Maxbialystock

Richards throws a harder fastball than Stripling, but apparently a more hittable one. It doesn't rise????? Meanwhile, he and Vazquez seem to have agreed he can't command his slider or curve.

Well, at least we can feel good that it's unlikely our guys are stealing signs. Except for Verdugo, who simply figured--correctly--that Stripling would throw the exact same first pitch to him he threw to the kid from CF.

Horrible, horrible bottom of the 1st.

JDM looked just as foolish as Hernandez. Stripling owned him. Terrible to leave a man on 3b like that.

Hernandez was out the instant he stepped to the plate. Deer in the headlights. Verdugo smartly swung at the first pitch and wham!

How is it possible for a MLB hitter to get 2 slowish fastballs right down the middle and watch one and miss the other?

Incredible inning!!! Richards was dead, dead, dead, and got out of it with just one run scored. Every hard hit ball, including the liner caught by Enrique, was off a fastball near the middle of the zone.

Great play by Hernandez!

Another hard single off that fastball in the middle. 27 pitches, 1 out.

26 pitches and still 1 out. Tough inning.

That's it, right there. Fastball on the outside corner, called strike. Problem is, he doesn't have the command to keep doing that.

That's 2 singles off fastballs in the middle of the zone. Fastball is OK, but not there.

Nice play by Verdugo but no way he gets the guy going to 3b.

Gets a 1-2 count and ends up walking the lead off man, which usually does not augur well for Sox starters.

Ok, everyone, pay close attention to my commentary in the early innings, especially about how well the pitchers are pitching, the hitters hitting, and of course the likely game outcome. I am invariably wrong.

Hard to predict this matchup. Stripling started bad, but has been excellent for 3 games. Richards has the better overall ERA, but not at Fenway and not against the Jays. Jays are 18-16 on the road, 13-13 at home. Is Fenway completely open now? Or, given the low attendance (24K vs. 37K capacity), are there still some restrictions?

I used to like the All-Star Game when it was just a game with the best players all trying their best, especially the best pitchers vs. the best hitters. Plus it's a neat mid-season break and dividing point. I was fine with it not having any more significance than that, but also fine with massive substitutions by both managers. It did not bother me when Selig or whoever wanted the winning team to get something, like the WS home field advantage, but I'm also fine if they only get the satisfaction of winning. Ted Williams leaping in the air while rounding the bases after hitting a ASG-winning dinger is what I think the ASG is all about. It's what Field of Dreams is about. I too like inter-league play even though it can be unbalanced some years. It's especially neat seeing AL teams have to go without DH's and NL teams having to use one, depending on whose park they are playing in. It's also very cool that fans whose teams don't get to the WS very often now have a chance to see players from the other league, with and without the DH.

Sox are 16-14 at Fenway and 20-10 away from Fenway.

Great win. A needed win. 1 back of the Rays. Hernandez for the win. ERod ERA is now over 6.

Super, super weird GIDP. This is indeed entertaining. And long.

Agree. I'm OK with infield fly rule.

Finally, someone, JDM, nails that cheap fastball.

Looked like Larry, Moe, and Curly fielding that easy pop-up. Arroyo finally makes a lucky stab and discovers the ball in his glove.

That sinker gets hit a lot, but especially waist high.

Umpire is screwing him.