Game 73: Beckett bedazzles Braves batters

by Randy Booth on Jun 26, 2009 11:08 PM EDT in Game Stories

Final - 6.26.2009	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Boston Red Sox	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	2	0	4	7	1
Atlanta Braves	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	8	0
WP: Josh Beckett (9 - 3) LP: Jair Jurrjens (5 - 6)

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So sue me: it's a catchy headline.

But that is pretty much what happened in the Sox's 4-1 victory over the Braves on Friday. Beckett went seven innings, allowed six hits, no runs, no walks and struck out six to earn his 9th win of the season. Jonathan Papelbon allowed the only run in the 9th inning.

Once again, however, Beckett dominated while the offense sputtered. David Ortiz hit another home run while J.D. Drew and Dustin Pedroia had two other RBIs. Pedroia later scored on a passed ball. Pedroia, Drew and Mark Kotsay had two hits each. The only other player to have a hit was Ortiz, and that was his home run in the fifth to break the scoreless tie.

Hideki Okajima pitched well in the 8th. He walked one, but struck out three.

It's a good win for the Sox despite only four players showing up to hit. I really believe this team hasn't come together all at the same time yet. And when it happens, it could be very, very scary for the opposition.

Sox continue the series Saturday at 4:10 p.m. Tim Wakefield will start and Javier Vazquez will oppose him.

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Comments

The rest of the NL East is no help at all.

I don’t know why I expect more out of the Mets.

by Ben Buchanan on Jun 27, 2009 12:18 AM EDT reply actions

And this is a surprise how exactly?

by lone1c on Jun 27, 2009 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions

And while we're at it, how about a league realignment?

So that ~~the Yankees suffer as much as possible~~ MLB can finally have balanced schedules, I propose the following realignment:

NL West: Giants, Padres, Rockies, Mariners, Athletics
NL Central: Dodgers, Cubs, Cardinals, Yankees, Angels
NL East: Mets, Rays, Marlins, Phillies, Twins

AL West: Mariners, Rangers, White Sox, Astros, Diamondbacks
AL Central: Blue Jays, Indians, Tigers, Braves, Brewers
AL East: Red Sox, Orioles, Pirates, Royals, Nationals

I believe this would solve many problems: the Sox don’t have to be engaged in a nuclear arms race with three other teams in the same division, while many of the Sox’s biggest rivals would have to duke it out for one or two playoff spots. In addition, the Yankees would get to enjoy the prospect of no fewer than thirty-three games West of the Rockies each year while figuring out how to juggle their 50% DH lineup for a no-DH league.

And, since all divisions have the same number of teams, no more unbalanced schedules! (And best for MLB, you can have interleague play all year long!)

by lone1c on Jun 27, 2009 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions

whoa

mariners playing in both leagues….interesting

Bills make me wanna SHOUT!

by silverstreak3k on Jun 27, 2009 1:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Dangit

I thought I’d mucked that up, but I couldn’t figure out how.

The AL West: Reds, Rangers, White Sox, Astros, Diamondbacks

by lone1c on Jun 27, 2009 2:39 AM EDT up reply actions

haha

no worries

why even have divisions that are named after directions? or if so, why have it very broad like the nba. this would get rid of some confusion…..or maybe not….who knows….baseball is all about tradition so i doubt well see this change, altho i do like your idea…..some divisions are waayyy too hard while others are laughable.

Bills make me wanna SHOUT!

by silverstreak3k on Jun 27, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions