Return of the Ace, and Other History: Tribe-Sox Gamer II

Josh Beckett was arguably the best pitcher in the American League, working on a string of seven consecutive victories until, while throwing a fourth-inning slider May 13, his right thumbnail sliced into his middle finger. The Sox ended up winning the game, but Beckett's streak ended.

Tonight, he returns -- hopefully as good as he was before the avulsion. He no longer leads baseball in wins; John Lackey is 8-3. But he's still working on an undefeated record, and still has Roger Clemens' 1986 fifteen-start mark of 14-0 in his sights.

Meanwhile, Kevin Youkilis, as referenced below, is working on a record of his own, hoping to become the first (and only) member of the Red Sox not named Jim Rice to record at least two hits in nine straight games. He's not the only one who's hot: J.D. Drew, Manny Ramirez and Dustin Pedroia seem to be putting it together after long slumps, and Mike Lowell remains torrid.

Oh, and they also hope to expand their historic lead in the AL East to 12 games. The first 50 games were a treat -- one of the best the franchise has ever had to start a season. Here's hoping the .700 baseball extends into the next 50.

Comment away!

Lineups (again without Big Papi, nursing the hamstring/groin tightness):

Red Sox
1. Julio Lugo, SS
2. Coco Crisp, CF
3. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
4. Manny Ramirez, DH
5. J.D. Drew, RF
6. Mike Lowell, 3B
7. Jason Varitek, C
8. Wily Mo Pena, LF
9. Dustin Pedroia, 2B

SP - Josh Beckett

Indians
1. Grady Sizemore, CF
2. Jhonny Peralta, SS
3. Travis Hafner, DH
4. Victor Martinez, C
5. Trot Nixon, RF
6. Ryan Garko, 1B
7. Dave Dellucci, LF
8. Josh Barfield, 2B
9. Mike Rouse, 3B

SP -- Jeremy Sowers

Comments

[Ayuh - SF]

3 Sox pitchers to watch tonight: Beckett, with his return from his avulsion/skin tear/blister/finger thingy, and Lester and Timlin due to pitch at Pawtuckett.

I have a feeling Lester will show that he's ready to come back to the bigs. Beckett, I have NO sense of- he could be afraid to throw his curve and get lit up, walk off after 2 innings with a skin problem, or dominate for 8 innings. Any of those results wouldn't surprise me.

I'm not optimistic about Timlin. He got hit hard his last time. It seems to me that in a couple of weeks we'll be seeing a press conference with him, announcing his retirement.

But those are just my gut instincts. I've been wrong before- hell, I turned off the TV after the 8th inning on Mothers Day.

[John]

This is the first I've heard about Becket's thumbnail "slicing into" his finger. From all other reports it seemed that, like his blister problems, the friction of throwing teh ball with rotation was the reason for the skin problems. Is the thumbnail really the culprit? Has this been confirmed elsewhere?

[Ayuh - SF]

And they're off......

[Ayuh - SF]

So far, so good for Beckett. He got ahead of all the batters he faced (Peralta hit one between Youk and the foul line on 0-2) and threw quite a few breaking pitches.

Peralta gets doubled off first- he didn't read that hit and run AT ALL. Did he get deeked out by the SS/2B?

[Dionysus]

Ok. I need you guys to help keep me updated. My house is sans internet nd I'm at a cafe downtown. Unfortunatly, the flash player isnt updated enough to let me use gameday.

So.. help!

Is it a sign of completely and utter addiction that Im sitting at an internet cafe using a BLOG to keep updated on the game?

[SF]

Lugo on first, I have no idea how he got there. Coco at the plate.

[Ayuh - SF]

I'll do my best, Dio.

Julio Lugo leads off with a bunt single towards 3rd base. The Tribe has a rookie making only his 3rd start there, so the Sox are testing him early.

[Dionysus]

I'm distraught by the lack of Papi AGAIN. Are they just gonna give him the series off? Maybe just cause its a left-hander and why not give him an extra day in that case?

[Rain SF]

Hey Dion -- don't worry, we'll keep you posted.

Yeah, any ideas as to why Papi isn't in there?

[Ayuh - SF]

Papi was a topic of discussion in the pre-game. No one seems to know if he'll play tomorrow or not, since Thursday is an off day.

After Crisp flys out to center, Youk drives a ball off the wall, and Lugo scores from first. 1-0 Sox.

[Ayuh - SF]

Getting back to Ortiz, no one seems to worried about him. Guess it's a luxury that having a 11+ game lead in late-May affords you.

[ToddSF]

Youk is gonna burn that place down if he continues like this! And to think they all laughed at me in my fantasy league when I actually drafted him... Yeeeees!

[Dionysus]

YOUK HAS A BLOG NOW!!! On MLBlogs!

Awesomeness

http://kevinyoukilis.mlblogs.com/

[Rain SF]

One more hit for Youkie and he ties Jim Rice.

Manny is at DH again.

[Ayuh - SF]

Manny intentionally walked (in the first inning!). Let's see if JD can make 'em pay.

[Rain SF]

Manny was walked.

Here comes J.D. "Stop talking about Trot" Drew. :P

[ToddSF]

Weak dribbler by Drew to second...No DP though.

[Dionysus]

Come on Mikey.. knock 'em in.

[Ayuh - SF]

Drew grounds into the FC, and Lowell follows up with a fly to center. No more damage done.

[Rain SF]

Sorry Dion. Mikey flies out to center.

[Dionysus]

Darn. Well, at least we got a run. Still.. gonna need a lot more than that against this team.

Youkilis at 21! Weeee!

[Rain SF]

Side note on Roger Clemens returning to the Majors: they're avoiding the Fenway series. Frak.

Now that would have been something. Clemens returning to Fenway. I wonder what kind of reception he'll receive? :P

[Dionysus]

Similar to Johnny's I'd imagine, Rain. Mostly boos, a few scattered cheers.

And.. in the GAME.. hopefully the same reception from the bats that Pedro got!

[SF]

1-2-3 inning for Beckett, 10 pitches. Crossed fingers effective to this point at the SF household.

Woot.. so far.

Woot so far, indeed.

[Rob SF]

Alright, what is up with Papi? I'm not sure if I buy this sore hamstring thing. Did by chance we hire Billy B from the Pats to handle injury updates?

[Rain SF]

Hah, yeah. I remember that start from Pedro. He got rocked.

Beck with a clean top of the 2nd...all fly outs. So far, so good.

[Ayuh - SF]

Awright, enough with the love-fest for Trot already. He got a nice ovation yesterday, which was appropriate. But he plays for another team now.

Man if I was at Fenway for a Clemens start I would be chanting "RANGE... SAFE... ARM!" Whenever he was pitching!

[Rob SF]

8 pitch AB for WMP, that actually is impressive for him.

[SF]

What a grab by Sizemore, running full blast straight back towards the centerfield wall, catching a rope by Wily Mo. Fantastic stuff!

[Devine]

Wily Mo robbed of a double there.

[Dionysus]

That blank was me...

expect a lot of blanks from me. This computer does not cookie my info and I always forget!

[Ayuh - SF]

Willy got robbed; GREAT catch by Sizemore there.

[SF]

Dellucci lazily flies to Drew on three pitches. One down.

[SF]

Grounder to Lugo, I think it hit off Beckett and slowed down, allowing Lugo to grab the ball and throw to first. Two down.

(Replay shows it didn't hit Beckett.)

[TJ]

DOH!

Yo Brad.... If you see this later I was logged on ur MLB.com account for game audio and I went to post on Youks blog suggesting a blog title and it posted with ur account name..... so if he chooses it and gives u a prize i get half lol.

I suggested "Youktastic!" for his blog name :p

[Dionysus]

Glad for that SF. Last thign we need is anything hitting Beckett.

Wait a minute.. this computer to my right has a newer version windos.. maybe *IT* will let me use gameday...

Hold on.

[Rain SF]

Its okay, Dion -- we know its you. :P

Beckett looks good. Real good.

No such luck. Still reliant on you guys.

Lets see.. a buck per fifteen minutes. 3 hours.... 12 bucks for the game.

[Rain SF]

Wow. You are a diehard, man. :P

Then again, we all are. :P Sox fans are diehards.

[Tom sf]

Youk out on a grounder...the Droid would have beat it out.

[Rain SF]

No luck on the home half of the third - Lugo grounds out, Coco flies out, and Youk hits a ball right at Peralta (who I still think is waaay to bulky to be playing shotstop.)

[Rain SF]

Maybe Youkie could bet with Pedroia just to see who's really the fastest? :P

Remember that Youkie's kinda lucky with betting -- he made Paps look like a rooster last year, with the mohawk thing and all.

[Ayuh - SF]

Beckett K's Sizemore again on a curveball. He's looking very sharp.

Heh. Man I LOVE our former farmhands. Weird bets, arguements about speed that lead to inside-the-parkers.

Speaking of famrhands....

[Rain SF]

Over at the Jays-Yankes game, Toronto is up by 1.

[Rain SF]

Peralta walks. Man, you guys are gonna get sick of me saying how bulky this kid looks to me.

[Ayuh - SF]

Although it's easy to be loose when you're playing .700 ball, this Sox clubhouse does seem to be pretty close. No real bad eggs in the whole bunch.

Who got on base for the Indians and how? *eyes the scoreboard that may be slow*

[Rain SF]

Double play, Peralta and Hafner erased.

Bulky Peralta and even bulkier Hafner. :P

[Ayuh - SF]

Are you able to watch the game, Rain? That's great if you are.

[Devine]

Beckett kicks ass. If it weren't for his injury issues, I'd be completely unworried about him. He's clearly using all three pitches, and using them well. Damn, we really have this guy signed that long at that price?

Of course, his middle finger will fall off next inning now.

[SF]

Sox' offense not doing much against Sowers tonight. 2 down here in the fourth already.

We need Papi back.

and to get to Sowers. We need more of a cushion than this.. which isnt ANY cushion.

Are we at least driving his PC up SF?

[Rob SF]

Sowers apepars to be pitching the game of his life

[Ayuh - SF]

Just posted on LoHud Yanks:

"_Kei Igawa in AAA tonight: 4 innings, 7 hits, 4 runs, 1 walk, 6 k’s. 82 pitches, 55 strikes._"

[SF]

56 pitches through four. So, no. He should be able to throw seven at this pace.

[Rob SF]

Sowers up to 57 pitches

Beckett at 51

[Rain SF]

Nope, Ayuh, relying on Gameday. All I'm getting later on is another replay of the Yanks-Angels finale.

Dang, cause.. if my memory serves from last nights ESPN.. the bullpen is pretty much Clevelands weak point.

[Rob SF]

Kei Igawa = Kobe Beef

[SF]

Kei Igawa = Maggot-encrusted Kobe Beef.

milb.com gives me play by play updates in NONflash format!

Lester through 4. 3 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 4 ks. Not his best work in AAA, but again lookin' good. Got out of a bases loaded jam in the first.

[Ayuh - SF]

Rain- be careful about relying on Gameday as to how a player "looks". Stats are useful, but they don't tell you everything. How a player looks on the field is important- how he carries himself, how oonfident he looks, how he reacts to a bad play, etc - all those things you really have to see in person.

That said, on TV, he looks awfully impressive.

[SF]

Beckett quickly ahead of Martinez, with a good hook and then a good fastball. The 0-2 pitch is a ball, and then the 1-2 pitch (a splitter?) is low, 2-2. Martinez fouls off a good heater to keep the count at 2-2. (Nice at-bat here from VM). The next pitch is high heat that VM can't catch, K.

(meanwhile, in Toronto, it's 1-0 Jays after the top of the fifth)

[Rain SF]

Is it safe to say now that Igawa is a bust? :P

[SF]

Looping grounder, Youk tosses to Beckett for the second out.

Marcum appears (via refreshign box scores) to have retired the Yanks in order again.

[SF]

One pitch grounder to Lowell, another fantastic inning from Beckett.

[Devine]

Yooooooooooook.

[kyotofan]

Kei Igawa... a few good seasons at the beginning of the decade. Last few years just average and going downhill. Lots of control problems, lack of motivation. Hanshin Tigers made out like bandits with the posting fee.

Thnaks for the details, SF. They are GREATLY appreciated. I owe ya one.

[SF]

Dio: I am off to dinner, which is at a table about 12 feet from my computer. I fear I can't keep this up for the next 20 minutes to half hour, but I will be back. Sorry!!!

[Devine]

Pettitte throwing quite a game in Canada.

[SF]

Sowers ahead of Tek 0-2 quickly, then a waste pitch makes it 1-2. Tek watches another low, outside pitch go by, and the 2-2 pitch is CRUSHED for a homer. 2-0 Sox!!!

(now I really have to go!)

s'aight. I appreciate what ya did. Enjoy your dinner. Hey I wonder if they have sammichs here....

[Devine]

I'll try to help for a couple. Tek to 0-2, then 1-2, then 2-2.

[TJ]

TEKARIFIC

[Rob SF]

Finally, Tek homers and starts the insurance runs.

[Ayuh - SF]

TEK!

Over everything in Left- what a shot.

[Devine]

Homer over EVERYTHING in left.

TOAST!

[Devine]

Pena strikes out, swinging at stuff high and low.

[Rain SF]

Tek homers! 2-0 Sox!

In Pawtucket, Lester retires the side in the top of the 5th adding another K to his night.

[Devine]

Pedroia hits a solid, though not terribly hard, line drive to center/right-center.

[TJ]

dPod! is batting over .300 WOOHOOOOO

sorry.. I got confused. He gave up a hit but got two Ks to retire them in the fifth

[Rain SF]

The Droid is on base. Lots of pickoff attempts from Sowers.

Maybe Dustin will steal a base just to prove he's faster than Youkie. :P

Wow. Pedroia really is makign us regret any and all doubts we had about him, isn't he?

[Rain SF]

Force out from Lugo. Hah.

Coco up.

[Devine]

Lugo hits into the force. Lugo too fast for the DP.

[Devine]

Aaaaaaaand force from Crisp. Feeling relatively secure given the pitcher, but could stand to have a couple more if we/they can get 'em.

[Rain SF]

Coco grounds out, too.

Here I will ask you, Ayuh -- does Coco look comfortable batting 2nd? You get to see the intangibles. :P

[Devine]

Dellucci hits it fairly hard, but shy of the track in center, one down.

I'm not feelign secure at all. The Indians are VERY good and gave our bullpen fits last night.

Man, I can't wait till next year and Ellsbury. Coco is an amazing defender, but.. his bat never managed to live up to its potential. The Boston Effect, I'd imagine.

[Devine]

K. Beckett's 5th.