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 are after the jump.
Beckett Dominates In 10-5 Red Sox Win
Josh Beckett threw 6 2/3 no-hit innings and the offense backed him up with some run support as the Boston Red Sox survived some rough defense at the end to beat the Detroit Tigers 10-5 in front of 29,240 at Comerica Park in Detroit.
It’s the third straight win for the Red Sox (31-22) and it moves them into a first place tie in the AL East with the New York Yankees who lost to the Texas Rangers tonight. The Tigers fall to 28-23 but remain in first place in the AL Central.
Beckett continued his run of good starts tonight as his stuff was just filthy. He had good velocity on his fastball and command of all of his pitches. He ended up going 7 2/3 innings, and was charged with 3 runs, all unearned, which came on 2 hits and 2 walks while recording 9 strikeouts.
Daniel Bard worked a 1/3 of an inning and was charged with 2 runs, both unearned, and allowed just a hit. Takashi Saito finished it off by walking two and striking out one.
Armando Galarraga started this one for the Tigers and after giving up two quick runs, settled down and pitched a decent game. He went 7 innings, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2.
Zach Miner went 1/3 of an inning, giving up 4 runs on 3 hits and a walk while striking out 1. Nate Robertson allowed 2 runs on 3 hits in 2/3 of an inning while Bobby Seay allowed a hit in his inning of work.
Every member of the starting nine for the Red Sox had at least one hit on the night.
Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and Jacoby Ellsbury all had 2 hits with Youk driving in a run. Both David Ortiz and Jason Varitek had two run doubles while Nick Green had a double and drove in 2 on the night.. J.D. Drew drove in two with a 2-run homer.
The Red Sox got things going quickly in this one.
Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 6/3
The Boston Red Sox kicked off the last leg of their 10-game road trip last night with a 5-1 win over the Detroit Tigers. The win gave skipper Terry Francona his 500th win at the helm of the Red Sox. Tonight they’ll look to make it 501 wins for Francona.
The game tonight will start at 7:05 PM EDT and will be televised in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Tigers television market, you can catch the game on FOX Sports Detroit. For those of you who aren’t in either market, the game will also be broadcast on ESPN. And if the television isn’t your cup of tea, you can catch the game on one of the many affiliates of the Red Sox Radio Network.
Josh Beckett starts for the Red Sox tonight and looks to retain his Commander stature of the KickA$$ Brigade that he’s recently reacquired after two dominating outings. On the season, Beckett is 5-2 with a 4.60 ERA in 10 starts. The Red Sox are 7-3 in those starts. He has only faced the Tigers twice in his career, his lowest against any AL club and is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA. His only appearance at Comerica Park came last year where he gave up one run in 7 innings to pick up the win.
Armando Galarraga looks to get Jim Leyland back on the winning side of things tonight. Galarraga has made 10 starts this season and is 3-5 with a 5.50 ERA. He has lost his last five decisions. He has faced the Red Sox once in his brief career and didn’t receive a decision in a start that saw him give up 5 runs on 7 hits in 5 1/3 innings in May of 2008.
Amalie Benjamin reported on her Twitter page that Jonathan Papelbon won’t be available to close tonight after needing 35 pitches to get out of the 9th in a non-save situation last night.
Lowrie should take BP upon Fenway return [Projo Sox Blog]
Impressions of Tazawa [Extra Bases]
Pittsburgh’s Wilson could be on the Red Sox’ radar [NESN.com]
What Papi’s decline means to Boston [NESN.com]
Where does Ellsbury belong in the order? [NESN.com]
Papelbon pulls a Dice-K [Batter-up with Bruno]
Here are the lineups for tonight’s game:
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| 1. Dustin Pedroia | 2B | 1. Clete Thomas | LF |
| 2. J.D, Drew | RF | 2. Placido Polanco | 2B |
| 3. Kevin Youkilis | 1B | 3. Magglio Ordonez | RF |
| 4. Jason Bay | LF | 4. Miguel Cabrera | 1B |
| 5. Mike Lowell | 3B | 5. Curtis Granderson | CF |
| 6. David Ortiz | DH | 6. Jeff Larish | DH |
| 7. Jason Varitek | C | 7. Brandon Inge | 3B |
| 8. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF | 8. Gerald Laird | C |
| 9. Nick Green | SS | 9. Adam Everett | SS |
| Josh Beckett | SP | Armando Galarraga | SP |
30-22
28-22And here is how the hitters have fared against tonight’s starting pitchers:
Get Your “Yoouukk!” Bar
Are you hungry for some milk chocolate? Why not try a “Yoouukk!” Bar from Phillips Candy House in Boston.
The bars are just $3 each and all proceeds will go to Kevin Youkilis “Hits For Kids”.
Ater Majok Probably Won’t Get Drafted
While UConn Huskies freshman Ater Majok hasn’t taken himself out of the NBA Draft, the odds of him getting drafted are slim t0 none, with none being the prevailing answer according to Andy Katz of ESPN.com.
Majok worked out as part of a 21 team event sponsored by the Golden State Warriors.
The reviews weren’t good, according to a number of NBA personnel on hand.
According to one of the NBA folks, Majok had “no feel for the game. He’s all-airport. His skill level is higher but knowledge much lower.”
A number of personnel directors said he has to go to school and needs at least two to three years to develop his game like former Huskies star Hasheem Thabeet. “He won’t get drafted if he stays in the draft,” said one assistant general manager. “If he thinks staying in the draft will get him money for his family, he’s wrong.”
It will be interesting to see what Majok does. He has until June 15th to withdraw his name from the draft.
Hopefully he heeds the advice and comes back to UConn for a year or two. Otherwise he’s looking at career in Europe.
NCAA’s Eligibility Center won’t play blame game [Andy Katz – ESPN.com]
Harrison Hangs Up Spikes For Microphone
After playing 15 years in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots, Rodney Harrison will be trading his football uniform in for a suit and microphone with NBC.
I had the opportunity and privilege to play in this league for a long time, but today, I am very proud and very excited to announce my retirement from the NFL. … All in all, I’ve done everything I could possibly do on the field. I feel like I have nothing else to prove.”
During the conference call with reporters, Harrison said that there were teams interested in his services for this year but he decided that family was the most important thing to him at this point. By working for NBC on their Sunday night telecasts, he will have plenty of time to spend with his family.
He also spoke about the “huge mistake” he made when he was suspended for HGH use.
“I had so much pride about trying to do things right,” he said. “I made such a huge mistake in that situation and disappointed so many people, including myself. When I made that mistake, I wanted other guys and kids to learn from that.”
Harrison won two Super Bowls in his career with the Patriots. He finishes with 1,205 tackles, 30.5 sacks, 34 interceptions and 2 touchdowns.
Audio: Harrison announces retirement [Reiss’ Pieces]
Boston Red Sox News & Notes – 6/3
The Boston Red Sox kicked off their 3-game set with the Detroit Tigers with a 5-1 win last night. The win for the Red Sox was the 500th for Terry Francona as Red Sox manager. He joins Joe Cronin (1,071) and Mike Higgins (560) as the only Sox managers to win 500 games.
It was a typical Daisuke Matsuzaka outing where he threw a lot of pitches and found himself in trouble only to pull the Houdini act to get out of it. This was just his third start back from the disabled list and last night marked his first win of the 2009 campaign. It would be nice to see him pitch just once like he did in the first two games of the WBC where he didn’t nibble and just threw strikes.
The time is coming for David Ortiz to be taken out of the lineup again. While he did have a hit last night, he also struck out 3 times and grounded into a DP. Once again the strikeouts came when fastballs were blown right by him.
In order for the Red Sox to compete, something needs to be done. The way Papi is swinging the bat, he deserves to be on the bench or at the very least batting 9th in the order. Otherwise, the Red Sox will have a hard time overtaking the Yankees in the division.
Reshuffled lineup does it again, helping Matsuzaka to his first win of the season [Providence Journal]
Driver’s seat [Boston Globe]
Terry Francona earns Sox win No. 500 [Boston Herald]
More and more, it’s looking like the shortstop’s job is Green’s [Providence Journal]
Lugo is ready; Francona isn’t willing [Boston Globe]
Dice-K’s 1st victory boosts staff [Boston Herald]
At long last, Kotsay returns [Providence Journal]
Motor City steers into a skid [Boston Globe]
Jacoby Ellsbury quick to spot a flaw [Boston Herald]
Smoltz views his starts at Pawtucket as the final step before he arrives in Boston [Providence Journal]
No. 500 further validation for Francona [Tony Massarotti Blog]
Five Things We Learned: Terry Francona Has Been Taught Well [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]
Something Went Squirrelly In Detroit [Center Field]
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Providence Journal websites.
And if the enemy papers are more your flavor, you can check out the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press websites.
Paw Prints – The Daily Roundup – 6/3
UConn Football links
Who Is A Consistent National Power From the Big East (Other Than WVa.)? [Desmond Conner | UConn football]
Like This Solution? And Coach Edsall And Honorary Chairman [Desmond Conner | UConn football]
Former Husky Darius Butler Intercepts Tom Brady [Hartford Courant]
UConn Women’s Basketball links
A look to the future [Jim Fuller | UConn women’s basketball]
Mail call: Will Elena wear the red, white and blue in 2012? And a bonus [John Altavilla | UConn women’s basketball]
Renee Montgomery is a blogging machine [John Altavilla | UConn women’s basketball]
This and that about the WNBA, Sun, UConn women and Elena [John Altavilla | UConn women’s basketball]
Delle Donne To Play Basketball At Delaware [Hartford Courant]
Elena Delle Donne Speaks [Hartford Courant]
Former UConn recruit Delle Donne returning to the court [New Haven Register]
Happy at home [Philadelphia Daily News]
Delle Donne to play hoops for Delaware [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Former top women’s basketball recruit back in the game [Syracuse Post-Standard]
DelleDonne announces she’ll play hoops at Delaware [USA Today]
Delle Donne: I was homesick at UConn [ESPN.com]
UConn Men’s Basketball links
Calhoun at Franciscan Banquet; Kemba to skip 19-U trials; Majok in California [Mike Anthony | UConn men’s basketball]
Charlie Villanueva’s top 10 plays of 2009 [UConn Huskies Basketball]
UConn’s Kemba Walker Won’t Play For Team USA [Hartford Courant]
Other UConn related links
Polizia! Polizia! [Thoughts From a Fat White Guy]
Kabob in Klagenfurt [Thoughts From a Fat White Guy]
Walk On Boy: Thank You [Thoughts From a Fat White Guy]
FWG: I Found The Funny [Thoughts From a Fat White Guy]
Destination Red Sox Nation – 6/3
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 are after the jump.
Francona Gets 500th Win As Red Sox Manager In 5-1 Win
Jason Bay hit a 2-run homer to give the Boston Red Sox the lead for good as they held on for a 5-1 win over the Detroit Tigers in front of 25,914 at Comerica Park in Detroit.
The win was Terry Francona’s 500th Red Sox manager and he’s just the third to do it. He joins Joe Cronin (1,071) and Mike Higgins (560) as the only Red Sox managers to win 500 games. The win keeps the Red Sox (30-22) one game behind the Yankees, who won tonight, for first place in the AL East. The Tigers drop to 28-22.
Daisuke Matsuzaka started this one for the Red Sox and was his normal adventuresome self but picked up his first win of the season. He threw 96 pitches in just 5 innings, allowing 1 run on 6 hits and 3 walks while recording 6 strikeouts.
Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima and Ramon Ramirez combined to give up no hits and runs in 3 innings while Jonathan Papelbon gave up 3 hits but rebounded to strike out the side.
Rick Porcello had won five straight games before tonight but ended up taking the loss. He lasted 4 1/3 innings, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits and a walk while striking out 2. Ryan Perry gave up 2 runs on 1 hit and 3 walks with a strikeout in an inning. Former Red Sox pitcher Brandon Lyon allowed a hit, a walk and hit a batter while striking out 1. Nate Robertson struck out 1 in his inning of work.
J.D. Drew, Jason Varitek and Jacoby Ellsbury all had 2 hits to lead the Red Sox with Drew adding an RBI and Ellsbury had his 22nd stolen base of the season. Bay’s only hit of the night was the 2-run homer. Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis had the other RBIs for the visiting nine from Boston.
The Red Sox got things going quickly in the 1st inning as Pedroia led off with a double and quickly came around to score on a single by Drew.
The Tigers came back with a run of their own in the bottom half.