Afternoon Delight: O's-Sox Gamer XVIII

The Red Sox will be sorry to see the Orioles go. They come in to the final game against Baltimore leading the season series 11-6. They've won every series of the season since being swept in a two-gamer in May, but they haven't swept the O's in 2008 ... yet.

Today was shaping up to be more of the same -- particularly with Jeremy Guthrie, the Orioles' only good pitcher, scheduled to start. But Guthrie's arm went dead (to use the old-time expression), and that leaves Lance Cormier to pick up the slack. Cormier has the best ERA of any of the three starters the Sox have faced this series, but that's probably because he hasn't started a game since last September.

Opposing him is Daisuke Matsuzaka, seeking a 20-win season and apparently needing No. 17 to do it. Dice was superimpressive his last time out; we'll see how he follows it up in the bright light of day at Fenway this afternoon. Hoping to support him in his quest will be sudden MVP candidate Dustin Pedroia and the rest of the bats, who somehow seem to hit better the more injured they become.

Skip work (I wish I could) and comment away!

Baltimore
B. Roberts 2b	.296
J. Payton cf	.255
N. Markakis rf	.308
A. Huff 3b	.312
O. Salazar 1b	.217
L. Scott dh	.270
L. Montanez lf	.352
A. Cintron ss	.275
G. Quiroz c	.185
L. Cormier	4.61
Boston
J. Ellsbury rf	.267
J. Lowrie 3b	.283
D. Ortiz dh	.274
D. Pedroia 2b	.330
M. Kotsay 1b	.350
J. Bay lf	.313
J. Varitek c	.228
A. Cora ss	.281
C. Crisp cf	.268
D. Matsuzaka	2.82

Comments

[Micah-SF]

Thanks to an error by Coco and a whole bunch of foul balls, Dice-K throws a whopping 28 pitches in the first inning without even walking anyone and gives up an unearned run.

Let's hope this doesn't turn into 'battle of the bullpens' too early.

[Micah-SF]

51 pitches through 2? Yeeeeesh.

[sf rod]

gotta get some runs early here or this is gonna be a trying game.

[sf rod]

dusty p is a freak of nature.

[Micah-SF]

This is going to be one of those games where the offense just goes quietly against crap pitchers all day, isn't it? UGH.

[Brad]

My only concern with Ped is that this awesome streak is coming way too early for comfort.
I mean, I know he's hitting well over .400 in his last 200AB, but at some point he's going to have to come back a little, right?

I just hope it's not in round one of the playoffs.

[Paul SF]

Last two games the Sox needed to bat around once before teeing off on the starter. Maybe they're biding their time?

[Brad]

Nah, they'll catch up to this guy. That Bay shot would have been gone in anything less than a hurrican up there..

[Brad]

I mean hurricane.

[dw (sf)]

well, that was a better inning for the dice-man. to bad the wind is blowing in, Bay would have had a HR. time to hit boys!

[Micah-SF]

Eight-pitch inning! Much better.

[Micah-SF]

Our offense today makes me want to kill things.

[Micah-SF]

Well, this game sucks.

[Atheose]

Bad day for Daisuke. Bah.

[Atheose]

Wow, did Lance Cormier get injured? He's relieved after 32 pitches.

Time to punish the Oriole bullpen!

[Brad]

This is why I don't ever take part in the "how great Matsuzaka is" talks for Cy. He's not a smart pitcher. He can be awesome, but when he's not getting that corner, or he's not making guys swing and miss, he's very, very hittable. Not to mention a pain to even watch. It's like watching Wakefield.
Throw strikes, moron.

[Brad]

awesome, Ortiz. Hit into the shift a little bit more this year. In fact, don't even make an attempt at going the other way with the outside pitches.

[Paul SF]

Cormier's a reliever, Ath. I think the plan was always to mix and match with middle relievers -- which is why the fact that we're losing is driving me crazy right now...

[Brad]

wouldn't want to not hit homeruns at every single AB when the team is down by four, I guess.

[Atheose]

Brad, I don't think anyone here believed that Daisuke DESERVED to win Cy Young, but rather his numbers would earn him a lot of votes. His ERA, strikeouts and wins are good enough to put him in the top 5, even though he's been unwatchable from a fan's perspective this season.

[Atheose]

Ahh, thanks Paul. The name sounded like a reliever to me, but I had just assumed that he had transitioned to a starting role or something.

Daisuke with a relatively clean 5th. 103 pitches after 5 sounds about right for Daisuke. Send him out for the 6th!

[dw (sf)]

this game is brutal - dale holley on wrko said it seems like the batters are double parked, and just want to get out of there.

[Brad]

yeah, this game is very uncharacteristic of the Sox batters. Very impatient.

[Atheose]

We finally get a baserunner but can't do anything. Very disappointing.

[sf rod]

did cora bunt on his own there, or was tito pulling some risky strings?

[sf rod]

wait for it............

que atheose

[Atheose]

God bless Coco!

Had a meeting for the last hour, can't believe I missed Coco's RBI walk and Pedroia's Laser Show.

[sf rod]

hopefully papi will be able to provide some protection for dusty. the league is just gonna start walking this kid.

[Atheose]

Masterson is a f*cking double-play machine.

[Atheose]

Ortiz walks, Laser Show with a chance to tie it.

[Atheose]

Down 0-2, Pedroia doubles. Motherf*cking MVP.

[Brad]

holy crap. This kid is just on fire right now. He reminds me of Pete Rose. On the field.

[Micah-SF]

HIS MIDGETNESS WILL NOT ACCEPT A LOSS!

C'mon, Kotsay!

[Atheose]

Well said Micah!

And Kotsay ties it on a bases-clearing triple! Yeah!

[Brad]

YEAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH~!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Brad]

Bay - let's get a lead here big guy...

[Micah-SF]

KOTSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! Take the lead now, Mr. Bay!

[sf rod]

dusty is down right amazing. when will the rudy chants start.

welcome to the list of "my new favorite sock is..." mr. kotsay.

[Brad]

Lets go Yankees. Clap clap clapclapclap.

[Atheose]

So who wants to bet Bay gets an IBB with Varitek on deck?

[ponch - sf]

UGH. gotta put the ball into play there

[Micah-SF]

Well, THAT sucked.

[Atheose]

Well at least we tied it. I smell a dramatic walk-off win.

[Brad]

Pedroia style walk off.

[Atheose]

Right now Pedroia would be set up for a bases-loaded, 2 out situation in the bottom of the 9th.

[Atheose]

Two perfect innings from Masterson = awesome. Time to put a W on the board, boys.

[SF]

Gameday shows the Orioles batting coach ejected after Cora strikes out. What happened?!

[Brad]

Atheose - I lick my chops at the possibility of that, but I'd rather have no outs and a two run lead when he comes up in that spot.
Then, he can just "pad" those stats. ha.

[Brad]

I hate when Cora has to play.

[Atheose]

My Gameday shows Cora with a base hit!

[sf rod]

baltimores hitting coach crowley ejected. props to espn gamecast for having t. crowley in the data banks.

[SF]

Wait, now Gameday is showing that Cora singled despite showing that he struck out. What the hell is going on?

[Micah-SF]

If Coco bunts him over, I'd like to see Tito pinch-hit for Ellsbury. I'd also like to see Ellsbury moved back to 9th in the order. He's an offensive disaster right now.

[SF]

but I'd rather have no outs and a two run lead when he comes up in that spot.

It's the ninth, he ain't coming up if the Sox have a two-run lead!!

[Atheose]

God bless Coco! Two runners on with no outs. Ellsbury, do your job and bunt 'em over.

[SF]

Bunt single for Coco! Now bunt these guys over...

[Atheose]

"In Play, run(s)!"

YEAH! I don't know what happened, but hell yeah!

[Micah-SF]

You know what? Sometimes I like it when I'm wrong.

[Devine]

Great...effing...win.

[Micah-SF]

Also, walk-off bunt ftw! Nice play guys.

Bahahahaha!

[Atheose]

Just chalk it up to the power of the reverse-jynx, Micah.

I'm guessing Ellsbury bunted, and they threw the ball past 1st. Gameday still doesn't show anything.

[SF]

Woohoo!

[SF]

MLB has frozen. I think they tried to get Cora at third and threw it away, ending the game.

[sf rod]

the dreaded walk off E.

[Micah-SF]

SF: Yes, that is what happened. Jacoby bunted badly, they had a good chance to get Cora at third, and the pitcher threw it into left field.

I love the Orioles' defense.

[Atheose]

Yeah, anyone see that live? Did they throw to 3rd or 1st?

[Micah-SF]

Third, Ath (see previous post). SoSH says it is so, and Gameday finally updated.

[sf rod]

3.5

yankee baseball clap clap clap.

[Atheose]

Gotta love the comeback-win to complete the sweep. A quick trip to Texas and then the all-important series with TB.

[Atheose]

Carl Pavano clap clap clapclapclap

[Atheose]

Now we just need Burnett to pitch well against the Twins and we'll gain even more breathing room. You know what's funny? At 71-66, the Blue Jays would be in first place if they played in the NL West.

[Devine]

.700 ball in 30 games since the trade.

[Polf]

Ath - They through to third base and missed by a good 3 or 4 metres

[Brad]

You mean the trade that was going to kill us because Manny wasn't around? That one? The one that held the demise of the Red Sox in it's grip? That one? Imagine that. I have no idea how any teams is ever capable of winning without Manny in the lineup. Really. I just can't fathom being a good team without that kind of person around doing his think.

PS - I love it more than anything. Really. It makes me giddy. Almost as giddy as trying to get a hold of Nick after Beckett in the playoffs last year. I love it. LOVE IT>

[Brad]

edit.

how any team.

and

Doing his thing.

[Lar]

Yanks yet another case of a little too late? Heh.

[Lar]

Though if the Yanks *literally* scores 6+ every game, maybe they have a shot. Even then, they need the Sox to suck. If only we were like, 3-4 games down instead of 7 and Sox won. It gives me some glitter of hope, but not too much..

Of course, Pavano will then proceed to give up 10 runs to crush whatever's left..

[I'mBillMcNeal]

Thanks for these last two, NYY.

ARod recipient of the first reviewed home run.
Hard to tell from the ESPN angles, but it looked to me like it went straight over the top of the pole. I think the umps got it right.

[Atheose]

What's more surprising: that Carl Pavano is 3-0, or that his arm hasn't spontaneously combusted mid-pitch?

[Lar]

Pavano did not get the win yesterday..

[sf rod]

hmmmmm...kinda sad there's no posts today with so much going on. sox putting on a good home stretch run at the most pivotal point in the season. dusty is on a unworldly roll and receiving legitimate consideration for AL MVP. beckett, lowell, and casey are back. hell, even the yanks are showing some heart after lacking it all season. am i the only one pumped on baseball, or are we all just waiting around for the skins to smack the giants tonite?