Game Stories
Season Over: Angels Sweep Sox as Papelbon Blows Up
by USG on Oct 11, 2009 5:16 PM EDT
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The Sox offense came alive for the first time in the series, but it wasn't enough. Down 6-4 in the 9th, the Angels rallied, scoring three runs off of Jonathan Papelbon in the 9th inning, and completed the sweep with a 7-6 win over the Red Sox.
A blow-by-blow dissection of the game seems somehow inconsequential right now. Buchholz was solid, giving up 2 runs in 5 innings. Daniel Bard cleaned up a bases-loaded, 0 out situation in the 6th inning giving up only 1 run on a double play, and pitched a clean 7th inning striking out 2. J.D. Drew, Dustin Pedroia, Victor Martinez, and Mike Lowell delivered in key situations, with Pedroia's 2-run double putting the Sox on the board and J.D.'s homer putting the Sox up 5-1.
But in the end it would come down to the back-end of the bullpen—the part that was supposed to be reliable—giving up the game. Billy Wagner gave up a double and a walk before Terry Francona called on Papelbon for the final 4 outs. Papelbon didn't deliver. A single to Juan Rivera scored both of Wagner's baserunners in the 8th, and in the 9th Papelbon—who had never given up a postseason run--absolutely blew up with 2 outs, giving up a single, a walk, a double, and an intentional walk to bring Vladimir Guerrero to the plate with the bases loaded, 2 outs, and a one run lead. Guerrero singled to center, the Sox went down in order in the 9th, and their season was over.
For the Red Sox, it will be a long offseason with plenty of questions. What to do about Jason Varitek, who holds a $3 million player option but can't seem to really play baseball anymore. Or David Ortiz, the aging slugger who hasn't been the same since 2007, and is only getting worse. Jason Bay is a free agent, the Shortstop position continues to be a giant question mark, and their once strong bullpen seems to need some serious reworking.
The story of the 2009 Red Sox will be one of a good team that couldn't get the job done in the postseason. For Sox fans, this is nothing new—it was the story so many times during the 86-year drought. But now we expect more out of this team—certainly more than the performance we received this October—and Theo Epstein will need to have an active offseason to meet our expectations.
March is only 141 days away.
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Somehow, Red Sox Offense Even Worse in Game Two Loss
by Randy Booth on Oct 10, 2009 1:01 AM EDT
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I was thinking to myself this morning: "As bad as the Sox were last night in game one, it's impossible for them to be even worse."
Wrong.
The Red Sox's offense was even worse than game one (despite one run), losing to the Angels 4-1 on Friday night.
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Don't Blame Bucknor: Sox Lost Game One Themselves
by Randy Booth on Oct 9, 2009 1:10 AM EDT
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It would be really easy to write that umpire C.B. Bucknor is a horrible umpire that blew two calls tonight that swayed the momentum into the Angels' favor. It would be really easy to write that games -- especially ones in the postseason -- should not be decided by umpires. It would be really easy.
But it's not the reason why the Red Sox lost tonight.
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Game 162: Red Sox finish season with sweep of Indians
by Randy Booth on Oct 4, 2009 5:24 PM EDT
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Finishing the regular season with a win is a good way to go out -- no matter what. A sweep, though, is even sweeter.
Behind another strong offensive performance, the Sox defeated the Indians, 12-7, on Sunday to sweep Cleveland and prepare the Sox for the postseason.
The Red Sox finish the regular season with a 95-67 record. That's the third best record in the Major Leagues, behind the Yankees (103) and the Angels (96, with a game in progress).
The Sox's offense was aided by two home runs from J.D. Drew, a solo shot by Dustin Pedroia and a grand slam by Jed Lowrie. It was Lowrie's first career grand slam and his first home run at Fenway Park. David Ortiz also had two RBIs, finishing his season at 99 -- just short of the 100 mark he has hit every season with the Sox since last year.
Clay Buchholz was not good, considering he will be the Sox's No. 3 starter in the ALDS. He gave up six runs on five hits and two walks in three innings of work Sunday. He threw 70 pitches.
Lowrie hit the grand slam from the left side of the plate, but on replays was noticeably grimacing with pain. He said afterwards he's ready to go for the playoffs, but I'm sure we'll hear something about his wrist getting checked out.
It wasn't a perfect win, because we all would have liked to see Buchholz pitch really well, but it's something to build on going into the postseason. It's still not exactly known when the Sox will play game No. 1 versus the Angels this week, but we should know tonight.
It's time for real October baseball. Ya'll getting excited?
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Game 161: Beckett struggles, but offense gets win over Indians
by Randy Booth on Oct 3, 2009 10:36 PM EDT
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Save some of those runs for the postseason, ey?
Behind a lackluster performance from Josh Beckett, the Red Sox's offense lit up and powered past the Indians, 11-6, on Saturday night.
Beckett gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks in five innings of work, but he still came away with his 17th win of the season. Beckett struck out five. Fortunately, the runs came early as he gave up two in both the first and second. He held the Indians scoreless in his last three innings of work.
Victor Martinez and Brian Anderson (yeah, Brian Anderson) led the Sox's offense. V-Mart had his first career grand slam in a 7-run second inning, while Anderson 3 for 4 with three RBIs and a home run. Dustin Pedroia also had a huge home run in the first inning.
Paul Byrd gave up two runs in three innings of relief work. Dustin Richardson was the last reliever and he pitched a hitless, walkless, scoreless 9th inning.
Another win for the Sox over the Indians, moving them one away from sweeping the last series of the season. Clay Buchholz will be on the mound in the 1:35 p.m. game, but something tells me there are two, much bigger games people will be watching tomorrow.
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Game 160: Dice-K wins his 3rd game since coming off DL
by Randy Booth on Oct 2, 2009 11:17 PM EDT
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Don't look now, but Daisuke Matsuzaka is making this Red Sox team scary good.
Dice-K pitched six solid innings and earned his third win since coming off the disabled list with a 6-2 victory over the Indians on Friday night.
Matsuzaka gave up two runs on five hits and three walks in his outing. He struck seven while throwing 105 pitches. He ran into trouble in the 5th by giving up three runs on three hits and two walks, but he was able to work out of it.
The offense was solid behind Dice-K, picking up six runs on eight hits. Victor Martinez and Jason Bay each had two hits, while Kevin Youkilis had two RBIs thanks to a double in the 8th.
Billy Wagner, Ramon Ramirez, Daniel Bard and Takashi Saito combined for three innings of scoreless relief.
Another win against a lowly team. Hey, at least we get the Indians at the end of the year, right? Someone has to play a team with no real future and no real manager. It might as well as be the Sox.
Two more with the Indians. Last weekend of regular season baseball, folks! Soak it in while it lasts. Then it's postseason ... get excited.
Go Sox!
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Game 159: Now that's a game! Lester shuts down Indians
by Randy Booth on Oct 2, 2009 12:44 AM EDT
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Indians vs Red Sox boxscore
Indians vs Red Sox recap
Now was that so hard?
After a nice shellacking to our Triple-A team, Jon Lester led the A-squad out to the field tonight and put down a nice 3-0 win over the Indians.
Lester allowed just two hits and no runs in his 6.1 innings of work. He walked one and struck out seven on the night. The win gives Lester his 15th of the season.
The offense had the hits (12), but didn't show a lot for it with only three runs. But a win is a win. Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz and Jason Bay had RBIs in the win. Ortiz needs three more RBI to hit the 100 mark. Did anyone think that would have been possible in May?
The bullpen was solid in the win. Daniel Bard (.2 IP), Billy Wagner (1 IP, 1 K) and Jonathan Papelbon (1 IP, 2 K, SV) combined in relief. The save marks Papelbon's 38th of the season. And whaddya know? Paps' WHIP, which was a sore spot earlier this season, is now done to a nifty 1.16. That's a good sign heading into the playoffs.
Sox continue the series with the Indians Friday with a 7 p.m. game.
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Game 158: Close, but ... no, not close at all, actually
by Randy Booth on Sep 30, 2009 10:01 PM EDT
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Congratulations, Roy Halladay! You just dominated a Triple-A lineup!
That was so bad it was funny. So bad that Dusty Brown pitched the final inning. So bad that Joey Gathright led the Red Sox with two hits. So bad that Kevin Millar hit in the No. 3 spot (for the Jays, not the Sox). So bad that ...
Well, how much does this loss really matter? The Sox are in the playoffs and although they've looked really bad, the most important thing is a lock: October. Sure, momentum is nice, but it's been proven in the past that the regular season doesn't mean much come playoff time.
Maybe -- just maybe -- it won't be so bad when the Sox finish the season with the Indians in a four game set that starts Thursday. Four game winning streak to finish the regular season?
Maybe.
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