
Red Sox News & Notes – 7/8

Another night, another game. More missed opportunities for the Red Sox. Both starters, Kason Gabbard and Jeremy Bonderman, were outstanding, both allowing 2 runs in their work on Saturday night. Big Papi reached base 6 times, including 3 intentional walks so the Tigers could face Manny. Did Manny deliver? No!! All he did in his chances after the intentional walks, was ground into a fielder’s choice and two double plays. Not what we expect when our #4 hitter comes up after the #3 hitter gets the free pass. Both bullpens were good, Detroit’s was a little better as Papelbon left a cutter up to Pudge who made the Red Sox pay for hitting Sheff in a 13 inning win over the Sox.
That being said, lets take a look at what the mainstream media in the Boston area and Detroit has to say about last night’s game and happenings.
Nudged out by Pudge. [Hartford Courant]
EXTRA PUDGE: Rodriguez drives in winner; bullpen solid. [Detroit Free Press]
13th is unlucky for Sox. [Boston Globe]
LUCKY 13TH: Pudge lifts Tigers in extra innings. [Detroit News]
Sox stuck in neutral, Pudge pops in clutch: Bats silent in tough loss. [Boston Herald]
TV contract delayed start. [Detroit Free Press]
Donnelly’s raring to pitch after arm passes tune-up. [Pro Jo]
Red Sox have an air of romance about them. [Detroit News]
Last pitch cut the deepest. [Boston Globe]
Why All-Star Tigers don’t get a break? [Detroit Free Press]
Facing an important start, Dice-K must pull out stops. [Boston Herald]
Tigers squeeze most from bottom of batting order. [Detroit News]
Plans taking on water. [Boston Globe]
Francona Recounts Old Phillies Days. [Hartford Courant]
For more headlines and stories, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant, Providence Journal, Detroit Free Press and Detroit News websites.
Sunday Stroll Around The Majors

Kevin Youkilis shouldn’t have to go on the DL for the Red Sox.
For Angels OF Vladimir Guerrero being in the Home Run Derby is an “honor”.
Houston’s Lance Berkman got the day off against Tom Glavine on Saturday.
A’s starter Dan Haren is still in the mix to start the All-Star game on Tuesday.
Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay is OK with being snubbed for the All-Star game.
The Braves’ Jarrod Saltalamacchia was back in the lineup after taking a foul tip to the head on Friday.
Brewers rookie 3B Ryan Braun is throwing his name into the NL Rookie of the Year mix.
Cardinals 3B Scott Rolen is trying find some consistency at the plate.
Mike Fontenot has been off to a hot start for the Cubs since being called up.
Devil Rays skipper Joe Maddon set his rotation for after the All-Star break.
Diamondbacks SS Stephen Drew hopes the All-Star break doesn’t put a damper on his hot streak.
The Dodgers pitching staff is looking forward to the All-Star break.
Giants slugger Barry Bonds wants to play in 2008.
The Indians hope to enter the All-Star break on a high note.
Mariners rookie Eric O’Flaherty is getting the job done in the bullpen.
Renyel Pinto has become the Marlins left-handed setup guy.
After benching Jose Reyes, Mets skipper Willie Randolph wants his team to hustle all the time.
Nationals 1B Dimitri Young is having a career year at the plate.
Orioles pitcher Erik Bedard tied a club record with 15 strikeouts in 3-0 win over Texas on Saturday.
The Padres activated Milton Bradley from the DL on before Saturday’s game.
Brett Myers is ready for the next step in his return to the Phillies.
Pirates starter Paul Maholm’s adjustments in his delivery are paying dividends for him.
The Rangers shook up their roster a little before the All-Star break.
The Reds shook up their bullpen before the All-Star break.
The Rockies bench has given them a big boost so far this season.
Mike Sweeney won’t return to the Royals until August at the earliest.
The Tigers are packing the fans in at Comerica Park this season.
Twins catcher Mike Redmond shook off his head injury and was back in the lineup on Saturday.
John Danks is hoping to pitch 200 innings for the White Sox this season.
The Yankees’ Johnny Damon won’t let his injuries affect his speed.
Sox, Tigers Lock Up In Extra Inning Pitchers Duel
With all the runs being scored lately and a fast start by the gang from Boston it looked like there maybe a lot of runs scored. But both pitching staff’s settled in and locked up in a good old fashioned pitcher’s duel that went to 13 innings before the Tigers came away with a long hard fought come from behind 3-2 extra innings win.
The visiting Red Sox got off to a good start getting two quick runs off of Detroit starter and all-star snub Jeremy Bonderman. Coco Crisp led off and went by way of the K, but he was followed by Dustin Pedroia who tripled into the left centerfield gap when Tigers centerfielder Curtis Granderson missed the ball on a dive. David Ortiz then drove a Bonderman fastball into the rightfield seats for the Sox 2 runs. Manny Ramirez followed with a walk and then J.D. Drew singled to right and the Sox had Bonderman on the ropes early. But the hard throwing righty bore down and got back-to-back whiffs of Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek to end the inning.
Kason Gabbard would retire 8 of the first 9 Tigers in his first go-around allowing only a lead off single to Magglio Ordonez in the second. He would finish the first three frames with three K’s and no walks and just the one hit and looked strong.
Bonderman after the shaky first would settle in and get 5 of the next 6 Sox hitters yielding only a third inning walk to Ortiz that snapped a streak of 6 hitters retired in a row. Bonderman through three had 5 K’s including Crisp twice. He was also aided when Ramirez grounded into an inning ending 6-4-3 double play to erase Big Papi.
Bonderman would start the 4th by getting Drew to pop out, Lowell would reach on a Carlos Guillen error on a routine ground ball to short. Bonderman then became very enthralled with Lowell and threw to first several times before Lowell actually ran and he was gunned down by Ivan Rodriguez. But on the replay it appeared Guillen’s tag was a miss and Lowell was safe. It ended up as part of a strike ’em out, throw ’em out double play as Varitek whiffed for his second time on the night.
After Eric Hinske started the fifth with a fly out to center, Bonderman recorded his 7th K getting Alex Cora. Crisp who had struck out his first two times came up hacking and singled to center. It was the Sox first hit since the first inning off of Bonderman. Pedroia was then retired on a fielder’s choice to Brandon Inge at third to end the inning.
Gabbard through the fourth looked totally in control as he had set down 8 straight Tigers. That streak was snapped when Ordonez got on for his second time in the game with a lead off walk in the fifth. To this point he had been the only Tiger to reach base as he singled in the second. Gabbard then issued another free pass this one to Guillen and put runners on first and second with no one out. Rodriguez then hit a little chinker to the third base side of the mound moving the runners up a base as Gabbard threw him out at first. Hinske then made a great catch on a foul out near the tarp on Marcus Thames. Hinske got himself righted and got the ball in quickly and the Sox were able to hold Ordonez at third and keep the Tigers scoreless. But that was only momentarily as Craig Monroe made Gabbard pay for those two walks when he shot the ball over Ramirez’ head in left for a 2 run double to tie the game at 2-2. Inge then flew out to left and Gabbard was able to get out of the inning tied.
Starting the 6th it was now a new game and Bonderman was looking pretty comfy in his surroundings. But Ortiz got a jump on him leading off with his second hit of the game, a double into the rightfield corner. Papi would advance to third when Manny flew out to the bigpart of the ballpark in center. Bonderman would notch his 8th strikeout of the night getting Drew Looking. Lowell would end up stranding Ortiz at third when Bonderman escaped the jam by getting him to foul out to Thames at first.
Boston was still getting runners on but still unable to dent Bonderman since the first. Varitek led off the seventh with a single to left then was erased on a 3-6-1 twin killing when Hinske hit the ball at Thames who stepped on the bag. Varitek then got himself into a pickle as Thames ran his towards second and Guillen ran him back to first where Bonderman, covering the bag, tagged him out. Cora then grounded out Thames to Bonderman to end the inning.
In the 7th, Gabbard finally got Ordonez out when he popped out to Pedroia but he was then chased after a strong 6 1/3 innings when Guillen singled to center. Gabbard gave up 2 runs both earned, 2 walks, 3 hits and had 3 K’s on the night. Terry Francona then replaced Gabbard with Manny Delcarmen. Guillen stole second off of Delcarmen and I-Rod grounded out to short to move him to third. Thames then flew out to Coco and the Tigers left the go ahead run stranded at third.
The Sox threatened in the 8th after Crisp flew out, Pedroia doubled into the rightfield corner, and Julio Lugo came in to pinch run for him. Ortiz was then intentionally walked to face Ramirez who hit a 3-1 bullet to Inge who took it off his shoulder and could only get Ortiz at second. This put runners on the corners for Drew as Jim Leyland stayed with Bonderman. The move paid off as Bonderman hung tough and struck out Drew as the Sox blew a great opportunity to get a run.
Hideki Okajima started the ninth getting Omar Infante, who replaced Polanco in the 8th, to fly to Ramirez. Sheffield then hit a bullet right at Lowell for the second out and then the leagues leading hitter Ordonez walked on a 3-2 pitch. Guillen then hit a ball at Lugo, who was now playing short, and he bobbled it but found it quick enough to go to Cora at second for the force out to send the game into extra innings.
Doug Jones, the Detroit closer who was in his second inning of work had to face the top of the Sox order. Crisp doubled into the left centerfield gap to lead off the 10th. Lugo, hitting for the first time, failed in his first two bunt attempts to move Crisp missing the first pitch and then fouling off the second. Lugo then grounded out to short but Crisp was able to move onto third with one out. Ortiz was then again walked intentionally so Jones could face Ramirez. Leyland then had his infield play for the double play that would end the inning. Ramirez then grounded into that double play to kill another threat. It was Manny’s second GIDP of the night and 14th of the season.
Rodriguez led off the Tiger 10th with a base hit off of Okajima. Thames then scorched a single to left to put runners at first and second with no one out. Monroe then sacrificed the runners to second and third it was his first sacrifice since 2005. With the winning run 90 feet away Inge was intentionally walked to load the bases. This brought up Granderson who has great speed and good power making him a tough double play candidate so Francona pulled the infield in. With a 3-2 count Granderson grounded to Hinske who got the force at the plate for the second out. Varitek’s return throw to first wasn’t in time so the bases were still loaded with two outs for Infante. Then the all-star reliever worked out of the jam getting Infante to fly out to center and leave the bases full of Tigers.
Mike Timlin came on for the bottom of the 11th having to face the heart of the Detroit order. He got Sheffield to ground out to short and Ordonez to ground out to second but a two out walk to Guillen and a single to left by Rodriguez put the winning run on third with two out for Thames. Timlin then walked Thames to load the bases and was living dangerously. Monroe then fouled out to Bailey in front of the Sox dug out and Timlin escaped his own jam.
Cora lead off the 12th with a single to center off of Zach Miner, this brought Leyland out for a conference with the infield. Crisp then sacrificed Cora to second, Lugo came to the plate for the second time on the night and Lugo whiffed looking. Ortiz was then walked for the third time on the night, his fourth walk of the game, so that Miner could face Manny. Ramirez came up 0 for 4 having killed the last two Sox rallies with a fielder’s choice and a double play. Ramirez walked to load the bases for Drew. Leyland then removed Miner for Bobby Seay, to get the lefty on lefty match up with Drew. Kevin Youkilis, who has been sitting out with a sore quad, was sent up to pinch-hit for Drew and he flew out to Ordonez in right to end the threat.
Jonathan Papelbon started the 13th by hitting Sheffield with the first pitch, Ordonez flied to right, Sheffield stole second with Guillen hitting to get into scoring position on a 2-2 count. After running the count full Papelbon sent Guillen packing with a huge strike out. Rodriguez, who had no hits in the first nine innings, got his third hit in extra frames when he hit a ball into the right centerfield gap that Coco almost made an incredible catch on to score Sheffield from second and win the game, 3-2.
Vote for Diana Taurasi
The ESPN Sports Nation Hummer poll today on the front page has a UConn feel to it. Phoenix Mercury All-Star and former UConn All-American Diana Taurasi is listed as a finalist for the “Hummer, Like Nothing Else” Award for the 2007 ESPY’s. She has an up hill climb as the only woman and is against Lebron James, LaDainian Tomlinson, Michael Phelps and Kendric Smith.
Vote for Diana. If someone has to win this award I’d love to see it be a former Husky.
Down on the Farm – 7/7
Red Sox News & Notes – 7/7

Last night was a night that Julian Tavarez and the Red Sox would like to forget. The bats went limp again as they could only manage 5 hits after pounding out 21 the night before. Tonight’s task will be no small mountain to climb over as Jeremy Bonderman and his 9-1 record take the hill against Curt Schilling’s replacement, Kason Gabbard.
Let’s take a look at what the Boston area and Detroit media had to say about last night’s game and other happenings.
Sox shuffle, scuffle. [Boston Globe]
SLAMMIN’! Thames is grand with 5-RBI night. [Detroit Free Press]
Lots of Motown hits: Tavarez pounded by Tigers. [Boston Herald]
GRAND OPENING: Thames’ slam is highlight of Tigers’ 15-hit effort. [Detroit News]
No Escape For Tavarez. [Hartford Courant]
Drug jokes mar stellar night. [Detroit Free Press]
Surprised Bailey is given a start in big-league debut. [Pro Jo]
Home life pleases Tigers’ ‘Slick’. [Detroit News]
Miller was on learning curve. [Boston Globe]
THE SUSPENSION: IF Perez tests positive for stimulant again. [Detroit Free Press]
Tavarez not down after rough start. [Boston Herald]
A Major Highlight For Bailey. [Hartford Courant]
For more headlines and stories, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant, Providence Journal, Detroit Free Press and Detroit News websites.
Saturday Salute To Bloggers
Texas Gal at Ladies… presents her July 4th hotties. (For the female readers)
If your interested in seeing your team’s chances of making the MLB playoffs, check out this site.
Dan at Red Sox Monster brings us two different videos. One is a drunken Sox fan doing an Anthony Hopkins impression. And the second is Bohemian Soxsody.
Jason from My Baseball Bias is only 60% addicted to blogging. I am 90% addicted to it.
With Leather brings us a video about drinking and dunking.
Winning the Turnover Battle has an interview with Alice (the Snorg girl).
Mondesi’s House has look at Pittsburgh Pirates II: The Movie.
This video from Awful Announcing is an oldie but a goodie.
Larry Brown Sports found some information that some Giants fan rigged the voting for Barry Bonds to get into the All-Star Game.
Yankees Chick is not a big fan of the All-Star Game.
Sooze from Babes Love Baseball is in love with Justin Morneau.
I know y’all are expecting a video from Fitzy at the Townie News. Well folks, he didn’t have one posted as he is working on an extra large Sox review for the first half. He did however detail his visit to Fenway on July 4th.
Sox Have The Motown Blues
After pounding out 21 hits and scoring 15 runs, the Red Sox were only able to muster 5 hits and 2 runs as the reigning AL Champs, the Tigers, spanked the Sox 9-2 behind bat of Marcus Thames. Thames was only 1 for 3 in the game but that one hit was a grand slam in the 5th inning. Andrew Miller pitched 7 strong innings while Julian “Yo-Yo” Tavarez started strong and then stunk up the joint worse than Pepe Le Pu.
The Boys from Beantown went quietly in the first two innings as Miller set them down in order. Tavarez matched Miller for the first two innings allowing just 2 hits. Tavarez also pitched a scoreless 3rd inning as well, giving up a single to Sean Casey.
In the 3rd inning, the local nine got a run on the board. Wily Mo Peña led off the inning with a triple that got under the glove of Curtis Granderson in the cavernous center field at Comerica (420 feet to straightaway center). Jeff Bailey followed with a fly ball to Granderson who uncorked a throw that got to the plate in the air and got Wily Mo out at the plate. It’s debatable as to whether Sox third base coach, DeMarlo Hale, should have sent Wily Mo on ball that wasn’t hit that deep. Miller issued a 2-out walk to Julio Lugo. With Coco Crisp at the plate, Lugo stole second and came around to score on a Crisp single, giving the Sox a 1-0 lead. Coco proceeded to steal second with Dustin Pedroia at the dish but Pedroia ended up striking out to end the inning.
The 4th inning was the beginning of the end for Yo-Yo. Gary Sheffield led off with an infield single that Mike Lowell made an amazing diving stop on, but ended up sailing the ball over Bailey’s head, allowing Sheffield to get to second on the throwing error. Magglio Ordonez made Lowell pay for the error as his single drove in Sheff to tie the game at 1. Carlos Guillen followed with a single moving Mags up to second. Both Mags and Guillen moved up a base on a deep fly ball to center by Casey. Thames brought Mags in with a sacrifice fly to deep center. Tavarez followed that up by plunking Mike Rabelo. Brandon Inge brought in Guillen with a double and Rabelo was thrown out at the plate trying to score ending the threat. The run gave the Tigers a 3-1 lead.
After the Red Sox went quietly in the 5th inning, Yo-Yo got pounded like a rented mule. Granderson led off the inning with a solo shot, making it 4-1 Tigers. Tigers’ All-Star second baseman, Placido Polanco hit a single and then Tavarez plunked Sheff with a pitch. The plunking caused the home plate umpire to issue warnings to both benches. Yo-Yo rebounded with a strikeout of Mags and then got Guillen to groundout. The groundout allowed Polanco and Sheff to move up a base. Rather than pitch to Casey, Terry Francona decided to intentionally walk him to face Thames. On a 1-2 count, Yo-Yo left a fastball up that Thames planted in the left field seats for a grand slam, giving the Tigers an insurmountable 8-1 lead. After the grand salami, Javier Lopez came in for Yo-Yo and got Rabelo to ground out to Bailey at first.
Yo-Yo went 4â…” innings, allowing 10 hits, 8 runs and 1 walk. He did strikeout 4 Tigers in his 85 pitches thrown, by far his worst outing of the season.
In the 7th inning, the Sox managed a threat off of Miller but he overcame his struggles and worked out of the jam he caused. Jason Varitek led off with pop out to second. Miller then issued walks to J.D. Drew and Wily Mo. After a visit from his manager, Jim Leyland, Miller got Bailey to ground into a fielder’s choice and Lugo to line out.
The Tigers pushed a run across the plate in the 8th inning off of Kyle Snyder. After a Granderson ground out, Polanco doubled to center. Snyder would then walk Sheff. Ryan Raburn, pinch-hitting for Mags, laced a single bringing in Polanco for a 9-1 lead. Synder got out of the inning by getting Guillen to fly out.
Doug Mirabelli managed to get another run for the Sox as he led off the 9th with a homerun off of Chad Durbin. Durbin settled down after the homer getting Wily Mo and Bailey to strikeout, and Lugo to ground out ending the game.
It seemed as though the Sox were a little flat after the 4 am arrival last night. It also could have been the fact they were facing stronger pitching. Either way, it’s a loss ending the Sox 4-game winning streak. Kason Gabbard will take the mound on Saturday against one of the Tigers’ aces, Jeremy Bonderman.
Bailey Called Up To Red Sox
With Jacoby Ellsbury being sent down last night, the Red Sox had to make a corresponding roster to move to replace him. While I and many others thought it might be a pitcher, Extra Bases is reporting that PawSox first baseman Jeff Bailey has been called up and will start tonight in Detroit.
The move to me makes sense given that Kevin Youkilis is still bothered by a quad injury and hasn’t played in a few days. This will allow him to rest and be ready for the second half of the season.
Bailey is hitting .250 with 9 homers, 40 RBI and 6 stolen bases down in Pawtucket. Bailey was originally a 2nd round draft choice of the Florida Marlins in 1997. He signed with the Red Sox as minor league free agent in the fall of 2003. He will be making his MLB debut tonight.