August 21st @ Tampa Bay

[mtbykr]

Here we go, keep winning guys! One a side note if we win tonight I will not be able to make the gamethread for the next 2 days due to being out of town on business. Hopefully we win and then someone else can step up...either that or I could make them for the next 2 days and someone could delete them if we lose.

 

 

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/1760/lesteruc2.jpg

 

VS.

 

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/7060/4324fef78991452cbf83711fh3.jpg

 

 

 

 

Boston cruised into Tampa Bay on Monday with the best record in baseball, as well as a 5-5 record over its last 10 games.

The beginning of this week, although it is against the Rays, the team with the worst record in baseball, is a gentle reminder for the Red Sox to stay focused down the home stretch, and maintain the same tenacity against the stubborn Rays that they have had this season against everyone else.

 

On Tuesday, the Red Sox will look to Jon Lester in the second of three games against the Rays. It will mark the lefty's sixth start in his return from cancer, and the second time he's faced the Rays in as many outings.

 

He had measured success in his last go-round with the Rays at Fenway, allowing just two hits and one run over seven innings.

 

The Rays' starter, Andy Sonnanstine, hasn't won in nine tries, but took a step forward during his last start, snapping an eight-game skid with a victory at Boston. The righty held the Red Sox to three runs on four hits over 6 2/3 innings.

 

It was a refreshing change for the rookie, who had strayed lately from his original, successful game plan of using his fastball to set up his offspeed pitches, and been caught up to several times as a result.

 

Pitching matchup

 

BOS: LHP Jon Lester (1-0, 5.14 ERA)

He has a 5.40 career ERA on turf.

TB: RHP Andy Sonnanstine (2-8, 6.17 ERA)

He's held righties to .251 hitting, while left-handers are hitting .331 against him.

 

Player to watch

Jason Varitek is 2-for-3 in his career against Sonnanstine, with a home run and two RBIs.

[yeszir]

You better hope we lose then!

 

 

Just kidding...go team.

[BoSox21]

alright, now that we've seen this douchebag, it's time to light him up

[mtbykr]

Some more cheers mojo:

 

[youtube=cheers economics]zA08PC03N1s

[mtbykr]

Red Sox

 

Dustin Pedroia, 2B

Kevin Youkilis, 1B

David Oritz, DH

Manny Ramirez, LF

Mike Lowell, 3B

J.D. Drew, RF

Jason Varitek, C

Coco Crisp, CF

Julio Lugo, SS

Jon Lester, P

 

Devil Rays

 

Akinori Iwamura 3b

Carl Crawford, LF

B.J. Upton, CF

Carlos Pena, 1B

Delmon Young, RF

Brendan Harris, 2B

Jonny Gomes, DH

Josh Wilson, SS

Dioner Navarro, C

Andy Sonnanstine P

[riverside sluggers]

Just f***ing win, you f***ers

 

Jon Lester (3 games vs Tampa Bay, 1-0 with a 4.74 ERA---Career at Tropicana Field in 2 games, 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA)

Akinori Iwamura, 2 for 6 (.333 avg) HR, 3 RBIs, 3 Walks

Carl Crawford, 2 for 6 (.333 avg) Double, 2 Ks

B.J. Upton, 2 for 8 (.250 avg) Walk, 2 Ks

Carlos Pena, 2 for 7 (.286 avg) HR, 4 RBIs

Delmon Young, 0 for 7, RBI, Walk, 3 Ks

Brendan Harris, 1 for 7 (.143 avg) Double

Jonny Gomes, 2 for 7 (.286 avg) HR, RBI, K

Josh Wilson, 0 for 6, Walk, K

Dioner Navarro, 0 for 2

///

Greg Norton, 0 for 3, 2 Ks

Josh Paul, 1 for 5 (.200 avg) HR, RBI

 

Andy Sonnanstine (2 games vs Boston, 1-1 with an 8.04 ERA---Career at Tropicana Field in 7 games, 0-5 with a 6.86 ERA)

Dustin Pedroia, 0 for 5, Walk, K

Kevin Youkilis, 1 for 6 (.167 avg) Double, 2 Ks

David Ortiz, 2 for 6 (.333 avg) Triple, RBI, K

Manny Ramirez, 1 for 5 (.200 avg) RBI, K

Mike Lowell, 2 for 5 (.400 avg) Double

J.D. Drew, 1 for 6 (.167 avg)

Jason Varitek, 3 for 5 (.600 avg) HR, 3 RBIs, 2 Ks

Coco Crisp, 1 for 4 (.250 avg) Double, 2 RBIs, Walk, K

Julio Lugo, 1 for 4 (.250 avg) Double, 2 RBIs

 

Lester this season on the road in 5 games, 2-0 with a 6.90 ERA

[ACL BoSox]

let's hope round 2 with Andy Sonnestine goes better than the first

[schillingouttheks]

I'll pick up the gamethreads if we win tonight, mtbykr.

 

Win again, you underachieving suckbags.

[Thumper]

Just win.

[schillingouttheks]

Good looking lineup tonight.

[Thumper]

Good God I hate the FSN Florida announcers with a passion. I'd rather listen to John Miller and Joe Morgan. Seriously, they are biased pieces of s***.

[riverside sluggers]

Tell the Sox offense that this guy isnt a soft tossing lefty

[schillingouttheks]

Pedroia struck out on 3 pitches. That's pretty uncharacteristic.

[schillingouttheks]

'atta boy Youk. Bring him home Papi.

[Thumper]

Yooooooooooooouk!

[schillingouttheks]

That's the Ortiz we all know and love!

 

Someone was holding a steak bomb in the third base stands.

[Thumper]

PAPI!!!!

[redsoxrules]

PAPI! 1-0

[schillingouttheks]

Nice job Manny. 2-0!

[Thumper]

Bustin' open early! That's how you play!

 

Someone get Ortiz a tank of oxygen.

[schillingouttheks]

The heckler's there! I wish See Red could have access to this board at the game...I would tell him to go smack that heckler curtosy of talksox.com ...

[riverside sluggers]

Tell the Sox offense that this guy isnt a soft tossing lefty

 

Thank you

 

Ortiz/Manny combo are on a f***ing roll, driving in runs left and right. Good time as any for them to get hot at the same time for the stretch run

[schillingouttheks]

Bustin' open early! That's how you play!

 

Someone get Ortiz a tank of oxygen.

 

I think he just wants that steak bomb that he was running so hard for. Someone go get the guy in the third base stands to give it to him.

[yeszir]

The heckler's there! I wish See Red could have access to this board at the game...I would tell him to go smack that heckler curtosy of talksox.com ...

It looks like he's targeting Lowell. You have to give that guy credit, he's there for every game.

[Thumper]

It looks like he's targeting Lowell. You have to give that guy credit' date=' he's there for every game. [/quote']

 

Atleast the cowbell douche isn't there.

[CrespoBlows]

I guess Buchholz could be a nice fit.

[EvilDonut]

Well s***.

[schillingouttheks]

Atleast the cowbell douche isn't there.

 

Yes he is.

 

f***ing s***. Lester gives it right back. Buchholz instead of Lester, please.

[redsoxrules]

f***

[Thumper]

Oh my God shut the f*** up FSN Florida announcers. Fall out the pressbox already.

 

"PENA HIT'S ONE! HE'S THE GREATEST!"

 

f***.