Game 122: Tazawa, Sox spank Yanks

by Randy Booth on Aug 22, 2009 9:28 PM EDT in Game Stories Comment 19 comments

Fans hold up letters for Boston Red Sox's Kevin Youkilis after he hit his second home run of the game against the New York Yankees during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009 (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

More photos » by Winslow Townson - AP

3 months ago: Fans hold up letters for Boston Red Sox's Kevin Youkilis after he hit his second home run of the game against the New York Yankees during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009 (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Browse more photos »

Final - 8.22.2009	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York Yankees	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	12	0
Boston Red Sox	3	4	0	0	2	3	0	2	X	14	15	0
WP: Junichi Tazawa (2 - 2) LP: A.J. Burnett (10 - 7)

Complete Coverage >

Yankees vs Red Sox recap
Yankees vs Red Sox boxscore

I know you're all smart Red Sox fans, but none of you could have predicted the Red Sox beating the Yankees 14-1 Saturday after getting walloped on Friday.

Predicted or not, this is great.

It was a complete effort with 14 runs and 15 hits. Junichi Tazawa -- yes, that same Junichi Tazawa that last faced the Yankees and gave up a walk-off home run to Alex Rodriguez in the 15th inning -- was very, very good. While he gave up more hits (8) and walks (2) than we'd like in 6 innings of work, the most important stat was this one: 0 runs. Only two Ks, but hey -- he didn't let this powerful Yankees lineup score in the first 6 innings.

I'll take that every day.

Since the offense was so good, we'll make bullet points to break down the happenings:

Dustin Pedroia had three hits and four runs scored.
Kevin Youkilis had three hits and six RBIs, including two home runs.
Victor Martinez, David Ortiz and Jason Bay all had two hits.
Ortiz had three RBIs, including a solo home run.
Alex Gonzalez hit a solo home run.
Jacoby Ellsbury and Jason Varitek went 0'fers ... somehow.

This was a "statement game." The Sox have 6.5 games to go to win the AL East, but this is the kind of game that can turn things around. The Yankees have to be feeling down after this one. The Sox beat their No. 2 with a rookie? That can't feel good.

Now the Sox have the momentum. Let's see it hold through October.

One more piece of info: Sox are leading this series in runs, 25-21. Who would have thought that would be possible last night?

0 recs | Comment 19 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Sure don't hurt!!

Nice to have a SS that can handle his own with the rest of the team!!

by ComeonSox on Aug 22, 2009 10:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I know why they won

I TOLD THEM TO!

Well, I'll appreciate for you to keep my zingers outta your mouth!

by BoSox415 on Aug 22, 2009 11:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You did? Well, good work, then!

How are they gonna take Tazawa out of the rotation NOW?
How can they keep Penny IN?
(They probably CAN’T…. right? Somebody tell me I’m right…)

by Mister Snitch on Aug 22, 2009 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like the way you think, but I can't speak for Theo and Tito.

DH Lowell.

by BoldandBrash on Aug 22, 2009 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You are.

Wake is going to start Wednesday in Penny’s place. Penny’s role with the Sox is now in limbo, according to several sources. Up until the last start, I felt like Penny was doing… okay. It’s hard to say where Penny is going from here, but for now, it’s out of the starting rotation.

Big Papi will always be one of the best :-)

by BHeebs on Aug 22, 2009 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

DFA Penny.

DH Lowell.

by BoldandBrash on Aug 22, 2009 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That seems the logical option

Also the most likely. I know the Sox need a middle reliever in the pen, but I don’t think it’s going to be Penny.

I know it's early, but it's never too early for a little optimism and hope. All I know is that Soxtober is the best month of the year.

by BHeebs on Aug 22, 2009 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How many guys have we DFA’d this year? 11, 12, more? It seems like we’re DFA’ing guys left and right here, we had Woodward for like 3 days. How many guys did we DFA last year? Any? And this year we’ve gone through tons, Kotsay and Van Every feel like forever ago.

by Gnick on Aug 23, 2009 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He could be brought in to hit opposing batsmen...

…and then be suspended for multiple games, saving us his salary. It’s win-win!

Rock me, sexy Jesus...

by nuthinboutnuthin on Aug 23, 2009 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like...

the cut of your jib. I’d be ok with Penny staying on the team if his role was to come in to solely bean people, mainly A-Rod. Should he feel froggy and try to gun one in the Yankee broadcast booth at Michael Kay I’d say throw him a bonus.

by sonicdeathmonkey on Aug 23, 2009 1:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you gave the ball to one of Kay's boothmates...

They’d bean him for you, no problem. They don’t like him either.

by Mister Snitch on Aug 23, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This Yankee fan is glad

for the kid. i felt bad when he gave up that homer to a-rod. seriously — I remember the look on his face and thought it wasn’t right to throw him into the lions den in a game like that when it happened.

Anyway. Glad he did well. Becket v CC 2mro — and we’ll see who gets to 15 first.

by rosebud on Aug 23, 2009 2:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes, Penny has to go (please)

Beckett, Lester, Bucholz, Wake, and Tazawa. Goodbye Penny. Never wanted you here and glad you’re on your way out. Every time he plays it seems like he gives up at least 4 runs before the 4th inning. By the way, WE BEAT THE YANKEES ASS!!!!! It feels good. Can’t wait for tomorrow’s game.

by qthaballa on Aug 23, 2009 4:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Awesome

was in the CF bleachers for probably the perfect game to go to: nice weather, low expectations, and then an early romp. Lots of Yankee fans were there. Most had smirks on their faces before the game but not after. You know when Sea Bass homers the game is going your way.

Hopefully that is it for Penny. Aside from the one win against Detroit, he has been Smoltz-like for about 2 months. If you can’t even give your team a chance to win, you can’t expect to be in the rotation. Tawaza is interesting. Still young and a work in progress. It scares the hell out of me that he puts tons of guys on (the Yankees stranded a guy at 3rd in 4 of his six innings) and who walks more than he Ks, but he has a great ability to battle-something Penny does not have at all.His fastball was better than it was in texas, and it looked from the CF bleachers that he struck ARod out 3 times in one at bat (bad 2-1, 2-2 calls) with 3 straight curves-gutsy. Looked like he worked well with Tek. My guess is Tek will catch Tazawa and Beckett, VMart Lester, Buchholz and Wake for Wake’s August start. BTW-I read that that was Burnett’s worst start of his career-the supposed Sox killer has a 14 ERA against the Sox. In the 7th some Yankee fans were leaving and said to us-“still 6.5 up” to which my friend said “you just saw your Burnett playoff preview.”

by Buzzy on Aug 23, 2009 9:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What Pedroia is to the position players

Tazawa will be to the rotation.

by Mister Snitch on Aug 23, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That makes little sense.

I am excited about Tazawa for the future, but lets be honest-he has lived very very dangerously. He gets hit hard…a lot. Despite the results-the league is hitting well over 300 hundred against him. I was at the game, and there were many loud outs, two singles that might have left the park in Yankee stadium and nearly 2 guys on each inning. He can’t keep that up with the same results-it never happens. I like his demeanor and he has already done alot for us (recall he was in AA ball a month ago) but he will get burned sooner or later at this pace. So I don’t see the analogy.

by Buzzy on Aug 23, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs