Retired Boston Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell stopped by MLB Network’s Intentional Talk set to talk with Chris Rose and his former teammate on the Red Sox and Florida Marlins, Kevin Millar.
This is a definite must watch as you’ll learn a little more about Millar’s crazy antics as well some about Lowell that you didn’t know.
What started out as a pitcher’s duel between Dan Haren and Jon Lester ended in a rout as the Boston Red Sox hit three home runs in the 8th on their way to a 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
It’s the Red Sox third straight win and sixth win over the Angels in as many chances this season. In fact, the Red Sox are now 15-1 against the Angels since falling to them in the ALDS back in 2009.
Sans one pitch in the second inning, Lester was magnificent. The only mistake he made came on a 0-2 pitch to Mark Trumbo who crushed it over the Green Monster for a solo home run. After that though, Lester was pretty much unhittable.
He had great command and velocity on his fastball which made his changeup and cutter even more effective. He painted the outside corner of the plate like he was Picasso and that helped him to a season-high 11 strikeouts on the night. He ended up striking out five of the last six batters he faced including getting all three outs in his final inning of work (7th).
There were some questions as to why skipper Terry Francona would take out Lester after 93 pitches through seven innings but Daniel Bard put any of those worries to rest as he got three ground ball outs to Dustin Pedroia. Jonathan Papelbon worked the 9th and allowed two runs.
The other question of the night was why Papelbon was in after the home run barrage in the 8th but my feeling is that since he had gotten hot the inning before, there was no sense wasting him. Had he not been used, there’s still a chance he’s not available tonight.
That before mentioned home run barrage came from the bats of Adrian Gonzalez and David Oritz who went back-to-back. Marco Scutaro would also add a home run later in the inning that was initially reviewed. For Gonzalez, it was his first Fenway Park home run. He finished with two hits on the night and two RBIs.
Ortiz (one RBI) and Scutaro (two RBIs) each had two hits as well as did Jed Lowrie (one RBI). Carl Crawford‘s average is creeping up towards the Mendoza line (.194) as he had his third straight two-hit performance and picked up his 5th stolen base of the season.
I’m not sure if anyone knows why the Red Sox have dominated the Angels as of late but I for one hope it continues. Since the season started, the Red Sox have not been at .500. They’ve come close once and tonight Josh Beckett will look to get them back to .500 on the season.
We’ll be back later with tonight’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. But for now enjoy the overnight links by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click
Adrian Gonzalez makes himself at home [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Lester and Red Sox come up aces [Boston Globe]
Positive spin from Wheeler [Boston Globe]
Gonzalez turns it all around [Boston Globe]
Sox come up aces again [Boston Herald]
More than win streak [Boston Herald]
Wheeler could use some relief [Boston Herald]
Digging in for a long haul [Boston Herald]
Gonzalez hits 1st Fenway HR [Boston Herald]
Red Sox beat Angels again, 7-3 [CSNNE.com]
Lester continues rare early-season roll [CSNNE.com]
Notes: Gonzalez breaks his homerless drought [CSNNE.com]
Rapid reaction: Red Sox 7, Angels 3 [ESPN Boston]
For Lester, it’s finders, keepers [ESPN Boston]
Closing Time: Red Sox 7, Angels 3 [Full Count]
Dustin Pedroia Calls Epic 13-Pitch Battle With Jered Weaver a ‘Fun At-Bat’ [NESN.com]
Theo Epstein Convinced Red Sox Bullpen Will ‘Be Fine’ Despite Bobby Jenks’ Recent Struggles [NESN.com]
Red Sox Send a Message With Success Against Premier Pitching [NESN.com]
Jon Lester Targeting Greatness With Dominance Early in 2011 Season [NESN.com]
Three in a row! [Nuggetpalooza]
Lester holds trump in battle of aces [Providence Journal]
After pursuing Downs, Sox built bullpen a different way [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: Pedroia’s will is just his way [Providence Journal]
Adrian savors first Fenway Park home run [RedSox.com]
Scutaro steps up with two hits for ill Youkilis [RedSox.com]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSNNE, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the LA Times, Orange County Register and LA Daily News websites. Also be sure to check out our Bloguin brother, Monkey with a Halo.
Photo credit: AP Photo
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 some of the other sports. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below.
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 Men’s Basketball links
Dick Vitale’s Book Raising Money For Cancer Fight; Calhoun To Attend Vitale Gala [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]
For Calhoun, Schoolboy Classic was a ‘have-to-be’ place [CT Post]
Jim Calhoun says Huskies may play in Bridgeport [New Haven Register]
Khalid El-Amin won’t quit [CityPages.com]
UConn Football links
Looking at Big East spring game attendance [Brian Bennett – ESPN.com]
Big East mailbag [Brian Bennett – ESPN.com]
DC answered a few questions in his mailbag [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]
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 by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
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
The Ladder: 5.4.11 [SoxProspects.com]
Players of the Week, April 25-May 1: Miles Head and Manuel Rivera [SoxProspects.com]
Pawtucket Red Sox
Despite 11 hits, the PawSox fell 7-2 to the Toledo Mud Hens.
Mud Hens Win on Getaway Day [PawSox.com]
Martinez goes out with a bang, propels Toledo [Providence Journal]
Toledo Mud Hens @ Pawtucket Red Sox 5.3.11 box score [MiLB.com]
International League standings
Alex Wilson picked up his fourth win of the year for the Sea Dogs in a 5-2 win over the Trenton Thunder.
Consistency helps Sea Dogs achieve success — and win [Portland Press Herald]
Hassan Helps Sea Dogs Snap Road Skid [OurSports Central]
3,000 Runners Expected for 11th Annual Mother’s Day Road Race [OurSports Central]
Portland Sea Dogs @ Trenton Thunder 5.3.11 box score [MiLB.com]
Salem Red Sox:
The game between the Kinston Indians and Salem was suspended in the 1st inning. The game will continue today at 11 a.m.
Salem-Kinston Suspended in First Inning [OurSports Central]
Seven runs in the 4th inning helped the Drive to a 13-5 win over the Asheville Tourists.
Drive send Tourists packing in style [Greenville News]
Drive Chase Tourists out of Town with 13-5 Win [OurSports Central]
Asheville Tourists @ Greenville Drive 5.3.11 box score [MiLB.com]
South Atlantic League standings
Lowell Spinners:
The Lowell Spinners will begin their season on June 17th at home against the Connecticut Tigers.
Gulf Coast League Red Sox
The GCL Red Sox will begin their season on June 20th on the road against the GCL Rays.
The Boston Red Sox continued their recent dominance over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last night and look to do the same tonight in game two of a four-game set.
First pitch for tonight’s game is at 7:10 p.m. and the game will be televised by NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Angels television market, you can catch the game on FoxSports West. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.
After putting his previous April woes from years past behind him, Jon Lester looks to continue a strong run in his 7th start of the season. In his previous six starts, Lester is 3-1 with a 2.52 ERA. He’s faced the Angels once this season back on April 22nd where he got the win after throwing six scoreless innings. He’s made six career starts against the Halos and is 3-1 with a 4.81 ERA. Three of those starts have come at Fenway Park where he is 1-1 with a 4.66 ERA.
Dan Haren will try to get the Angels back in the win column tonight after his buddy Jered Weaver took his first loss of 2011. In seven starts, Haren is 4-1 with a 1.23 ERA. His lone loss came against the Red Sox in that April 22nd game where he allowed four runs (two earned) in six innings. Overall in his career, he’s made nine starts against the Red Sox and is 2-6 with a 3.19 ERA. He has lost his last three starts against them. He’s made five career starts at Fenway Park where he is 1-4 with a 3.81 ERA.
Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day if you’re on the home page.
Here are this evening’s lineups:
 16-13 |
 13-15 |
||
| 1. Maicer Izturis | 3B | 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF |
| 2. Bobby Abreu | DH | 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B |
| 3. Howie Kendrick | 2B | 3. Adrian Gonzalez | 1B |
| 4. Torii Hunter | RF | 4. Kevin Youkilis | 3B |
| 5. Vernon Wells | LF | 5. David Ortiz | DH |
| 6. Erick Aybar | SS | 6. J.D. Drew | RF |
| 7. Mark Trumbo | 1B | 7. Jed Lowrie | SS |
| 8. Jeff Mathis | C | 8. Carl Crawford | LF |
| 9. Peter Bourjos | CF | 9. Jarrod Saltalamacchia | C |
| Dan Haren | SP | Jon Lester | SP |
And here is how the hitters have fared against tonight’s starting pitchers:
Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.
To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click
Walkoff hit boosts Carl Crawford [Boston Herald]
Searching for Gonzo’s Fenway power stroke [ESPN Boston]
A brief (and one-sided) conversation [ESPN Boston]
Ellsbury: Bruised, but unbowed [ESPN Boston]
Something special — Joe sez so [ESPN Boston]
Class AA Trenton honors Hale [Extra Bases]
Pregame notes from Fenway [Extra Bases]
Amazing but true: Why Pedroia vs. Weaver at-bat was one of a kind [Full Count]
Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox Not the Only Ones Who Benefit From Walking [NESN.com]
Terry Francona on Dustin Pedroia’s Efforts: ‘I’m Used to It’ [NESN.com]
Red Sox Hope History Repeats Itself During, After Series With Angels [NESN.com]
Ellsbury shrugs off knee bruise [Projo Sox Blog]
Pedroia doesn’t plan on sitting [Projo Sox Blog]
Aces Lester, Haren set to duel at Fenway Park [RedSox.com]
Photo credits: Getty Images, Getty Images
Jered Weaver had owned the American League in 2011, just look at his record. He was 6-0 with a 0.99 ERA before last night’s game. But he’s had his struggles against the Boston Red Sox, especially at Fenway Park (1-2, 7.76 ERA in five starts).
He was relativity cruising along until the 5th inning. At that point, he had given up one run and three hits. But things changed that inning.
With one out in the inning, Carl Crawford picked up his second hit of the night with a double. Jason Varitek worked a walk but was quickly retired at second base on a Jacoby Ellsbury fielder’s choice in which Crawford advanced to third.
Enter Dustin Pedroia, the Red Sox’s Mr. Everything.
Pedroia has been striking out a little more than we’re used to but he’s also a master of protecting the plate with two strikes. Weaver had the count to Pedroia at 2-2 (two balls, two foul balls). Pedroia then fouled off two more pitches before a ball in which Ellsbury stole second. Pedroia then fouled off five straight pitches until the 13th pitch of the at-bat where he laced a 2-run single that would put the Red Sox up 3-2, a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the night.
Here’s what they both had to say about the at-bat:
Pedroia: “To be honest with you, man, I was just trying to put the ball in play. Jered’s tough, man. I faced him in college and the first few years in the big leagues, and it doesn’t get any better than him. I haven’t won too many of those but it was nice to drive in a couple and kind of get everything going.”
Weaver: “That’s what he does. He’s a great hitter. He didn’t win the MVP for nothing. He goes up there and he wants to battle. He’s a bulldog. I feel like I’m the same way. He won that battle this time. I’m not going to change anything about how it went down. I made some good pitches, 3-2 count, able to throw a couple sliders, a couple of changeups. It was a battle. That’s how he is. He’s not just going to give in and let you get him out. Like I said, he won that battle.”
The Red Sox would break the game open in the 7th inning when they scored six runs, three on a bases loaded wall ball double by Adrian Gonzalez, a double by Kevin Youkilis and a two-run home run by David Ortiz. The home run by Big Papi was a memorable one as he celebrated with a member of the military on his way back to the dugout.
We can’t forget about the solid 6 2/3 innings that Clay Buchholz gave the Red Sox although at first it looked like it might be a long night.
He gave up three hits in the first inning. He gave up a lead-off single to Maicer Izturis who tried to stretch it into a double but was called out after he was tagged by Jed Lowrie when he overslid second base. Buchholz then gave up three more hits before he got a double play.
Buchholz had good command and velocity on his fastball as he touched 96 MPH a few time. He was also able to effectively use his changeup which he threw along with his fastball for strikes.
The end result for Buchholz was a quality start, his first of 2011 making him the last Red Sox starting pitcher to get one.
Since losing to the Angels in the playoffs in 2009, the Red Sox have owned the Angels. They are 14-1 since that night when Jonathan Papelbon got lit up by Vladimir Guerrero. There’s still three games left in this series but I like the chances for the Red Sox, especially with Jon Lester going tonight, Josh Beckett tomorrow and new Angels killer John Lackey, who just also happened to play for the Angels.
We’ll be back later with tonight’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. But for now enjoy the overnight links by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click
An epic grind: Breaking down how Red Sox beat Jered Weaver [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Red Sox offense shows signs of life [Boston Globe]
Dream Weaver start over [Boston Globe]
Side order of Beckett a hit with brass [Boston Globe]
Adrian Gonzalez’ big double helps Sox top Angels [Boston Herald]
Gonzalez sees Monster [Boston Herald]
Pedroia’s one tough act [Boston Herald]
Anatomy of an at-bat [Boston Herald]
Beckett’s not injured [Boston Herald]
Nation STATion: April showers us with stats [CSNNE.com]
Red Sox find timely hitting to beat Angels, 9-5 [CSNNE.com]
Pedroia sparks Sox by winning battle vs. Weaver [CSNNE.com]
Notes: Buchholz gets 2nd win; Ellsbury injured [CSNNE.com]
Rapid reaction: Red Sox 9, Angels 5 [ESPN Boston]
Pedroia shows spunk; offense shows life [ESPN Boston]
Boston Red Sox’s Jacoby Ellsbury bangs knee during awkward slide [ESPN Boston]
The persistence of Dustin Pedroia [Extra Bases]
Closing Time: Red Sox 9, Angels 5 [Full Count]
Red Sox Should Benefit From Easier May Schedule Chock-Full of AL Central Teams [NESN.com]
Dustin Pedroia Fuels Red Sox’ Offensive Outburst With At-Bat for the Ages Against Jered Weaver [NESN.com]
Patriotism, Positivity the Theme of the Night at Fenway Park [NESN.com]
Persistent Pedroia makes Weaver pay [Providence Journal]
So far, the best pitchers have brought out the best in Red Sox [Providence Journal]
Now a Tiger, Victor Martinez sees good times ahead for Red Sox [Providence Journal]
Red Sox journal: All eyes on Beckett bullpen session [Providence Journal]
Adrian Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia have left injury concerns in rear-view mirror [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSNNE, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the LA Times, Orange County Register and LA Daily News websites. Also be sure to check out our Bloguin brother, Monkey with a Halo.
Photo credit: AP Photo
If you’re going to be stupid and run onto the field at any stadium, there’s a pretty good chance you’re going to get hit or tackled by a security guard. Case in point, check out this NFL-worthy tackle by a Boston Red Sox security guard at last night’s game.
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 some of the other sports. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below.
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 Men’s Basketball links
Omar Calhoun to Visit UConn [ZagsBlog]
UConn Women’s Basketball links
Huskies Headed To Europe In August [Rich Elliott – CT Post]
UConn Football links
Agent Brian Murphy Talks About His Client: Jordan Todman [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]
Todman’s Fall To Sixth Round In Draft Remains Mystery For UConn Back, Handlers [Hartford Courant]
Other UConn related links
Baseball. Springer Named BIG EAST Player of the Week [UConnHuskies.com]
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 by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
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
The best and worst of April [ESPN Boston]
Players of the Month, April: Manuel Rivera & Reynaldo Rodriguez [SoxProspects.com]
Q&A with Dan Butler [SoxProspects.com]
Pawtucket Red Sox
The PawSox hit five home runs on their way to an 11-2 win over the Toledo Mud Hens.
PawSox Go Homer Happy [PawSox.com]
Vets pace 11-2 pounding of Toledo [Providence Journal]
Toledo Mud Hens @ Pawtucket Red Sox 5.2.11 box score [MiLB.com]
International League standings
The Sea Dogs lost their fourth straight game as they fell to the Trenton Thunder 5-3.
Sea Dogs come up short again [PortlandSeaDogs.com]
Small mistakes still dragging down Dogs [Portland Press Herald]
Portland Sea Dogs @ Trenton Thunder 5.2.11 box score [MiLB.com]
Salem Red Sox:
A run in the 7th inning helped Salem to a 3-2 win over the Kinston Indians.
Drake Britton wildly effective in Salem Red Sox win [Roanoke Times]
Salem Sneaks Past K-Tribe 3-2 [OurSports Central]
Kinston Indians @ Salem Red Sox 5.2.11 box score [MiLB.com]
The Drive offense exploded once again in a 15-2 win over the Asheville Tourists.
Head’s birthday bash helps Drive rip Tourists [Greenville News]
Drive Power Past Tourists, 15-2 [OurSports Central]
Asheville Tourists @ Greenville Drive 5.2.11 box score [MiLB.com]
South Atlantic League standings
Lowell Spinners:
The Lowell Spinners will begin their season on June 17th at home against the Connecticut Tigers.
Gulf Coast League Red Sox
The GCL Red Sox will begin their season on June 20th on the road against the GCL Rays.
After hitting a two-run home run in the 7th inning, Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz took a moment on his way back to the dugout to celebrate his home run with two members of the military who were on hand for the game.
