Gabbard’s Gem, Homers Boost Sox Past Kansas City

Kason Gabbard & Josh Beckett, Texy's BBF's

GabbardThe story of the night was Kason Gabbard. Gabbard threw an absolute gem tonight as he went all 9 innings, allowing just 3 hits in a 4-0 complete game victory over the Kansas City Royals. Gabbard established career highs in strikeouts with 8 and innings pitched with 9 as he threw a complete game shutout. Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia provided all the offense the Sox would need with homeruns.

Kasekase (thanks Texy for the nickname) was perfect through the first three innings. Five of the nine batters he faced were retired via the strikeout, three of the swinging variety and two looking.

Royals starter Brian Bannister was equal to the task as he retired the first eight batters he faced. With two outs in the 3rd inning, Julio Lugo broke up Bannister’s no-hitter with an infield single on a close play at first base. Replays later showed that Tony Pena Jr’s throw actually beat Lugo to the bag. With J.D. Drew at the plate, Lugo was picked off first base by Bannister. Lugo had been leaning towards stealing second but Bannister’s quick throw got him.

Gabbard’s perfect game was lost in the 4th inning as he hit the leadoff batter, David DeJesus with a changeup in the hand. Gabbard than induced a 4-6-3 double play by Mark Grudzielanek. He then got Mark Teahan to ground out to Kevin Youkilis at first base.

The local nine finally got on the scoreboard in the 4th inning. Drew led off with a line drive out to left field. Pedroia then took a high fastball from Bannister planting it in the Green Monster seats for a 1-0 Sox lead. Bannister got Big Papi for the second out of the inning. Manny followed with a monstrous blast to the right of the light bank in left-center above the Green Monster for a 2-0 lead. Youk ended the 4th with a line drive back to Bannister.

Kasekase would lose his no-hitter in the 5th inning and get himself into a little jam. After retiring Billy Butler, Gabbard gave up a single to Emil Brown. He then issued a walk to Esteban German. Gabbard rebounded with a strikeout of Alex Gordon for the second out of the inning. Gabbard then plunked Royals catcher John Buck with a fastball in the ribs to load up the bases. With Pedroia playing towards second base, Pena Jr. hit a slow chopper over the head of Gabbard that he fielded and barely got the speedy Pena Jr. at first to end the Royals’ best chance of the night.

The local nine added two more runs in the 6th inning. Drew struck out to lead off the inning. Pedroia followed with a single to centerfield. Big Papi brought home Pedroia with a two run blast that went around Pesky’s Pole in rightfield, giving the Sox a 4-0 lead. Manny flew out to left and Youk struck out looking ending the 6th inning.

Gabbard worked a perfect 7th inning and allowed only a single to Reggie Sanders in the 8th inning. In the 9th inning, he got DeJesus on a fly ball to center and Grudzielanek swinging for his 7th strikeout of the night. With the sellout crowd of 37,099 at the Fens on their feet, Gabbard got Teahan to strikeout swinging for his 8th strikeout and a complete game shutout win.

With the win, Gabbard moves to 3-0 on the season, with all three wins coming at the Fens. Tim Wakefield takes the hill tomorrow for the Sox as he looks to knuckle over the Royals.

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Observations from the ESPY’s

Only ESPN would invent an award show that’s named after themselves. That’d be like FOX starting the FOXIES and giving out awards to all their shows. I’m becoming less a fan of the WWL these days but there isn’t much else in the way of competition. The only thing that sucks more is “Best Damn Sports Show Period”.

Does any other company have a better tag line than Hummer? Hummer. Like nothing else. Isn’t that the truth, right guys?

Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue was good picking on Peyton Manning, Shaquille O’Neal, Terrell Owens, A-Rod, Barry Bonds and Greg Oden.

LeBron made his entrance carried in by common folk on a king’s chair.

They can show me Maria Sharapova and that leather dress all night long.

More Taryne Mowatt and that blue dress too please.

Devin Hester, who won for Breakthrough Athlete, must have had his hair done by LMonstro.

Josh, or is it Jake (and does it matter really?), Duhamel who presented with Maria Sharapova did this little thing going into a commercial break where he said basically to come back and join him and his mixed doubles partner, then he paused and said, Maria. She then she asked him what’s my last name and hey Josh or Jake got it right. If it were me, I may have been too distracted by the leather dress so I gotta give him props. But it would have been funnier and added a twist of pop culture if she had said “what’s my name bitch? Say my name!”

Yes Danica Patrick in the shower but I don’t think we needed Kimmel’s hairy back, the horse or Jerry Tarkainian.

They had to send Carmen Electra out with Shaun White and Travis Pastrana because unless you’re an extreme sports fan you wouldn’t have any clue who the hell they are.

Ol’ horse face (Peyton Manning) looked a little stunned that he won best championship performance. Don’t worry Peyton you should go back to getting your ass kicked by Bill and the gang this season.

What was with dunking the baby???? Very unfunny.

“Talledega Nights” was funny but best sports movie?? Over “We Are Marshal”l or “Invincible”? Although Will Ferrell’s taped acceptance was probably better than anything Matthew McConaughey would come up with.

Boom Boom Tap baby, Boom Boom Tap. I hope they show it again and again and again.

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Red Sox News & Notes – 7/16

 

It was a crazy day at Fenway Park yesterday with the wind whipping as a rookie got the better of Josh Beckett and the Red Sox. Normally Beckett gets mad crazy run support but yesterday he didn’t get that. It was one bad inning in which Beckett had to throw 20 pitches that did him in. The Sox got a lot of runners on base but unfortunately they couldn’t push more than 1 run across the plate. The Kansas City Royals now come to town for a 3-game set but before they do, let’s take a look at the headlines from the Boston area and Toronto media in today’s papers.

Josh Beckett press conference video. [Center Field]

All gusts, no glory. [Boston Globe]

Litsch beats odds, Bosox. [Toronto Star]

For once, bats don’t help Becket. [Boston Herald]

Litsch showing no fear. [Toronto Sun]

No Backup For Beckett. [Hartford Courant]

League steps up a league to join Blue Jays. [Toronto Star]

Beckett denied his 13th victory. [Pro Jo]

Stop the run? Yeah right. [Toronto Sun]

Varitek gets thumbs down. [Boston Globe]

Hardly a breeze for OF: Wind wreaks havoc. [Boston Herald]

Boras Weighs In On The Count. [Hartford Courant]

Mirabelli or Varitek? An easy choice. [Pro Jo]

Beckett is lone star. [Boston Globe]

Absent from drama class: These Sox lack theatrics. [Boston Herald]

For more headlines and stories, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant, Providence Journal, Toronto Star and Toronto Sun websites.

Red Sox vs Royals Pitching Matchups

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Monday July 16th, 7:05 PM

Brian Bannister (R) (5-5, 3.71) vs Kason Gabbard (L) (2-0, 4.87)

Tuesday July 17th, 7:05 PM

Leo Nuñez (R) (0-0, 0.00) vs Tim Wakefield (R) (10-8, 4.47)

Wednesday July 18th, 7:05 PM

Odalis Perez (L) (4-8, 5.68) vs Julian Tavarez (R) (5-7, 5.15)

Monday Jog Around the AL & NL East

Red Sox captain Jason Varitek had Sunday off after taking a few foul balls off his body on Saturday.

The Marlins have two players contending for the batting title.

The Blue Jays activated Brandon League from the DL before Sunday’s game.

The Braves are expecting John Smoltz back from the DL on Wednesday.

Devil Rays OF Carl Crawford has been riding a roller coaster at the plate.

Ruben Gotay has been excelling for the Mets as an everyday player.

The Orioles are undecided as to who will be their 5th starter right now.

Ronnie Belliard has been an invaluable member of the Nationals this season.

Melky Cabrera returned to the Yankees lineup one day after not starting due to flu-like symptoms.

Tom Gordon will be returning to the Phillies bullpen in a few days.

Litsch, Blue Jays Deny Beckett 13th Win

Manny

On a wild and windy day at the Fens, it was a rookie who helped get the Jays past the Red Sox 2-1. That rookie was Jesse Litsch who threw 6 2/3 innings of 1 run ball. Josh Beckett didn’t throw that bad at all either. It was one small bad inning when the Blue Jays were able to tack on 2 runs to the scoreboard. The Sox managed 11 hits in the game but were unable to capitalize off the Jays’ rookie and bullpen. The wind today played havoc with a lot of balls to the outfield as it was gusting up to 25 mph at times while blowing steady at 15-20 mph.

The local nine tried to get a run on the board in the 1st inning with two outs but were unable to do so. After Coco Crisp and Alex Cora grounded out to Royce Clayton at shortstop, David Ortiz laced a single to center off of Litsch. Manny Ramirez followed with a single, moving Big Papi over to third base. Litsch got Kevin Youkilis to fly out ending the threat.

After working a 1-2-3 1st inning in which Manny made an acrobatic catch, Beckett got himself into some trouble in the 2nd after getting the first two outs of the inning. Matt Stairs began the inning with a strikeout and Troy Glaus flied out to rightfield. Lyle Overbay, who was 4 for 17 in his career against Beckett then hit a double off the garage door in center. Aaron Hill brought in Overbay with a double of his own, making it 1-0 Blue Jays. Clayton, making his first appearance of the series, brought in Hill with a single giving the Jays a 2-1 lead. Beckett rebounded to get Jason Phillips on a strikeout but not before the damage was done.

In the 3rd inning, the Sox had another chance to score but were unable to plate anyone. Julio Lugo led off with a single and went to second on a Crisp single. Cora then tried to advance the runners with a bunt but a quick and nimble Litsch got off the mound quickly and was able to throw out Lugo at third base. Litsch then got Big Papi to ground into a 1-6-3 inning-ending double play.

Fast forwarding to the 6th inning, the Bosox were finally able to get a run on the board. Cora led off the inning with a double and came around to score on a Big Papi double, cutting the Blue Jays lead to 2-1. Litsch then got Manny to pop out to second but followed that with a walk to Youk. Lowell then fouled out to Phillips behind the plate, who had to make an acrobatic catch of his own as the wind had some fun with the ball. Eric Hinske then hit a single but Alex Rios unleashed a perfect throw to the plate to nail Big Papi for the third out of the inning.

Going back to the 6th inning, Beckett had retired six batters in a row before Glaus hit a single to left with two outs in the 8th inning. Beckett then walked Overbay but on his 118th pitch of the afternoon, he got Hill to fly out to rightfield.

Beckett went 8 innings, scattering 7 hits and giving up 2 runs. He walked 2 and struck out 8 Blue Jays on the day.

In the final 3 innings, the Sox could manage only 2 hits off the Toronto bullpen. Coco singled in the 7th and Manny in the 8th but they weren’t able to anything else. Accardo worked a perfect nineth for his second save of the series.

Kason Gabbard looks to continue his dominance at Fenway tomorrow night as the Kansas City Royals come to town for a 3-game set. Gametime is 7:05 PM.

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