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Game Story: Manny's bat powers Sox to 14-9 win

CLEVELAND - On a night when all eyes were on Boston’s pitching staff, Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez stole the spotlight as he continues his offensive prowess against his former team.

He entered last night’s game, the finale of a four-game set at Jacobs Field, with a .348 lifetime average against Cleveland and added to his greatness here with a two-homer game, including four RBI, a double and four runs scored.

Just Manny being Manny.

His performance helped the Red Sox to a 14-9 victory over the Indians as teammate Wily Mo Pena contributed a 4-for-5 night with a three-run homer, a single and a pair of doubles.

As Boston banged out 17 hits against Indians pitching, it was déjà vu all over again for the Red Sox pitching staff.

For the third time in three weeks Kason Gabbard and Curt Schilling both pitched on the same night, the rookie for Boston and the veteran, two rehabs for Pawtucket and one simulated game.

While Schilling started for the PawSox – five scoreless innings, two hits and eight strikeouts – an hour and a half away in Toledo, Gabbard looked to improve on his 4-0 record. The left-hander worked 4 2/3 innings and allowed five runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Ramirez got things going with a monster solo home run in the top of the second inning. His blast, the first offering from Cleveland starter Cliff Lee, landed 481 feet from home plate to become the third longest shot at The Jake. Former Indian Jim Thome still holds the top spot with his 511-foot homer, while Mark McGwire’s 485-footer is second.

After the Red Sox pushed a run across in the third, the Indians’ Franklin Gutierrez smacked his second homer in as many nights. Boston’s Jason Varitek provided a two-run single in the fourth before the Red Sox scored five runs in the fifth for a 9-1 advantage.

Until the bottom of the fifth, Gabbard retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced as he continued to look sharp. But, he began to struggle slowly as Cleveland mounted a comeback on the rookie with four runs in the inning to cut its deficit to four.

Gabbard, who had walked only four batters in his previous three starts, didn’t issue a free pass last night until the fifth where he posted three and hit a batter. Finally with two outs and the Indians batting around the order, Francona replaced the southpaw with reliever Julian Tavarez.

It was the first time since Aug. 27, 2006 at Seattle that Tavarez appeared in a relief role. He finished last season as a starter, and with Jon Lester out of the rotation to start the season as he battled back from cancer, Tavarez had been starting in the No. 5 spot until last Monday when Lester finally returned.

The Red Sox halted Cleveland’s comeback when Pena lined a three-run homer into the bleacher seats in left field to give Boston a 12-5 lead.

Cleveland, however, once again battled back.

Tavarez, who struggled badly in his last four starts, retired the first four batters he faced, and with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, surrendered four unearned runs, including a three-run homer to the Indians’ Ryan Garko as Cleveland cut its deficit to three.

Ramirez added his second roundtripper of the game in the eighth, a two-run shot, to give Boston a 14-9 lead.

Prior to last night’s game, Francona spoke highly of the Gabbard’s performances this season. The left-hander made a spot start in May against Atlanta, and last night made his sixth start since replacing the injured Schilling in the rotation on June 26.

“Left-handers with change-ups in this league can be devastating,” said the manager. “Gabby has been good as anybody in baseball his last two starts. . . he’s got good two-seam movement and his change-up is such a good pitch. His breaking ball is getting so much better.”

Francona recalled watching Gabbard work in spring training prior to last season and remembered his curveball had a “loop” to it.

“He throws it now and it’s tight,” Francona said.

Gabbard kept his momentum going early into last night’s start, but struggled in his last inning of work. Fortunately, the Red Sox gave him plenty of run support for the win.

After his second rehab start with Pawtucket, Schilling re-joined the Sox in Tampa today. The veteran right-hander will make a third rehab appearance for the PawSox on Tuesday in Columbus before returning to Boston’s rotation – if everything continues to go as planned – the first week of August when the club travels to the west coast.

Because Gabbard has been so effective, and Lester was solid in his victorious return last Monday, the Sox will have a difficult decision to make when Schilling returns.

--JOE McDONALD

Posted by Corey Bourassa  at 10:59 PM to McDonald | Permalink

Game Story: Schilling dominant for Pawtucket

TOLEDO, Ohio – The ending was a little hairy, but otherwise Curt Schilling’s second rehab outing for Pawtucket was nothing but smooth sailing.

Schilling allowed just one hit in five scoreless innings, striking out eight Mud Hens and not walking a batter in a game the PawSox eventually lost 3-2 in 10 innings.

“How about Schilling – this was a positive night for Red Sox Nation, because Curt Schilling was really good,” Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson said. “His pitches were low going through four innings, and he was really impressive.

“He commanded everything he had, and he was excited about his stuff. He’s made two very good rehab starts for us.”

Schilling retired the first 14 Mud Hens he faced in order before giving up a double to deep center by Brent Clevlen.

“He left a split-finger up, and I just tried to square it up,” Clevlen said. “He was throwing strikes. He had the split-finger going for him, and we kept chasing it.”

The next batter, David Espinosa, then hit a high hopper off Schilling’s glove. Second baseman Bobby Scales tried to throw Espinosa out at first but failed; Clevlen tried to score on the play, and first baseman Jeff Bailey threw Clevlen out at the plate.

“That was a nice play – and a big play in a 1-0 game,” Schilling said. “I was happy to not give up runs.”

Schilling’s line for the night included just two hits and no walks in five innings. The 40-year-old struck out eight and threw first-pitch strikes to 11 of the 16 hitters he faced. He finished with 66 pitches thrown, 44 for strikes.

“I felt good, I felt strong,” Schilling said. “I got stronger as the game went on, and I felt really strong in the fifth.

“There were a lot of good things out there.”

In his first rehab outing he allowed just two hits in three innings against Louisville July 21; he said he will make one more rehab start for Pawtucket next Tuesday in Columbus.

“It’s most important that I feel strong,” Schilling said. “My split [split-finger fastball] is as good as it’s ever been, and to have the velocity makes it even better.”

Schilling, who was 6-4 for Boston this season before going on the disabled list June 19 because of tendonitis in his right shoulder.

After last night’s game Schilling declined comment on any subject not related to last night’s start.

In the game Pawtucket scored a run in the top of the ninth, only to see the Mud Hens tie the game with a run in the bottom of the ninth off Travis Hughes.

Then in the 10th Clevlen hit a bases-loaded, two-out single to right to score Henry Mateo with the game-winning run.

NOTES: Yesterday Boston signed outfielder Brady Clark to a free-agent contract and assigned him to Pawtucket. He led off for the PawSox and had a hit in four at-bats. Jacoby Ellsbury was placed on the disabled list retroactive to July 22 to make room for Clark on the PawSox roster.

--JOHN WAGNER (Special to the Journal)

Posted by Corey Bourassa  at 10:57 PM to PawSox | Permalink

The tarp is off

The Indians just announced tonight's game will start at 7:35.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 7:16 PM | Permalink

Clubhouse Confidential

Alex Cora and Coco Crisp have lockers next to each other in the visiting clubhouse in Cleveland, and after Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to the Indians, Cora proved once again he’s a stand-up guy. The Red Sox utility infielder missed a hit-and-run call in a crucial spot and after the game took all the blame in an expletive-filled tirade.

“I don’t believe that,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona when told Cora’s self-evaluation. “We just got a little mixed up; it happens. In a 1-0 game everything sticks out. That’s the last thing I want is for Alex to feel like that. He’s tough on himself because he wants to play the game perfectly. I’m not hammering him because he’s a kid who cares. He takes a lot of pride in playing the game correctly.”

Crisp on the other hand, who was thrown out at the plate after pulling up attempting to score the game-tying run, got dressed and blew past a group of reporters waiting to talk to him. Less than 24 hours after that game, both players were clearly over their miscues.

*Rookie left-hander Kason Gabbard takes the mound for the Red Sox tonight and is looking to improve on his 4-0 record. Francona said this afternoon he's been impressed with Gabbard, who replaced Curt Schilling in the rotation when the ace went on the DL last month with shoulder tendinitis.

“Left-handers with change-ups in this league can be devastating,” said the manager. “Gabby has been good as anybody in baseball his last two starts. . . he’s got good two-seam movement and his change-up is such a good pitch. His breaking ball is getting so much better.”

Francona recalled watching Gabbard work in spring training prior to last season and remembered his curveball had a “loop” to it.

“He throws it now and it’s tight,” Francona said.

*Speaking of Schilling, Francona announced today that the veteran ace will make a third rehab start for the PawSox on Tuesday at Columbus. If everything goes as planned that would set up a return to the rotation for Schilling when the team heads to the west coast the first week of August.

Schilling is starting for the PawSox tonight in Toledo and is scheduled to throw 65 pitches. On Tuesday, he's slated to throw 80-85 pitches.

"Hopefully we get him when he's strong and ready to get up to six or seven innings," said Francona.

*The Red Sox were intently watching ESPN’s mini-series The Bronx is Burning after Tuesday’s game. Francona was asked yesterday if he’s seen the show based on the New York Yankees season of 1977.

“I’m not Siskel & Ebert,” said Francona. “Nor I have ever claimed to be, the acting to me seems to be horrendous, but it’s hard not to watch it because it’s entertaining. Some of it’s funny and the way they intertwine the Son of Sam stuff is actually pretty interesting."

Francona never has a problem making fun of himself, and when asked who would play him if a documentary was made on this season’s Red Sox team the manager said Max Patkin, The Clown Prince of Baseball. Someone suggested if Schilling didn’t play himself, maybe Drew Carey could portray the Red Sox ace.

HBO is working on a documentary about the 2004 Red Sox, the team that won the World Series for the first time in 86 years.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 5:35 PM | Permalink

Tonight's lineups from Cleveland

BOSTON

Julio Lugo, 6
Dustin Pedroia, 4
David Ortiz, DH
Manny Ramirez, 7
Kevin Youkilis, 3
Mike Lowell, 5
Jason Varitek, 2
Coco Crisp, 8
Wily Mo Pena, 9
Kason Gabbard, SP

CLEVELAND

Grady Sizemore, 8
Casey Blake, 5
Victor Martinez, 2
Travis Hafner, DH
Ryan Garko, 3
Jhonny Peralta, 6
Jason Michaels, 7
Franklin Gutierrez, 9
Josh Barfield, 4
Cliff Lee, SP

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 5:10 PM | Permalink

Canseco calls out A-Rod

Jose Canseco, a guest on WEEI's Big Show, today took a slap at Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez. Canseco, who in his book Juiced helped blow the lid off baseball's steroid scandal, says he plans another book, in which he will reveal that Rodriguez is "not who he says he is." Asked directly if he is stating that A-Rod used steroids, Canseco would not answer. He said people would have to read his book, then he went on to call Rodriguez a liar, adding "I can't stand liars."

As Barry Bonds nears the end of his quest for major-league baseball's home-run record, a chase that many allege has been tainted by drug use, Rodriguez is about to become the youngest player ever to reach 500 home runs. But although A-Rod has taken plenty of criticism in his career for other reasons, he has never been linked to steroids.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:49 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Sox sign Brady Clark; Ellsbury put on DL

The Boston Red Sox today signed veteran outfielder Brady Clark to a minor-league contract. Clark, 34, who has played for Cincinnati, the New York Mets, Milwaukee and Los Angeles, will join the PawSox.

The organization also placed Jacoby Ellsbury on the seven-day disabled list with a mild groin strain. Clark will take Ellsbury's roster spot.

Clark, a career .277 hitter, was released by the Dodgers on June 18. He is hitting .224 with five RBI in 47 games this season.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:24 PM | Permalink

Sox Streakers for July 26

Hot Streaks
-Julio Lugo has a 14-game hitting streak, during which he is 23 for 54 (.426).
-David Ortiz has a 10-game hitting streak, during which he is 15 for 41 (.366).
-Manny Ramirez is 6 for his last 12.
-Kason Gabbard is 3-0 with a 1.93 E.R.A. in July. It's the third-lowest E.R.A. of any American League starter for the month.
-Boston pitchers have allowed three runs in their last 28 innings of work.

Cold Streaks
-J.D. Drew is 0 for his last 10, and 4 for 30 (.133) in his last eight games.
-Eric Hinske is 0 for his last 8, and 6 for 34 (.176) in his last 15 games.
-The Red Sox have not hit a home run in three consecutive games.
-Since June 27, Boston is 2-10 in one-run games.
-For Cleveland: Travis Hafner is 0 for his last 19.

Red Sox vs. Cliff Lee
-Dustin Pedroia, 1 for 1 (1.000)
-Doug Mirabelli, 2 for 3 (.667)
-J.D. Drew, 2 for 4 (.500)
-Manny Ramirez, 4 for 12 (.333), 1 HR
-Wily Mo Pena, 2 for 7 (.286), 2 HR
-Julio Lugo, 5 for 19 (.263)
-David Ortiz, 3 for 12 (.250)
-Kevin Youkilis, 2 for 9 (.222)
-Jason Varitek, 2 for 10 (.200)
-Mike Lowell, 1 for 9 (.111)
-Coco Crisp, 0 for 3
-Eric Hinske, 0 for 3
-Lee is 2-2 with a 3.72 E.R.A. in six career starts against Boston.

Indians vs. Kason Gabbard
-Gabbard has not yet faced Cleveland.

More Stuff
-Season series: Boston 4, Cleveland 2. The season series concludes tonight. All-time series: Cleveland 1,008, Boston 937. At Cleveland: Cleveland 540, Boston 429. At Jacobs Field: Cleveland 33, Boston 33.
-The Red Sox' 6.5-game division lead is their smallest since May 11. But it remains the largest lead of any of baseball's division leaders.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:23 PM to Projo Sox Streakers | Permalink

Today's Manny file: Blame him for the debacle at the plate?

Manny Ramirez didn't do much to help Coco Crisp last night, as Crisp tried to score from second on David Ortiz's ground ball single against the Indians' shift. Ramirez, the on-deck hitter, didn't close enough to the play to tell Crisp whether or not to slide, something that may or may not have contributed to Crisp's slowing down as he approached catcher Victor Martinez at the plate. Manager Terry Francona was quick to credit Martinez for doing a good job of blocking the plate, and Crisp -- as has frequently been his tendency lately -- went out of his way to avoid reporters after the game.

Francona doesn't blame new hitting coach Dave Magadan for any drop-off in offensive production this year from Ramirez.

The Columbus Dispatch points to one at-bat in the fourth last night, when Fausto Carmona struck out Ramirez, as exhibit 1 that Carmona has become a true ace. After just missing with a sinking fastball, he threw a harder fastball to get strike three. By the way, Carmona shouldn't take the strike-three-that-wasn't personally; I increasingly feel like I have no idea what they're going to call a ball and what they're going to call a strike these days.

Cheap shot of the day: In the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, writer Kevin Clark says that Miami Dolphins rookie Lorenzo Booker yesterday "looked like Manny Ramirez in pads" while attempting to field punts at Dolphins camp in Davie, Fla.: "A number of times Booker dropped punts, including one poorly timed fair-catch attempt. One arm was still waving as the ball fell in front of him, bouncing off his free hand."

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 1:32 PM to Projo Mannybeingmanny | Permalink | Comments 1

Projo SoxTalk with McAdam: The future of the Sox-Yanks rivalry

Sean McAdam is back once again for another edition of projo SoxTalk. Click here to listen to the full audio file. The topics of discussion: The Red Sox' frustrating loss to Fausto Carmona and the Cleveland Indians; the latest on the trade market; whether the Yankees still need to make a deal; and the coming influx of young pitching talent in the Red Sox-Yankee rivalry.

Here are some excerpts from Sean's comments:

On last night's game: "When you face a pitcher like Carmona on a night like last night, where he clearly has terrific stuff going, you have to force the issue a little bit. You have to be aggressive; you have to try to create some things. You certainly can't sit back and expect that you're going to come up with a three-run homer against him or a big inning, so you have to peck away, and even with the speed of guys like Crisp and Lugo, that isn't the kind of game that the Red Sox do well with."

Trade prospects: "I think it's more likely that the Red Sox work out someting at a lesser level than Teixeira. There is some interest in Ty Wigginton with Tampa Bay, who can play three of the four infield positions, probably even play a little bit in the outfield or DH, and would be a nice versatile bat off the bench. But I'm also told that Tampa Bay has for now got its asking price too high. There continue to be talks with Pittsburgh surrounding the Wily Mo Pena for Salomon Torres exchange, but unless a Teixeira trade or something else kick-starts activity, I think were probably going to see most of what we see -- and I don't expect that to be a lot -- take place on Monday or Tuesday."

On the Sox and Yanks of tomorrow: "Both teams I think have sensed where the market has gone on free-agent pitching, having both been burned and rewarded on the free-agent market. ... The best way to combat that, of course, is to develop your own. So as they continue to do on the field, both the Red Sox and Yankees have mirrored one other in their approach to the draft the last few seasons, focusing ... predominantly on stockpiling as many young arms in their systems as possible, and now that those guys are in Double-A and Triple-A, and not far off from contributing at the major-league level, there's going to be an interesting influx of talent coming up the next couple of years with homegrown pitching prospects."

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 10:39 AM to McAdam | Permalink | Comments 1

Baseball Today: Thursday, July 26

AP photo / Mark Duncan

RUNNING JOKE: If the Red Sox end up losing out on the division title by a game (not out of the question given the Yankees' surge), this is one that we might be looking back at. Sure, Fausto Carmona, the guy whom the Sox lit up when he was trying to close out games at Fenway last year, was absolutely brilliant, throwing hard and getting excellent movement on his pitches. But it's the late blunders that we'll remember about this game. First there was Coco Crisp, getting nailed at the plate trying to score from second in the sixth inning on David Ortiz's single, which got no farther than second baseman Josh Barfield, playing deep in the shift. Then there was Jason Varitek getting thrown out because of a missed hit-and-run sign by Alex Cora. Cleveland catcher Victor Martinez also threw out Julio Lugo trying to steal. After the game, Cora was distraught (projo), while Crisp was not around for comment.

STAND-UP GUY: Meanwhile, Josh Beckett, who threw his first complete game since 2005, when he was a member of the Florida Marlins, was not interested in passing the blame to his teammates (SoxBlog).

FOOTSTEPS: Out in Kansas City, the Yankees closed the gap to six and a half games by winning their sixth straight, 7-1 over Kansas City (N.Y. Daily News). A-Rod hit home run number 499 and tonight will face Jorge De La Rosa, the same pitcher who surrendered Rodriguez's 400th carer home run in 2005.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB: Backup catcher Jose Molina is expected to make his Yankee debut tonight, when the Bombers go for the sweep in Kansas City (Newsday). This same story mentions that the Yankees remain somewhat interested in getting Mark Loretta from Houston.

THE BAD NEWS: Peter Abraham, in the LoHud Yankees blog, reports that David Szen, the Yanks' traveling secretary since 1981, is under investigation by the IRS for possible tax evasion and has been placed on paid leave.

ANOTHER MILESTONE IN THE MAKING: While A-Rod moved one step away from the 500-home run club, Tom Glavine got one win away from 300 on his career (projo stats).

NOT SO GREAT SCOTT: The Kansas City Royals yesterday released pitcher Scott Elarton (Kansas City Star), who gave up seven runs in 1 2/3 innings of work against the Yankees on Tuesday. It has been a horrible year for Elarton, who has struck out 13 batters while surrendering 12 home runs. On The Soul of Baseball blog, there's a look at other pitchers who gave up nearly as many long balls as they had strikeouts.

MINOR LEAGUE REPORT: Joel Pineiro accepted his assignment to Triple A Pawtucket, and promptly threw three no-hit innings as a starter against Toledo (projo). In Portland, pitcher Justin Masterson struck out 10 en route to a victory over New Hampshire. Since being promoted from Class-A Lancaster, Masterson has started four games, and won all four.

DONNELLY UPDATE: Brendan Donnelly (forearm strain) has played catch at 90 feet for the last couple of days (projo).

THIS KID HAS A FUTURE: In his Triple-A debut with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 21-year-old Yanks phenom Joba Chamberlain struck out 10 batters while walking only one in five shutout innings (N.Y. Daily News).

A NEW NAME: The Globe reports that the Sox are talking to Tampa Bay about Ty Wigginton, an infielder with decent pop (15 home runs and a .275 batting average so far this year), though a trade is not close to happening. The story also says that Boston is interested in Dodgers third base prospect Andy LaRoche, who is at Triple A Las Vegas.

TEIXEIRA TALKS: The Dallas Morning News reports that the Rangers and Braves are deep into discussions about a trade involving Mark Teixeira.

OK, TAKE HIM: The Post reports that the Tigers might be interested in taking Kyle Farnsworth off the Yankees' hands.

CURT'S CONCERNS: Curt Schilling not only has steroids on his mind (projo); he is giving a lot of thought to his online gaming business as well (Globe).

TOUGH NIGHT: First, he was thrown out at first base by Houston right-fielder Luke Scott after hitting what appeared to be a single. Then, in the fifth inning, he had to leave the game because of a pulled groin. A frustrating evening for Derek Lowe, who threw his glove the length of the Dodgers dugout after coming off the field (projo stats).

OUCH AGAIN: Jose Contreras, who was allowed to stay into the eighth inning last week in Boston and ended up giving up 10 runs, surrendered nine runs on 12 hits in 4.2 innings yesterday against Detroit, caughing up two leads along the way. Safe to say Contreras' trade value is waning, if it has not completely evaporated.

PEDRO'S ROAD BACK: Pedro Martinez will pitch a simulated game on Friday and is expected to make a minor-league rehab start on Wednesday in Port St. Lucie. (N.Y. Post)

AND HANLEY'S: Florida's Hanley Ramirez, nursing a partially dislocated shoulder, fielded ground balls yesterday, but has yet to swing a bat since suffering his injury over the weekend (Miami Herald).

UNIT REVIEW: A day after saying that his career might in fact be over, Randy Johnson told the Diamondbacks that he would throw another bullpen session later in the week (projo stats).

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 9:07 AM to Projo Sox Crawl | Permalink