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Game Story: Royals thump Sox, 9-3

At one point earlier this season when the Boston had a comfortable double-digit commanding lead in the A.L. East standings, Red Sox ace Curt Schilling strolled through the clubhouse and announced that the New York Yankees had won an afternoon game.

“Watch out,” he screamed in jest. “The Yankees won.”

With the Red Sox losing to the Kansas City Royals, 9-3, at Fenway Park last night and the Yankees beating the Toronto Blue Jay, Boston's lead is now eight games. Sure, it's still the middle of July and there's plenty of baseball to be played, but the Red Sox can't seem to string together a winning streak these days.

After a three-game losing skid prior to last week's All-Star break, Boston has followed each win with a loss in its last six games.

“We've played good up until this point,” said last night's starter Tim Wakefield. “I didn't pitch great tonight and unfortunately, coming off a great win (Monday) night with Kason Gabbard's shutout I tried to keep us in the game as long as I could. I didn't have my best stuff tonight.”

Wakefield drops to 10-9 on the season as the Red Sox can't seem to give him much run support when the veteran knuckleballer is struggling during an outing. In fact, the club has scored just 10 runs in Wakefield's nine losses this season.

On the flip side, the Royals banged out nine hits off him en route to the victory. Basically the Kansas City hitters weren't being patient with Wakefield as they swung early in the count.

“They are an aggressive team,” said Wakefield. “I pitched well for the first three innings, it was 3-1 going into the seventh, and I kind of lost the feel for the ball. [The knuckleball] just didn't go down at the end. I don't know why. I was talking with Doug (Mirabelli) after the game and I felt I had pretty good movement on the ball. . . It was just one of those situations where I couldn't make the right pitch at the right time.”

Wakefield only threw 76 pitches and issued no walks.

Entering last night's game Boston's bullpen saw limited action in the previous three games. Thanks to solid outings by Red Sox starters Daisuke Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett and Kason Gabbard, the club's relievers have only worked four innings during that stretch.

That has allowed bullpen kingpins Jonathan Papelbon and Hideki Okajima to get some rest.

“I would say any rest the bullpen gets, especially at this time of the year, is always a bonus,” said Boston manager Terry Francona. “Obviously there will be times when we have to lean on them; you can't get around that sometimes. So, the more they rest the better. This isn't April when you're trying to get work and there aren't too many guys down there complaining about not pitching.”

After Wakefield was tagged for six runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings of work in his 19th start of the season last night, the bullpen was summoned and couldn't stop the bleeding. Javier Lopez surrendered two runs and Joel Pineiro allowed one as the Royals had an eight-run lead.

While Boston's pitching staff and offense struggled last night, the Red Sox made things interesting in the bottom of the eighth. Boston was trailing 9-1 as it put together a two-out surge off Kansas City reliever Joel Peralta. Sox' Mike Lowell began things with a single, followed by an RBI-triple by Coco Crisp to deep center field before Doug Mirabelli provided an RBI-single. Julio Lugo doubled off Peralta before the right-hander was given the hook and replaced with Joakim Soria, who ended the threat by striking out J.D. Drew to end the inning.

After Red Sox reliever Kyle Snyder retired the side in order in the top of the ninth inning, Boston couldn't muster any kind of dramatic comeback.

Boston doesn't want this win-lose-win-lose-win-lose mentality to continue and its hoping tonight things will begin to change.

“We're not firing on all cylinders right now,” said Wakefield. “Hopefully we can change that and start a winning streak.”

--JOE McDONALD

Posted by Corey Bourassa  at 11:01 PM to McDonald | Permalink

Game Story: Lynx snap PawSox winning streak

Pawtucket looked like it was going to match its season high four-game winning streak early on last night in its game against Ottawa.

The PawSox were up 4-0 after three innings and starter David Pauley was cruising right along in those innings. But Ottawa figured Pauley out in the fourth inning and rallied to win, 6-5, to halt Pawtucket's three-game winning streak.

“I thought he pitched pretty good,” Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson said of Pauley. “They got pretty aggressive on first pitch fastballs the second and third time up through the batting order and you know what I'm not going to take anything away from them. They squared some balls up to get back in this thing.”

With the score tied, 5-5, Pawtucket brought in former catcher turned pitcher, Edgar Martinez, to start the sixth inning. Jason Jaramillo, the first batter he faced, hit a solo home run off of him to give Ottawa a 6-5 lead. It turned out to be the game-winning hit.

"The first slider he through Jaramillo hit it in the right-center field bleachers and that was it,” Johnson said.

Pawtucket jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Brandon Moss ignited the PawSox bats with a leadoff single. He sprinted to third base on a Bobby Scales single, and George Kottaras drove him in with a double he hit down the first base line.

Scales scored from third base on an Ed Rogers ground out to the shortstop, and Alex Prieto drove-in Kottaras with a double he crushed to left-center. Jacoby Ellsbury drove him in with a triple he hit to center field but the PawSox left him stranded on third. Joe McEwing looked like he was going to score Ellsbury when he blasted a line drive towards left field, but Ottawa shortstop Danny Sandoval made a terrific diving catch to save the run.

“That turned out to be a really big run,” Johnson said.

Ottawa caught up to Pauley in the fourth inning when it cut Pawtucket's lead to 4-2. Pauley walked Gary Burnham and then Brennan King put runners on second and third base with a double.

Jim Rushford plated both runners with a single to left field. Chris Roberson led-off the fifth inning with a solo home run he sent over the fence in right field to slash Pawtucket's lead to 4-3.

Pauley hit Burnham with a pitch with two outs and that came back to bite him. King singled and Burnham scored from second base on a close play at the plate on Jim Rushford's single to center field. Ellsbury's throw was just a split-second too late and the crowd booed in unison when home plate umpire Dusty Dellinger called Burnham safe when he slid under Kottaras' tag to tie the score, 4-4.

David Murphy quickly put Pawtucket back on top, 5-4, by leading off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run.

“The pitch was up and away and I just tried to put a good swing on it,” Murphy said. “The ball was flying well here tonight. It was one of those nights where it feels good to help out in any way possible…I think offensively it was a great game for both teams. They came out on top but I feel like we played a great game.”

Pedro Swann answered for Ottawa with a solo home run he hit over the fence in right field in the top of the sixth inning to even the score.

“We came out early but they finished up late and they got one more run than we did,” Johnson said. “It was like we won the first three innings and after that they won the middle frames and then both of us just kind of stayed dormant the last couple [of innings]…I still like the way we are playing right now. I like what's going on.”

--ROB LEE

Posted by Corey Bourassa  at 10:28 PM to PawSox | Permalink

FINAL: Kansas City 9, Boston 3

BOSTON -- The string of solid pitching performances for the Boston Red Sox ended tonight as the Kansas City Royals tagged Tim Wakefield for six runs on nine hits en route to a 9-3 victory at Fenway Park.

Entering last night’s game Boston’s bullpen saw limited action in the previous three games. Thanks to solid outings by Red Sox starters Daisuke Matsuzaka, Josh Beckett and Kason Gabbard, the club’s relievers have only worked four innings during that stretch.

That has allowed bullpen kingpins Jonathan Papelbon and Hideki Okajima to get some rest.

“I would say any rest the bullpen gets, especially at this time of the year, is always a bonus,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “Obviously there will be times when we have to lean on them; you can’t get around that sometimes. So, the more they rest the better. This isn’t April when you’re trying to get work and there aren’t too many guys down there complaining about not pitching.”

After Wakefield was tagged for six runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings of work in his 19th start of the season last night, the bullpen was summoned and couldn’t stop the bleeding. Javier Lopez surrendered two runs and Joel Pineiro allowed one as the Royals had an eight-run lead.

While Boston’s pitching staff and offense struggled last night, the Red Sox made things interesting in the bottom of the eighth.

Boston was trailing 9-1 as it put together a two-out surge off Kansas City reliever Joel Peralta. Sox’ Mike Lowell began things with a single, followed by an RBI-triple by Coco Crisp to deep center field before Doug Mirabelli provided an RBI-single. Julio Lugo doubled off Peralta before the right-hander was given the hook and replaced with Joakim Soria, who ended the threat by striking out J.D. Drew to end the inning.

After Red Sox reliever Kyle Snyder retired the side in order in the top of the ninth inning, Boston couldn’t muster any kind of dramatic comeback in the bottom half.

JOE McDONALD

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 10:10 PM | Permalink

Donnelly update

Prior to tonight's game Red Sox manager Terry Francona said he had no news on reliever Brendan Donnelly, who took a trip to California to have his strained right forearm examined by orthopedist Lewis Yocum.

The Red Sox just announced that Dr. Yocum concurred with the original diagnoses of a strained right forearm and prescribed that the pitcher return to Boston to continue his strength and conditioning program as planned.

Donnelly has been on the DL for the last month. The veteran right-hander is 2-1 with a 3.05 ERA in 27 appearances this season.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 8:59 PM | Permalink

Clubhouse Confidential

It's July 17 and the Red Sox are nine games in front of the Yankees in the A.L. East and it's just way too quiet at Fenway Park today.

The clubhouse is quiet. The players are quiet. The manager is quiet. The media is quiet. It almost feels like the calm before the storm, which is never a good sign.

Still, it's the middle of July and maybe I'm still in vacation mode.

Anyway, the small talk around the clubhouse was still the impressive complete-game shutout Red Sox starter Kason Gabbard threw over the Royals Monday night at Fenway.

With Gabbard's recent success, plus when Curt Schilling (shoulder) returns to the rotation does that mean Julian Tavarez finally gets shifted back to the bullpen and the rookie remains in Boston?

"I think in this market a game like (Monday) night has a way enshrining somebody in Cooperstown," said Boston manager Terry Francona. "Things happen and you try to stay ahead of things and have plans A, B and C. . . I think Gabby said it pretty well. He'll pitch when he's supposed to, go where he's supposed to and do the best he can. That's the best way to look at it.

"We do have confidence in his ability to pitch," added Francona.

*Francona also said he read the game report on pitching prospect Clay Buchholz's Triple-A debut for Pawtucket on Monday night. The manager said he received mix reports on the three-inning 50-pitch outing, saying the game report was better than the linescore.

The 22-year-old righty allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits, including a monster home run.

"A couple of balls were not hit real well and one was hit real well," said Francona. "He had a lot of swings and misses, which is always good. I think he had 12 swings and misses, which is very good. Again, three innings is a real small sample size, but I think there's a lot of hope and optimism for this kid. He's going to be a good pitcher and it's exciting to watch."

*Francona said he had no news on reliever Brendan Donnelly, who took a trip to California to have his strained right forearm examined. His been on the DL for the last month. The manager did say he should have an update after tonight's game.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 4:52 PM | Permalink

Tonight's lineups

KANSAS CITY
David DeJesus, 8
Mark Grudzielanek, 4
Mark Teahen, 9
Billy Butler, DH
Ross Gload, 3
Reggie Sanders, 7
Alex Gordon, 5
John Buck, 2
Tony Pena, 6
Leo Nunez, SP

BOSTON
J.D. Drew, 9
Dustin Pedroia, 4
David Ortiz, DH
Manny Ramirez, 7
Kevin Youkilis, 3
Mike Lowell, 5
Coco Crisp, 8
Doug Mirabelli, 2
Julio Lugo, 6
Tim Wakefield, SP

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 4:47 PM | Permalink

projo SoxTalk: Rookie pitcher Kason Gabbard steals the show

Art Martone and Sean McAdam take a look at last night's Red Sox win on today's edition of projo SoxTalk. Click here to listen to the audio file. They discuss what's likely to happen once Kurt Schilling returns from his injury break -- around Aug. 1 -- and future prospects for Julián Tavárez in light of Gabbard's strong start.

It's only two weeks until the trade deadline, so stay tuned.

Posted by Pam Cotter  at 11:52 AM to Martone | Permalink

Baseball Today: Tuesday, July 17

THE GIFT OF GABBARD: He hadn't thrown a complete game since high school, let alone a shutout, so -- even though the opponent was only the lowly Kansas City Royals -- there was no reason for the Red Sox to expect what they got from Kason Gabbard last night: A nine-inning three-hitter with no runs allowed. ''That,'' concluded manager Terry Francona in Sean McAdam's game story, ''was a well-pitched major league game.'' (projo.com) Steven Krasner breaks down Gabbard's performance further in Inside The Game, noting that only about 50 of Gabbard's 107 pitches were fastballs and that he did most of his damage with curves and changeups. (His fastball, in fact, topped out at 89.) When it was over, a smiling Gabbard accepted the congratulations of teammates like Curt Schilling and Daisuke Matsuzaka (above, Journal photo by Bob Breidenbach) for authoring the Sox' second complete-game shutout of the season.

ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL: The author of the first, Schilling, is set to make his first rehab start Saturday in Pawtucket after an encouraging, 31-pitch simulated game yesterday. (projo.com)

A FIRST . . . FINALLY: A little bit further down in the Krasner/McAdam notebook is the tidbit that last night marked the first time David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez had homered in the same game at Fenway Park this season.

FEAT OF CLAY: More pitching news was made at McCoy Stadium last night, as Clay Buchholz made his first Triple-A start after being recalled from Portland. (Left, Journal photo by Mary Murphy) The numbers weren't much -- three innings, five hits, two runs, pulled after reaching his 50-pitch limit -- but Joe McDonald found that the Ottawa Lynx, last night's opponent, were suitable impressed. (projo.com) Jim Donaldson says there'll be better nights for Buchholz, ''[which], as predictions go, is about as daring as declaring that the sun will set in the West tonight.'' Said manager Ron Johnson: ''I was excited to see his stuff.'' So were the fans, apparently, since 10,000 of them packed the charming old ballpark. There's still talk the Red Sox will put Buchholz in their bullpen later this season, but for now, says Johnson, he's a starter, and he'll be re-stretched out in his next few appearances.

STEPPING OVER THE LINE: The New York Daily News' Lisa Olson says ''there's quite a difference between being outspoken and being wildly irresponsible'', as Gary Sheffield demonstrated with his ludicrous charges of racism against Joe Torre.

BE A REAL LEADER: The Bergen Record's Bob Klapisch thinks Derek Jeter, in his role as Yankee captain, should have more to say than 'no comment' regarding Sheffield.

WUSSES: They didn't have to throw at him in retaliation for his bush-league "Ha!" call last month in Toronto, but they could have a) shut him down and b) beat his team. The Blue Jays, however, did neither against Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees last night, and the Tao of Stieb blog is disgusted.

(And thanks for the mention!)

BRONX ZOO: The Yankees are going out of their way to aid a fan who suffered a fractured vertebra below his skull when a drunk fell on him in the upper deck at Yankee Stadium, chartering a plane to fly him home to Kirkland, Wash. (New York Daily News) The fan, who was attending the game with his wife and 13-year-old son, wasn't paralyzed, and is hoping for a full recovery. The team is also appealing for witnesses to the incident to step forward so they can find the man who fell on him.

WHY JUST JACKIE? Linda Ruth Tosetti would like to see MLB retire No. 3 in honor of her grandfather, Babe Ruth, the way it retired No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. (Hartford Courant)

CHANGE OF TUNE: Now Carlos Zambrano says there's a 90 percent chance he'll re-sign with the Cubs. (Chicago Tribune)

ENOUGH! Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon thinks maple bats should be banned from the major leagues. (Tampa Tribune)

KEEPING THEIR FINGERS CROSSED: That's what the Brewers are doing, as they'll find out today how long ace Ben Sheets will be sidelined. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

OPENING NIGHT: The midseason trade marathon began yesterday with the Cubs picking up Jason Kendall from the A's. (Chicago Tribune) Of course, ESPN.com's Rob Neyer wants to know how, exactly, this helps them. (Insider only)

AND IN THIS CORNER . . . The Marlins have suspended reliever Scott Olsen for ''insubordination,'' though they won't give details. (Florida Sun-Sentinel) Rumor has it he had to be restrained by police in a dugout altercation with teammate Sergio Mitre in an incident that began because Olsen ''became unnerved over a problem with a button on his jersey.'' It's not the first time Olsen has had problems with teammates . . . Shortstop Jack Wilson and pitching coach Jim Colborn had angry words in the dugout during the Pirates' 10-8 loss to the Rockies last night. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

WHISPERS: The Houston Chronicle's Kirk Bohls says insiders think Astros free-agent-to-be Jason Jennings wants to sign with San Diego, so he suggests Houston should trade him there now . . . A raft of rumors from Foxsports.com's Ken Rosenthal . . . Omar Vizquel may be placed on the block by the Giants (yahoo.com) . . . The Dodgers' trade focus has shifted from hitting to pitching (Los Angeles Daily News) . . . The Royals would love somebody, anybody, to take Reggie Sanders off their hands (Kansas City Star).

OLD FRIENDS: Tom Gordon has been activated off the 60-day disabled list and is excited to be back with the Phillies (Philadelphia Inquirer) . . . Kevin Millar is hitting .386 since June 14 and the Orioles believe he'll be one of their most marketable players at the trading deadline (Baltimore Sun).

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art Martone  at 7:06 AM | Permalink