Sunday, April 16, 2006
Beckett mauls Mariners; Sox win 3-2
On Sunday afternoon, Josh Beckett got over his first-inning excitedness and led the Sox to a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners. In all of Beckett's starts as a member of the Boston Red Sox, he has pitched to the tune of 7 innings and 1 earned run, leading the Sox to a victory in each contest.
One thing I've come to appreciate about Josh Beckett is that he can turn it on when he's in a tough situation. He can get in predicaments and gut his way through them. On Sunday, with the Sox leading by a run in the 6th inning, Raul Ibanez, the potential tying run, was standing on third base with only one out. The heart of Seattle's offense was due up. Without thinking, I instinctively leaned forward towards the television while simultaniously cranking the volume up. Let's face it, I was nervous. Of the 36,000+ at Fenway, all but one was nervous. The confident fellow? Meet Josh Beckett.
Poor Richie Sexson was Beckett's first victim. With two strikes, Beckett broke off The Curveball From Hell. The curveball didn't bend. Instead, it forced the world to bend around it. Remember, in the early days of the bender, when folks used to insist that it was merely an optical illusion? Beckett's hellacious curveball laughs in their general direction. Ol' Uncle Charlie got the best of Richie Sexson.
Beckett's next victim? Adrian Beltre. After getting two strikes on Beltre, Varitek wanted to burn him with a heater just off the outside corner of the plate, but he wouldn't bite. It was officially challenge time. Beckett's next pitch was a 98 MPH fastball on the inside corner, level with Beltre's hands. Beltre took his best hack, but the ball exploded into Tek's mitt for the final out of the inning -- preserving the one-run lead.
Pressure? Josh doesn't comprehend that concept.
Papelbon slammed the door in the 9th, by completing his league-leading 6th save with another tidy 1-2-3 inning.
Lenny DiNardo takes the hill tomorrow in place of the injured Boomer Wells. With an essentially rested pen, if DiNardo can toss five solid innings, the Sox will be in good shape. The left-hander made one start last season, allowing one earned run on seven hits over six innings against the Orioles on September 2nd. As a fixture in Pawtucket's rotation, DiNardo went 6-3 with a 3.15 ERA in 22 starts. With an improved infield defense, and DiNardo's biting sinker, the Sox should be able to keep the Mariners at bay.
This offense has to bust out eventually, and I figure, what better occasion than Patriots Day? Manny Ramirez has looked more like Manny Alexander lately, but I'm not worried -- yet. Gil Meche isn't anything special, and with Nixon back in the lineup, the Sox should be able to do some damage.
Remember, the game is at 11 AM. See you guys then.
One thing I've come to appreciate about Josh Beckett is that he can turn it on when he's in a tough situation. He can get in predicaments and gut his way through them. On Sunday, with the Sox leading by a run in the 6th inning, Raul Ibanez, the potential tying run, was standing on third base with only one out. The heart of Seattle's offense was due up. Without thinking, I instinctively leaned forward towards the television while simultaniously cranking the volume up. Let's face it, I was nervous. Of the 36,000+ at Fenway, all but one was nervous. The confident fellow? Meet Josh Beckett.
Poor Richie Sexson was Beckett's first victim. With two strikes, Beckett broke off The Curveball From Hell. The curveball didn't bend. Instead, it forced the world to bend around it. Remember, in the early days of the bender, when folks used to insist that it was merely an optical illusion? Beckett's hellacious curveball laughs in their general direction. Ol' Uncle Charlie got the best of Richie Sexson.Beckett's next victim? Adrian Beltre. After getting two strikes on Beltre, Varitek wanted to burn him with a heater just off the outside corner of the plate, but he wouldn't bite. It was officially challenge time. Beckett's next pitch was a 98 MPH fastball on the inside corner, level with Beltre's hands. Beltre took his best hack, but the ball exploded into Tek's mitt for the final out of the inning -- preserving the one-run lead.
Pressure? Josh doesn't comprehend that concept.
Papelbon slammed the door in the 9th, by completing his league-leading 6th save with another tidy 1-2-3 inning.
Lenny DiNardo takes the hill tomorrow in place of the injured Boomer Wells. With an essentially rested pen, if DiNardo can toss five solid innings, the Sox will be in good shape. The left-hander made one start last season, allowing one earned run on seven hits over six innings against the Orioles on September 2nd. As a fixture in Pawtucket's rotation, DiNardo went 6-3 with a 3.15 ERA in 22 starts. With an improved infield defense, and DiNardo's biting sinker, the Sox should be able to keep the Mariners at bay.
This offense has to bust out eventually, and I figure, what better occasion than Patriots Day? Manny Ramirez has looked more like Manny Alexander lately, but I'm not worried -- yet. Gil Meche isn't anything special, and with Nixon back in the lineup, the Sox should be able to do some damage.
Remember, the game is at 11 AM. See you guys then.
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