]

Nine to Know: Red Sox vs. Reds [extra bases]

Red Sox-Reds series preview [full count]

Edward Mujica avoids disabled list [full count]

Red Sox pregame notes: Bunting back in vogue?; Koji Uehara’s struggles; no rotation shuffling [full count]

How Cincinnati instilled roots of leadership in Jonny Gomes [mike petraglia – weei]

A Series Matter: Red Sox-Reds and Reliving History [providence journal]

Red Sox prepare themselves for Billy Hamilton on the bases [providence journal]

Boston confident in Koji Uehara; Edward Mujica should avoid DL [providence journal]

Red Sox rotation will stay on turn despite off-days [providence journal]

Boston not shying away from small ball [providence journal]

Doubront aiming to defuse Reds’ offense [red sox]

Red Sox eager to improve in game of RISP [red sox]

One pick away from Sonny Gray: How close did Red Sox come to drafting pitcher? [alex speier – weei]

Nine Innings: Turning Points Aren’t Necessary for Red Sox to Head in Right Direction [touching all the bases]

photo credits: getty images, getty images

Patriots sign DE Will Smith

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots announced that they have signed DE Will Smith. Terms of the contract were not announced.

Smith, 32, is a veteran of 10 NFL seasons with the New Orleans Saints (2004-13) after joining the team as a first round draft pick (18th overall) out of Ohio State in 2004. The 6-foot-3, 282-pounder was released by the Saints on Feb. 12, 2014.

Smith has played in 139 NFL games with 120 starts and has accumulated 457 total tackles, 67 1/2 sacks, 25 passes defensed, two interceptions, 20 forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries. He has started in eight postseason games and added 22 total tackles, one interception and one forced fumble. Smith was named to the Pro Bowl in 2006 after finishing with a career-high 10 ½ sacks.

Smith spent the entire 2013 season on injured reserve with a knee injury suffered during training camp.

photo credit: getty images