The Scrapping Rays @ The Mending Red Sox 9/15-9/18

[Tobywan]

Brignac grounds to second.
DJ lines a single up the middle.
BJ batting, DJ heads to second, throw not in time.
BJ called out on strikes, Upton argues vehemently, Longo pushes him, Maddon getting him out of there before he gets tossed. Ball was outside.
Longo ....... Beckett gets behind in the count so they now intentionally walk him.
Kotch grounds to second.

[Tobywan]

Pesky grounds to second.
AGon grounds to short (Brignac to the right of second on the shift.)
Papi flies out to center.

[Tobywan]

JD lifts a liner over the head of Scuturo for a single.
Zo Ks.
Matty J batting, Damon steals second. Poor Tek's getting old.
Joyce still batting, Damon takes third. Joyce pops out to center. in too far for Damon to score.
JJ Ks looking.

[Tobywan]

Between innings Maddon getting into the umpire's face, he must have gotten tossed during the commercial break after the called third strike on Jaso.The strike zone has been wide on these third strikes.

[Tobywan]

Red Ks. swinging.
Scuto flies out to center.
CC taps to shallow infield, throw by Brignac not in time, base hit.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia ph for Varitek, CC heads to second, throw is wild, Longo near second on the shift can't get it.
Salty flies out to left.

On to the 7th.

[Tobywan]

Salty remains in game at catcher.
Now pitching Alfredo Aceves.

Brignac flies out to center.
DJ walks.
BJ Ks swinging.
Longo walks.
Kotch Ks looking.

[Tobywan]

Aviles strike three but balls skips away from Jaso and he reaches.
Ells batting, Shields tries to pick off Aviles and its wide skipping into the dugout, Aviles to second.
Ells grounds out to first, Aviles to third.
Pesky hits a rocket right at third, Longoria dives for the ball and falls on the bag to get Aviles, too........awesome web gem!

On to the 8th.

[Tobywan]

Now pitching Daniel Bard.

JD appeared to be hit, but the third base ump says he swung at it.....replay could have gone either way I guess.
Zo walks.
Matty J down swinging.
JJ Ks swinging.

[Tobywan]

Sweet Caroline....ba ba ba...

AGon walks.

Now pitching Cesar Ramos.

Papi pops out to the catcher.
Conor Jackson ph for Josh Reddick.

Now pitching Brandon Gomes.


Jackson singles past the divng Longoria.
McDonald will run for Jackson.
Scuto pops out to catcher.

Now pitching JP Howell.

CC rockets one to the first base line, Kotch knocks it down Carl gets the single...... AGon trying to score, Casey up with the throw to Jaso blocking the plate..........OUT!!!

On to the 9th.

[Tobywan]

Now pitching Jonathon Papelbon.
McDonald stays in game at RF.


Dan Johnson ph for Brignac and he goes down swinging.
Jennings Ks.
BJ grounds a single up the rf line past the diving AGon.
Longo batting BJ moves into second no throw.
Evan down swinging.

Sox take the second game 4-3.

[Tobywan]

Tonight’s Match-ups


Jeff Niemann's has pitched pretty well against Boston , his only CG came against them in mid August. When he struck out 10 while giving up just 3 hits.


Jon Lester gave up 8 hits and 4 runs in 4 innings pitched in his last start while giving up one or less in the previous 5 starts.


Worth noting

Both teams are trying to become the first teams in AL to reach the postseason after an 0-6 start.

[Tobywan]

Joe Maddon’s comments about the strike zone were brutal and he feels no morning regret, standing by his statements but dispelled the idea that there is some sort of “conspiracy” against the team. The Rays post game show made his case even stronger, many of the called third strikes on the Rays were completely off the plate. I will not be surprised if there are fireworks tonight if there is anything questionable happens especially with the National spotlight.

Unfortunately, I got called in to work tonight so I won’t be able to watch closely until I can watch the DVR later tonight.

Line-ups

Rays

Jennings LF
Upton CF
Longoria 3B
Zobrist 2B
Damon DH
Rodriguez SS
Kotchman 1B
Guyer RF
Lobaton C


Red Sox

Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ortiz DH
Reddick RF
Saltalamacchia C
Crawford LF
Aviles 3B
Scutaro SS

[Tobywan]

The Rays notched another win on a 2 run homer from Ben Zobrist, an RBI single from Longoria and the quick feet of Desmond Jennings on a WP. Jeff Niemann pitched well enough to keep it close and Matt Moore went 3 innings giving up just one run to hold off the Sox 4-3.

Today’s Match-ups

David Price pitched well in his last start in Baltimore though he didn’t get a decision when he allowed the them to tie the game in the 7th.

Tim Wakefield finally reached the 200 win mark and has a good amount of success against the Rays.


One more played game and Johnny Damon steps into another record, he will join Hank Aaron, Brooks Robinson and Pete Rose as the only players to play in at least 140 games for 16 consecutive seasons.

[Tobywan]

Price was slammed by a line drive to the chest in the third and was removed after pitching the 4th for precautionary reasons. McGee has thrown well while the Rays threw up an 8-2 lead by the7th. Cesar Ramos let up a 3 run homer to Aviles to make it 8-5 going into the 8th.

[Tobywan]

Now pitching Matt Albers.

Shoppach flies out to center.
Jennings grounds out to short.
Upton grounds to third, but Aviles thows wide of the bag, BJ reaches.
Longo batting Upton tries to syeal and they gun him down.