Mike Lowell had three hits, including a HR, 4 rbi’s, a shoulder knockdown and an accidental take-out of Doug Mientkiewicz as the Red Sox rallied to defeat the Yankees 11-6 on Saturday.
On a day that started with no suspension for Scott Proctor and warnings issued to both teams, things were relatively calm til Lowell decided to play linebacker on Robinson Cano in the fourth inning. With Lowell on first, Jason Varitek hit a grounder to Cano at second that Cano fielded. Instead of throwing to Jeter covering at second, Cano tried to tag out Lowell but was greeted with a shoulder to the body, knocking Cano to the ground. However, much to his credit, Cano was able to get Varitek at first by a step. The play is completely legal but you can be sure it raised a few eyebrows in the Yankees dugout.
Curt Schilling was on the hill today for the Sox and he looked ok. Nothing spectacular. Just ok. I think the long layoff with the rain delay, then the long inning probably took its toll on him. Schill got through the first only allowing a double to Derek Jeter.
It was much of the same thing for Mike Mussina in the first. He allowed singles to Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz but got Manny to ground into a double play to end the inning. Pedroia’s single extended his hitting streak to 13 games.
Schilling retired the first two batters of the second inning with relative ease. But then he left a fastball up and Melky Cabrera planted one around Pesky’s Pole, giving them a 1-0 lead.
The Red Sox got the run back in the 3rd inning playing some small ball. Wily Mo Peña led off the inning with a double and was promptly sacrificed over to third by Coco Crisp. Julio Lugo brought him in with a groundout tying the game at 1.
The Sox would add two more runs in the 4th inning after a 29 minute rain delay. With rain falling, Big Papi drew a walk and he advanced to third base on a Manny double. The umpires then called for the tarp. When they came back, Youk drew a walk to load up the bases for Lowell. Lowell greeted Mussina with a single that scored Big Papi, putting the Sox up 2-1. Then the incident with Cano and Lowell happened, as mentioned above. The play though brought in Manny from third, making it 3-1 Sox.
Schilling was given a little extra time to warm up for the 5th inning because of the rain delay. He cruised right through the inning.
The Sox threatened again in the 5th inning loading up the bases but Youk flew out to center.
The Sox were up a long time that inning and it showed for Schilling. He struggled with his command mightily, in my opinion Curt if you stop by. Hideki Matsui reached on a single and then Schill walked AROD. With Hip hip Jorge Posada at the plate, Terry Francona was deciding whether or not to make a pitching change. He decided he wanted Schill to face Jorge as a lefty instead of as a righty. Tito isn’t wrong too often but this time he was. Posada crushed a ball into the Yankees bullpen, putting the Yankees up 4-3. All this happened without an out in the inning. The homer chased Schill from the game. It should be interesting what he has to say about this start and hopefully the series so far at his blog.
Javier Lopez came in for Schill and lately he hasn’t been pitching too bad. Today wasn’t one of those days. He got Cano to ground out but then Melky unleashed a double to deep right center and came around to score on a Mientkiewicz single, putting the Yanks up by 2 at 5-3. He settled down and got Wil Nieves to ground into an inning ending double play.
Schilling’s line looked like this: 5 innings, 9 hits, 4 runs (all earned), 1 walk and 2 strikeouts on only 75 pitches.
The Sox wasted no time getting the runs back in their half of the 6th. Lowell led off with a homerun that barely got over the Green Monster. Varitek followed him him with a homerun that landed in the black tarped seats in center to tie the game at 5 and chased Mussina from the game. Last night’s goat, Scott Proctor, came in and Peña to strikeout. Coco then singled and stole second while Lugo was at the plate. Lugo grounded out and Pedroia flew out to end the inning.
Lopez came out for the 7th inning and go the one batter he faced, Abreu, to strikeout. Tito showed some confidence in Joel Piñero by bringing him into a close game again. Unfortunately, Jeter greeted him with a homerun, putting the Yanks on top at 6-5. He then got Matsui on strikeout but walked AROD and was promptly replaced by Hideki “Darkman” Okajima. Darkman got Posada to fly out.
The Sox took advantage of Proctor’s control problems and struck for 5 runs that were all charged to him. Big Papi led off with a double and then Manny was intentionally walked. Youk drew a walk to load the bases up again for Lowell. Lowell hit a grounder to Cano at second, who threw to Jeter at second to get Manny but Jeter’s relay throw pulled Mientkiewicz towards the outfield side of the bag and caused Lowell to accidently hit Mientkiewicz with his knee into Dougie’s head. Mientkiewicz was knocked silly and with the ball loose, Manny scored making it 8-6 and Lowell went to second on Jeter’s error.
Mientkiewicz just layed there and he definitely was out of it. He was helped to the medical cart and was brought off the field. He was taken to the hospital for further tests. It was a freak play and I am sure Lowell felt bad for what happen. He was, in no way, trying to take Dougie out at first. The Sox crowd gave a nice applause to Dougie as he left the field. Josh Phelps came into replace him.
The inning wasn’t over yet though. Varitek was intentionaly walked so the Yanks could face Wily Mo. Wily grounded a ball to Jeter that he booted, loading up the bases for Crisp. Coco brought home Lowell with a single putting the Sox up 8-6. Proctor was then replaced by Brian Bruney. Lugo followed him with a sacrifice fly that scored Varitek. Pedroia followed that with his third single of the night and it brought Wily Mo in making it 10-6 Sox. Mike Myers came in and got Big Papi to ground out to third, ending the big inning for the Sox.
Darkman cruised through the 8th inning, setting the side down in order.
Luis Vizcaino came in for Myers and got Manny to strikeout. This brought Youk to the plate with his 23 game hitting streak on the line. Unfortunately, he didn’t get a hit but was walked instead, his third of the day. With Youk running on the pitch, Lowell drove a double to center that scored Youk, providing the final margin of 11-6.
Jonathan Papelbon came on in the 9th for the Sox and only allowed a walk to Bobby Abreu. Darkman got the win, which was his first here in the States. Josh Beckett goes tomorrow for the Sox and he will be opposed by Andy Pettitte. Game time is 8:05 ET and the game will be on ESPN.
The Yanks got word during the game that Roger Clemens would have to be scratched from his start on Monday in Chicago.
Andy Pettitte and Brad Mills brought out the lineup cards today. Given everything that happened last night, it was surprising to see the Yanks at least not send out a coach. Pettitte didn’t say a word at all.
Reggie Jackson introduced the Yanks lineup and Freddy Krueger announced the Sox lineup.
Mike Mussina leads all active pitchers with 19 wins against the Red Sox coming into today’s game.
Joe Torre was upset with a headline in the NY Daily News that said “Joe to AROD: Shut up!” This wasn’t what Torre said and they have already changed the headline.
Before the 4th inning, Terry Francona was being interviewed by FOX and Big Papi was mocking Francona. Francona said he’d knock Papi on his ass.
Youk is one of four first baseman who haven’t made an error this season. He made one at third last night though.
Posada’s homer off of Schilling was his 205th of his career, tying him for 9th all time in Yankees history. Next up at 225 is Donnie Baseball.
Bennifer Part 2 was at the game sitting next to the Sox dugout. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner that is.
Melky Cabrera was a triple short of the cycle.
