Lowrie, Varitek Lead Sox To Dramatic Win

The Boston Red Sox rallied for a win against Cleveland for the second consecutive night as the Sox regain the lead in the American League East. Rookie Jed Lowrie, making his major league debut led the offense driving in three runs including two on a seventh inning single, his first major league hit. Cleveland tied the game in the bottom half of the seventh, however team captain Jason Varitek connected on his third career pinch-hit home run and Coco Crisp and Dustin Pedroia followed with hits. After David Ortiz popped out, Cleveland walked Manny Ramirez, Kevin Youkilis followed with a run-scoring single, Dustin Pedroia was thrown out at the plate trying to add a second run. Apparently saving Jonathan Papelbon for the Yankees series, the Red Sox brought in Hideki Okajima for the save, he struck out Travis Hafner looking and Victor Martinez swinging before Jacoby Ellsbury made a spectacular catch reaching into the right field seats. Notes: Lowrie went 1-4 in his debut with three RBI. Pedroia collected his league leading eight multi-hit game of the season with his 3-5 performance. David Aardsma collected his first win with Boston. Ellsbury had a hit and two walks and scored two runs. Julio Lugo collected three hits, but also got charged with his fifth error of the season.

Near Perfection

Julio Lugo is off the hook. Curt Schilling had a no-hitter with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning in Oakland this afternoon, the only baserunner to the point was a error by Lugo. However Shannon Stewart singled past Alex Cora with two outs to end the no hit bid. Schilling got the next batter for a complete game one-hitter. More later.

The Revenge Of The Sox

Daisuke Matsuzaka did what Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett did before him, just enough to win. The bullpen did just enough to get it to the ninth and Jonathan Papelbon slammed the door shut to complete the sweep of the Bronx Bombers 7-6 Sunday night at Fenway Park. It marked the first series sweep over the Yankees at Fenway in 17 seasons. The Red Sox scored all their runs with the long ball and the Yankees starter Chase Wright only lasted three innings. In the third inning Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek all went deep in consecutive at bats, it was the 10th time in Major League history that's been accomplished and the first since last September when Drew and the Dodgers accomplished it. Dustin Pedroia, who I have nicknamed dPod made a spectacular stab of a low line drive to preserve the lead in the eighth collected two hits in four plate appearances. Matsuzaka wasn't spectacular but wasn't horrible either, he walked a batter and hit two others and gave up some soft line drive hits. He allowed a career high six runs and struck out seven including Alex Rodriguez twice. He came out in the eighth to pitch to Rodriguez but surrendered a lead off soft line drive single to Rodriguez who extended his hit streak to 22 games with the hit. Matsuzaka got the fans cheering as he hit Alex Rodriguez in the first. He tipped his cap to A-Rod to show it wasn't intentional. Matsuzaka would later plunk Jeter. The Sox bullpen continues to be one of the best in the American League pitching 2 scoreless innings. The Sox collected saves in four consecutive games. Lowell added a 3-run homer in the seventh as the game winning runs. Manny Ramirez may have finally found his stroke going 3-5 with the home run. Boston welcomes Toronto to town tomorrow for a brief two game series followed by the Orioles for two, then its off to New York next weekend.

Red Sox Mo Down Rivera & The Yankees

Spectacular comebacks seem to be what Boston prefers these days. After the great comeback win in Toronto yesterday the Red Sox once again pulled the trick against the hated New York Yankees. Mariano Rivera was once again victimized at Fenway Park by the hometown boys as the Sox rallied for five runs in the bottom of the eighth capped with Alex Cors's single that scored Coco Crisp who tripled in the at-bat before him. Curt Schilling pitched a decent game but was taken deep by Alex Rodriguez twice. The bullpen was once again strong. Hideki Okajima closed the game for his first Major League save as Jonathan Papelbon was unavailable after throwing 46 pitches the last two days in Toronto, but is noq available Saturday if needed. Rodriguez hit his 11th and 12th homeruns of the season including one that Coco Crisp made a heroic effort at landing in the bullpen. Jason Varitek went 3-4 including his first homer of the season and J.D. Drew added three hits for the Sox. Pedroia was 0-2 before being replaced by Wily Mo Pena who struck out in his only at-bat. Tomorrow Boston sends Josh Beckett against rookie Jeff Karstens on FOX. Sunday night on ESPN it will be Daisuke Matsuzaka against another rookie Chase Wright. The Red Sox honored Red Auerbach before the game and Bob Cousy tossed the first pitch. The celebration delayed from last week was the reason for the green jerseys. Cousy visited the WRKO booth during the game and had some laughs with the radio crew and Cousy left with some decent joke material to use against Danny Ainge from his baseball days. Auerbach passed away on OCtober 28, 2006, he was a Boston sports legend leading the Celtics to numerous World Championships including coaching them to nine titles in 10 years in the 1960's. Kevin Youkikis wears a Virginia Tech hat during pregame warmups. Alex Cora driving in Coco Crisp with the game winning run in the 8th inning. Youkilis and Crisp celebrate the game winner. Hideki Okajima worked the ninth for his first career save. The team celebrates the big comeback win 7-6. Mariano Rivera took the loss to the delight of Sox fans. Jason Varitek takes Andy Pettitte Deep. Coco Crisp went into the bullpen trying to grab a A-Rod homer.

Subarashii Matsuzaka-san

Such an exciting day for Red Sox Nation as Daisuke Matsuzaka made his Major League debut. Matsuzaka-san was spectacular through five innings, struggled in the sixth and dominated in the seventh when no one thought he would come back out. And Jonathan Papelbon slammed the door closed for the save. Matsuzaka-san dominated the Royals lineup almost from the start. He struck out 10 and walked just one. His next game will be next Wednesday when he will face fellow countryman Ichiro Suzuki. I was a little annoyed today having to deal with the Royals announcers. I know Home announcers usually get the broadcast for MLBTV but in this case with it being Matsuzaka-san's debut, they should have opted for the NESN guys. The Royals announcers first off are boring and secondly on atleast three occassions they called Matsuzaka-san by the wrong name first Hideo, then Matsui and then Matsuzukee.

Red Sox 7, Royals 1

Same score, different result. Josh Beckett was solid and the bullpen was nearly perfect as Boston ended it's losing streak at Kauffman Stadium tonight 7-1. Beckett struck out five while allowing just 2 hits over five innings. Kevin Youkilis hit a big two-run homerun and Mike Lowell had a two-run double as Boston collected it's first win of the season. The lone blemish on the night for Boston was Mike Lowell's three errors which is half the total he committed in all of 2006. Boston wraps up the series tomorrow afternoon by sending Daisuke Matsuzaka to the mound for his Major League debut.

Royals 7, Red Sox 1

For atleast one day Dustin Pedroia can sit back and make Red Sox Nation wonder if they were underestimating him. Pedroia collected two hits as Boston fell to Kansas City 7-1 in the season opener. Curt Schilling (0-1) struggled all day and the bullpen provided mixed results. Boston's lone run came on a David Ortiz double in the first. The Red Sox didnt get another runner to second until the ninth when Mike Lowell slapped a pitch down the left field line. Tomorrow is an offday then Wednesday its Josh Beckett's turn against Odalis Perez.