Schilling struggled early.  The bats didn't help, with only Gonzalez getting more than one hit. 

 

You know it is a bad game when Tavarez and Seanez look better than the other reliever, in this case Van Buren, who got touched up for 4 runs in the 6th. 

 

Two weekends in a row that the Red Sox have not looked sharp against an AL West team. 

 

Good to get a win late. 

 

I tuned in to listen to the 7th innning after having a nice dinner out after a long, weird week.  Little did I know that Lester was going to implode.  Tough inning after a good 6 innings of work.  Delcarmen didn't help either.  And with the Red Sox bats still slumbering, they didn't make much of  a comeback in the late innings.

 

Crisp and Gonzalez had good games at the bottom of the order.  Gonzo went 2 for 3 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI. 

 

Missed this one.  Looks like Kyle Snyder fell apart in the 4th and 5th innings.  No home runs to provide a cushion for him this time.  Coco Crisp was only hitter to show up.  Good for his average. 

 

The final score of this one overshadows the drama that closed out the bottom half of the 7th inning.  Manny Delcarmen was in trouble.  He had given up a run and two men were on base.  Nobody out.  Not looking good for the young man and given the troubles with middle relief not out of the ordinary.  He then knuckled down and got a broken fly ball out.  Then he struck out Thomas and then Swisher.  Awesome. 

 

The bats broke open in the 8th scoring 6 runs and putting the game away for all intents and purposes.  This meant we got to see Tavarez and Seanez to close out the game.  What looked like a strong start then stumbled into a close game came out a blow out.  All the starters got hits. 

 

This was similiar to the first game of the Red Sox and the Mariners series on Friday.  The Red Sox hit a lot of home runs and got out to a good lead, then middle relief struggled to carry it home to victory.  Hansen, Timlin, and Papelbon did not give up any runs however, which was the first time in a while the bullpen has held.

 

Beckett pitched well, giving up 3 runs in 6 innings, with one being a home run.  It is always a good game when Gonzalez starts out the home run derby.  I am really starting to like Gonzalez, especially if he can keep hitting the ball.  Manny and Big Papi also hit home runs, the 11th time that has happened this season. 

 

Good way to start the series off in Oakland.

It's again to hot to be writing about this game.  My body is still cooling off from sitting out in the 90 degree sunshine today.

 

This one started bad, and then got interesting.  Lester got into a jam where it looked liked he didn't know how to throw strikes or get outs.  Only giving 3 runs was a good escape.  Then the Red Sox came back, then the Mariners scored another 2 runs.  Then the Red Sox scored 1 run in the 5th and 3 runs in the 6th. Then with the bullpen on the Red Sox gave up 2 runs in the 7th.  Manny Delcarmen gave up a 2 out double and then a 2 out single to leave the game tied. 

 

There was a masterful catch by Gonzalez leaped as high as he could to snow cone the ball.  Awesome defensive play. 

 

The Timlin home runs were interesting.  The inside the park one could have been a home run.  Crisp completely missed the ball and Manny booted the ball, but was not given an error.  Manny misplayed the carem off the wall.  The game is now 8-7 Mariners.

 

Varitek homered where Ortiz and Ramirez failed to make contact with Putz's 95+ mile fast balls.  Awesome. 

 

And then Timlin, ahead in the count, 1 ball to 2 strikes makes a huge mistake leaving the ball up (it seemed up, but I was expecting a gopher ball in the dirt for the free swinging Sexson). 

 

Frustrating, especially in the heat.  I think the Mariners should play the Red Sox more often.  The crowd was lively compared to their normal demeanor that experienced in an extra inning loss to the Rockies earlier in the month. 

 

The heat is melting my brain.  At 90+ it is way too hot. 

 

I watched most of the game and it just felt like the game was going to get away.  Gabbard looked solid in his first start, but he left with several base runners on (one thanks to a bad call at first).  Tavarez struggled, but got out of the inning only letting 1 runner score, in part due to an error by Gonzalez, who made a rare error. 

 

Not a great afternoon, but not a disaster.  The Red Sox looked a bit listless in the heat. 

 

Middle relief continues to struggle as Tavarez makes a close game a 3 run game, with the Red Sox trying to figure out how to plate some runs.  Defense has been spotty as well, with errors and misplayed fly balls in the outfield. 

 

 

I got to see this one live at Safeco Field.  It was a hot night in Seattle, especially with a full house of people at the ballpark. 

 

It started out quickly with Ortiz homering in the top of the first.  Then home runs kept coming with Gonazalez hitting one in the third, Veritek in the fourth, and Youklis and Ramirez in the 5th.  The final run of the game for the Red Sox came off a two out single from Crisp who just needs to get some hits. 

 

Moyer looked horrible for the Mariners.  He had some nice off speed stuff going and fooling batters, but when he screwed up he gave up a home run.  In contrast, Snyder was solid through 4 innings and then struggled to get through the 5th with only giving up 2 runs.  Youklis booted one at third base to start the rally, so who knows what happens if they get first out instead of putting a man on first.  Hansen looked good in relief until he got a little too fond of the fastball and the wheels fell off.  Delcarmen looked ok in relief, getting himself into some trouble in the bottom of the 8th, while Timlin just shut the door in the 9th. 

 

Solid game overall, but a bit longer than I expected after the Sox homered out to the 8-0 lead in the fifth.  Everything seem to slow down in the heat after that. 

 

I will be back in Safeco on Sunday to watch Lester pitch in front of his family and friends. 

 

Beckett doesn't give up home runs and helps the Sox win another 1 run shot out game.  Manny homered in the only run of the game. 

 

Pitching and defense is carrying the Sox against the worst team in the big leagues?  Yup.

Lester throws a 1 hitter over 8 innings and Papelbon closed out the ninth for another save.

Gonzo went 1 for 3 and knocked in the only run of the game.  Wow.  This guy is growing on me since he showed he can hit. 

Good to get win.  I thought they were going to lose one to the Royals. 

Crisp had a good night at the plate.

Another loss.

 

He currently has an OBP of .403.  He also has 69 strike outs to 57 walks, which is very similiar to Ortiz's 69 strike outs to 60 walks. 

 

I still love watching this guy play.  It would have been great to have Youklis be my role model as kid growing up and playing baseball in little league. 

 

Schilling pitched a wonderful game when the Red Sox needed a little something after losing the last three games, including two games since coming back from the All-Star Break.  He pitched seven strong innings, before handing the ball over the bullpen.  Delcarmen and Hansen closed out the game without surrendering any runs. 

 

Ortiz, Ramirez, Lowell and Cora had solid games for the sox, each getting multiple hits and collecting at least one RBI (or more) a piece.  Youklis appears to be hitting the wall, as he is striking out more and his batting average has dropped below .300.  I have not checked his OBP lately.  Crisp continues to struggle at the plate. 

 

Good to get a win. 

 

One to forget and move on. 

 

Ouch!

Not sure the All-Star Break helped Beckett, who gave up 7 earned runs in 4+ innings of work.

So much for a fast start to the second half of the season.