August 1st vs. Cleveland

[TheKilo]

Jason Johnson (3-10, 3.65 ERA) vs. CC Sabathia (7-7, 3.82 ERA)

 

David Ortiz is building a strong case for the American League MVP award.

 

The slugger will try to help the Boston Red Sox maintain their slim AL East lead when they host the Cleveland Guardians in the second game of a four-game set on Tuesday at Fenway Park.

 

Ortiz hit a three-run, walkoff home run in the ninth inning off new Guardians closer Fausto Carmona to give the Red Sox a 9-8 win in Monday's series opener.

 

"The whole inning we're just thinking, let's just get David to the plate," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.

 

The Dominican Republic native became the first player to hit three walkoff homers in a season since Barry Bonds did it in 2003. He has also hit two game-winning, walkoff singles this season.

 

"The guy had to make a pitch at the time or get the bases loaded and having a hitter like Manny (Ramirez) coming up," Ortiz said. "I just go out there with the same approach that I always go. See a pitch and hit it."

 

Ortiz added a solo shot in the third inning and went 3-for-5 with four RBIs. His 37 homers and 105 RBIs on the season both lead the majors. Thirteen of the homers have come in the seventh inning or later - also the most in baseball.

 

Ortiz hit .300 with 47 homers and led the majors with 148 RBIs last season, but finished second to the New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez in the MVP race.

 

The Red Sox (63-41) held on to first place in the division thanks to Monday's victory, but are only one game ahead of the Yankees. New York opens a three-game set with the third-place Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.

 

Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia (7-7, 3.82 ERA) will try to stop Ortiz and a personal three-game losing streak on Tuesday.

 

The left-hander held the Detroit Tigers scoreless through his five innings on Wednesday but wound up allowing four runs in seven total innings of work in the 4-1 loss.

 

"I was ahead on a lot of guys that I didn't finish off," Sabathia said. "I don't know if they did a good job working the count or if I did a bad job putting them away."

 

Sabathia hopes to reverse his fortune against a Red Sox team that he has not defeated since Aug. 29, 2001. He is 1-3 with a 5.13 ERA in five career starts against Boston.

 

The 6-foot-7, 290 pound southpaw has held Ortiz to three hits - one homer - in 15 at-bats. Ramirez has fared better, going 8-for-14 (.571) with four homers off Sabathia.

 

The Red Sox will counter with former Indian Jason Johnson (3-10, 6.35), who looks to snap a six-game losing streak.

 

He is 0-2 with a 10.13 ERA in two starts for the Red Sox since they acquired him from the Guardians for future considerations on June 21.

 

He has a 7.34 ERA during his six-game skid and has not won since May 28.

 

Johnson is 0-4 with a 5.97 ERA, surrendering 12 homers in 12 games - 10 starts - against Cleveland.

 

Boston plans to recall the right-hander from Class-A Wilmington to make an emergency start after Tuesday's scheduled starter Kyle Snyder earned the win pitching long relief for a struggling David Wells on Monday.

 

The call up is a short-term solution for a Red Sox team hit with injuries to the rotation. Tim Wakefield (stress fracture in rib cage), Matt Clement (right shoulder strain) and Lenny DiNardo (neck strain) are on the disabled list.

 

Boston suffered another injury blow when Jason Varitek left Monday's game in the second inning after twisting his left knee running the bases. The catcher's status is uncertain.

 

"Tek fought me on it a little bit," said Francona. "I'm just trying to be cautious."

 

Varitek, the Red Sox captain, was playing in his 1,000th career game - all with Boston - in the win. He is batting .243 with 11 homers and 50 RBIs this season.

 

AP NEWS

The Associated Press News Service

[TheKilo]

Wonderful start.

[RoyNHSox]

HS Choi DFA’d…no big surprise other than the Sox are thin in 1B now.

[RedSoxRooter]

Here we go again. Then it will be Tavarez and Seanez later.

[TheKilo]

Couple of dink hits, but I'm still not loving the JJ era.

[RoyNHSox]

Couple of dink hits, but I'm still not loving the JJ era.

 

It doesn’t look like the time spent in the minors changed much with his approach.

[CrespoBlows]

AAAA pitcher.

[riverside sluggers]

By the way Jason Johnson, you Suck!!! 36 pitch 1st inning

 

C.C. Sabathia (5 games vs Boston, 1-3 record with a 5.13 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 2 games, 0-1 record with a 3.00 ERA)

Kevin Youkilis --

Mark Loretta, 2 for 6 (.333 avg) RBI

David Ortiz, 3 for 15 (.200 avg) HR, 3 RBIs, 3 Ks

Manny Ramirez, 8 for 14 (.571 avg) 2 Doubles, 4 HRs, 7 RBIs, Walk, K

Mike Lowell --

Wily Mo Pena, 2 for 5 (.400 avg) RBI, K

Coco Crisp --

Doug Mirabelli, 1 for 7 (.143 avg) Walk, 4 Ks

Alex Gonzalez --

///

Ken Huckaby, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) K

Gabe Kapler, 4 for 11 (.364 avg) HR, RBI, 3 Walks, 2 Ks, SB

 

Jason Johnson (12 games vs Cleveland, 0-4 record with a 5.97 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 11 games, 4-4 record with a 5.58 ERA)

Casey Blake, 2 for 8 (.250 avg) HR, RBI, Walk, SB

Aaron Boone, 3 for 13 (.231 avg) 3 Ks

Travis Hafner, 6 for 15 (.400 avg) Double, HR, 4 RBIs, Walk, 3 Ks

Todd Hollandsworth, 0 for 2, K

Victor Martinez, 1 for 10 (.100 avg) K

Jason Michaels, 1 for 1 (1.000 avg)

Jhonny Peralta, 3 for 7 (.429 avg) Double, RBI, Walk

Grady Sizemore, 3 for 9 (.333 avg) HR, 2 RBIs, Walk, 2 Ks

[RedSoxRooter]

Yousuckilis.

[RoyNHSox]

Who’s got better stuff: Johnson or Abe Alvarez?

[yankeessuck013]

Who’s got better stuff: Johnson or Abe Alvarez?

 

I do.

[CrespoBlows]

Johnson

 

YS answer is also correct.

[ORS]

So, this Johnson guy isn't very good. Who would have guessed that?

[TheKilo]

Lowell and Loretta are f***ing slow.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Good at bat Coco Renteria

[TheKilo]

Coco should have bunted.

[RoyNHSox]

I agree but Tito doesn’t like “wasting” outs this early in the game.

[RoyNHSox]

Casey Blake hits another HR…WTF?

[ORS]

I don't like bunting that early. Wouldn't have mattered anyway since Beerabelli popped up.

 

Hey, Blake. You can start playing baseball like Casey Blake any moment now.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Go AJ Burnett!!!!!

[CrespoBlows]

Kay: "You got to think Damon smiled when he saw the Red Sox offer Coco Crisp around the league. That's a tacit way of admitting you made a mistake."

 

The Red Sox offered Crisp for Andruw Jones, and Mark Burhele.

 

No mention of that.

[TheKilo]

Lowretta.

[yankeessuck013]

Loretter....get it right

[RoyNHSox]

7 pitch inning for JJ. I’m impressed.

[riverside sluggers]

7 pitch inning for JJ. I’m impressed.

 

Back to Back 7 pitch innings:blink:

 

Is he settling into a grrove?

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Kay: "You got to think Damon smiled when he saw the Red Sox offer Coco Crisp around the league. That's a tacit way of admitting you made a mistake."

 

The Red Sox offered Crisp for Andruw Jones, and Mark Burhele.

 

No mention of that.

 

I wouldn't trade Jones or Buehrle for Crisp but I wouldn't trade Coco Crisp for Johnny Damon

[ORS]

Make frumpy pay for the mistake Manny.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Stupid AJ f***in Burnett.....go back on the DL you waste

[RoyNHSox]

C'mon Manny. Do yer stuff.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Manny continues to own Sabathia