The Grand Papi Lifts Red Sox (64-38)

Last night, the Red Sox beat the Royals 12-5, as their offense as just so good again. The Royals got off to a very fast start off of John Lackey on a crushed 3-run homer over the green monster by Eric Hosmer. However, the Red Sox got two of those runs right back on back-to-back homers by Jacoby Ellsbury (off the pesky pole) and Dustin Pedroia (onto Lansdowne St.), two very different home runs, but effective nonetheless. In the 2nd inning, the Red Sox loaded the bases with no outs, and after Jacoby Ellsbury walked, they tied the game at 3-3. Dustin Pedroia then flew out to right field to give the Sox a 4-3 lead. Then Adrian Gonzalez grounded up the middle, scoring on Ellsbury if not for a would-be single on a great play by Chris Getz. In the 4th, an RBI single for Yamaico Navarro scored Darnell McDonald made it 6-3. Then later in the inning, a small milestone took place as David Ortiz knocked a grand slam into the bullpens to make it 10-3. In the 5th, Billy Butler crushed a ball onto Lansdowne St. for the second straight game to make it 10-4. In the 6th, the Sox got that run back on an RBI single up the middle by none other than the great RBI machine Adrian Gonzalez, making it 11-4. In the 8th, an Eric Hosmer single drove home Alex Gordon to make it 11-5. In the bottom of the 8th, Jacoby Ellsbury came home on a long drive off the monster by Adrian Gonzalez, as he earned his 3rd RBI of the game despite being thrown out going for a double to make it 12-5.

John Lackey was not bad, as although he gave up 4 runs in 5 2/3 innings, he gave up 3 of those on an Eric Hosmer home run in the 1st inning. After that start he is now 9-8/6.20/66, as he is not having a very good season. He was relieved by Randy Williams, who allowed a run in 1 2/3 innings and Dan Wheeler who pitched a scoreless 1 2/3 innings. Jacoby Ellsbury had a great game, going 3-4 with 3 runs and 2 RBIs, as well as the solo home run to lead off the game, he is now .325/17/60. Dustin Pedroia also had a great game, going 3-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs, as well as a homer as he is now .308/14/53. Adrian Gonzalez also had a good game, going 3-5 with a run and 3 RBIs, as he is now .351/17/87. David Ortiz only went 1-4, but that one hit was huge, as it was a grand slam over the bullpens, that accounted for his 1,000th RBI as a Red Sock. Darnell McDonald had a rare good game, going 2-4 with 2 runs scored. Yamaico Navarro also had a good game, going 2-4 with a run and an RBI despite some blunders playing the green monster for his first time ever. Today at 1:35, Josh Beckett (9-3/2.07/107) and Luke Hochevar (6-8/5.29/66) will square off as the Sox will look for a series win.

Bright Spots:

Dan Wheeler- 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief

Jacoby Ellsbury- 3-4 with 3 runs and 2 RBI, including a leadoff homer

Dustin Pedroia- 3-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs, including going back-to-back with Ellsbury

Adrian Gonzalez- 3-5 with a run and 3 RBIs

David Ortiz- 1-4 with a grand slam, his 1,000th RBI with the Sox

Darnell McDonald- 2-4 with 2 runs scored

Yamaico Navarro- 2-4 with a run and an RBI

Dull Spots:

Marco Scutaro- 0-3

The Sox played a good game, and congratulations to David Ortiz!

Death By Pitching For Astros, As Red Sox Dominate (48-34)

Last night, the Red Sox routed the Astros 10-4 in a fitting way to send me on my way to camp. The Red Sox got off to a good start early, putting runners at first and third to start the game. Adrian Gonzalez hit a single through the right side, scoring Ellsbury and making it 1-0. The Red Sox proceeded to load the bases in the inning, setting up for a walk to David Ortiz to make it 2-0. Then, Jarrod Saltalamacchia grounded into a 5-4-3 double play, but the run still scored to make it 3-0. In the bottom half, Angel Sanchez singled after a Michael Bourn triple to make it 3-1. It stayed like that until the 5th, when consecutive doubles by Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia made it 4-1. In the 6th, Hunter Pence homered to left field to make it 4-2. In the 7th, Yamaico Navarro came in to pinch hit for the pitcher, and hit his first career home run on a shot to left field to make it 5-2. In the bottom half, the Astros loaded the bases, and the Red Sox walked Hunter Pence to make it 5-3. In the 8th, the Red Sox loaded the bases, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a sacrifice fly to make it 6-3. Then, Darnell McDonald came up, I expected him to ground into a double play and the inning would be over, instead, he put the game away on a blast to left field. A BLAST. Then in the 9th, an RBI single by Kevin Youkilis made it 10-3. In the 9th, a Matt Downs RBI single made it 10-4, but that was it.

Andrew Miller has greatly impressed me so far, with another good start tonight, going 6 innings and allowing 2 runs. He is now 2-0/3.06/13. Alfredo Aceves allowed a run in 2/3 of an inning, Bard threw a scoreless third, Jenks tossed a scoreless inning, and Wheeler allowed a run in an inning. Jacoby Ellsbury went 1-4 with 2 runs scored. Dustin Pedroia (left) went 3-5 with a run and an RBI along with 3 double plays turned. Adrian Gonzalez went 3-5 with 3 runs and an RBI in a good game, raising the average to .353. Kevin Youkilis went 3-5 with a run and an RBI. Darnell McDonald only went 1-4, but that home run was too big to let go of, he is now .125/2/6, ouch. And, props to Yamaico Navarro on his first major league home run, ask my mom, I believed in you! Today, Josh Beckett (6-3/2.20/80) will go for the sweep against Jordan Lyles (0-3/4.50/28).

Bright Spots:

Andrew Miller- 2 runs in 6 innings, another impressive outing

Bobby Jenks- a scoreless inning of relief (for once)

Jacoby Ellsbury- 1-4 with 2 runs scored

Dustin Pedroia- 3-5 with a run and an RBI

Adrian Gonzalez- 3-5 with 3 runs and an RBI

Kevin Youkilis- 3-5 with a run and an RBI

Darnell McDonald- 1-4 with a crushed 3-run homer

Yamaico Navarro- first MLB home run, need I say anything else?

Dull Spots:

Alfredo Aceves- a run in 2/3 of an inning

Marco Scutaro- 0-4

The Red Sox crushed the Astros, and I'm glad I can leave town on a good note. Bye!

No More Mike Cameron (Silent Cheer)

Today the Red Sox designated 4th outfielder Mike Cameron for assignment. Before the 2010 season, they signed Cameron for 2 years and $15.5 million, but the deal never worked out. He was injured for most of last season, and wound up going .259/4/15 in 48 games. Despite being healthy this year, he has been even worse, going .149/3/9. I will not attack Theo Epstein because this was a good move at the time, as he had batted .250/24/70 the previous season along with great defense. The Red Sox called Yamaico Navarro up from Pawtucket to take his roster spot in his first MLB stint of the year after going .143/0/5 in 20 games last year. This was a brave move for Theo, but I think he did the right thing, Cameron just wasn't producing.