WIN AT ALL COSTS! The 2004 Boston Red Sox

[AZTarHeel]

Bring on the Yankees! Big win for Boston sets tone for weekend series

April 15, 2004 * Boston Globe

Tomorrow evening the Evil Empire will meet the Rebel Alliance for the first time this season.

But don't think the Boston Red Sox were caught looking ahead to their first meeting with the New York Yankees. The Sox played some of their best baseball of the season early today in beating the Baltimore Orioles 12-2.

The win lifted Boston to 6-4 on the season going into the weekend's four-game set with the Yanks. Boston also beat the Orioles yesterday 6-5, a nice rebound after losing the series opener two days ago 5-3.

While the offense has been a roller coaster thus far for Terry Francona's team, all the parts seemed to be clicking in today's match-up. The Sox chased O's pitcher Sidney Ponson after three innings, jumping to a 6-0 lead. Then Jason Varitek lit up the Fenway sky with a grand slam in the fifth (a monster shot that covered 448 feet!).

All told, Boston cranked out 17 hits, while Pedro Martinez and company held the Orioles to five. Here are some highlights from a gaudy stat sheet:

David Ortiz 4-for-4, 1 RBI
Trot Nixon 3-for-5, 2 RBIs
Johnny Damon 2-for-4, 2 RBIs
Nomar Garciaparra 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, 1 HR
Ellis Burks 2-for-3
Pokey Reese (who missed 3 earlier games with injury) 2-for-3

Martinez improved to 3-0 and kept his ERA at a paltry 1.17. Ramiro Mendoza pitched 2 1/3 innings of no-hit relief.

In game two of the series, Bill Mueller hit the game-winning double in the bottom of the ninth, scoring the tying and clinching runs... Baltimore owned game one, getting the most out of five hits (five runs)... Byung-Hyun Kim gave up two critical walks. Baltimore capitalized with big run-scoring hits on the next at-bat both times.

Tomorrow's game with the Yankees will be broadcast live on Fox... The made-for-TV series opener will surely be a sellout at Fenway (so far all of the home games have been!)... Get ready for the rivalry!!

[AZTarHeel]

Hi folks... I've got a busy weekend of work coming up, but I promise to post results from this series ASAP... I haven't played the games out yet, but I can't wait!!

[AZTarHeel]

It's cool how doing this dynasty has sucked me right into this rivalry... I find myself keeping up with the real Red Sox a lot more than I ever have and can't wait until they open the real season... And I got all giddy when Tampa Bay beat the Yankees in the opener a few days ago, even though my wife and best friend (who you will probably meet here sometime soon) are Yankees die-hards...

[Tavarin]

Let's go Sox!

[yanksare]

Aaron, Aaron......it's time to wake up.

Huh? Wh....where am I?

You're safe now my son. You did well. You did very well. Unfortunately the enemy has grown stronger. I must replace you.

Replace me? Replace me?? But I did it. I did what you said. You promised. You sai...

ENOUGH!!!!! Your insolence is unacceptable. May this small sample of my power remind you of who is master and who is slave.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwww!!! My leg!! What have you done? What have you done?

Goodbye Aaron.

William?

Yes master?

Please show our newest tool in.

[AZTarHeel]

Friday, April 16, 2004

Hello and welcome to another year of Major League Baseball on Fox. I'm Joe Buck and I'm standing next to my esteemed partner, Tim McCarver. And boy do we have a dandy for you tonight. The Red Sox vs. the Yankees. The first meeting of 2004. It's sure to be a good one...

Tim: The last time we saw these two teams, Aaron Boone was sticking an 11th inning dagger into the hearts of Red Sox fans in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. Now Boone is out, and through a strange winter of player moves, Alex Rodriguez is in pinstripes. The way these teams went after each other during the off-season leads me to believe the on-season is going to be special.

Joe: Neither team is playing lights out here to start the new season. The Red Sox are 6-4, while the Yankees are 4-6 -- and at one point were 2-5.

The power men -- Jason Giambi for New York and Manny Ramirez for Boston -- have both struggled out of the gate. Both are hitting well below the Mendoza line. Pitching, though, has been strong and a couple of the game's best will be on the hill tonight as Mike Mussina (3-0) takes on new Boston hurler Curt Schilling (0-1).

So stay with us. Red Sox and Yankees. Yankees and Red Sox. The country's best rivalry of all time? Live from Fenway Park. It's next -- after these messages from your favorite alcoholic beverage and sexual dysfunction medicine...

[AZTarHeel]

LIVE ON FOX...

Top of the First (BOS 0, NYY 0)
... Ruben Sierra steps to the plate with the bases full of Yankees. Curt Schilling walked Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield, and Jason Giambi got aboard with a single. The count is full. Schilling delivers. The runners are going… and STRIKE THREE! Wow, Sierra swings too late to catch up with that one. The Boston Red Sox dodge a bullet and we remain scoreless…

Bottom of the Second (BOS 0, NYY 0)
… The Red Sox have runners on the corners. Jason Varitek, the Boston writers’ team MVP a year ago, is at the plate. Mussina winds and delivers – that’s a base hit! Jeter can’t get to it, and Trot Nikon comes home for the first run of the game… The Sox have struck first in the 2004 series!

Manny Ramirez is now up. He’s only hitting .158 so far with zero homers and two RBIs. Terry Francona moved him to the eighth spot in the lineup for tonight… And Mussina loses him on a full count. The bases are loaded for number nine hitter Pokey Reese.

... Pokey slaps one on the ground… could be a double play… over to Jeter for one… but they can’t turn two, and the Sox score again… it’s 2-0 Boston…

Johnny Damon now steps in trying to keep the inning alive… a slow roller to second… Johnny’s flying down the base paths and he’s… SAFE!!! Boston scores again as Varitek trots home. Wow, it’s 3-0 Boston. Mike Mussina’s ERA is taking a hit right now…

Top of the Third (BOS 3, NYY 0)
… Tim, What will Terry Francona do here? Two outs for the Yankees, but two are on and Gary Sheffield is up… Tim: I wouldn’t pitch too him - not here… Joe: Schilling’s going to despite your advice, and Sheffield rips one down the first base line. Jeter is going to score, and the Yankees record their first run of the game…

… Unfortunately, Ruben Sierra strikes out again, and New York can’t turn this into a big inning…

Bottom of the Fourth (BOS 3, NYY 1)
… Here comes Manny Ramirez to the plate. Rumors have been swirling on Internet chat rooms this week that the Sox should dump the struggling outfielder. The names Todd Helton and Larry Walker have been mentioned. This would be a great time for Manny to make a statement if he wants to stay here. In a big game, with a runner on first…

Mussina delivers to Ramirez and LOOK OUT… No one’s going to catch that one. That ball is gone, two runs score and Boston takes a 5-1 lead… What a time for Ramirez to get his first home run of the season... Against the Yankees!!!

(continued below)

[dougaiton]

This is some great stuff. Keep it up!

[AZTarHeel]

(LIVE ON FOX)

Top of the Eighth (BOS 5, NYY 1)

... And that’s going to be all for Curt Schilling. He struck out Jeter and Rodriguez to start the inning, but Jason Giambi just blasted a single into the outfield. Schilling will leave having thrown 109 pitches. He struck out six and has given up just one run. Mike Timlin will step in and will face one of the best players in the game – Gary Sheffield. Again, Tim, do you pitch to Sheff right here with an 0-for-3 Segui on deck?

Tim: It looks like Terry Francona is going to, Joe. Gutsy call here...

Joe: Sure enough, and Sheffield hits a routine ball to Kevin Millar at first. He underhands it back to Timlin for the third out in the inning. So Gary Sheffield can't get it done here, and the lead remains four runs for Boston...

Bottom of the Eighth (BOS 5, NYY 1)
… Two outs for Paul Quantrill, who steps to the mound in relief of Mike Mussina. Nomar stands on second, having just chased Mussina off with a double. Manny Ramirez takes a swing, and a routine play to A-Rod at third… BUT HE BOOTS IT! All are safe, and the Red Sox stay alive in the inning… And that is Alex’s second error of the season at third base…

… and that error is going to cost New York as Pokey Reese pokes one into centerfield. Nomar will score, and Boston takes a 6-1 lead. Not the close game we expected from this series for sure…

Tim: Ahh, Joe, but it’s the Yankees we’re talking about. It’s never over until, well you know…

Joe: I don't know, I think I hear a fat lady warming up somewhere close by... Of course, Tim, Quantrill just walked Johnny Damon to load the bases…

… Mueller now up with the chance to break this game wide open… The pitch from Quantrill… a tapper to Grudzielanek at second… an easy play, but HE BOOTS IT AS WELL!!! A run scores, and it’s now 7-1… The Boss can’t be happy with these developments…

… Fortunately, Quantrill strikes out Ellis Burks to get out of the jam… wow…

Top of the Ninth (BOS 7, NYY 1)

One on and one out for New York. Flaherty up with Matsui on first. It looks like Francona is going to stick with Timlin the rest of the way. Foulke had been up throwing the last inning, but with a six-run lead, there’s no need for him at this point…

…Flaherty hits a grounder up the middle. Nomar to Pokey to Millar – the classic 6-4-3 double play! This game is in the books. Boston smashes New York in the first game of their ’04 series, 7-1. Wow…

We’ll be right back to wrap this thing up from Fenway Park, where the fans are going nuts…

[AZTarHeel]

Here's the box score from the game... Might as well print it since it's the first of the series...

New York (A) 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 10 2
Boston 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 2 X 7 9 0

New York (A) AB R H RBI BB K AVG HR RBI
K. Lofton CF 4 0 1 0 0 0 .333 1 6
D. Jeter SS 4 1 1 0 0 1 .273 0 1
A. Rodriguez 3B 3 0 0 0 1 2 .262 3 9
J. Giambi 1B 4 0 3 0 0 0 .237 1 7
G. Sheffield RF 3 0 1 1 1 0 .318 4 12
R. Sierra DH 4 0 1 0 0 2 .300 0 0
H. Matsui LF 4 0 2 0 0 0 .268 2 7
J. Flaherty C 4 0 1 0 0 1 .250 0 0
M. Grudzielanek 2B 3 0 0 0 0 0 .313 1 3
Totals 33 1 10 1 2 6

BATTING
Runs Batted In: G. Sheffield (12)

FIELDING
Errors: M. Grudzielanek (1), A. Rodriguez (2)

Boston AB R H RBI BB K AVG HR RBI
J. Damon CF 4 0 3 1 1 0 .370 2 7
B. Mueller 3B 5 0 0 0 0 0 .255 0 7
E. Burks DH 5 0 1 0 0 1 .263 4 5
D. Ortiz 1B 4 1 1 0 0 3 .433 1 8
K. Millar 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 0 2
T. Nixon RF 3 1 0 0 1 1 .355 2 7
N. Garciaparra SS 4 1 1 0 0 0 .217 2 7
J. Varitek C 3 2 1 1 1 2 .229 2 6
M. Ramirez LF 3 2 1 2 1 0 .171 1 4
P. Reese 2B 4 0 1 2 0 2 .310 0 5
Totals 35 7 9 6 4 9

BATTING
Doubles: D. Ortiz (4, 2nd inning off Mussina, 0 on, 0 out.) N. Garciaparra (1, 8th inning off Mussina, 0 on, 1 out.)
Homeruns: M. Ramirez (1, 4th inning off Mussina, 1 on, 0 out.)
Runs Batted In: J. Damon (7), J. Varitek (6), M. Ramirez 2 (4), P. Reese 2 (5)
Stolen Bases: J. Damon (5)

New York (A) IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA RECORD
M. Mussina L 7.2 8 6 5 3 8 1 115 66 4.60 3-1
P. Quantrill 0.1 1 1 0 1 1 0 19 8 5.40

PITCHING
Batters Faced: M. Mussina 34, P. Quantrill 5
Ground Balls-Fly Balls: M. Mussina 11-4, P. Quantrill 2-0
Game Score: M. Mussina 46

Boston IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA RECORD
C. Schilling W 7.2 9 1 1 2 6 0 109 66 2.53 1-1
M. Timlin 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 14 8 1.80

PITCHING
Batters Faced: C. Schilling 31, M. Timlin 4
Ground Balls-Fly Balls: C. Schilling 11-3, M. Timlin 3-0
Game Score: C. Schilling 61

GAME INFO
Time: 3:14
Attendance: 34239 (34243) Glove Day at Fenway Park
Weather: Partly cloudy (44 degrees), wind blowing out to right at 11 mph
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Curt Schilling
Game Notes: Manny Ramirez hit the longest homer of his career, it went 437 feet. (Editor's note: it's about time!!)

Joe Buck: Thanks for joining us on Fox... These two teams will go at again the next three days... Stay tuned for more broadcasts. Check your local listings...

[YankeeFanatic04]

Great Job.

[AZTarHeel]

Originally posted by YankeeFanatic04
Great Job.

Thanks, YankeeFanatic... obviously I can't do this for every game but it's fun for special ones...

[AZTarHeel]

Pokey's homer caps wild Boston comeback
Red Sox rally from 9-3 deficit

The Boston Globe * April 18

Pokey poked one over the Green Monster in the eighth inning, and Boston beat the New York Yankees for the second game in a row last night.

Pokey Reese's two-run blast capped the Red Sox's comeback from a 9-3 deficit and sealed the 10-9 victory. Boston scored seven runs in the bottom of the eighth just as most folks in Fenway thought this game was in the books for the Yankees.

The Red Sox rally spoiled a four-hit night for Jason Giambi. David Ortiz instead stole player of the game honors. He hit a 3-run homer in the first and stroked a two-run double in the eighth.

The Yankees drop to 4-8, while Boston improves to 8-4. Here's how the wild eighth-inning played out.

Batting: New York (A), top of 8th.
Pitching: Ramiro Mendoza
SS Derek Jeter:
TRIPLES down the right field line.
3B Alex Rodriguez:
Grounds out to the first baseman.
D. Jeter scores.
1B Jason Giambi:
Grounds out to the third baseman.
RF Gary Sheffield:
Grounds out to the pitcher.
Inning over... one run, one hit, no errors.
Score: New York (A) 9, Boston 3

Batting: Boston, bottom of 8th.
Pitching: Paul Quantrill
CF Johnny Damon:
Base on balls.
3B Mark Bellhorn:
DOUBLES down the right field line.
J. Damon to third.
DH Ellis Burks:
Grounds out to the third baseman.
1B David Ortiz:
DOUBLES down the right field line.
J. Damon scores.
M. Bellhorn scores.
RF Trot Nixon:
SINGLES to center
D. Ortiz to third.
SS Nomar Garciaparra:
Flies out to shallow right-center.
PH Kevin Millar:
DOUBLES to the gap in left-center.
D. Ortiz scores.
T. Nixon scores.
New pitcher: Felix Heredia.
LF Manny Ramirez:
DOUBLES down the left field line.
K. Millar scores.
New pitcher: Mariano Rivera.
2B Pokey Reese:
2-RUN HOMERUN to deep left field. (373 feet)
CF Johnny Damon:
SINGLES to the gap in right-center.
3B Mark Bellhorn:
Damon picked off at first base.
Inning over... 7 runs, 7 hits, no errors.
Score: Boston 10, New York (A) 9

Boston now leads the series 2-0...

[AZTarHeel]

Editor's note: I just backed up my season... hehe

[AZTarHeel]

Yanks finally get one, but barely

The Boston Globe * April 19

The Yankees weren't going to be denied this time.

Jorge Posada stroked an RBI single in the top of the ninth last night, and New York beat the Red Sox 5-4 at Fenway Park. The hit scored Gary Sheffield, who had doubled earlier in the inning and moved to third base on a fielder's choice by Bernie Williams.

Alan Embree took the loss, though the winning hit came off Boston closer Keith Foulke, who has given up several crucial base knocks this season. Mariano Rivera got a save -- something he couldn't do the night before in a wild 10-9 loss.

This was the second one-run game in the series between the teams. Trot Nixon tried to help Boston win its third straight over the Bronx bombers, but his two-homer night went for nought.

Boston drops to 8-5. The Yanks end a skid and improve to 5-8... The last game in the series will be played today at Fenway.

[AZTarHeel]

Yanks draw even in series -- in a big way

The Boston Globe * April 20

The fireworks swung the other way last night as the New York Yankees clubbed the Boston Red Sox 15-6 at Fenway Park.

Red Sox pitcher Derek Lowe lasted just one inning, getting chased after giving up seven runs on six hits, including a two-run homer to Jason Giambi in the first. After failing to record an out after facing six in the second, Boston manager Terry Francona finally brought in Ramiro Mendoza.

"I just didn't have anything tonight," said Lowe, who won his first start last week but saw his ERA baloon over 7.00. "They were just hitting off a tee."

The Sox got as close as 7-5 in the bottom of the fifth after a two-run double from Trot Nixon. But the Yankees slammed the door in the seventh, getting five more runs. Kenny Lofton added one more exclamation point -- a two-run homer -- in the top of the ninth off an exhausted Boston bullpen.

The season series is now stalemated 2-2. Boston is still on top of the AL East at 8-6, but the Yankees, now 6-8, lurk just two games back. The two teams will play again this weekend in Yankee Stadium.

It looks like the Tampa Bay Devil Rays want to mix it up with the traditional contenders. They are off to a 7-5 start and sit tied with Boston...

[Vris]

Question....Isn't it Trot NiXon...not NiKon?

[AZTarHeel]

Originally posted by Vris
Question....Isn't it Trot NiXon...not NiKon?

Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking... at least I haven't been calling them the Boston Red Sok...

[AZTarHeel]

News and Notes from around the Majors

As Boston and New York prepare for their second series of the season, here are some other notables from around the league:

First trade of the regular season
Trade between Baltimore and St. Louis :
St. Louis gets :
LF Larry Bigbie
Baltimore gets :
P Jeff Suppan
C Daric Barton

Additional Boston transactions
• Free agent Richard Stahl has been signed to a contract of $0 per year, for 0 years.
• Free agent James Paduch has been signed to a contract of $0 per year, for 0 years.
• Free agent Mike Bordick has been signed to a contract of $512,000 per year, for 1 years. (yeah yeah - overpriced, other than 1-star Tony Womack there's not another true SS in the whole organization, so if my Nomar also gets hurt...)...

Other Transactions
• Detroit: Free agent 1B Andres Galarraga has been signed to a contract of $988,000 per year, for 1 year.
• Cleveland: Free agent P Carlos Reyes has been signed to a contract of $300,000 per year, for 1 year.
• San Diego: Free agent 1B Fred Mcgriff has been signed to a contract of $576,000 per year, for 1 year.

Players of the Week
Week ONE
• American League-Player of the Week:
SS Jose Valentin (CHA)!
He batted .481 in 27 AB, with 2 HR and 6 RBI.
• National League-Player of the Week:
1B Todd Helton (COL)!
He batted .545 in 22 AB, with 1 HR and 8 RBI.

News from the Boston scouting department
Curt Schilling's talent in avoiding walks drops...
Curt Schilling's talent in avoiding homers drops...
Jerome Gamble's talent in avoiding homers drops...
Richard Stahl's talent in avoiding homers drops...

Other Notables
• Larry Walker (COL) collects his 2,000th hit...
• Milwaukee was the last team to get a win, starting 0-8... They are now 3-11...

[AZTarHeel]

Red Sox tune-up for Yankees with SkyDome sweep

April 20-22

Game 1: Boston 11, Toronto 1
Game 2: Boston 5, Toronto 1
Game 3: Boston 5, Toronto 0

Just about everything goes right for the Red Sox in this series. The team improves to 11-6 and remains two games up in the AL East over New York and Tampa Bay (what?). Here are some details:

1) Pedro Martinez improves to 4-0, throwing a four-hitter over seven innings... Manny Ramirez hits a grand slam in the eighth inning -- that travels 459 feet. Gee, why can't he do this when it counts? (it was 6-1 at the time)... David Ortiz homers for the third game in a row... Jason Varitek goes 4-for-5... Nomar Garciaparra finished 3-for-4 with a HR... Kevin Millar gets a start at first and homers as well...

2) This is the gem of the set. Curt Schilling vs. Roy Halladay... After three innings, Toronto has one hit and Boston has none... Johnny Damon finally breaks the ice for the Sox in the fourth, extending his hitting streak to 13 games...

Finally in the seventh inning, a team actually scores. That would be Boston, who loads the bases and gets a run on a Nomar RBI before Toronto turns a DP... Manny sits out for this one (he's batting a robust .160 ) but comes in as a pinch hitter in the top of the ninth (after Halladay is gone) and hits a three-run homer. A new role for him? $14 million pinch hitter...

3) Tim Wakefield earns back some favor with his teammates (after getting chased way early vs. the Yankees). He fans nine (wow!) and only allows two hits over seven innings... It's going to be a roller coaster season with him on the hill... Damon extends his hitting streak to 14 games...

David Ortiz homers again -- the fourth time in five games... In all, Boston only gives up four hits for the game... The Sox are tops in the majors in home runs for the season...

Next up: Get ready for the Red Sox's first trip to Gotham, er, Yankee Stadium... The Boss is waiting...