June 21, 2008:
Buchholz Quiets Cards; Leads Sox to Win
Boston 3, St. Louis 2
Clay Buchholz added another notch to his young belt this afternoon, holding the duo of Albert Pujols and Rick Ankiel to 2 hits in 7 at bats. Neither slugger was comfortable all day, as they combined to leave four runners in scoring position on the night.
"These are the types of games we want from Clay," pitching coach John Farrell said afterwards. "We are not looking to for the 15 strikeout, one hitters. We'd rather he work the hitters, scatter the hits and let his teammates behind him do their jobs and not worry about overpowering everyone."
Buccholz threw 100 pitches over seven and two-thirds innings, scattering eight hits while striking out seven and walking one. The youngster also induced three double plays to get out of trouble. Javier Lopez and Jonathan Papelbon combined to retire the final four batters in order to secure the win.
Boston jumped ahead early against former teammate Joel Pineiro, scoring twice in the second on a Jason Varitek single. Kevin Youkilis led off the inning with a walk, and J.D. Drew followed with a double to put runners into scoring position with no outs. Pineiro managed to retire Mike Lowell and Brandon Moss on short pop ups to the outfield before Varitek smoked a single back up the middle through the infield. The runners, moving on contact, easily scored without a throw. Julio Lugo grounded out to end the inning.
Boston loaded the bases in the 4th after a pair of walks to Kevin Youkilis and Brandom Moss was followed by Piniero drilling Varitek with the first pitch of the catchers at bat. Neither dugout empty, although the former battery-mates had some choice words to share. After order was restored, Lugo once again ended the threat, bouncing out to Pujols at first for the unassisted putout.
Brain Barton cut the lead in half in the 5th, when a line-drive single dropped in front of Coco Crisp in center, allowing Yadier Molina to beat the throw home by inches for the run. Barton, who advanced to second on the throw home, would move over ot third on a Adam Kennedy groundout, but was stranded when Pujols grounded out to Pedroia at second.
Crisp did redeem himself in the bottom of the fifth, when, leading off against Pineiro, the light-hitting center fielder, hit his eight home run. St. Louis cut the lead down to one run in the eighth before Buchholz exited on a Troy Glaus RBI single, but Javier Lopez was able to strand Pujols and Ankiel on base with ryan Ludwick at the plate to end the rally.
W: Buchholz (8-3) L: Pineiro (2-3) SV: Papelbon (20)
Player of the Game: Buchholz (7.2 IP, 8 Hs, 2 Rs, BB, 7 Ks, 100 PI)
Around the League:
...Tampa Bay SP Edwin Jackson pitched a 2-hit shutout against the Houston Astros...Minnesota signed MR Juan Rincon (2-1, 2 SVs, 3.61 ERA) to a three-year contract extension worth $6.36m...Texas placed 3B Hank Blalock (.267 avg., 6 HRs, 30 RBIs, .817 ops) on the 60-day disabled list...
NHL Entry Draft
Scotiabank Place, Ottawa, Ontario.
Selecting 2nd overall for the second year in a row, the Bruins looked to make a move back in the draft to acquire some defensive help, and didn't have to look too far to find a trade parnter.
The Stanley Cup champion New York Rangers were more than happy to oblige Boston's need for a young mobile defenseman, agreeing to send D
Marc Stall and two draft picks (2008 2nd round and 2010 5th round) to Boston in exchange for the Bruins 1st round (#2 overall) and New York's 3rd round, which the Bruins had previously acquired.
Boston continued to swing some moves as the draft progressed. Flush with two second and two third round picks, the Bruins found another trade partner in Tampa Bay, sending the 31st overall pick (D Jordon Southorn), D Mark Stuart and LW Alexander Kalyanin to the Lightning in exchange for D
Dan Boyle.
Continuing their hyper-active day, the Bruins shipped the right to Brett MacLean and their two third round picks to San Jose in exchange for the #32 overall pick and the right to select C
Steven Stamkos.
In the end, Boston ended up acquiring Marc Staal and Dan Boyle via trade to bolster their defense and C Steve Stamkos and D Kyle Bolduc via the draft for the future.
With the long list of centers that appear capable to performing at a NHL level, a trade or two to increase the depth at wing, especially left is in order. Drury and Savard, the two more expensive veteran centers appear the most likely to be move, allowing youngsters Leino, Boyes and Kesler to get more playing time, especially with their last two drafts yielding two high-potential center-men (Stamkos and Angelo Esposito).
New England 2, Chicago 0
Francisco Mendoza impressed during the Revolutions' 2-0 victory over Chicago this evening. Relishing the space afforded him with the extra attention given to Taylor Twellman and Eddie Buddle up front, the 23-year old Mexican left winger took advantage of the space afforded him. With two goals, Mendoza paced the Revs, who played without starting keeper Matt Reis for the first time this season.
Doug Warren, Reis's backup for the past five seasons, made his first appearance of the season worthwhile, stopping all 8 shots he faced to pick up his second career clean sheet in 14 MLS matches.
Warren, currently listed for transfer, has expressed a desire in the past to move on from New England in order to get more playing time, a move that the Revs have so far resisted.
"We like the system we have in place," coach Scott Nicol remarked concerning the team's goaltending situation. "We respect Doug's position, but right now, he is a Revolution and we are battling for a MLS Cup and that should be his and everyone else's priority. We'll deal with contracts and money when the time is right."
Controversy did erupt in the 78th minute, when Chicago had a goal disallowed. Paulo Wanchope was ruled offsides on a goal by Celso Borges, that would have tied the game 1-1. Borges was subsequently give a red card and ejected following a spirited argument with the referees. Chicago boss Juan Carlos Osorio refused to openly criticize the referee after the match, claiming that he was not prepared to risk being reprimanded by the MLS.