Game 3: Sox 2, Rangers 1
The Red Sox improved their record to 2-1 with a solid fundamental win over the Rangers tonight. We always struggle at Texas, so a series win is a nice way to get out of the enema bag of the country. We were stuck w/ the Texas announcers on Extra Innings tonight. Apparently we missed a gem of a freudian slip from Don Orsillo on NESN when he mentioned young GMs "having success" and instead said "having sex." Remy cracked on him all game for it. Too bad we were stuck with the Rangers' broadcasters, who were nearly as bad as the Devil Rays' guys... and that's bad.
Back to the game:
It's fairly obvious to me that Keith Foulke has lost his closing job. Your new Boston Red Sox closer has got to be Jonathan Papelbon. He came in in the ninth in a one-run game and shut the door on Texas, striking out two, and getting his first major league save. Good for Paps. Happy Trails, Keith Foulke. Thanks for 2004, but there's a new sheriff in town.
The offense looked terrible against Cameron Loe pretty much all game. He induced 2 GIDP from Papi, and pretty much every out until Trot Nixon's 2-run home run was a weak, infield grounder. Nixon's blast proved the difference in the game. It was a tough loss for Loe, but somebody's gotta take the L, and it wasn't going to be Josh Beckett tonight.
Speaking of Beckett, he started out shaky, but finished REALLY strong. I was incredibly impressed with his outing. He had some trouble locating his fastball in the early goings, and he threw a few curve balls about 58 feet. But he got his act together and picked up his first (of hopefully many) Red Sox wins. Beckett had 5 K and only 1 BB, and threw 75 strikes out of 109 pitches. I thought Francona kept him in the game the exact right innings. I've been impressed with Tito's bullpen/starter management thus far this season... and especially that he had the cojones to bring in Paps over Foulke tonight.
Mike Timlin tried to blow the game in the eighth inning, but the Rangers got Sveumed when Mark Teixeira was thrown out at the plate by quite a few feet. It looked like Jason might have missed the tag in the slow-mo replay, but Manny's relay to third, and Lowell's throw home were very accurate and on time. That proved to be the difference, as that would have been the tying run in the ballgame. It doesn't happen often that you can put three runners on and not allow a run, but Timlin managed to tonight.
I'd just like to add that my buddy Brad Wilkerson is tearing shit up. I remember when I used to spend many-a-nights taking in Gator baseball games with Brad in the left field bleachers at McKethan Stadium. He and Mark Ellis used to talk baseball with my friend Laura and I for hours on end. I never had any doubt that either of those guys would end up playing in the majors. They're two of the nicest guys I've ever talked to in my life, and I wish them all the success in the world, except when they play the Sox. I'll hopefully see Mark again this summer at the Sox-A's game at Fenway. Ah, the perks of growing up in Gainesville. Good times.
On to Baltimore after an offday on Thursday.
Back to the game:
It's fairly obvious to me that Keith Foulke has lost his closing job. Your new Boston Red Sox closer has got to be Jonathan Papelbon. He came in in the ninth in a one-run game and shut the door on Texas, striking out two, and getting his first major league save. Good for Paps. Happy Trails, Keith Foulke. Thanks for 2004, but there's a new sheriff in town.
The offense looked terrible against Cameron Loe pretty much all game. He induced 2 GIDP from Papi, and pretty much every out until Trot Nixon's 2-run home run was a weak, infield grounder. Nixon's blast proved the difference in the game. It was a tough loss for Loe, but somebody's gotta take the L, and it wasn't going to be Josh Beckett tonight.
Speaking of Beckett, he started out shaky, but finished REALLY strong. I was incredibly impressed with his outing. He had some trouble locating his fastball in the early goings, and he threw a few curve balls about 58 feet. But he got his act together and picked up his first (of hopefully many) Red Sox wins. Beckett had 5 K and only 1 BB, and threw 75 strikes out of 109 pitches. I thought Francona kept him in the game the exact right innings. I've been impressed with Tito's bullpen/starter management thus far this season... and especially that he had the cojones to bring in Paps over Foulke tonight.
Mike Timlin tried to blow the game in the eighth inning, but the Rangers got Sveumed when Mark Teixeira was thrown out at the plate by quite a few feet. It looked like Jason might have missed the tag in the slow-mo replay, but Manny's relay to third, and Lowell's throw home were very accurate and on time. That proved to be the difference, as that would have been the tying run in the ballgame. It doesn't happen often that you can put three runners on and not allow a run, but Timlin managed to tonight.
I'd just like to add that my buddy Brad Wilkerson is tearing shit up. I remember when I used to spend many-a-nights taking in Gator baseball games with Brad in the left field bleachers at McKethan Stadium. He and Mark Ellis used to talk baseball with my friend Laura and I for hours on end. I never had any doubt that either of those guys would end up playing in the majors. They're two of the nicest guys I've ever talked to in my life, and I wish them all the success in the world, except when they play the Sox. I'll hopefully see Mark again this summer at the Sox-A's game at Fenway. Ah, the perks of growing up in Gainesville. Good times.
On to Baltimore after an offday on Thursday.
posted by Jennifer at 8:22 PM
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