June 17 @ Atlanta

[RedSoxRooter]

Had to start this one early because I'm gonna be out and didn't want to mess with the mojo.

Game Info:

Date: Saturday, June 17th, 2006

First Pitch: 1:20pm EST

Location: Turner Field, Atlanta GA

TV: FOX

Starting Pitchers:

 

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_277417.jpghttp://bellsouthpwp.net/c/h/chinigor/TALKSOX/vsSMALL.jpghttp://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_433578.jpg

 

http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/mlb/sml/trans/bos.gif#19 Josh Beckett (7-3, 5.26)

http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/mlb/sml/trans/atl.gif#40 Lance Cormier (2-1, 6.10)

 

Red Sox/Braves Game Preview:

With their pitching problems seemingly growing more dire by the day, the Boston Red Sox need Josh Beckett to return to his early season form.

 

Beckett looks to snap a personal three-start winless streak when he takes the mound for the Red Sox (37-28) on Saturday in the middle game of their series with the struggling Atlanta Braves .

 

After winning his first three starts while posting a 1.29 ERA, Beckett (7-3, 5.26 ERA) has struggled, going 4-3 with a 6.79 ERA in his last 10 outings. Most alarmingly, the right-hander has given up 17 home runs over 54 1-3 innings in his last 10 starts. The 17 homers already mark a career high for Beckett.

 

The right-hander is 0-2 in his last three outings while giving up 19 runs and seven homers in 11 1-3 innings. He lasted 5 1-3 innings Sunday against Texas, giving up four runs and five hits, including one homer, and didn't receive a decision in Boston's 5-4 victory.

 

The Braves (30-38) are no strangers to Beckett, who spent his first five major league seasons with the NL East rival Florida Marlins . He owns a 4-7 record in 13 starts against Atlanta despite a 2.59 ERA.

 

The 2003 World Series MVP has dominated a couple of key Braves hitters. Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones is 4-for-23 (.174) against Beckett while shortstop Edgar Renteria - who played for Boston last season - is 1-for-9.

 

Beckett's performance takes on greater importance after Boston placed starter Matt Clement on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder Friday. Clement joins left-hander David Wells and reliever Keith Foulke on the DL for the Red Sox .

 

Rookie left-hander Jon Lester gave Boston a lift by earning his first major league victory in the series opener Friday, pitching six strong innings to help the Red Sox win 4-1 and snap a four-game skid.

 

''You can't beat it,'' Lester said. ''It was a lot of fun.''

 

The Braves haven't been having much fun lately, losing five straight games and 15 of 18. Atlanta is eight games below .500 for the first time since finishing the 1990 season with a 65-97 mark.

 

The club has won a record 14 straight division titles since.

 

''There's no experience in this locker room for a losing team,'' said Braves left fielder Matt Diaz , who went 2-for-4 on Friday in his third consecutive multihit game. ''Everybody is wondering when we're going to come out of this funk, when we're going to start winning games. I think we're all trying to do too much.''

 

Left-hander Horacio Ramirez (2-2, 5.06) returns to the mound for Atlanta six days after making a frightening exit. Ramirez left Sunday's game at Houston in the second inning after being hit in the forehead by a Lance Berkman line drive. The left-hander lay motionless on his stomach for a few seconds before leaving the field under his own power.

 

''It was one of the scariest things I've ever seen in baseball,'' Braves catcher Brian McCann said. ''It's something you never wish on anybody. It's awful, but he got up and wanted to keep pitching.''

 

Ramirez allowed seven runs and six hits in 1 2-3 innings of the contest, a 14-4 Atlanta loss. It was the first time in four outings since coming off the disabled list that Ramirez failed to pitch at least seven innings.

 

Ramirez is 4-0 with a 3.90 ERA in five career interleague starts. He has never faced the Red Sox .

[riverside sluggers]

With John Smoltz pitching tomorrow, Ortiz should get today off instead. The Sox offense should do more than enough against the scrub whos pitching today. Beckett might have a losing record against Atlanta... but check out his ERA

 

Lance Cormier (1st career appearance vs Boston---Career at Turner Field in 10 games, 1-1 record with a 4.72 ERA)

Kevin Youkilis --

Mark Loretta, 3 for 4 (.750 avg) RBI, Walk

David Ortiz --

Trot Nixon --

Jason Varitek --

Mike Lowell, 1 for 5 (.200 avg) Double, RBI

Coco Crisp --

Alex Gonzalez, 2 for 3 (.667 avg) RBI, Walk, K

Josh Beckett --

///

Willie Harris, 0 for 1

J.T. Snow, 1 for 5 (.200 avg) Walk

 

Josh Beckett (13 games, 4-7 record with a 2.59 ERA---Career at Turner Field in 5 games, 1-3 record with a 1.67 ERA)

Marcus Giles, 5 for 25 (.200 avg) Double, 2 RBIs, 3 Walks, 6 Ks

Edgar Renteria, 1 for 9 (.111 avg) Walk, 2 Ks

Wilson Betemit, 0 for 2, Walk, K

Andruw Jones, 7 for 26 (.269 avg) 2 RBIs, 4 Walks, 9 Ks

Brian McCann, 2 for 5 (.400 avg) Double

Jeff Francoeur, 1 for 2 (.500 avg) Walk, K

Adam LaRoche, 2 for 12 (.167 avg) Double, 2 RBIs, Walk, 5 Ks

Matt Diaz --

Lance Cormier --

///

Chipper Jones, 4 for 23 (.174 avg) 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, Walk, 6 Ks

Brian Jordan, 0 for 2

Ryan Langerhans, 0 for 5, K

Todd Pratt, 3 for 8 (.375 avg) 2 RBIs, K

[Cocos Disciples]

Oh, I thought Horacio Ramirez was pitching this one.

[RedSoxRooter]

He got hit off the head with a line drive last week. A-la Clement.

[Cocos Disciples]

Had to start this one early because I'm gonna be out and didn't want to mess with the mojo.

Game Info:

Date: Saturday, June 17th, 2006

First Pitch: 1:20pm EST

Location: Turner Field, Atlanta GA

TV: FOX

Starting Pitchers:

 

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_277417.jpghttp://bellsouthpwp.net/c/h/chinigor/TALKSOX/vsSMALL.jpghttp://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_433578.jpg

 

http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/mlb/sml/trans/bos.gif#19 Josh Beckett (7-3, 5.26)

http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/teamlogos/mlb/sml/trans/atl.gif#40 Lance Cormier (2-1, 6.10)

 

Red Sox/Braves Game Preview:

With their pitching problems seemingly growing more dire by the day, the Boston Red Sox need Josh Beckett to return to his early season form.

 

Beckett looks to snap a personal three-start winless streak when he takes the mound for the Red Sox (37-28) on Saturday in the middle game of their series with the struggling Atlanta Braves .

 

After winning his first three starts while posting a 1.29 ERA, Beckett (7-3, 5.26 ERA) has struggled, going 4-3 with a 6.79 ERA in his last 10 outings. Most alarmingly, the right-hander has given up 17 home runs over 54 1-3 innings in his last 10 starts. The 17 homers already mark a career high for Beckett.

 

The right-hander is 0-2 in his last three outings while giving up 19 runs and seven homers in 11 1-3 innings. He lasted 5 1-3 innings Sunday against Texas, giving up four runs and five hits, including one homer, and didn't receive a decision in Boston's 5-4 victory.

 

The Braves (30-38) are no strangers to Beckett, who spent his first five major league seasons with the NL East rival Florida Marlins . He owns a 4-7 record in 13 starts against Atlanta despite a 2.59 ERA.

 

The 2003 World Series MVP has dominated a couple of key Braves hitters. Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones is 4-for-23 (.174) against Beckett while shortstop Edgar Renteria - who played for Boston last season - is 1-for-9.

 

Beckett's performance takes on greater importance after Boston placed starter Matt Clement on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder Friday. Clement joins left-hander David Wells and reliever Keith Foulke on the DL for the Red Sox .

 

Rookie left-hander Jon Lester gave Boston a lift by earning his first major league victory in the series opener Friday, pitching six strong innings to help the Red Sox win 4-1 and snap a four-game skid.

 

''You can't beat it,'' Lester said. ''It was a lot of fun.''

 

The Braves haven't been having much fun lately, losing five straight games and 15 of 18. Atlanta is eight games below .500 for the first time since finishing the 1990 season with a 65-97 mark.

 

The club has won a record 14 straight division titles since.

 

''There's no experience in this locker room for a losing team,'' said Braves left fielder Matt Diaz , who went 2-for-4 on Friday in his third consecutive multihit game. ''Everybody is wondering when we're going to come out of this funk, when we're going to start winning games. I think we're all trying to do too much.''

 

Left-hander Horacio Ramirez (2-2, 5.06) returns to the mound for Atlanta six days after making a frightening exit. Ramirez left Sunday's game at Houston in the second inning after being hit in the forehead by a Lance Berkman line drive. The left-hander lay motionless on his stomach for a few seconds before leaving the field under his own power.

 

''It was one of the scariest things I've ever seen in baseball,'' Braves catcher Brian McCann said. ''It's something you never wish on anybody. It's awful, but he got up and wanted to keep pitching.''

 

Ramirez allowed seven runs and six hits in 1 2-3 innings of the contest, a 14-4 Atlanta loss. It was the first time in four outings since coming off the disabled list that Ramirez failed to pitch at least seven innings.

 

Ramirez is 4-0 with a 3.90 ERA in five career interleague starts. He has never faced the Red Sox .

 

Hey! He is!

[TheKilo]

Hey! He is!

 

 

No, he's not. They were talking on NESN last night on how Ramirez couldn't make his start.

[Cocos Disciples]

Oh.

[RoyNHSox]

I heard that Manny won’t be in the lineup today, due to a sore knee. Youk will be in LF today and batting 1st. Ortiz at 1B.

 

Edit to add the Sox lineup:

 

LF Kevin Youkilis

2B Mark Loretta

1B David Ortiz

RF Trot Nixon

C Jason Varitek

3B Mike Lowell

CF Covelli Crisp

SS Alex Gonzalez

RHP Josh Beckett

[BoSox21]

I don't care who's in, let's just get some goddamn runs

[RedSoxRooter]

It's so funny watching pictures of Atlanta on FOX. It is a really pretty city from 500 feet up, but once you're on the ground - on the streets - it's a total 3rd world country. And it's hot as a mofo.

[ORS]

YOUK!

[RedSoxRooter]

BOOOOOOOO. I mean YOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUKKKKKKKK!

[RoyNHSox]

Youk with a leadoff HR!!

[a700hitter]

Youk!

[a700hitter]

Double by Loretta.

[a700hitter]

Why is Manny sitting? Just to rest or is he hurting?

[RoyNHSox]

Why is Manny sitting? Just to rest or is he hurting?

 

He’s not starting due to a sore knee.

[riverside sluggers]

Why is Manny sitting? Just to rest or is he hurting?

 

That was Youk's 3rd leadoff HR this season. His prior came against Tampa Bay & Baltimore, both at Fenway Park

[ORS]

That was pretty f***ing stupid. At least let him swing the bat with 2 strikes. You never know what could happen (Philly).

[Commander Shears]

Was Lou Pinella riding side-saddle with Roethlisberger, or did he suffer massive head trauma somewhere else? This is embaressing.

[ORS]

Nice pitch for the looking K.

[ORS]

Loretter with the pretty play.

[RedSoxRooter]

You know what's f***ed up? I was talking to friend of mine who's a Braves fan and he said Beckett would dominate today because he was pitching in the heat. He's a warm weather pitcher. I was like "f*** THAT WE BROUGHT HIM NORTH TO AVOID THE BLISTER PROBLEM YOU *******". But it does make some sense and would suck if it were true.

[ORS]

He seemed to pitch pretty well in NY in October. He started the season hot with 2 of his first 3 games at Fenway during a cool spring. I don't think there's much to that theory.

[ORS]

Given the vitriol from the NY fans and media, ARod may want to consider taking that job as a Pepsi truck driver.

 

Bad break on the bat being where it was.

[riverside sluggers]

3 RBIs in 2 interleague games

 

and that is why Beckett shouldnt get the bunt signal!!!

[RoyNHSox]

Beckett with the RBI...sweet.

[RoyNHSox]

f***in balk and then the base hit.

[ORS]

"White Flag" Mike is in the game. Anyone miss him?.........

 

HA, as I type that the predictable result occurs. PAPI!

[a700hitter]

"White Flag" Mike is in the game. Anyone miss him?.........

 

HA, as I type that the predictable result occurs. PAPI!

I miss him like festering boils.