August 21st @ Tampa Bay

[mtbykr]

Here we go, keep winning guys! One a side note if we win tonight I will not be able to make the gamethread for the next 2 days due to being out of town on business. Hopefully we win and then someone else can step up...either that or I could make them for the next 2 days and someone could delete them if we lose.


http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/1760/lesteruc2.jpg

VS.

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/7060/4324fef78991452cbf83711fh3.jpg





Boston cruised into Tampa Bay on Monday with the best record in baseball, as well as a 5-5 record over its last 10 games.
The beginning of this week, although it is against the Rays, the team with the worst record in baseball, is a gentle reminder for the Red Sox to stay focused down the home stretch, and maintain the same tenacity against the stubborn Rays that they have had this season against everyone else.

On Tuesday, the Red Sox will look to Jon Lester in the second of three games against the Rays. It will mark the lefty's sixth start in his return from cancer, and the second time he's faced the Rays in as many outings.

He had measured success in his last go-round with the Rays at Fenway, allowing just two hits and one run over seven innings.

The Rays' starter, Andy Sonnanstine, hasn't won in nine tries, but took a step forward during his last start, snapping an eight-game skid with a victory at Boston. The righty held the Red Sox to three runs on four hits over 6 2/3 innings.

It was a refreshing change for the rookie, who had strayed lately from his original, successful game plan of using his fastball to set up his offspeed pitches, and been caught up to several times as a result.

Pitching matchup

BOS: LHP Jon Lester (1-0, 5.14 ERA)
He has a 5.40 career ERA on turf.

TB: RHP Andy Sonnanstine (2-8, 6.17 ERA)
He's held righties to .251 hitting, while left-handers are hitting .331 against him.

Player to watch
Jason Varitek is 2-for-3 in his career against Sonnanstine, with a home run and two RBIs.

[yeszir]

You better hope we lose then!


Just kidding...go team.

[BoSox21]

alright, now that we've seen this douchebag, it's time to light him up

[mtbykr]

Some more cheers mojo:

zA08PC03N1s

[mtbykr]

Red Sox

Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
David Oritz, DH
Manny Ramirez, LF
Mike Lowell, 3B
J.D. Drew, RF
Jason Varitek, C
Coco Crisp, CF
Julio Lugo, SS
Jon Lester, P

Devil Rays

Akinori Iwamura 3b
Carl Crawford, LF
B.J. Upton, CF
Carlos Pena, 1B
Delmon Young, RF
Brendan Harris, 2B
Jonny Gomes, DH
Josh Wilson, SS
Dioner Navarro, C
Andy Sonnanstine P

[riverside sluggers]

Just fucking win, you fuckers


Jon Lester (3 games vs Tampa Bay, 1-0 with a 4.74 ERA---Career at Tropicana Field in 2 games, 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA)
Akinori Iwamura, 2 for 6 (.333 avg) HR, 3 RBIs, 3 Walks
Carl Crawford, 2 for 6 (.333 avg) Double, 2 Ks
B.J. Upton, 2 for 8 (.250 avg) Walk, 2 Ks
Carlos Pena, 2 for 7 (.286 avg) HR, 4 RBIs
Delmon Young, 0 for 7, RBI, Walk, 3 Ks
Brendan Harris, 1 for 7 (.143 avg) Double
Jonny Gomes, 2 for 7 (.286 avg) HR, RBI, K
Josh Wilson, 0 for 6, Walk, K
Dioner Navarro, 0 for 2
///
Greg Norton, 0 for 3, 2 Ks
Josh Paul, 1 for 5 (.200 avg) HR, RBI


Andy Sonnanstine (2 games vs Boston, 1-1 with an 8.04 ERA---Career at Tropicana Field in 7 games, 0-5 with a 6.86 ERA)
Dustin Pedroia, 0 for 5, Walk, K
Kevin Youkilis, 1 for 6 (.167 avg) Double, 2 Ks
David Ortiz, 2 for 6 (.333 avg) Triple, RBI, K
Manny Ramirez, 1 for 5 (.200 avg) RBI, K
Mike Lowell, 2 for 5 (.400 avg) Double
J.D. Drew, 1 for 6 (.167 avg)
Jason Varitek, 3 for 5 (.600 avg) HR, 3 RBIs, 2 Ks
Coco Crisp, 1 for 4 (.250 avg) Double, 2 RBIs, Walk, K
Julio Lugo, 1 for 4 (.250 avg) Double, 2 RBIs

Lester this season on the road in 5 games, 2-0 with a 6.90 ERA

[ACL BoSox]

let's hope round 2 with Andy Sonnestine goes better than the first

[schillingouttheks]

I'll pick up the gamethreads if we win tonight, mtbykr.

Win again, you underachieving suckbags.

[Thumper]

Just win.

[schillingouttheks]

Good looking lineup tonight.

[Thumper]

Good God I hate the FSN Florida announcers with a passion. I'd rather listen to John Miller and Joe Morgan. Seriously, they are biased pieces of shit.

[riverside sluggers]

Tell the Sox offense that this guy isnt a soft tossing lefty

[schillingouttheks]

Pedroia struck out on 3 pitches. That's pretty uncharacteristic.

[schillingouttheks]

'atta boy Youk. Bring him home Papi.

[Thumper]

Yooooooooooooouk!

[schillingouttheks]

That's the Ortiz we all know and love!

Someone was holding a steak bomb in the third base stands.

[Thumper]

PAPI!!!!

[redsoxrules]

PAPI! 1-0

[schillingouttheks]

Nice job Manny. 2-0!

[Thumper]

Bustin' open early! That's how you play!

Someone get Ortiz a tank of oxygen.

[schillingouttheks]

:lol: The heckler's there! I wish See Red could have access to this board at the game...I would tell him to go smack that heckler curtosy of talksox.com ...

[riverside sluggers]

Tell the Sox offense that this guy isnt a soft tossing lefty

Thank you

Ortiz/Manny combo are on a fucking roll, driving in runs left and right. Good time as any for them to get hot at the same time for the stretch run

[schillingouttheks]

Bustin' open early! That's how you play!

Someone get Ortiz a tank of oxygen.

I think he just wants that steak bomb that he was running so hard for. Someone go get the guy in the third base stands to give it to him.

[yeszir]

:lol: The heckler's there! I wish See Red could have access to this board at the game...I would tell him to go smack that heckler curtosy of talksox.com ...
It looks like he's targeting Lowell. You have to give that guy credit, he's there for every game. :lol:

[Thumper]

It looks like he's targeting Lowell. You have to give that guy credit, he's there for every game. :lol:

Atleast the cowbell douche isn't there.

[CrespoBlows]

I guess Buchholz could be a nice fit.

[EvilDonut]

Well Shit.

[schillingouttheks]

Atleast the cowbell douche isn't there.

Yes he is.

Fucking shit. Lester gives it right back. Buchholz instead of Lester, please.

[redsoxrules]

fuck

[Thumper]

Oh my God shut the fuck up FSN Florida announcers. Fall out the pressbox already.

"PENA HIT'S ONE! HE'S THE GREATEST!"

Fuck.

[schillingouttheks]

Oh my God shut the fuck up FSN Florida announcers. Fall out the pressbox already.

"PENA HIT'S ONE! HE'S THE GREATEST!"

Fuck.

So put the fucking TV on mute. No offense, but I've heard enough about the announcers. It's like a broken record argghhhhhh.

[Thumper]

So put the fucking TV on mute. No offense, but I've heard enough about the announcers. It's like a broken record argghhhhhh.

Muting it doesn't make up for the 5 back to back replays of Pena's home run. I may as well close my eyes too.

Besides that, Let's just get ahead... again.

[schillingouttheks]

Here's Cy Sonnanstine again.

[riverside sluggers]

Not a good 2nd inning. Drew while he did put a good ride into it, it was still a 1 pitch 1st out of the inning, followed by foolish strikeouts by Varitek and Coco. I swear Drew better pick it up next season. His contract has been one of the biggest jokes of the 06 offseason. This guy is geting paid more than Ortiz

[Rdsxmbnt]

wow sonnanstine is really good

[BoSox21]

baffles me how Lester does well in starts when you'd think he'd be rattled (MLB return, Fenway return) but shits the bed in every other start

[riverside sluggers]

The home plate umpire just for the heck of it gives 6+ ERA Sonnanstine another K, Youk clearly held up

[schillingouttheks]

Nice pickoff. EX-LAX!

[schillingouttheks]

Nice hustle, Ort. Got some wheels tonight.

Manny, you're way overdue for a bomb. When was the last time he hit one?

[schillingouttheks]

I really just can't believe that Andy fuckin' Sonnanstine has struck out 5 of our batters through 3.1 innings.

[redsoxrules]

WTF is with all these strikeouts

[schillingouttheks]

Oh fuck. Sonnanstine is striking out people left and right and now he hit Lowell. Fuck this shit man. That sounded really bad too. Hopefully it's not a break.

EDIT: Whew. Lowell's staying in.

[riverside sluggers]

baffles me how Lester does well in starts when you'd think he'd be rattled (MLB return, Fenway return) but shits the bed in every other start

2 starts, 1-0, 2.08 ERA
13 innings, 7 Hits, 3 Runs, 1 HR, 4 Walks, 10 Ks

Other 3 starts, 7.80 ERA
15 innings, 22 Hits, 13 Runs, 3 HRs, 6 Walks, 10 Ks

[redsoxrules]

come on drew , make him pay

[Thumper]

Fuck D-Bag pitcher. No way that was an accident.

[riverside sluggers]

Nice hustle, Ort. Got some wheels tonight.

Manny, you're way overdue for a bomb. When was the last time he hit one?

August 5th in Seattle. A span of 16 games, 56 ABs

[schillingouttheks]

Fuck D-Bag pitcher. No way that was an accident.

... I'm pretty sure he was just trying to go inside. He's a rookie pitcher who sucks, who also happens to be mowing us down. I don't think he'd intentionally put a runner in scoring position, Thumper.

Nice Drew.

[schillingouttheks]

Oh captain, my captain! Nice long at bat, and nice piece of hitting. 3-2.

[Thumper]

Keep em' moving!

[schillingouttheks]

Now Coco puts a nice at bat up there and gets a 2-run double to make it 5-2! Keep it going!

[redsoxrules]

great AB coco

[schillingouttheks]

Lugo with ANOTHER nice at bat and another 2-run double.

This is a beautiful thing to see. It kinda reminds me of the Red Sox we watched at the beginning of the year, no?

[Thumper]

Good hit Lugo!

[riverside sluggers]

Now Coco puts a nice at bat up there and gets a 2-run double to make it 5-2! Keep it going!

7-2 by Lugo, fucking A!! So Gom was saying something about that the Sox are pathetic sticks, and guaranteed that they will lose 2 or get swept this series... B)

[redsoxrules]

7-2

[schillingouttheks]

7-2 by Lugo, fucking A!! So Gom was saying something about that the Sox are pathetic sticks, and guaranteed that they will lose 2 or get swept this series... B)

Well, they could still lose 2, lol. I like Lester, but I wouldn't put it past him to live up to his 7+ ERA in games that haven't been his return to MLB or return to Fenway.

Great inning.

Oh, riverside, I also like Anaheim's chances in a Mussina vs. Escobar matchup, no?

[redsoxrules]

Well, they could still lose 2, lol. I like Lester, but I wouldn't put it past him to live up to his 7+ ERA in games that haven't been his return to MLB or return to Fenway.

Great inning.

Oh, riverside, I also like Anaheim's chances in a Mussina vs. Escobar matchup, no?

yeah i also like anaheim's chances in tomorrow nights game with lackey, it would be great if anaheim would sweep them, wich i think they have a great chance of doing

[redsoxrules]

nice 1-2-3 to get the offense back right in there

[riverside sluggers]

Well, they could still lose 2, lol. I like Lester, but I wouldn't put it past him to live up to his 7+ ERA in games that haven't been his return to MLB or return to Fenway.

Great inning.

Oh, riverside, I also like Anaheim's chances in a Mussina vs. Escobar matchup, no?

True. Guilty of getting ahead of myself with 5 innings still to go

Yes Mussina vs Escobar should be in the bag for the Angels

[redsoxrules]

heres pictures from the game last week that the sox won 2-1

http://s202.photobucket.com/albums/aa149/zcollection/August%202007%20Trip/Red%20Sox%20Game%207pm%20Aug%2014/

[RedSoxRooter]

Sox are doing great tonight.....

"More! More! More!" I love Bob's!

That has to be the most eventually-annoying commercial they've ever made. But right now I laugh everytime I hear "More!"

[schillingouttheks]

lol Raymond's awesome. Anyone see the sign he made for Coco to next to the dugout? It said "SLOW! Coco crossing."

[Coco's Disciples]

Seriously, Raymond is a douche. He's throwing baseballs at Jerry Remy. It's pretty funny, but he's a douche.

[schillingouttheks]

Seriously, Raymond is a douche. He's throwing baseballs at Jerry Remy. It's pretty funny, but he's a douche.

Oh come on. I think it's awesome that the mascot gets into it with them. DO and Remy love it anyway. And oh, I'm pretty sure they're not baseballs. I don't think Remy would have just tossed a baseball into the crowd below the announcer's booth.

[Coco's Disciples]

Yeah initially I thought he was throwing hard balls, but they're soft. I like the dangling of the mouse, that was funny.

[redsoxrules]

lol Raymond's awesome. Anyone see the sign he made for Coco to next to the dugout? It said "SLOW! Coco crossing."

yeah they had that on on lastnights game too , it was hilarious

[BoSox21]

off-topic a bit but im watching the As-Jays game on TV while i have the Sox on the computer and fuck, Dan Haren is damn good

[riverside sluggers]

Home plate umpire's strike zone has been shrinking. Only way Lester can get strikes is from foul balls or actual swings and misses

EDIT: Get the bullpen up!!!

[schillingouttheks]

Sigh. 7-5. Lesterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr arghhhhhhh.

[riverside sluggers]

Lets see how long it gets Tito to warm up the bullpen.

[schillingouttheks]

Oh God. Warm up the bullpen.

Ewwwwwwww Kyle Snyder.

[BoSox21]

christ, Gagne is gonna come in with a small lead, I can feel it now...

[ACL BoSox]

the way our bullpen has been of late... we're going to need some insurance runs... outside of papelbon/okajima and MAYBE MDC, I am not confident with anyone on the mound.

[schillingouttheks]

the way our bullpen has been of late... we're going to need some insurance runs... outside of papelbon/okajima and MAYBE MDC, I am not confident with anyone on the mound.

Timlin? He's actually been pretty good.

$20 says Gagne pitches in this close game.

[riverside sluggers]

the way our bullpen has been of late... we're going to need some insurance runs... outside of papelbon/okajima and MAYBE MDC, I am not confident with anyone on the mound.

The only guy that has been strugging of late is Gagne

EDIT: Lester has now given up 6 HRs in 33 innings. Last year with Boston he gave up just 7 in 81.1 innings

[ACL BoSox]

Timlin has been pretty good... but I never feel confident with him. Same with Snyder.

[riverside sluggers]

?.... Tito why is Lester out there to start the 6th

[schillingouttheks]

lol our announcers are hilarious. Trying to freak out the Rays announcers with the fake rat.

[schillingouttheks]

Lester needs to throw strikes. This is getting very annoying. Shut him down for the rest of the season and call up Buchholz please.

[riverside sluggers]

Hey tito there you are

[Rdsxmbnt]

nice!

[schillingouttheks]

1 pitch, 2 outs. I love it. Send him back out for the 7th.

[riverside sluggers]

1 pitch for MDC helped by some solid defense by the infield

Nah Schil with Tito I bet it will be Okajima for the 7th, Gagne for the 8th, Papelbon for the 9th

EDIT: Thank you D-Rays defense! 8-5

[Youk Of The Nation]

I seriously doubt that JD Drew will ever hit another home run. Ever.

[schillingouttheks]

Come on Delcarmen. Throw a fuggin' strike PLEASE.

Thanks.

[mtbykr]

I'll pick up the gamethreads if we win tonight, mtbykr.

Win again, you underachieving suckbags.



Thanks, let's hope they are still winning when i get back

[Rdsxmbnt]

ugh

[schillingouttheks]

Please just get one more out, Jima.

[mtbykr]

what has happened to dpeds D lately?

[schillingouttheks]

Nice job by Jima. He'll probably be back out there for the 8th.

...I hope. Gulp.

[mtbykr]

thanks oki

[inkman]

I heart Oker-Jeemer.

[schillingouttheks]

That foul ball from Carlos Pena was absolutely crushed. Seriously. Where the fuck did Carlos Pena's season come from. Out of nowhere man.

[schillingouttheks]

Papelboner, ACTIVATED!

:papelbon:

[BoSox21]

sending Gagne a message, about fucking time

[mtbykr]

Just a bit outside, he tried the corner and missed............sincerely Harry Doyle:D

[schillingouttheks]

One down.

[schillingouttheks]

Two down. All 3 outs that Papelbon has gotten (since coming on in the 8th) have been strikeouts.

[Rdsxmbnt]

two down

[Rdsxmbnt]

so ya he is pretty good

[inkman]

Fucking Nasty!

[schillingouttheks]

Sox win! Papelbon with the 4-out save. Take notes, Gagne.

Now to the Yankee Game Thread.... Angels are winning 2-0. An Angels' victory tonight puts the Sox back up 6 games.

[mtbykr]

nice win guys......go angels

[riverside sluggers]

Yesss Sox win, 76-50, season high 26 games above .500. Lets go Escobar, help us bring that back up to 6 games

Gom we wait your rebuttal... let me guess this is a fluke series

The offense continues to gel

Papelbon is fucking money, 4 Ks in 1.1 inning. He is the first Sox closer with back to back 30 save seasons (65 overall)

[inkman]

sending Gagne a message, about fucking time

Yeah, I think it reads " You fucking SUCK!"

[Coco's Disciples]

Good. Go for the sweep tomorrow, now 26 above .500 and 5.5 up in the East.

[Rdsxmbnt]

maybe Im watching reruns but I swear they are playing the same clips over and over again in this postgame

[TheKilo]

Yesss Sox win, 76-50, season high 26 games above .500. Lets go Escobar, help us bring that back up to 6 games

Gom we wait your rebuttal... let me guess this is a fluke series

The offense continues to gel

Papelbon is fucking money, 4 Ks in 1.1 inning. He is the first Sox closer with back to back 30 save seasons (65 overall)

Papelbon only struck out 3. All swinging.

[Mr Crunchy]

everyone breathing easier this morning??
true to form the sox will eat up the drays and the yanks,albeit playing hard,are getting their collective asses handed to them in anaheim
the angels are a pain in the ass offensively and they get solid pitching when needed from 4 different starters.
i played the yankees and under last nite for the record
i was out of the game with nobody out in the angels 2nd
imagine if the yanks got vlad guerrero instead of sheffield??

[das11209]

Gom we wait your rebuttal... let me guess this is a fluke series




Lead is back to 6 - time for GOM to go back to hibernation.

He may not show up at all this year if the lead never gets below 4 and there is a pretty good chance of that.

[BoSox21]

everyone breathing easier this morning??


im breathing a bit easier knowing the Sox (19-11) and Yankees (20-10) have almost the same record over the last 30 games despite Gagne single-handedly losing 3 of those games