Repko To DL, Anderson Up From Pawtucket

On the hundredth anniversary of Fenway Park on Friday afternoon, you may recall Jason Repko's amazing catch. He ran from his home in center all the way to the Green Monster to catch a line drive. Unfortunately, while making this spectacular catch, he suffered a separation of his left shoulder and will be headed down to the DL for a little while. Coming up to the majors to replace Repko will be Lars Anderson. Anderson has gotten off to an average start-- batting .255/1/8. However, the kicker is that Anderson, normally a first baseman, has been learning how to play corner outfield. Recently acquired Marlon Byrd should spend some time in center field until Jacoby Ellsbury is healthy and Anderson can fill in off righties when Cody Ross or Ryan Sweeney needs a break (Darnell McDonald would hit off lefties). It's time for Anderson, who was the Red Sox' top prospect, to finally show his worth at the big league level. He's coming off a good spring in which he batted .343/1/8, but this is the big show.

Red Sox Promote Repko, Spears

This morning, the Red Sox made moves which would promote Jason Repko and Nate Spears to the major leagues. To add them to the 40-man roster, they had to designate Michael Bowden and Luis Exposito for assignment. Repko had gotten off to a hot start at AAA Pawtucket this season-- he was batting at a .538/1/2 clip in four games and thirteen at bats before his promotion. Repko played in 67 games last season with the Twins-- he batted .226/2/11 in 133 at bats. These two moves were obviously made to give the Red Sox outfield depth after Jacoby Ellsbury's injury-- thus, Jason Repko will be batting ninth and playing center field in today's game against the Rays. Nate Spears hasn't gotten off to quite as hot a start as Repko-- he currently stands at .231/0/2 in eight games and twenty six at bats with Pawtucket. However, the thing about Spears is that he can play anywhere: outfield, infield, you name it. Hopefully Repko and Spears will pan out for now but they are only temporary additions to the 25-man roster.

Red Sox Edge Nats In Roller Coaster Spring Finale (16-11)

Buchholz started off well today

Ellsbury went 2-3 with an RBI

This was quite a game and a way to end spring training for the Red Sox in a crazy win over the Nationals. The Red Sox got off to a 6-0 lead after the first five innings. In this time, they were led by an RBI double down the third base line in their two-run fourth. However, it was in the fifth inning where they really went crazy on an RBI bloop single for Jacoby Ellsbury and then an opposite field drive that fell for a two-run double for Dustin Pedroia. Early on, Clay Buchholz was fantastic but he encountered some trouble in the fifth inning by allowing Wilson Ramos to crush an inside fastball for a three-run homer. A solo shot for Ian Desmond in the sixth would mark the end of Buchholz's day-- he had allowed four runs in 5.2 innings. The Nationals would score three runs in the fifth  to take a 7-6 lead off the uninspiring mix of Justin Thomas and Michael Bowden. The Sox would tie the game up shortly when Daniel Nava led off the eighth inning with a home run into right-center. They would score again in the ninth when Jason Repko-- the eventual hero of this game-- looped a double into the right field corner to give the Sox a 8-7 lead. Repko would become the hero of this game when, with a runner on second base and two outs, Danny Espinosa hit a single right up the middle. Repko, manning center, quickly got the ball and fired it home to get the final out of the ballgame in the most exciting manner.

Bright Spots:
Alfredo Aceves- 1 inning, no hits, no runs, 2 strikeouts
Jacoby Ellsbury- 2-3, 2 runs, 1 RBI
Dustin Pedroia- 2-3, 2 runs, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs
Jason Repko- 1-2, 1 double, 1 RBI, some sharp fielding
Adrian Gonzalez- 1-3, 1 RBI
Daniel Nava- 1-2, game-tying home run

Dull Spots:
Justin Thomas- 0.2 innings, 3 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Kevin Youkilis- 0-3, 1 strikeout
Nate Spears- 0-2, 1 strikeout, 4 left on base
Ryan Sweeney- 0-2
Darnell McDonald- 0-2, 1 strikeout, 1 left on base
Mike Aviles- 0-2

Red Sox Battle Back In Tie To Yanks (9-7)

Cook allowed 2 runs in 4 innings

I went to bed unhappy last night-- after watching the game through the top of the eighth I was tired of watching the Red Sox bats flail (even in a spring training game)-- however, they battled back and I wish I'd seen it. After a scoreless game for the first three innings, the Yankees finally got to starter Aaron Cook for two runs in the fourth inning on an RBI triple by Curtis Granderson and an RBI single for Andruw Jones. Cook was taken out after that inning, and he wound up with 4 innings, 2 runs, 4 hits, 2 strikeouts in a decent outing. On a two-run single by Doug Bernier in the fifth, the Yankees took two more runs and a 4-0 lead. However, Ross Ohlendorf settled down and only allowed those two runs in his three innings. Mark Melancon pitched a perfect eighth inning-- leading to the Red Sox' half of the inning. After a popup by Mike Aviles to lead off the inning, Jason Repko doubled with one out. Pedro Ciriaco proceeded to knock him in with a double to make it a 4-1 game. Nate Spears singled to right to make it 4-2, knocking in Ciriaco. Lars Anderson then flashed some power with a double to center to make it 4-3 and really cut the lead down-- however, Anderson would be stranded. Scott Atchison allowed a hit and struck out a batter in a scoreless ninth to lead into the Red Sox' half of the inning with a 4-3 deficit. Ryan Sweeney singled to lead off the inning, and after a popup for Ryan Lavarnway, Mike Aviles doubled to put two in scoring position with one out. Bobby Valentine then put on one of the most exciting plays in baseball-- the suicide squeeze. With Jason Repko at the plate, he decided not to risk the out so he put on the squeeze and it worked-- Sweeney scored and Aviles advanced to tie it at 4-4. However, with the winning run at third and a tie game, Pedro Ciriaco struck out swinging to end the game.

Bright Spots:
Mark Melancon- 1 inning, no runs, no hits
Scott Atchison- 1 inning, no runs, 1 hit, 1 strikeout
Jason Repko- 1-1, 1 run, 1 double, 1 RBI, the suicide squeeze
Nate Spears- 1-2, 1 run, 1 RBI
Pedro Ciriaco 1-2, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 walk
Lars Anderson- 1-1, 1 double, 1 RBI
Ryan Sweeney- 2-4, 1 run

Dull Spots:
Jacoby Ellsbury- 0-3
Dustin Pedroia- 0-2, 1 strikeout, hurt his left forearm
Kevin Youkilis- 0-2
Cody Ross- 0-3, 2 strikeouts, 1 left on base
Ryan Lavanrway- 0-2, 1 strikeout, 1 left on base

Early Lead Slips Away As Sox Fall (9-5)

Felix Doubront pitched well

Well, today was a disappointing game for the Sox as an early 3-1 lead was to no avail in a loss. The Twins scored in the first inning after some issues by Felix Doubront. However, the Red Sox came strong into the second inning. After a walk and a hit by pitch pitted the Sox with two runners with one out, Jason Repko knocked one in with a double. Jarrod Saltalamacchia worked a walk to load the bases. The Sox would score twice more in the inning on a groundout by Darnell McDonald and an RBI by Jacoby Ellsbury to give them a 3-1 lead. The Twins scored again in the third, but overall Felix Doubront was solid-- giving them 4.2 innings with 2 runs and 8 hits. However, the Twins scored three times in the sixth off Mark Melancon-- 1 inning, 3 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout-- to give them a 5-3 lead. After solid outings by Justin Thomas and Andrew Bailey, the Twins scored three in the ninth off Scott Atchison to give them an 8-3 lead. An RBI single for Alex Hassan in the ninth brought it to 8-4 but that was it. The Mayor's Cup is now tied at 2-2.

Bright Spots:
Andrew Bailey- 1 inning, no runs, no hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Jacoby Ellsbury- 2-3, 1 RBI
Jason Repko- 1-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 double
Kevin Youkilis- 1-1, 1 walk, 1 steal
Peter Hissey- 1-1, 1 run, 1 double

Dull Spots:
Mark Melancon- 1 inning, 3 runs, 3 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Scott Atchison- 1.1 innings, 3 runs, 3 hits
Brandon Jacobs- 0-2, 1 left on base
Dustin Pedroia- 0-3, 3 left on base
Adrian Gonzalez- 0-3, 1 strikeout, 1 left on base
David Ortiz- 0-3, 1 run, 2 strikeouts, 4 left on base
Jose Iglesias- 0-3, 1 RBI, 3 left on base