July 4, 2008
Giese Silents Sox Bats as Wakes Struggles
New York 8, Boston 1
31 year-old Dan Giese made his 13th career start (and 21st overall appearance) nine years after being drafted by the Red Sox in 1999 and made his former club pay.
"It's just another game," Giese said. "It's important to beat them because they are in our division, I've pitching since they traded me and now, I'm getting a chance here to prove my worth."
After lasting just three innings in his last start against the New York Mets, Giese was sharp against the Red Sox, allowing just one run over 5.1 innings on six hits and a walk. The Red Sox did not manage much against the right-hander. J.D. Drew was the only one who could claim success on the night, and he did it with one out in the top of the first when he hit his 9th home run of the season.
After Drew's home run gave Boston a 1-0 lead, the Yankees quickly responded in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, Tim Wakefield ran into trouble with the heart of the New York order. Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi and Hideki Matsui connected on three straight singles to tie the ball game at one run a piece.
The Red Sox loaded the bases with two outs in the second on a trio of singles by Brandon Moss, Sean Casey and Dustin Pedroia, but could not capitalize when Drew grounded out weakly to second baseman Robinson Cano.
New York pulled ahead in the third on a solo home run by Jason Giambi before putting up three in the sixth. Rodriguez and Giambi, who went a combined 6-8 with five runs scored, connected on a pair of singles to begin the inning. A sacrifice fly brought home Rodriguez before Giambi scored on a wild pitch from Wakefield. Javier Lopez relieved Wakefield and allowed the inherited runner, Melky Cabrera, to score on a single by Eric Duncan before retiring Wilson Betemit.
The four run deficit proved too much for Boston's silent bats. Without Kevin Youkilis and Coco Crisp at the top, Terry Francona's juggled lineup looked off-balance all night.
"Maybe it was an error on my part to ask that of the guys," Francona said afterwards. "These guys get comfortable in their roles and expect to approach the game a certain way, and, when you put a Pedroia at the top of the lineup and ask him to be that guy, he presses and ends up out of whack."
And, the once steady bullpen, imploded, as Lopez, Lee Gronkiewicz and Hideki Okajima combined to allow three runs on five hits in just two and one-third innings of work.
W: Giese (7-4) L: Wakefield (10-5)
Player of the Game: Jason Giambi (3-4, HR, 2 Rs, RBI)
Around the League:
...Kansas City activated SP Gil Meche from the disabled list...
Milwaukee offered me a trade of C.C. Sabathia in exchange for my #4 overall prospect, 19-year old SS Oscar Tejada (.286/.458/.508 w/ Lancaster, 50/55/70/80/60 pot). I'd consider something like this with a little bit more going to the Brewers for realism sake. Tejada isn't untouchable, I'm hoping Lowrie can bounce back next season from injury and give me an option to replace Lugo, who obviously isn't worth the $$ he is being paid. I have no intention of moving Buccholz, Masterson or Ellsbury. Bowden (8-4, 65/65/65 pot.) could go, as he's third on the prospect list and we have Lester in the rotation as well. Sabathia would probably replace Buccholz anyways.