RED SOX WIN! And Some Maildays

THE RED SOX WON THE WORLD SERIES!

The Red Sox have been to the World Series four times in my lifetime, but I was only five in 1986 when they lost and not at all a baseball fan.  So this is really the third time I have watched them in the Series and they have won all three.  It was a very interesting Series, with a couple of surprising endings in Games 3 and 4.  But it all came down to last night and the Red Sox won.

GAME 1:  Red Sox 8 Cardinals 1 (Boston leads 1-0)

Game 1 featured a matchup of aces with Jon Lester pitching against Adam Wainwright in Boston.  The Red Sox offense was going early and Wainwright gave up five runs.  Lester pitched well and David Ortiz hit a home run and drove in three runs.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

JON LESTER: 7.2 innings, 5 hits, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts, Win.

GAME 2:  Cardinals 4 Red Sox 2 (Series tied 1-1)

Michael Wacha came in to much fanfare and shut the Red Sox offense down until David Ortiz homered with a man on, which momentarily put Boston in the lead.  Then the bullpen failed to shut down the Cardinals and they scratched out three more runs to win.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

DAVID ORTIZ:  2 for 3, home run, 2 RBIs.

GAME 3:  Cardinals 5 Red Sox 4 (St. Louis leads 2-1)

In the craziest finish to a World Series game I have ever seen, the Cardinals scored the winning run on an obstruction call against Will Middlebrooks who failed to get up after attempting to field a ball and Allen Craig got tied up in his legs.  Boston trailed early but kept coming back until that obstruction play.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

XANDER BOGAERTS:  2 for 4, triple, run.

GAME 4:  Red Sox 4 Cardinals 2 (Series tied 2-2)

Another crazy ending as the Cardinals had Kolten Wong on first with two outs and Carlos Beltran at the plate, but Koji Uehara picked Wong off of first to end the game.  Jonny Gomes came through with a clutch three-run home run to put Boston ahead for good and Clay Buchholz gutted out four innings.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

JONNY GOMES:  1 for 2, three-run home run.

GAME 5:  Red Sox 3 Cardinals 1 (Boston leads 3-2)

Jon Lester again outdueled Adam Wainwright and Boston took the lead with two runs in the seventh inning.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

DAVID ORTIZ:  3 for 4, double, run.

GAME 6:  Red Sox 6 Cardinals 1 (Boston wins 4-2)

Michael Wacha had some trouble this time out as Boston got to him early and often.  Shane Victorino drove in four runs and Stephen Drew homered.  John Lackey pitched well enough to win but had to escape a number of jams to do it.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

SHANE VICTORINO:  2 for 3, double, 4 RBIs.

WORLD SERIES MVP:

DAVID ORTIZ

.688/.760/1.188, 2 home runs, 2 doubles, 6 RBIs.

Also congratulations to Dustin Pedroia and Shane Victorino for winning Gold Gloves.  Jacoby Ellsbury should have won over Adam Jones and I am shocked that Mike Napoli was not even a finalist at first base considering he lead the league in DRS.

Okay and now to catch up on maildays.  The first was a trade that was completed awhile ago but the other party forgot to send it on time so he added some nice cards to it.

1.  2012 Topps Chrome Dynamic Die Cuts Adrian Gonzalez.  This was supposed to be the only card I got in the trade, but the rest were throw-ins.  I just love these die-cut cards.  Adrian Gonzalez is probably kicking himself today.

2.  2013 Topps Allen & Ginter Across the Years Jacoby Ellsbury.  The biggest question facing the Red Sox this offseason is what will happen to Ellsbury.  I want him back, but he might become too pricey.

3.  2013 Topps Chrome Mike Napoli.  Another free agent.  I do think Boston will bring him back for first base.  He probably deserved a Gold Glove this year.

4.  2013 Topps Chrome Jackie Bradley Jr.  If Ellsbury goes, Bradley takes over in center field.  If not, he could take over in left.

5.  2011 Topps Cognac Jacoby Ellsbury.

The next trade was a small one, but was packed with vintage stuff:

6.  1972 Topps Luis Aparicio IA.  These In Action cards are great.  Aparicio is a Hall of Famer who was in Boston for the final three years of his career.

7.  1970 Topps Rico Petrocelli AS.  Fresh off of his 40 home run season, which was unheard of for an American League shortstop at that time.

8.  1995 Jimmy Dean All Time Greats Carl Yastrzemski.  I love food issues and this is one of the nicer ones I have picked up in a long time.  Even without the MLB license, this is still a great card.

9.  1969 Topps Deckle Edge Ken Harrelson.  Without a doubt one of the worst air-brush jobs I have seen.  The uniform is clearly an A's uniform, but the hat features a B.  Looking at scans of his cards, I am not sure there is a card that actually features him in a Red Sox uniform.  I hate listening to him announce White Sox games, but he was a great player for Boston in 1968, leading the league in RBIs that season.

10.  1968 Topps Game Carl Yastrzemski.  Not in the best shape, but still nice to have.

11.  1968 Topps Game Jim Lonborg.  Same as the Yaz.

Next was a quick and easy trade:

12.  2013 Topps Update Emerald David Ortiz AS.  Now he can add World Series MVP to his growing list of credentials.  His Hall of Fame case is getting stronger.

13.  2013 Topps Update Emerald Daniel Nava.  A terrific season for the outfielder and his second base card in flagship for some ungodly reason.

I traded one of my Blue Prizm parallels for this:

14.  2013 Panini Prizm Red Prizm Mike Napoli.  I really like this one.  Even without the MLB license, though it would look better.  Oddly it lists Napoli as a catcher, a position he did not play at all for the Red Sox.  The beard is beginning.

And the last trade brought me a bunch of cards from my wantlist:

15.  2009 Topps Chrome Jason Varitek.  How did I not have this one?

16.  2013 Pinnacle Jon Lester.  What a great postseason he had.

17.  2008 Upper Deck Timelines Clay Buchholz.  I liked the Timelines set.  I still need a bunch of cards from it.

18.  2008 Upper Deck Timelines Clay Buchholz.  Another card from the Timelines set.

19.  1989 Bowman Lee Smith.  I have no idea why I did not have this one before either.

20.  1987 Donruss Steve Crawford.  Crawford was one of the Red Sox better bullpen arms in the 1986 pennant-winning season.  One year he lead the team in saves with, get this, 12.  How times have changed.  It was not as if Boston had multiple options either.  Bob Stanley saved 10, but after that nobody had more than three.  It was a different time and bullpens were much different.

The Red Sox are Headed to the World Series!

Boston defeated Detroit four games to two in the ALCS and will take on the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.  These two teams have met four times now in the World Series.  In 1946 it was a matchup of Ted Williams and Stan Musial.  In 1967, Carl Yastrzemski met Bob Gibson.  And in 2004 Boston won their first World Series since 1918.  Yadier Molina and David Ortiz are the only two players left from that matchup.

ALCS Game 1: Tigers 1 Red Sox 0 (Det 1 Bos 0)
Anibal Sanchez left the game with a no-hitter going that continued until Daniel Nava lined a base hit with one out in the ninth.  It was a terrific pitching performance from the former Red Sox farmhand.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:
JON LESTER:  6.1 innings, 6 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, Loss.

ALCS Game 2: Red Sox 6 Tigers 5 (Det 1 Bos 1)
Max Scherzer pitched terrifically and had a no-hitter into the sixth.  He was removed with a 5-1 lead, but David Ortiz tied it up with a grand slam in the eighth and Boston won it on a Jarrod Saltalamacchia single in the ninth.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:
DAVID ORTIZ:  1 for 3, game-tying grand slam, 4 RBIs.

ALCS Game 3: Red Sox 1 Tigers 0 (Bos 2 Det 1)
Mike Napoli homered off of Justin Verlander and John Lackey pitched the game of his life.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:
JOHN LACKEY:  6.2 innings, 4 hits, 8 strikeouts, Win.

ALCS Game 4: Tigers 7 Red Sox 3 (Bos 2 Det 2)
Jake Peavy imploded in the second and Doug Fister held the Red Sox bats quiet.  Austin Jackson had a good performance at the plate.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:
JACOBY ELLSBURY:  4 for 5, run, RBI, double, triple.

ALCS Game 5: Red Sox 4 Tigers 3 (Bos 3 Det 2)
Anibal Sanchez could not do it again, but Jon Lester did and the bullpen was amazing.  Detroit made it interesting late, but Boston held on.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:
MIKE NAPOLI:  3 for 4, 2 runs, RBI, home run, double.

ALCS Game 6: Red Sox 5 Tigers 2 (Bos 4 Det 2)
Boston won the pennant on the help of Shane Victorino's go-ahead grand slam in the seventh.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:
SHANE VICTORINO:  1 for 3, grand slam.

ALCS MVP

KOJI UEHARA:  5 games, 1-0, 3 saves, 6 innings, 0 runs, 4 hits, 0 walks, 9 strikeouts.

Red Sox Headed to ALCS

Boston took down the Tampa Bay Rays in four games and are now on their way to the ALCS.  It remains to be seen who they will face.

GAME 1:  Red Sox 12 Rays 2
This one started out well for the Rays as they were leading 2-0 with the Red Sox yet to get a hit until the 4th.  At that point the Rays seemingly forgot how to play defense and Boston did not relent.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
JON LESTER:  7.2 innings, 2 earned runs, 3 hits, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts, Win.

GAME 2: Red Sox 7 Rays 4
The left-handed hitters surprisingly did the most damage against David Price and Boston held on.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
DAVID ORTIZ:  2 for 4, 2 home runs.

GAME 3: Rays 5 Red Sox 4
Jose Lobaton hit a walk-off home run off of Koji Uehara to win the game for the Rays.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
JACOBY ELLSBURY:  3 for 5, double, 2 runs.

GAME 4: Red Sox 3 Rays 1
A wild pitch by Joel Peralta scored the tying run in the form of Xander Bogaerts in the 7th and Boston stole this one away from the Rays pen.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
CRAIG BRESLOW:  Win, 1.2 innings, 1 hit, 4 strikeouts.

Final Series of the Regular Season

The last series of the season came in Baltimore, the same place the 2011 season ended, but this one was decidedly more positive even though Boston lost two out of three.

09/27: Red Sox 12 (97-63) Orioles 3
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
DANIEL NAVA and DAVID ORTIZ: both 2 for 5, 3 run home run, single, 2 runs.

09/28: Orioles 6 Red Sox 5 (97-64)
Boston's bullpen may be a problem in the postseason.  This one was blown by Franklin Morales and Junichi Tazawa.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
DANIEL NAVA: 4 for 4, run.

09/29: Orioles 7 Red Sox 6 (97-65)
This time it was Felix Doubront and Matt Thornton who blew the lead and Rubby De La Rosa took the loss.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
QUINTIN BERRY: 2 for 4, 2 run home run, stolen base.

So that's it for the regular season.  Boston finished with the best record in the league, tied with the Cardinals for best overall.  Despite that they will not feature a top 5 finisher in the MVP or Cy Young, while Jose Iglesias, who played half of the year with the Red Sox, will finish in the running for Rookie of the Year.

Red Sox lead the league in the following:
Plate Appearances - Dustin Pedroia 724
Stolen Bases - Jacoby Ellsbury 52
Hit by Pitch - Shane Victorino 18
Intentional Walks - David Ortiz 27

Quick Rockies Series

09/24: Rockies 8 Red Sox 3 (95-63)
John Lackey gave up three home runs and Boston's offense stalled against Tyler Chatwood.  Jarrod Saltalamacchia homered late in the game making it a bit closer than it would have been.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA:  1 for 4, 2 run home run.

09/25: Red Sox 15 (96-63) Rockies 5
Jake Peavy was a little rocky but got the job done in Todd Helton's final home game with the Rockies.  Shane Victorino and Will Middlebrooks combined for three home runs.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
WILL MIDDLEBROOKS:  2 for 5, 2 home runs (grand slam), 7 RBIs.

Last Series at Home

09/20:  Red Sox 6 (94-61) Blue Jays 3
Boston clinched the AL East with this win.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
JON LESTER:  7 innings, 5 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts.

09/21:  Blue Jays 4 Red Sox 2 (94-62)
Clay Buchholz lost for the first time all year as Boston had trouble solving Mark Buehrle.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
STEPHEN DREW:  2 for 4, run.

09/22:  Red Sox 5 (95-62) Blue Jays 2
Felix Doubront was successful in his return to the rotation and David Ortiz and Jackie Bradley, Jr. homered.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
JACKIE BRADLEY, JR.:  1 for 3, 3 run home run.

O's Continue to Frustrate Boston

09/17:  Orioles 3 Red Sox 2 (92-60)
Koji Uehara faltered thanks to former Red Sox Danny Valencia who has owned them this year.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
DUSTIN PEDROIA:  1 for 4, home run.

09/18:  Orioles 5 Red Sox 3 (92-61)
Again the Orioles beat Boston late as Chris Davis hit a two-run single in the 11th.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
JAKE PEAVY:  7 innings, 6 hits, 3 earned runs, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts.

09/19:  Red Sox 3 (93-61) Orioles 1
With this victory, Boston clinched a playoff spot.  John Lackey pitched into the seventh inning with a no-hitter.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
JOHN LACKEY:  9 innings, 2 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts, Win.

This Time They Got It

After coming close to sweeping the Yankees in four games two weekends ago, Boston pulled off a three-game sweep of the Bombers at Fenway.

09/13:  Red Sox 8 (90-59) Yankees 4
After the bullpen squandered the lead given them by John Lackey, Jarrod Saltalamacchia came to the rescue.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA:  2 for 3, 2 runs, grand slam home run.

09/14:  Red Sox 5 (91-59) Yankees 1
Jon Lester pitched a terrific game and the offense came through again.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
JON LESTER:  8 innings, 3 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, Win.

09/15:  Red Sox 9 (92-59) Yankees 2
Clay Buchholz continued to pitch well, despite some control problem.  Mike Napoli hit a bomb to center field and the Red Sox spoiled the last game at Fenway (hopefully) for Mariano Rivera.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
DANIEL NAVA:  4 for 5, run, RBI, 2 doubles.

Rays of Hope

Boston continues their streak toward the postseason by taking two out of three in Tampa Bay.

09/10: Red Sox 2 (88-58) Rays 0
Clay Buchholz came back from his injury, finally and the offense managed just enough to beat David Price.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
CLAY BUCHHOLZ:  5 innings, 3 hits, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts, Win.

09/11:  Red Sox 7 (89-58) Rays 3
Mike Carp connected for a pinch-hit grand slam to win the game after the bullpen failed to hold the lead.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
MIKE CARP:  Pinch-hit grand slam home run.

09/12:  Rays 4 Red Sox 3 (89-59)
After tying the game, Boston could not capitalize and the Rays took the final game.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA:  1 for 3, 2 runs, RBI, home run, stolen base.

A Near-Bronx Massacre

There are two series over the last few decades that have become known as "Boston Massacre".  The first was a three-game series at Fenway in 1978 when the Yankees came to town and vastly outscored a reeling Red Sox team.  The second was in 2006 when the Yankees swept a five-game series against the Red Sox.  This was this close to a Bronx Massacre.

09/05:  Red Sox 9 (85-57) Yankees 8
The Red Sox took an early lead in this one behind Jake Peavy.  Unfortunately after being up 7-2, the bullpen squandered the lead and the Yankees lead 8-7 after the seventh.  Boston managed to manufacture the tying run in the 9th off of Mariano Rivera and Shane Victorino drove in the game-winner in the 10th.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:
SHANE VICTORINO:  2 for 6, home run, 3 RBIs, stolen base.

09/06:  Red Sox 12 (86-57) Yankees 8
Felix Doubront struggled with his command and the Red Sox were down 8-3 coming into the seventh.  They got one run and then had the bases loaded when Mike Napoli homered to tie it up.  Shane Victorino homered again to take the lead.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:
MIKE NAPOLI:  3 for 3, 3 runs, 4 RBIs, grand slam, double.

09/07:  Red Sox 13 (87-57) Yankees 9
In this game, Boston took the lead early and did not relinquish.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:
MIKE NAPOLI:  2 for 5, 2 home runs, 3 RBIs.

09/08:  Yankees 4 Red Sox 3 (87-58)
Boston trailed 3-2 in the ninth when Will Middlebrooks homered off Mariano Rivera, who blew his second save against the Red Sox in the series.  Unfortunately Brandon Workman uncorked a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth with Ichiro on third to lose the game.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:
WILL MIDDLEBROOKS:  2 for 3, home run.

Cat Scratch Fever

Boston took two out of three from the Tigers.

09/02:  Tigers 3 Red Sox 0 (82-57)
Boston continued to be unable to score runs with John Lackey on the mound.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
DANIEL NAVA:  3 for 3, 2 doubles.

09/03:  Red Sox 2 (83-57) Tigers 1
Jon Lester outdueled Max Scherzer.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
JON LESTER:  7 innings, 8 hits, 1 run, 9 strikeouts, Win.

09/04:  Red Sox 20 (84-57) Tigers 4
Eight home runs by seven players is the story.  Mike Napoli, Stephen Drew, Ryan Lavarnway, Shane Victorino, Jacoby Ellsbury, Daniel Nava, and David Ortiz all went deep.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
DAVID ORTIZ:  3 for 4, 2 home runs, double, 3 runs, 4 RBIs.

Sox Sweep Sox

That is, the Red Sox swept the White Sox over the weekend.

08/30:  Red Sox 4 (80-56) White Sox 3
Ryan Dempster pitched well in his first game back from being suspended for throwing at A-Rod.  David Ortiz provided the big hit.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

DAVID ORTIZ:  1 for 2, 2 RBIs.

08/31:  Red Sox 7 (81-56) White Sox 2
Jake Peavy pitched well against his former team and got the win.  The offense was hitting on all cylinders.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

JACOBY ELLSBURY:  3 for 5, 2 runs, RBI, Double.

09/01:  Red Sox 7 (82-56) White Sox 6
Felix Doubront was roughed up but the offense was good.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

DAVID ORTIZ:  2 for 3, 3 RBIs, Double.

O's What a Series

Another bad pun.  I am terrible.

08/27:  Red Sox 13 (78-55) Orioles 2
An offensive explosion behind the impressive pitching performance of Felix Doubront.  This is the way it should be.  Anyone have Doubront cards to trade?

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

SHANE VICTORINO:  3 for 3, 4 runs, 7 RBIs, 2 home runs, double, walk, hit by pitch.

08/28:  Red Sox 4 (79-55) Orioles 3

Mike Carp had the winning hit, a blooper just over Manny Machado's outstretched glove in the eighth inning.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

DUSTIN PEDROIA:  1 for 2, 2 run single to tie the game.

08/29:  Orioles 3 Red Sox 2 (79-56)

Boston cannot seem to solve Chris Tillman and David Ortiz cannot solve Brian Matusz.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

DANIEL NAVA:  3 for 4, run, 2 doubles.

Dodging a Bullet

Get it?  Dodging, as in Dodgers?  Horrible.

08/23:  Dodgers 2 Red Sox 0 (75-55)
Despite a great job on the mound, John Lackey got the loss because the offense simply could not deliver.  They were held to two singles.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

JOHN LACKEY:  Complete game, 8 innings, 3 hits, 2 earned runs, 6 strikeouts, Loss.

08/24:  Red Sox 4 (76-55) Dodgers 2

Jon Lester came back to provide another great pitching performance and this time the offense came through with four runs in the first inning, highlighted by a Jonny Gomes home run.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

JON LESTER:  7.1 innings, 3 hits, 1 earned run, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts, Win.

08/25:  Red Sox 8 (77-55) Dodgers 1

ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball game featured a third straight great pitching performance, this one from new acquisition Jake Peavy.  The offense was impressive and featured home runs from Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Shane Victorino, and Mike Napoli.  Dustin Pedroia had three hits and Xander Bogaerts had two, along with his first RBI in his second start.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

NO CARD YET

JAKE PEAVY:  Complete game, 3 hits, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts, Win.

Giants Series

08/19:  Red Sox 7 (74-53) Giants 0
PLAYER OF THE GAME:

JON LESTER:  8.1 innings, 6 hits, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, Win.

08/20:  Giants 3 Red Sox 2 (74-54)
Boston lost this one on a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning.  That's just downright embarassing.
PLAYER OF THE GAME:

SHANE VICTORINO:  1 for 3, home run.

08/21:  Red Sox 12 (75-54) Giants 1
PLAYER OF THE GAME:

FELIX DOUBRONT:  8 innings, 5 hits, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, Win.

Yankees Series

Boston continued to struggle over the weekend against the Yankees at Fenway.

Yankees 10 Red Sox 3 (72-52)
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
RUBBY DE LA ROSA:  2.1 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout.

Red Sox 6 (73-52) Yankees 1
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
JACOBY ELLSBURY:  3 for 5, Double, 2 RBIs

Yankees 9 Red Sox 6 (73-53)
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
WILL MIDDLEBROOKS:  2 for 3, Home Run, Double.

Stumbling...

Ugh, Boston is just playing sloppy baseball lately.  They better get their act together soon.

08/13:  Red Sox 4 (72-49) Blue Jays 2
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
KOJI UEHARA:  1.1 innings, 0 hits, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, Win.

08/14:  Blue Jays 4 Red Sox 3 (72-50)
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
MIKE NAPOLI:  1 for 5, 2 run home run.

08/15:  Blue Jays 2 Red Sox 1 (72-51)
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
DANIEL NAVA:  3 for 4, run, 2 doubles.

Catching Up

I was on vacation in Yellowstone for the last several days.  I don't want to get too far into these game summaries, so I won't.  This is strictly to catch up, I will name Players of the Game, but don't feel like getting pics of cards.

08/05:  Astros 2 Red Sox 0 (68-46)
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
JOHN LACKEY:  6 innings, 8 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, 10 strikeouts, Loss.

08/06:  Red Sox 15 (69-46) Astros 10
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
JACOBY ELLSBURY:  2 for 4, 2 home runs, 4 runs, 3 RBIs, 2 walks.

08/07:  Red Sox 7 (70-46) Astros 5
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
STEPHEN DREW:  2 for 4, home run, 3 RBIs.

08/08:  Royals 5 Red Sox 1 (70-47)
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
STEPHEN DREW:  2 for 4, RBI.

08/09:  Royals 9 Red Sox 6 (70-48)
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
MIKE NAPOLI:  2 for 3, run, 3 RBIs, double.

08/10:  Red Sox 5 (71-48) Royals 3
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
JACOBY ELLSBURY:  4 for 5, 2 RBIs, 2 doubles, stolen base.

08/11:  Royals 4 Red Sox 3 (71-49)
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
RYAN LAVARNWAY:  2 for 4, 2 RBIs.

Whacking Days

Boston took two out of three from the Arizona Diamondbacks in Fenway Park this weekend.  The title is a reference to The Simpsons.

08/02:  Diamondbacks 7 Red Sox 6 (66-45)
Jon Lester was terrible again.  Boston came close in the bottom of the ninth but could not get the walkoff for a third game in a row.  Former Sox Cody Ross terrorized Boston pitching.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

STEPHEN DREW:  2 for 2, run, 3 RBIs, Home Run.

08/03:  Red Sox 5 (67-45) Diamondbacks 2
Jake Peavy made his anticipated first start with the Red Sox and was terrific.  Shane Victorino and Jarrod Saltalamacchia provided some offense.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

NO CARD YET

JAKE PEAVY:  7 innings, 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts, Win.

08/04:  Red Sox 4 (68-45) Diamondbacks 0

Stephen Drew continued to hit well against his former team, but this one was all Felix.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

FELIX DOUBRONT:  7 innings, 5 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts, Win.

Two Walkoffs in a Sweep of the Mariners

It was a wild series against the Mariners in Fenway Park this week.  I will elaborate in the individual game summaries.

07/30:  Red Sox 8 (64-44) Mariners 2
The only somewhat calm game of the series saw Brandon Workman continue to shine in the rotation.  Of course later that evening Jake Peavy was acquired.  Workman struck out nine in six innings, giving up one run.  Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia all homered for Boston.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

DUSTIN PEDROIA:  2 for 4, Home Run, 2 runs, 3 RBIs.

07/31:  Red Sox 5 (65-44) Mariners 4

John Lackey pitched reasonably well, but Junichi Tazawa surrendered the game-tying home run in the eighth and the game went into the 15th inning before Boston won.  Included in this game was an unassisted double play by left-fielder Jonny Gomes.  Rookie Drake Britton got the win.  The winning run scored on a base hit by Stephen Drew.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

DUSTIN PEDROIA:  2 for 6, Home Run, 2 runs, 3 RBIs.

08/01:  Red Sox 8 (66-44) Mariners 7
Felix Hernandez shut down Boston's offense for seven innings and the Mariners lead the Red Sox 7-1 going into the bottom of the eighth.  Shane Victorino homered and then in the ninth, the Red Sox exploded for six runs.  Daniel Nava drove in the winning run and knuckleballer Steven Wright got the win.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

SHANE VICTORINO:  2 for 5, Home Run, 2 runs, 3 RBIs.