September 20th vs Minnesota

[Cityofchampions33]

Game Info:

TV - NESN

Radio - WEEI 850 am

Venue - Fenway Park

First Pitch - 7:05

 

Starters:

Curt Schilling - Boof Bonser

http://espn-att.starwave.com/media/mlb/2004/1005/photo/a_schilling_ft.jpg

http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/images/2006/03/12/GGaMkMan.jpg

 

Twins Wild About Sox

Courtesy o' the Herald

 

At the end of next month, the Minnesota Twins may look back to the Red Sox’ lone visit to the Metrodome as the occasion when their championship season turned around.

When the Sox arrived in Minneapolis on June 13, the Twins were a disappointing 28-34 and in fourth place in the American League Central Division, trailing the Detroit Tigers by 12 games.

They went on to sweep the Sox for the first time since 1994, outscoring the visitors 18-5 and igniting a spark that has yet to be doused. Minnesota went on to win 19-of-20 games and left Fenway Park last night after a 7-3 victory a major league-best 61-27 since June 13 to climb within a half-game of the trembling Tigers, while holding a solid 4-game lead over Chicago White Sox in the wild card race.

“When we were in Minnesota, their record wasn’t very good,” manager Terry Francona said. “They kind of had their way with us out there. I remember thinking, ‘This doesn’t add up.’ Ever since that series, they’ve been probably the best team in baseball.”

Three months after getting their jump-start vs. the Red Sox, the Twins jumped all over them once again, knocking Tim Wakefield out of the game last night after 3 innings for their ninth win in the last 11 games. The loss dropped the Red Sox 8 1/2 games behind Minnesota in the wild card race with only 11 games remaining.

“We’re against the ropes right now,” said David Ortiz, who went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in his quest to match Jimmie Foxx’ franchise record of 50 home runs.

Wakefield, who had been 11-3 lifetime vs. Minnesota, was hammered for six runs on eight hits, two walks and a wild pitch and lasted 3 1/3 or fewer innings for only the fourth time in 152 Fenway starts.

The Sox, who had won six of their previous eight games to maintain slim hopes of qualify for the playoffs, suffered yet another injury when left fielder Kevin Youkilis departed after three innings with a strained neck. Cynics might say that he incurred it twisting his head so many times following the repeated rockets off the Twins’ bats. They hit four balls off or over the Green Monster, including a three-run home run by Jason Bartlett in the second inning and a two-run shot by Torii Hunter in the third.

Minnesota jumped ahead in the second when Justin Morneau (5-for-5) lined a leadoff double off the base of the left field wall and Rondell White knocked him in two batters later with a hard single off the Monster. Wakefield walked Phil Nevin before Bartlett pounded a 1-and-2 fastball over the famed wall for the shortstop’s second homer of the year and first since July 25.

The Twins extended the lead to 6-0 in the third inning, when Hunter followed Morneau’s one-out single by slamming a knuckleball into the Monster seats for his 27th homer of the season. The clout occurred in Hunter’s first game back at Fenway since fracturing his left ankle on July 29, 2005 chasing down a ball in the center field triangle.

Morneau had three singles and two doubles to set a new career high in hits and improve to 11-for-17 (.647) vs. the Sox this season.

“I wasn’t making the pitches when I needed to make them,” said Wakefield (7-10).

The beating let up when Lenny DiNardo relieved Wakefield and tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings.

 

From riversidesluggers

Boof Bonser (1st career appearance vs Boston)

 

 

Curt Schilling (8 games vs Minnesota, 1-0 record & 4 saves with an 0.84 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 55 games, 24-8 record & 6 saves with a 4.10 ERA)

Luis Castillo, 6 for 23 (.261 avg) Double, 3 RBIs, 4 Walks, 4 Ks, SB

Michael Cuddyer, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) HR, RBI, K

Lew Ford, 0 for 7, 2 Ks

Torii Hunter, 3 for 6 (.500 avg) SB

Jason Kubel, 0 for 2, 2 Ks

Joe Mauer, 1 for 5 (.200 avg)

Justin Morneau, 2 for 3 (.667 avg) Walk

Phil Nevin, 5 for 34 (.147 avg) Walk, 10 Ks

Mike Redmond, 5 for 10 (.500 avg) Double, 2 RBIs

Luis Rodriguez, 0 for 3

Jason Tyner, 0 for 3, RBI

Rondell White, 11 for 40 (.275 avg) 3 Doubles, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs, 8 Ks

[Anuj09]

go sox !

[CrespoBlows]

The rookie with a nice single.

[Anuj09]

wow Pedoia is 2 for 2 just as many people including Jsigner and Riverside Sluggers and many others who i have failed to mention stated - Pedroia is starting his hot streak like he did in Pawtucket earlier this year

[schillingouttheks]

...only because he went 2 for 2 tonight?

[jsinger121]

He is up to .200. Tito needs to stop this ******** and play Pedroia everyday for the rest of the season.

[Anuj09]

...only because he went 2 for 2 tonight?

 

my point is hes adjusting well to the Majors

[redsoxrules]

ortiz ties team record with his 50th HR

[Cityofchampions33]

In my first game thread too, whooda thunk it

[CrespoBlows]

...only because he went 2 for 2 tonight?

 

He's hitting .276 this month.

[v2freak]

Bullpen blows it! Foulke is looking very sharp though.

[a700hitter]

Hansen, the closer of the future... I think not. Get him out of here while he still has a lot of potential. Package him with some other prospects to get a real starter, mand sign another FA starter and leave Papelbon to become the next Mo.

[Ray10]

Another loss to Minnesota at least win one tommorow night just to say they took one from Minnesota. Yankees clinch division title number 9 and the Sox are once again on the outside looking in. Well I guess our playoff hopes are finished now. It was a good year. Let's just hope they can avoid the injuries next year and this team will make a serious push for the playoffs.

[example1]

Hansen' date=' the closer of the future... I think not. Get him out of here while he still has a lot of potential. Package him with some other prospects to get a real starter, mand sign another FA starter and leave Papelbon to become the next Mo.[/quote']

 

I can't say I am starting to disagree with this view right now. For all of his stuff, Hansen gets hit. HARD. Its not like they're barely fouling it off, they're hitting line shots.

 

Hopefully the FO/coaches believe they can improve him. Otherwise, I'd send him as part of a deal someplace.

[jsinger121]

I can't say I am starting to disagree with this view right now. For all of his stuff, Hansen gets hit. HARD. Its not like they're barely fouling it off, they're hitting line shots.

 

Hopefully the FO/coaches believe they can improve him. Otherwise, I'd send him as part of a deal someplace.

 

I believe the player development dept. screwed him up. At St. John's he was using a 4 seam fastball to set hitters up with his slider. Now he is using a 2 seamer. For a pitcher deemed by most scouts the most major league ready the Red Sox have done a very poor job with Craig Hansen. They did not need to have him develop a changeup nor did they need to have him do those stupid starts in the minors. The day he signed with the sox he should have been immediately the closer for whatever minor league team he went to.

[riverside sluggers]

Ho-hum another good game for Dusty, he continues to get better I see

 

--2 for 3 tonight with a 2 out RBI (if not for Bartlett's good play, he would have himself 3 Hits/2 RBIs both coming with 2 outs)

--5 game hitting streak

--8 for his last 21 (.421 avg) 2 Doubles, HR, 3 RBIs, 3 Runs, 3 Walks

[Mr Crunchy]

hes 20?

throws 98 and gets 72 shaves out of a disposable bic razor and is quite possibly still a virgin who has yet to taste alcohol

im not sure that we can determine anything other than the fact we f***ed up by bringing him up and tossing him into the inferno known as the sox staff 06 expecting to catch lightning in a bottle like we did with paplebon

 

this is the problem with prospects

most are worth more to their teams as minor leaguers

[jsinger121]

hes 20?

throws 98 and gets 72 shaves out of a disposable bic razor and is quite possibly still a virgin who has yet to taste alcohol

im not sure that we can determine anything other than the fact we f***ed up by bringing him up and tossing him into the inferno known as the sox staff 06 expecting to catch lightning in a bottle like we did with paplebon

 

this is the problem with prospects

most are worth more to their teams as minor leaguers

 

Hansen is 22 by the way.

[Mr Crunchy]

dusty did have a nice line drive single up the middle to take the lead last nite with 2 out

he's approaching the mendoza line finally