The Red Sox ran into a lefty last night that had their number in the way of 10 strikeouts. Scott Kazmir and Curt Schilling got into a good ol’ fashioned pitcher’s duel and it was the D’Rays who got the better end of the deal. Don’t get me wrong, Schilling didn’t pitch bad and he looks ready for the stretch run here and the postseason. Big Papi got the night off to rest his achy knee, Manny was back in the dugout but still not ready to play, and J.D. Drew got the night off. Tim Wakefield will get the special knuckleball tonight for the Sox but before he does, let’s take a look at the headlines and happenings from the Boston and Tampa area on this rainy morning along the shores of Long Island Sound.

Outpitched, but some great news anyway. [38 Pitches]

All for naught [Boston Globe]

Kazmir Shuts Down Boston [Tampa Tribune]

Sox dislike feel of Kazmir [Boston Herald]

Maddon gives ace a chance to step up [St. Petersburg Times]

Sox Can’t Touch Kazmir [Hartford Courant]

Schilling shines but Sox foiled [Pro Jo]

Baldelli Expected To Join Team This Week [Tampa Tribune]

With knee aching, Ortiz is given a break [Boston Globe]

Navarro plays through pain [St. Petersburg Times]

No party for Jacoby [Boston Herald]

Henry says report on ’08 Japan series opener are premature [Pro Jo]

Swing music [Boston Herald]

Kazmir was helped by walk [Boston Globe]

MLB Rules. Sorry Joba. [Extra Bases]

For more headlines and stories, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant, Providence Journal, St. Petersburg Times and Tampa Tribune websites.

The holdout of the NFL’s overall number one draft pick is over. The Oakland Raiders and quarterback JaMarcus Russell have agreed on a 6-year $68 million dollar deal which will be signed on Tuesday.

There is $37.5 million guaranteed over four years.

No top overall pick has held out longer than Russell since Bo Jackson declined to sign with Tampa Bay all together in 1986.

Russell, 22, spent three seasons at LSU as the starter throwing for 6625 yards, 52 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. He is expected to be at Raiders practice on Wednesday.

 

First on this day all of our thoughts and prayers are with the survivors and the families who lost loved ones in the tragic, cowardly acts that occurred 6 years ago today.  The images of that day were horrific but it brought a nation together, it made us stronger and it focused our resolve.    

Also I send a special thanks to our troops here and overseas for protecting our freedoms and making our country a great place and to all the emergency workers everywhere who live with this on a daily basis.  You folks are the true American heroes.

Thank you.

I’ll never forget watching former Patriots lineman Joe Andruzzi talk about his two brothers who are FDNY firefighters and how they were in the building but they they were able to get out and were okay.  I’ll never forget watching him on the field with them the following weekend.  I’ll never forget Jack Buck before the Cardinals baseball game in St.Louis.   I’ll never forget the strike that President Bush threw on the mound at Yankee Stadium before the first game of the 2001 World Series.  I’ll never forget Robert Kraft on the podium of the Super Dome covered in red, white and blue confetti saying “Today we are all Patriots”.   I’ll never forget U2 at the Super Bowl half time show with their salute to all those who were lost.  I’ll never forget the men and women of the FDNY who I got to visit shortly after the attacks, some of the firehouses I visited  lost as many as 12 firefighters.  I’ll never forget the people I knew that lost their lives that day trying to save others but most of all I’ll never forget September 11, 2001.

I mentioned in the post game report on the Patriots win over the Jets that there was an illegal touching penalty on the Patriots and that Phil Simms of CBS and the referee Jeff Triplett failed to explain it.  According to Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe, the penalty was called because Willie Andrews at some point on his way downfield went out of bounds and then was the first player to touch the ball when he downed the ball around the 2 yard line. 

The new rule this year states that if the illegal touch occurs within the 5 yard line the ball is brought out to the 20.  In the past it was assessed as a five yard mark off. 

Head coach Bill Belichick’s Monday press conference. 

The grounds crew at Gillette is preparing to lay grass over the field turf for the Brazil-Mexico exhibition soccer match on Wednesday.  It is believed that the real grass will be pulled back up in time for Sunday night’s game with San Diego.  No word on whether Juan Valdez and his donkey were the one’s who trucked in the turf. 

The Patriots signed defensive back Gemera Williams to the practice squad.  Williams, who had been cut by the team on August 18th , showed some promise on kick returns returning two for 64 yards in the preseason game against Tampa Bay.  He was placed on the practice squad after TE Marcellus Rivers were released.  CB Tory James was also released to make roster space for DB Asante Samuel. 

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Please take a moment sometime during the day today to remember the victims and countless heroes of the fateful day known as 9-11-01.

Happy Birthday to all those born on this date. Let our celebration of life be a reminder to those that attempted to break us that we are still standing proudly and believe that America is the best place to live!!

Please don’t forget our troops who are overseas defending our great country and those who gave their lives.

I found this very moving video on YouTube aptly named “9-11 World Trade Center Memorial – Jeff Buckley/Hallelujah”

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tznSfXplNRU]

And even though my mom doesn’t celebrate her birthday anymore on this date, I am still going to wish her a Happy Birthday.

It was a cloudy night at the Fens for the Sox and their offense as they ran into Scott Kazmir. It was actually a pitcher’s duel between Kazmir and Curt Schilling, not something you actually hear when the Devil Rays are involved. Kazmir went 7 innings and struck out 10 batters as the D’Rays scraped together a run off Schilling for a 1-0 win. Kazmir struck out 10 batters and the Sox never got a runner past second base in the game.

The Sox managed two hits in the first three innings while Kazmir struck out four. Schilling was cruising along as well as he only allowed a single to Delmon Young and a walk to Greg Norton in that same time frame.

After both squads managed a hit in the 4th inning, the Devil Rays got to Schilling for the only run of the night in the 5th. Norton led off with a double and went to third base on a Dioner Navarro sacrifice bunt. Norton came around to score on a Josh Wilson sacrifice fly to Bobby Kielty in right. Akinori Iwamura followed that with a single and he went to third on a Carl Crawford single. Schilling escaped any further damage as he got Carlos Peña to strikeout for the second time on the gray evening.

Schilling’s hard luck night ended after he pitched a perfect 6th inning. For the night, Schilling went the 6 innings, allowing 5 hits, the one run, 1 walk and he struck out 5.

The Sox threatened in the 7th in Kazmir’s final inning of work. Kielty led off with a single and then Kazmir got Youk for his 9th strikeout of the evening. Jason Varitek worked a one out walk but Kazmir followed that up with a strikeout of Jacoby Ellsbury, Kazmir’s 10th of the night. Alex Cora ended the inning by grounding into a fielder’s choice.

Bryan Corey worked the 7th for the Sox, allowing just a hit. Javier Lopez struck out the first two batters in the 8th and then Mike Timlin came on and struck out B.J. Upton.

Dan Wheeler worked the 8th inning and Al Reyes threw a 1-2-3 9th inning ending the game with a strikeout of Varitek.

Shockingly enough, the Devil Rays got good pitching tonight. They came into the game having the hottest offense for the past three weeks but they ran into Schilling, who took another tough loss. The Sox give the ball to Tim Wakefield and hope that he can continue his dominance of the Devil Rays.

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Pat Summitt finally has said something about why she ended the series between UCONN and Tennessee in women’s basketball. The problem is that she didn’t say the exact reason why. She did say though that it’s highly unlikely the two teams will play in the regular season while she is coach.

“Tennessee and Connecticut fans, as well as basketball fans across the country, will probably miss the fact we’re not playing because of the length of the rivalry and the … competitiveness,” Summitt said. “But I haven’t had the feeling that the entire nation is going to miss the game.”

“The fact that the television networks would seek our games every year is somewhat unfortunate,” she said. “I do think, in terms of this season, that the game can expand [by showing other games]. I know from our standpoint, we’re playing Oklahoma, which I think would get some good exposure.

“As far as my decision was concerned, I didn’t approach it with the feeling that it was going to hurt women’s basketball. There are a lot of strong teams in the country that feature a lot of great matchups.”

I beg to differ Pat. I think no matter if you were a fan or not, you want to see a UCONN/Tennessee matchup. Think of all the young girls who want to be the next Candace Parker or the next Tina Charles. Unless the two teams meet up in the NCAA tournament (I have a strange feeling that somehow they will be in the same bracket this year), nobody will get to see the two greatest women’s basketball programs square off.

Former players Sue Bird and Kara Lawson, both of whom play in the WNBA, both have similar opinions in that they will both miss the series.

Sue Bird:

“My initial reaction, at least after I said `What?’ to myself, was one of sadness,” said Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird, a former UConn All-American. “I wanted to know what the reason was, why would [Tennessee] want to end such a great rivalry. I know what it was like to play in it. It was fun, it was competitive. It was a game you circled on the schedule when it came out.

“They were great, great games, and now looking back I’d have to say they were also some of my fondest memories. It’s the biggest rivalry of all, the one that put women’s basketball on the map for a lot of people. The telltale sign always for me has been that it didn’t matter whether you were a women’s basketball fan, a men’s basketball fan or just a general sports fan. You always knew when UConn was playing Tennessee. It’s similar to Duke-UNC, the Yankees-Red Sox even. It’s one of the great ones.

“I know college basketball is interested in pumping up [other rivalries], but there is nothing like UConn-Tennessee, and I don’t think there ever will be.”

Kara Lawson:

“As a fan of women’s basketball as much as a Tennessee alum, I’d have to say there is some disappointment in the fact they won’t be playing anymore,” Lawson said. “That was the game you looked forward to watching, and as a player it was the game you looked forward to playing in. Even now, as an analyst for ESPN, I would look forward to it solely to see how the great players would react to it, especially the freshmen on both sides.”

Pat, do the right thing, bring back the series next year. I know Geno won’t mind kicking your ass with Tina Charles, Maya Moore and Elena Delle Donne.

Eric Gagné says he’s ready to return to the Red Sox bullpen.

The Angels hope to get Vlad Guerrero back on Tuesday.

Rookie Hunter Pence is doing it all for the Astros.

Rich Harden threw a simulated game for the A’s on Saturday.

Blue Jays 3B Troy Glaus still has not commented about the SI.com story.

Braves pitcher John Smoltz is adding some new tricks to his bag.

Matt Wise is starting to turn things around with the Brewers.

Cardinals infielder Brian Barden was happy to be back at Chase Field.

Cubs catcher Jason Kendall was happy to be back at PNC Park.

The Devil Rays want B.J. Upton to play shallow in center field.

The Diamondbacks are shaking up their 5th spot in their rotation.

James Loney was surprised to get the start on Saturday for the Dodgers.

The Giants honored their only Cy Young winner, Mike McCormick, before Saturday’s game.

Indians 1B Ryan Garko grew up as an Angels fan.

The Mariners are hoping that Richie Sexson can break out of his season long slump.

Mike Jacobs hopes to finish strong for the Marlins.

Carlos Gomez has a chance to make the Mets postseason roster because of his speed and defense.

Mike Bascik hopes to a part of the Nationals’ future plans.

Orioles skipper Dave Trembley gave Daniel Cabrera a piece of his mind on Saturday.

There’s no timetable as to when Milton Bradley will return to the Padres lineup.

Phillies OF Aaron Rowand says his strained hip is no big deal.

The Pirates are close to naming a new CEO.

C.J. Wilson and Kason Gabbard are both ailing for the Rangers.

Joey Votto is off to a hot start with the Reds.

The Rockies used a MLB record 10 pitchers on Friday night.

Billy Butler is trying to finish with a .300 batting average for the Royals.

The Tigers added some new faces to their clubhouse.

Joe Mauer is planning on playing for the Twins today.

White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf is not happy about his team’s performance this season.

Mike Mussina is having to deal with his uncertain future with the Yankees.

Tyler Lorenzen started off slowly for the UCONN Huskies but rebounded to throw for 186 yards and two touchdowns while running for another as the Huskies defense dominated in a 38-0 win over the Maine Black Bears. Terrence Jeffers was the recipient of Lorenzen’s touchdown passes. The defense held Maine to just 152 total yards of offense and never allowed them in the red zone.

UCONN got on the board just 2 plays into the game for the Maine offense. Maine QB Michael Brusko dropped back to pass and UCONN redshirt freshman linebacker Scott Lutrus picked it off and returned it 21 yards to get UCONN on the board 7-0 after the extra point.

UCONN’s offense struggled a little bit in the first half. Their first offensive drive came to an end at Maine’s 31 when Tony Ciaravino didn’t even come close on a 51-yard field goal attempt. Towards the end of the first quarter, UCONN drove the ball down the field but were stopped at the Maine 7 yard line and had to settle for a Ciaravino chip shot field goal for a 10-0 lead.

Late in the second quarter, the UCONN defense forced a Maine punt in which UCONN got the ball back at their 35. UCONN went into their 2-minute offense and after two incomplete passes, Lorenzen ran it 10 yards for a first down. Lorenzen’s next pass on first down went to tight end Steve Brouse for an 11-yard completion. After a Donald Brown II catch for 8 yards, Lorenzen threw an incomplete pass. The next play was a run by Brown for 13 yards that got the ball down to the Maine 23. Lorenzen hooked up with Jeffers for a 17-yard completion and then a 6-yard touchdown pass for a 17-0 UCONN lead after the extra point.

After UCONN’s and Maine’s first drives of the second half stalled, UCONN got the ball back and went 65 yards on 10 plays that finished up with Lorenzen to Jeffers 2-yard touchdown pass. After another Ciaravino extra point, the Huskies were in total control at 24-0.

The UCONN starters got one more chance to execute on offense towards the end of the third quarter. UCONN went 58 yards in 6 plays as Lorenzen ran the ball in himself. The two big plays of the drive were a Brown 25-yard run and a Lorenzen to D.J. Hernandez 29-yard pass that set up Lorenzen’s TD run.

Dennis Brown and the Huskies’ reserves came on at the end of the third quarter and drove the ball down the field well. Most of the yardage came on the ground from the legs of running back Lou Allen who ran for 42 yards on the drive with the last 31 coming on a touchdown run for a 38-0 Huskies lead.

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….Daniel Cabrera to Carl Everett’s Crazy Hall of Fame.

After last nights display at Camden Yards your induction is so well deserved. It’s too bad one of your innocent teammates will end up paying for your sins on the field.

This is yet another example of a million dollar arm and a 10 cent head. The Orioles really need to work with this kid in the off season to get his head straight.