By the looks of the above picture, you would think Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia was pissed about the game on Friday night being suspended. Instead he was just reacting after being called out at first base on a close play in the 5th inning.
That’s right folks, the game against the Tampa Bay Rays was suspended with the score tied 1-1 and the Red Sox coming to bat in the bottom of the 9th. The game will be resumed on Saturday night at 7:10 p.m. with the regularly scheduled game starting 30 minutes after the completion of the suspended one.
It feels weird to be talking about a game that hasn’t ended yet but we must move forward as much as we can.
Josh Beckett started this one for the Red Sox and was stellar on the mound. He had a great command of all his pitches and his offspeed stuff was nasty. Ironically enough, this was Beckett’s second straight start with Jason Varitek at catcher and his second good start in a row.
Given the fact that Tek hit a solo home run at the plate, you have to wonder if this combo will work together for the season. It makes sense as there is just no way Victor Martinez can catch every day. You can still work VMart into the lineup though when Tek’s in there.
With David Ortiz continuing to struggle (he has a double so far in the game), you can always put VMart at DH. Or if Adrian Beltre needs a day off, you move Youk to third and have VMart play first.
With the way Beckett was dominating, he probably should have won this game. But an error by Marco Scutaro and a miscue by Beltre led to the Rays only run.
After Beckett retired the first two batters of the third, Carl Crawford reached on the error by Scutaro. Crawford then stole second base and came home an infield single by Ben Zobrist that Beltre apparently lost in the lights. It went off his glove and carromed into short center.
Tek’s home run tied it up in the 5th and the Red Sox had a chance to take the lead in the 6th but Kevin Youkilis was gunned down at home on a Big Papi double. Since there were no outs, it probably would have been wise of third base coach Tim Bogar to hold Youk up but given the circumstances, he tried to score him knowing it would take a perfect relay throw to get him.
Unfortunately it didn’t work out for the Red Sox.
We’ll be back later with the lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day but keep reading for today’s links.
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No major injury for Bonser [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Five Things We (Unofficially) Learned: Beckett remains at home [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Suspension called as Sox, Rays can’t weather storm [Boston Globe]
Kidney stone is the culprit [Boston Globe]
Tagged with first bad decision [Boston Globe]
Waiting game [Boston Globe]
Josh Beckett super in soaker [Boston Herald]
Tim Bogar gets called out [Boston Herald]
Terry Francona on Jason Varitek: It’s personnel, not personal [Boston Herald]
Painful pass scratches Mike Cameron [Boston Herald]
Quick hits: 1-1, to be continued [ESPN Boston]
Francona: ‘Weird’ to be tied [ESPN Boston]
Gammons on Big Show: Sox might need changes behind the plate [Full Count]
(Not Quite) Closing Time: Red Sox 1, Rays 1 [Full Count]
Bogar: Few regrets in sending Youkilis [Full Count]
Is Clay Buchholz Ready for a Breakout Season? [NESN.com]
Beckett shines as Sox and Rays knotted at 1; game resumes Saturday [Providence Journal]
Sox take a gamble and play Hall in center [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: Dice-K bound for Boston after one more PawSox start [Providence Journal]
Dice-K to make final rehab start [RedSox.com]
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal and WEEI websites.
And if you must see what the enemy papers are saying, head over to the Tampa Tribune and St. Petersburg Times websites.
4-5
STORRS, Conn. – Maya Moore has won the 2010 Honda Sports Award in basketball, designating her as the nation’s top collegiate female athlete in that sport.