April 18th @ Toronto

[TheKilo]

f*** it, I'll start one.

 

BOSTON RED SOX (7-5) at TORONTO BLUE JAYS (8-5)

 

Pitching Matchup:

 

Tim Wakefield (1-1, 1.38 ERA)

http://www.prosportspictures.com/images/mlb/boston-red-sox/2005/05-tim-wakefield-studio-sm.jpg

 

Wakefield's signature knuckleball had extra bite on a brisk Friday at Fenway, where the 40-year-old starter shut down Vladimir Guerrero and the Angels' bats. Wakefield gave up just five hits and one run in seven innings, lowering his season ERA to a sparkling 1.38. Wakefield yielded just one earned run in his first start of the year against Texas. Wakefield has thrown more Major League innings (217 2/3) against the Blue Jays than any other team. He has a 3.93 ERA against the Jays, but that number rises to 4.75 at Toronto's Rogers Centre.

 

Tomo Ohka (0-1, 7.84 ERA)

http://assets.espn.go.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/6283.jpg

 

Ohka has gotten off to a rough start this season. In his Thursday outing, the 31-year-old took the loss after allowing four earned runs on eight hits over six innings against the Tigers. That start followed a disappointing performance in Tampa on April 7, in which he allowed five runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings. This will be Ohka's first appearance vs. Boston in his career.

 

GAME PREVIEW

A night after briefly solving Daisuke Matsuzaka's vast arsenal of pitches, the Blue Jays will put all their attention toward one pitch on Wednesday.

But if Tim Wakefield's knuckleball is anywhere near as effective as it was in his last start -- a 10-1 win over the Angels on Friday night -- the Jays could be in for a tough night.

 

The Jays beat Matsuzaka, 2-1, in the opener of this three-game set. The Boston bats will try to get recharged against Blue Jays right-hander Tomo Ohka.

 

Wakefield has allowed just two earned runs in his first 13 innings of 2007.

 

One overlooked aspect from Tuesday's loss was Coco Crisp breaking out of an 0-for-16 drought with two hits.

 

"Coco took a good swing from the right side," said Sox manager Terry Francona. "Then he had a good at-bat from the left side. I'm sure he feels much better about himself. You can just see his personality [get lifted]. I understand that. You can talk all you want about enjoying the game, but it's nice when you get some hits."

[ORS]

And this shall rule the day.

 

http://whitesoxpride.mlblogs.com/photos/uncategorized/knuckleball.jpg

[schillingouttheks]

This SHOULD be a win. But, you never know with the Blue Jays.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Tomo Ohka looks like Cy Young today.

 

MOJO TIME!

http://www.skyvalley4u.com/Todayspic/coopers_hawk__blue_jay_2_2.jpg

 

Obliterate them! (Sorry about the size of the pic...but it shows my anger)

[Cocos Disciples]

Ohka sucks. Just win.

[jacksonianmarch]

Tomo Ohka is garbage. That he and Josh Towers are in a supposed contender's rotation is a travesty, and sham and a mockery. Its a tramashamockery.

[jacksonianmarch]

and Tim owns the birds over the past 3 yrs. 5-1 low 3's era. I see a W in the sox future tonight, f***.

[TheKilo]

Tomo Ohka is garbage. That he and Josh Towers are in a supposed contender's rotation is a travesty' date=' and sham and a mockery. Its a tramashamockery.[/quote']

 

You've used this before, and it's not funny. Stop. KTHX.

 

Wakefield's success against the Jays is much greater in Fenway. But still, the bats should pound Ohka.

[ANiMAL]

We need to win this so we do not get swept. I have a good feeling that Cy Tavarez will lose against Halladay tomorrow

[MANNYHOF24]

If we don't win today it will be bad.

[seabeachfred]

Tomo Ohka is garbage. That he and Josh Towers are in a supposed contender's rotation is a travesty' date=' and sham and a mockery. Its a tramashamockery.[/quote']

 

And we lost to these guys last night and they didn't even have Johnson, Glaus or Ryan. Their team is falling like flies and we get only one run for Dice K. Hey, here's a thought. Since we gave Tim such s***** support last season maybe we are saving most of our runs for him this year. It would be a dandy if that were true.

[seabeachfred]

This SHOULD be a win. But, you never know with the Blue Jays.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Tomo Ohka looks like Cy Young today.

 

MOJO TIME!

http://www.skyvalley4u.com/Todayspic/coopers_hawk__blue_jay_2_2.jpg

 

Obliterate them! (Sorry about the size of the pic...but it shows my anger)

 

Trying to shift my character from yesterday, don't say things like that. Tonight come hell or high water we get a win.

[riverside sluggers]

Tim Wakefield (40 games vs Toronto (12-8 record & 1 save with a 3.93 ERA---Career at Rogers Centre in 21 games, 4-3 record & 1 save with a 4.75 ERA)

Alex Rios, 5 for 13 (.385 avg) Double, Triple, HR, 3 RBIs, 2 Ks

Matt Stairs, 9 for 33 (.273 avg) 5 Doubles, HR, 5 RBIs, 5 Walks, 7 Ks

Vernon Wells, 8 for 32 (.250 avg) Double, 2 RBIs, 3 Walks, 5 Ks, 2 SBs

Frank Thomas, 7 for 36 (.194 avg) Double, 3 HRs, 5 RBIs, 4 Walks, 11 Ks, SB

Lyle Overbay, 1 for 3 (.333 avg)

Aaron Hill, 0 for 6, 2 Ks

Jason Phillips, 1 for 2 (.500 avg) Double

Royce Clayton, 10 for 33 (.303 avg) 2 Doubles, HR, 2 RBIs, Walk, 2 Ks

John McDonald, 2 for 11 (.182 avg) Double, K

///

Jason Smith, 0 for 6, 3 Ks

Gregg Zaun, 3 for 13 (.231 avg) RBI, 2 Walks, 2 Ks

 

Tomo Ohka (1st career appearance vs Boston---Career at Rogers Centre in 4 games, 2-1 record with a 3.41 ERA)

Julio Lugo, 2 for 8 (.250 avg) Double

Kevin Youkilis ---

David Ortiz, 1 for 3 (.333 avg)

Manny Ramirez, 2 for 5 (.400 avg) 2 Doubles, 3 RBIs, 2 Ks

J.D. Drew, 1 for 8 (.125 avg) 3 Ks

Mike Lowell, 10 for 35 (.286 avg) Double, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs, Walk, 4 Ks

Coco Crisp ---

Doug Mirabelli ---

Dustin Pedroia ---

///

Alex Cora, 1 for 9 (.111 avg) RBI, K

Eric Hinske, 2 for 12 (.167 avg) Double

Wily Mo Pena, 3 for 12 (.250 avg) 2 HRs, 3 RBIs, Walk, 2 Ks

[VA Sox Fan]

Dougie's gonna go yard.

[redsoxrules]

Dougie's gonna go yard.

 

with ohka pitching everybody should go yard

[yankees228]

We need to win this so we do not get swept. I have a good feeling that Cy Tavarez will lose against Halladay tomorrow

 

This is baseball, and with the way things seem to go part of me wouldn't be shocked if Ohka beat you guys tonight and then you got to Halladay tomorrow. I would be surprised, but nothing is impossible.

[Cocos Disciples]

And hey, guess what, Ohka's looking good.

[CrespoBlows]

Drew gets down that line pretty good.

[riverside sluggers]

Cy Ohka deals 38 pitches through 3 innings

[ORS]

No hit through 3? Terrific. We make the Toronto chuckers look like world beaters. It makes no sense.

[Cocos Disciples]

Sox games have gone faster than normal this year, no?

[ORS]

Nice snare.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Someone please hit the damn ball....Tomo Ohka.....seriously?

 

What happened to the days of chasing starters after 4-5 innings

[riverside sluggers]

David Ortiz robbed of a hit. Ohka no hits the Sox through the first 4 innings, just 53 pitches. 2nd game in past week the Sox are in danger of being no hit

[CrespoBlows]

I'd probably bunt in that situation.

[jacksonianmarch]

Tim Wakefield is dealin.

[jacksonianmarch]

btw, gamecast has his pitches breaking 28 inches. WOW.

[ORS]

He was. He can lose it just like that.

[jacksonianmarch]

He was. He can lose it just like that.

 

such is the curse of the pitch of chaos.

[Cocos Disciples]

Walked em loaded.

[jacksonianmarch]

then K's a guy. End of inning.