July 5th, 2008
Chamberlain out duels Lester
New York 4, Boston 1
It's probably a match-up that Red Sox-Yankee fans should get used to. 24-year old Jon Lester and 22-year old Joba Chamberlain both look poised for big, successful careers.
Last night, it was Chamberlain getting the better of the Sox southpaw, keeping the Red sox to just one run on two hits and four walks in seven innings for New York's second straight win over the Sox.
While New York is still seven games behind the Sox, Boston's offensive slump continues. The Red Sox have dropped to seventh in the league in batting, hitting .267 for the season.
"We have to keep going," manager Terry Francona said. "These guys will figure it out, and, if not, I'll figure it out for them. We can do better, but tonight, we just ran into a kid that has been lights-out for most of the year. Tip your cap, and move on to tomorrow."
The lone Boston run came in the fourth with the Sox already trailing 2-0. With David Ortiz and J.D. Drew on base after a pair of one-out walks, Mike Lowell laced a sharp single back up the middle of the diamond past Robinson Cano to score Ortiz from second. Dustin Pedroia and Jason Varitek struck out swinging to strand Drew, the tying run, at third.
Lester was equally as sharp against the Yankees, but was unable to keep New York from capitalizing on opportunities. After holding New York to two runs over the first six innings, Lester walked Wilson Betemit with one out in the 6th. Hideki Matsui came up next and sent Lester to the showers with a two-run home run to deep right-center to cap the scoring.
Rus Ohlendorf and Mariano Rivera combined to keep the Sox off the bases over the final two innings to secure Chamberlain's Major League-best 13th win of the season.
W: Chamberlain (13-6) L: Lester (9-5) SV: Rivera (24)
Player of the Game: Hideki Matsui (4-4, HR, R, 2 RBIs)
Around the League:
...Tampa Bay traded SP Edwin Jackson (4-8, 3.84 ERA, 91.1 IP) to the Texas Rangers in exchange for minor league SP Eric Hurley (5-7, 3.08 ERA w/ Frisco). Vincente Padilla (3-8, 5.50 ERA) was designated for assignment....Jake Westbrook (4-7, 5.58 ERA) of the Cleveland Indians was activated from the disabled list...
Revolution Back on Track, Top Real Salt Lake[
New England 2, Salt Lake 1
It took 142 minutes, but the Revolution regain their scoring touch. After being shutout for three halves of soccer, Revolution coach Steve Nicols laid into his squad during halftime, expressing his displeasure with their lack of competitive fire.
"I think a bit of malaise had set in," Nicols said afterwards. "We grew accustomed to winning and we got lazy, expecting it just to happen on our god giving abilities and not hard work."
Trailing 1-0 at the half, the Revolution come out on fire in the second, quickly adding two scores in the first fifteen minutes to go ahead. After grabbing the lead, Nicols closed down his trademark offensive attack, making his players control the ball and commit to their defense tactics.
"We grabbed the lead and it was time to set a message. We aren't just a run-and-gun team, we can lock down our opponents and play a slower, ball-control offense when needed. They need to work both ends of the pitch, this isn't going to be fun and game all the time."
After Javier Morales put Salt Lake ahead 1-0 in the first, Edson Buddle's fifth goal of the season got the Revs on the board early in the second with a strong effort. Buddle found Francisco Mendoza at midfield, and the two executed a picture-perfect give-and-go around defender Drew Moor that left Buddle open on the right wing. As he broke down on the goal, Nick Rimando came out to defend the angle, but Buddle was able to chip the ball over the keeper and into the far left corner to tie the match up.
Less than seven minutes later, the Revolution again control the ball at midfield after Josh Gardner turned the ball over to Jake Jewsbury. With little challenge, Jewsbury advanced the ball forward, eventually pushing the ball to Wells Thompson in the corner, who found Taylor Twellman in the box on the header to put the Revolution ahead.
Nicols would make it stick, pulling his team back to a 4-4-2 defensive position to ensure Salt Lake would be unable to manage any advances. The Revolution did did get some bad news later in the match, when Khano Smith pulled up lame after a hard tackle by Fabian Espindola in the ninetieth minute. Smith, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the 82nd minute, left the pitch under his own power with an apparent foot injury. He will be examined by team doctors when the team returns to Foxboro.
Bruins make offer to Corey Perry
The Bruins, looked to add grit and skill to the wing position, have extended an offer sheet to Anaheim restricted free agent Corey Perry. Believed to be worth $3.98m, the offer would keep the 23 year old with the Bruins through the 2011 season.
If accepted, Anaheim would receive a second round draft pick from the Bruins as compensation.
"He's a big winer, with strong two-way play," a leaked Bruins scouting report said. "Perry has superb vision and unerring accuracy with his passes. First line potential."
In his third season, Perry saw his numbers drop dramatically, posting just 9 goals to go along with 10 assists in 75 games after putting up 27 goals and 34 assists in 2006-07.
Boston has also reported extended a contract to free agent winger Dany Healtey, formerly of the rival Ottawa Senators. Heatley led the NHL is goals this past season with 54.