June 16th vs. San Francisco

[mtbykr]

Here we go: Dice K vs the anabolic all-stars.

 

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/8610/a2c37c9a1cb742b594c27adnc3.jpg

VS.

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/8915/11757992492499kb9.jpg

 

The Boston Red Sox are hoping the smallest player on their roster just ended their biggest slump of the season.

 

After Dustin Pedroia helped awaken their slumbering offense, the Red Sox seek a second straight victory over the San Francisco Giants when the teams continue their three-game interleague set Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park.

 

Pedroia, a rookie second baseman who is listed at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, hit a two run-homer in the first inning of Friday night's series opener and finished with five hits and five RBIs -- both career bests -- as the Red Sox routed the Giants 10-2. The 10 runs equaled Boston's output from the previous five contests, three of which were losses.

 

The Red Sox (42-24) had lost nine of their last 14 games before Friday, causing their AL East lead over New York to shrink from 14 1/2 games to 7 1/2 in just more than two weeks. After the Yankees lost 2-0 to the New York Mets on Friday, Boston's lead inched back up to 8 1/2 games.

 

Pedroia is batting .417 over his last 32 games to raise his average from .172 to .331.

 

"The first month of the season, we spent so much time trying to defend him. He wasn't hitting," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "But he plays the ball all over the ballpark. And, man, he makes contact. There's a lot of things in his favor."

 

The Red Sox got an umpiring call in their favor in the top of the first inning, when Giants (30-36) slugger Barry Bonds hit a fly ball that went above the Pesky Pole in right field. After a brief hesitation, first base umpire Charlie Reliford waved the ball foul and Bonds remained stuck at 747 career home runs -- eight shy of Hank Aaron's all-time record.

 

"He said it was clear in his mind," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of Reliford. "It was one of those where it was so high. I think if you ask everybody, it might have been one of those 50-50 deals. Some probably thought it was fair, some thought it was foul. He was right there."

 

Bonds finished 1-for-3 with a single and a walk in his first career game at Boston. Including a home interleague series in 2004, he has never homered against the Red Sox.

 

After playing his first game at Fenway Park on Friday, Bonds will face a new pitcher on Saturday in Daisuke Matsuzaka (7-5, 4.52 ERA). The Japanese rookie right-hander is trying to avoid losing his fourth straight start after a personal six-game winning streak.

 

Not all of the losing streak has been Matsuzaka's fault, as he's received just three runs of support over his last three outings. At Arizona on Sunday, he yielded just two runs and four hits over six innings while walking four and striking out nine, but got outpitched by Randy Johnson in a 5-1 defeat.

 

Giants starter Matt Cain (2-6, 3.31) is also suffering from a lack of run support. The 22-year-old right-hander is 0-3 despite a 3.51 ERA over his last five starts as the San Francisco offense has scored only nine runs for him in that span.

 

Cain limited Oakland to one run and five hits in seven innings Sunday, but took the tough-luck loss in a 2-0 defeat.

 

Friday's loss was the second straight and fifth in seven games for the Giants, who are an NL-worst 6-14 since May 25.

[mtbykr]

Let's keep the Fitzy mojo going!

 

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[mtbykr]

Sox line-up is out...cora in for lugo today.

 

 

1. J.D. Drew, RF

2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B

3. David Ortiz, DH

4. Manny Ramirez, LF

5. Kevin Youkilis, 1B

6. Mike Lowell, 3B

7. Jason Varitek, C

8. Alex Cora, SS

9. Coco Crisp, CF

 

SP - Daisuke Matsuzaka

[Cocos Disciples]

Just win.

[riverside sluggers]

Matt Cain (1 game vs Boston, 0-1 with a 1.29 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 1 game, 0-1 with a 1.29 ERA)

J.D. Drew, 3 for 10 (.300 avg) Double, 3 RBIs, Walk, K

Dustin Pedroia, 0 for 3

David Ortiz, 0 for 2, Walk, K

Manny Ramirez, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) HR, RBI

Kevin Youkilis, 1 for 3 (.333 avg)

Mike Lowell, 0 for 3

Jason Varitek, 0 for 3, K

Alex Cora, 0 for 2

Coco Crisp, 1 for 2 (.500 avg) Double

///

Julio Lugo, 2 for 4 (.500 avg) 2 Doubles, 3 RBIs, Walk

 

Daisuke Matsuzaka (1 game vs San Francisco, 1-0 with an 0.00 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 7 games, 4-2 with a 4.85 ERA)

Dave Roberts, 0 for 3, Walk, K

Randy Winn, 0 for 2, Walk, K

Ray Durham, 1 for 3 (.333 avg)

Barry Bonds, 0 for 2, Walk

Bengie Molina, 1 for 3 (.333 avg)

Nate Schierholtz, 0 for 2, K

Rich Aurilia, 0 for 3, 3 Ks

Pedro Feliz, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) Double

Omar Vizquel, 0 for 3, 2 Ks

 

Cain this season on the road in 7 games, 1-4 with a 2.46 ERA

[schillingouttheks]

This is going to be a very fun game to watch. Matsuzaka's going to have to come up huge today for us. Cain's a hell of a pitcher.

[Rodney Harrison]

Cain hasn't won on the road since 5/13, and that was in a 15-2 blowout of the Rockies. Since then, he's 0-2 with a 4.82 ERA. Overall, he's 1-3, 2.62 on the road. He hasn't gotten much run support, though.

[schillingouttheks]

He also pitches for a s***** team. The kid's an ace in the making.

[Rodney Harrison]

Cain and Lincecum should be a good 1-2 punch for the Giants. Too bad they keep signing aging veterans on the team.

[Seldini]

Let's keep the Fitzy mojo going!

 

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/3353/l03784a52bf84181665f22bap9.jpg

 

THIS! IS! SPARTA-aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

 

Wow. It's sad that I can recognize what he's saying by his facial expression.

[Thumper]

Can I do tomorrow's game thread?

 

Let's win again tonight though. We gave them a spanking yesterday, let's atleast gain some momentum back and get another win.

[schillingouttheks]

Can I do tomorrow's game thread?

 

Let's win again tonight though. We gave them a spanking yesterday, let's atleast gain some momentum back and get another win.

 

Only if we lose.

[jacksonianmarch]

Can I do tomorrow's game thread?

 

Let's win again tonight though. We gave them a spanking yesterday, let's atleast gain some momentum back and get another win.

 

I can see it now.

 

 

Red Soxxx vs Giant anabuulac stroid factry!!!

 

GOOOOOOOOOO SOX!!1!!

 

Red Sox send GOD to the mound!!

[Thumper]

I can see it now.

 

 

Red Soxxx vs Giant anabuulac stroid factry!!!

 

GOOOOOOOOOO SOX!!1!!

 

Red Sox send GOD to the mound!!

 

Actualy I planned on being very mature about it and post pitching stats, the line-up, and some other bits of info. No bias side.

[jacksonianmarch]

Actualy I planned on being very mature about it and post pitching stats' date=' the line-up, and some other bits of info. No bias side.[/quote']

 

just like you being a minor league player in the PCL right?

[Cocos Disciples]

I wanna see Dice plunk Bonds today. Curt would do it.

[Cocos Disciples]

Giants strand the leadoff man in the 1st.

[jacksonianmarch]

Tim Mcf***er makes me want to shoot myself in the face with a bazooka.

[jacksonianmarch]

this guy has incredible whip action of his upper body.

[jacksonianmarch]

With his motion, that 92-94 mph fastball must look like 100.

[Sox Fan In Indy]

Tim Mcf***er makes me want to shoot myself in the face with a bazooka.

 

No kidding. I was all excited when the game came on and the voice I heard wasn't Joe Buck's. Then it turned out that McCarver and Buck weren't working together this week. That was cruel.

[jacksonianmarch]

No kidding. I was all excited when the game came on and the voice I heard wasn't Joe Buck's. Then it turned out that McCarver and Buck weren't working together this week. That was cruel.

 

McCarver and Buck is awful. Buck makes me sick too. But Mcf***er is worse. God he sucks.

[Cocos Disciples]

No kidding. I was all excited when the game came on and the voice I heard wasn't Joe Buck's. Then it turned out that McCarver and Buck weren't working together this week. That was cruel.

 

What was cruel...

[jacksonianmarch]

DiceK throwing 90 with the heat today?

[Sox Fan In Indy]

What was cruel...

 

Getting me excited that I wouldn't have to listen to McCarver since I assumed he'd be working w/Joe Buck, then forcing me to listen to McCarver.

[jacksonianmarch]

Getting me excited that I wouldn't have to listen to McCarver since I assumed he'd be working w/Joe Buck' date=' then forcing me to listen to McCarver.[/quote']

 

I think he means that Buck is just as bad.

[Seldini]

Matsusaki? wtf?

[Sox Fan In Indy]

Dice-K has his first 1-2-3 inning of the day. Looking solid so far.

[CrespoBlows]

just like you being a minor league player in the PCL right?

 

Oh, snap.

 

Owned.

[riverside sluggers]

DiceK throwing 90 with the heat today?

 

The radar gun, per usual on FOX, is messed up. Ive seen 90, 93, 94, and even on Feliz's double it flashed 102!