SB Nation Boston: All Posts by Benjamin Buchanan

Game 44: Red Sox vs. Twins

2013-05-19T18:00:10Z

Are the Red Sox a streaky team? It's certainly looking like it given that a miserable 2-9 stretch has turned into a four-game winning streak just like that.

If this is the case, well, the Sox have to milk the winning streaks for all they're worth. Let's hope that this one continues for a good while yet, starting with a sweep of the Twins today.

Go Sox!

Are the Red Sox a streaky team? It's certainly looking like it given that a miserable 2-9 stretch has turned into a four-game winning streak just like that.

If this is the case, well, the Sox have to milk the winning streaks for all they're worth. Let's hope that this one continues for a good while yet, starting with a sweep of the Twins today.

Go Sox!

Red Sox minor lines:The rise of Mookie Betts

2013-05-19T15:08:00Z

Pawtucket L 3-6

Box Score

Bryce Brentz: 1-4, K, E
Jeremy Hazelbaker: 1-4, K, SB
Jose Iglesias: 0-3
Brock Holt: 1-3, K

Franklin Morales: 4 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HR
Andrew Bailey: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR

Bad rehab outings for both Morales and Iglesias. Probably not worth getting worked up over, though. Rehab starts have a way of being pretty unrepresentative..

Portland W 10-7

Box Score

Xander Bogaerts: 3-5, 2B, 2 K, SB
Travis Shaw: 0-4, K
Michael Almanzar: 0-5, 2 K

Anthony Ranaudo: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K

Xander breaks out of a 2-for-19 slump with a big night. Ranaudo's night is not quite so impressive. Curiously, every single time he has walked more than one batter this year, he's walked three, and struck out five.

Salem W 3-2

Box Score

Sean Coyle: 0-2, 2 BB, K
Deven Marrero: 2-5, 2 2B
Garin Cecchini: 2-4, BB, K
Keury De La Cruz: 1-4, 2 K
Brandon Jacobs: 0-3, BB, 3 K
Blake Swihart: 1-4, K
Henry Ramos: 1-4, HR, K

Marrero has had a bit of a rough time since returning from injury. Hopefully this signals a return to his early-season form.

Greenville L 8-10

Box Score

Mookie Betts: 2-4, HR, BB, SB
Cody Koback: 1-4, BB

Cody Kukuk: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 0 K

So, hope in Greenville? Perhaps. Even as the team's entire pitching staff has sunk to new depths this week, Mookie Betts has been giving people a reason to pay attention. A pint-sized middle infielder, Betts was a fifth round pick in 2011 who didn't really impress in 2011 and struggled through April. So far in May, however, Betts is hitting a ridiculous .382/.514/.745. He's got 34 walks to just 16 strikeouts, and nine stolen bases in ten attempts to boot. With the team as dismal as it is right now, he's certainly worth keeping an eye on. His name is also just fantastic.

Red Sox 12, Twins 5: David Ortiz backs up wild Ryan Dempster, Sox win fourth straight

2013-05-19T03:20:45Z

The Red Sox' pitching was wild, inefficient, and on the whole awful for the first six innings of the game. It was also enough to get the job done thanks to a big night by the David Ortiz-led offense, which carried the team to a 12-5 victory.

The offense got started in a hurry against Scott Diamond, who had held the Sox to just three hits in seven innings earlier in the year. Jacoby Ellsbury started the attack by lining a 1-1 fastball back up the middle for a base hit. After Jonny Gomes popped out, Diamond would set the tone for the night by first walking Dustin Pedroia, then hanging a curveball to David Ortiz, who jacked it over the tall wall in right-center for a three-run homer.

A ground ball single was the Twins' only response in the bottom half of the inning, which may have given the impression that Ryan Dempster was going to make this a one-sided game. Not so. The typically solid veteran would be anything but Saturday night, while the Twins would only score the one run in the bottom of the third, three walks and a single meant the Twins threatened much more, with Joe Mauer whiffing to leave the bases loaded.

The Red Sox would get the lead right back to three runs in the top of the third, with David Ortiz knocking in his fourth run of the night with a line drive to right field. Getting out of the second proved no cure for Dempster, however, who gave up a double and two walks before again escaping a bases loaded situation in the third before surrendering a two-out double and single to make it 4-2.

In the fifth, the Sox seemed to have put the game away. Doubles from Jonny Gomes and Dustin Pedroia led into a Mike Napoli walk, Daniel Nava sacrifice fly, and singles from Will Middlebrooks and Ryan Lavrnway to score three more runs, putting the Sox up 7-2.

That was not the end of the story, however. Dempster continued to struggle in the bottom of the fifth, giving up a leadoff double to Ryan Doumit, who would score on a Trevor Plouffe ground out. While said out would give Dempster two in the inning, Dempster would walk Aaron Hicks, bringing his pitch count into dangerous territory. John Farrell did not stir, however, until after Pedro Florimon singled Hicks home, and even then, doing his best Grady Little impression, Farrell left his beleaguered starter in the game with 120 pitches on his arm to give up another RBI single, this time to Jamey Carroll. Finally, with the Red Sox up by just two runs, Farrell turned to his bullpen.

It would take a bit for the Sox to find some consistent pitching even from their pen, with Clayton Mortensen recording two shaky outs while allowing three baserunners. Craig Breslow would finally prove capable of getting outs, however, though not without the help of Dustin Pedroia, who made an over-the-shoulder catch on a pop-up in the sixth then fired home, where a catcher-on-catcher collision saw Ryan Lavarnway come out on top, making Ryan Doumit the third out at the plate.

The big double play would bring the Sox to the top of the seventh, where they truly did put the game away. And who else but David Ortiz provided the first volley, bringing Dustin Pedroia home with his second homer of the night, hit to the same spot as his first. Mike Napoli would walk before Casey Fien came in to replace Anthony Swarzak, but he proved no more effective, giving up a two-run shot to Daniel Nava, quickly making it 11-5.

From there, it was just a matter of mop-up. Breslow got the Red Sox through the bottom of the seventh, then handed the ball off to Alex Wilson, who took them the rest of the way. The Sox would tack on another run, with none other than David Ortiz scoring again on a sacrifice fly in the ninth, but by then it was just for bragging rights. The fourth straight win was well-and-truly sealed.

Game 43: Red Sox vs. Twins

2013-05-18T23:00:06Z

Finally the Red Sox are back to winning games. Still, there's convincing left to be done. We've seen them play awfully badly over the last couple weeks, and as nice as it is to be on a three-game winning streak, it's so easy to see either of these last two games going the other way.

If you're looking for a dominant win to convince you that the Sox are back to being as good as they were in April, however, tonight might not be the best of nights for that. Scott Diamond, after all, shut the Sox down not long ago at all, and while he struggled against the Orioles in his last game, he's not been one to give up many runs this year as a whole.

Still, he gives up balls in play, and while it would be an appeal to the Gambler's Fallacy to say we're due for some good luck, we're at least due for some neutral luck, which would be a lot better than what we've seen of late. Hopefully that pans out tonight.

Go Sox!

Red Sox vs. Twins lineups: Ryan Lavarnway, Pedro Ciriaco start

2013-05-18T20:48:45Z

The Red Sox are out to make it four straight wins Saturday night as they send Ryan Dempster to the mound against Scott Diamond and the Twins.

The Sox will unfortunately be without three starters, in part because of an injury to Shane Victorino, and in part because of the lefty Scott Diamond on the mound for the Twins. Jonny Gomes (or Daniel Nava, depending on how you look at it) will fill in for Victorino, with Ryan Lavarnway and Pedro Ciriaco taking the places of Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Stephen Drew respectively.

Boston Red Sox (25-17)

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Jonny Gomes, LF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Daniel Nava, RF
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Ryan Lavarnway, C
Pedro Ciriaco, SS

Starting Pitcher -- Ryan Dempster

Minnesota Twins (18-20)

Jamey Carroll, 2B
Joe Mauer, DH
Justin Morneau, 1B
Josh Willingham, LF
Ryan Doumit, C
Oswaldo Arcia, RF
Trevor Plouffe, 3B
Aaron Hicks, CF
Pedro Florimon, SS

Starting Pitcher -- Scott Diamond

Ryan Dempster suffered his first truly bad start of the year in his last start against the Blue Jays. And while his previous outing against these very Twins saw them score four runs with him on the mound, three Boston errors played a big role in that, as evidenced by the fact that he allowed only six baserunners in seven innings of work.

Of course, even had Dempster not had those errors behind him, given what the Red Sox did against Scott Diamond, picking up all of three hits in seven innings, he still wouldn't have had a chance at the win. Hopefully the Sox are hitting somewhat better now and can actually produce some runs this time.

Red Sox minor lines: Jackie Bradley Jr. returns

2013-05-18T14:39:46Z

Pawtucket W 5-4

Box Score

Jackie Bradley Jr.: 1-3, 3B, BB, K
Jose Iglesias: 0-4, BB, K
Bryce Brentz: 2-5, 2B, HR, E
Jeremy Hazelbaker: 0-3, BB, K

Just seeing Jackie Bradley Jr. back in the lineup would've been good enough by itself, much less with a triple tacked on. He's upstaged by Bryce Brentz, however, who has 13 hits in his last eight games.

Portland L 3-6

Box Score

Xander Bogaerts: 0-4, 2 E
Travis Shaw: 2-4
Michael Almanzar: 1-4, HR, 2 E
Kolbrin Vitek: 1-4, 2 K
Christian Vazquez: 1-4

Matt Barnes: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Keith Couch: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

With 45 strikeouts in 37 innings, it seems unlikely that Barnes' ERA will hover around a mediocre 4.50 for much longer.

Salem W 10-2

Box Score

Sean Coyle: 3-5, 2B
Deven Marrero: 1-5, 2B
Garin Cecchini: 3-4, 2B, BB
Keury De La Cruz: 2-5, 2B, K
Henry Ramos: 1-5, 2B

Cecchini missed a few days. Doesn't look like he's dealing with any rust, though. And with Coyle back to hitting, Salem may have its dynamic duo back in full force.

Greenville W 7-6

Box Score

Cody Koback: 2-4, BB
Jose Vinicio: 0-4, BB, 2 K

Pat Light: 4 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Yunior Ortega: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

Pat Light and Austin Maddox, both taken in the first three rounds in last year's draft, both with ERAs over 8.00.

Red Sox 3, Twins 2: Sox strike first and last, win third straight

2013-05-18T04:12:38Z

A tenth-inning sacrifice fly from Jonny Gomes was enough to give the Red Sox a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins Friday night.

While this was not a pitching matchup which promised a close game wih Clay Buchholz taking on Vance Worley, something about the former Philly puzzled the Red Sox once again. Boston would actually get off to a quick start against Worley, with Daniel Nava singling with one out in the first and then advancing to second as Brian Dozier fired an ill-advised throw into the stands. David Ortiz laced a line drive single to right, and just like that the Sox were up 1-0.

That would be all they'd get against Worley, however, thanks largely to a series of double plays. Dustin Pedroia would account for two inning-enders, and Will Middlebrooks quickly erased a leadoff single from Ortiz in the sixth inning, allowing Worley to get through six frames with only one unearned run on the board despite walking three and striking out just one.

Clay Buchholz would not be quite so stingy. Despite having his command perfect early on, Buchholz struggled in the middle innings. A leadoff double from Trevor Plouffe in the third set up Pedro Florimon, who hooked a curveball down and in over the wall in right.to put the Twins ahead 2-1. Buchholz would survive the next two innings despite giving up baserunner after baserunner before finally tightening up to finish the seventh with two earned runs to his name.

Buchholz would not leave in line for the loss, though, because with Worley finally out of the game, the Red Sox went to work on Brian Duensing, A leadoff walk to Jonny Gomes and one-out single from Jarrod Saltalamacchia put men on the corners for Jacoby Ellsbury, who hit a ground ball back up the middle. While for a second there it seemed like the Sox may have just hit into another double play, Florimon could not quite glove the ball, allowing Jonny Gomes to score and the Red Sox to tie the game.

The tie would last through the end of the ninth, but the decisive blow would be struck in the tenth. Up against Josh Roenicke, Dustin Pedroia singled to right and David Ortiz walked to put two men on with zero outs. Not willing to take any risks with another double play, Will Middlebrooks laid down a sacrifice bunt, and after an intentional walk to Stephen Drew, it was Jonny Gomes lifting a fly ball to left-center. Whether Aaron Hicks could have caught Pedroia at home without any interruption, we'll never know. Coming in from left field, Oswaldo Arcia disrupted the catch, forcing Hicks to make an awkward throw home that Pedroia easily beat. Koji Uehara closed out the tenth, and the Red Sox made it three straight wins.

Game 42: Red Sox vs. Twins

2013-05-17T22:58:51Z

The last time the Red Sox faced the Twins, things did not go so well. It wasn't all that long ago, either, that this went down.

The question is what that because the Twins, who have since dropped 4-of-6, are more dangerous than we thought? Or because the Red Sox, as they were playing last week, could probably have lost to a Triple-A team?

And even beyond that, are the Red Sox truly out of their slump? But for a dramatic comeback last night after being down to their last strike, they would be right back to losing. They hit the ball well, yes, but right at Tampa Bay fielders. No, you can't exactly all that a failure on their part, unless you're going to dive into the realm of the mystic and absurd, but I'll be damned if baseball is not a game for the superstitious.

Hopefully tonight the Red Sox go out there and turn a Buchholz - Worley matchup into what it should be, and get this team back on a real winning streak.

Go Sox!

The last time the Red Sox faced the Twins, things did not go so well. It wasn't all that long ago, either, that this went down.

Hopefully tonight the Red Sox go out there and turn a Buchholz - Worley matchup into what it should be, and get this team back on a real winning streak.

Go Sox!

SB Nation Boston: All Posts by Benjamin Buchanan

Game 44: Red Sox vs. Twins

Red Sox minor lines:The rise of Mookie Betts

Red Sox 12, Twins 5: David Ortiz backs up wild Ryan Dempster, Sox win fourth straight

Read more Red Sox:

Game 43: Red Sox vs. Twins

Red Sox vs. Twins lineups: Ryan Lavarnway, Pedro Ciriaco start

Read more Red Sox:

Red Sox minor lines: Jackie Bradley Jr. returns

Red Sox 3, Twins 2: Sox strike first and last, win third straight

Read more Red Sox:

Game 42: Red Sox vs. Twins