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INSIDE THE GAME: Sox 2, Blue Jays 1

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON – David Ortiz at second. The game tied in the bottom of the ninth.

For the second night in a row.

On Tuesday night, manager Terry Francona decided not to pinch-run rookie Jed Lowrie for his lumbering designated hitter. The strategy worked out, with Ortiz scoring the game’s only run on a two-out single to center by Kevin Youkilis. Toronto center fielder Vernon Wells bobbled the ball, so Ortiz scored without a throw.

Last night, Ortiz once again found himself at second base in a tie game in the bottom of the ninth.

This time Francona sent in Lowrie to pinch run for him with one out.

The strategy didn’t work out. Brandon Moss grounded a one-out single to center but Lowrie was gunned down at the plate on a strong throw by Wells.

Captain Jason Varitek, though, came through the Sox. He drilled a single to center and Manny Ramirez beat another strong Wells throw home, giving Boston its second straifght walkoff victory over the Blue Jays, this one by a 2-1 score.

So why did Francona pinch run last night for Ortiz, who opened the ninth by ripping a single through the right side of the Toronto shift?

“We needed to do that. We have a lot of trust in him in his baserunning. I don’t have any doubt David can get a good secondary lead and score, (but) we ran for him because you could see him limping out there,” said Francona.

Francona said Ortiz looked into the dugout after reaching base on his single, a signal between the two that means he needs a pinch runner. Francona, though, didn’t want to risk losing him in the lineup in the event Ramirez hit a grounder.

But Ramirez worked a walk, pushing Ortiz to second with none out, so Lowrie was sent in. The runners stayed put as Mike Lowell struck out. Lowrie, however, was not successful in his mission. Catcher Rod Barajas pushed him off the plate with his left leg as Lowrie slid to the outside of the plate and applied the tag.

“He might have gotten a bigger secondary lead,” said Francona of the reason Lowrie didn’t score. “He’s not the fastest guy on the team but he was the one with the freshest legs.”
Francona was unable to use speedy Jacoby Ellsbury off the bench to pinch run because Ellsbury is suffering from a sore groin.

********************

This is supposed to be the year that Manny Delcarmen blossoms into a top-flight setup man, a dominant seventh- or eighth-inning guy who can form an airtight bridge between the starters and the dynamic closing duo of Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon.

There have been signs that, at the age of 26, Delcarmen has arrived.

Unfortnately, there have been too many, such as last night, when he has been a very shaky “bridge.”

The right-hander, called in to start the eighth inning with the Sox ahead, 1-0, threw only two pitches, a 94 m.p.h. fastball for a called strike and a 93 m.p.h. fastball that Adam Lind ripped into center field for a single.

Francona wasted no time. He lifted Delcarmen and brought in Okajima.

“We were going to leave Manny in until someone got on base,” said Francona. “Unfortunately it was the first batter.”

A frustrated Delcarmen slammed his glove on the bench when he reached the dugout and flung an empty plastic bucket back onto the field, most likely not so much irritated with Francona but with himself.

When Okajima allowed Lind to score, it marked the fourth straight outing in which Delcarmen was charged with at least a run. Delcarmen has pitched in 14 games, and in 7 of them, he has given up at least a run.

He has allowed 7 of 12 inherited runners to score. In his 14 appearances, the leadoff batter has reached base against him 6 times.

Delcarmen’s earned-run average now is 6.17 (8 earned runs, 11 2/3 innings). Over his last four outings he has coughed up 5 earned runs on 5 hits in a total of only 2 innings. Delcarmen has worked in three games against Toronto and has been raked for 5 hits and 3 earned runs in a total of 2 innings, including a grand slam to Frank Thomas on April 6 that tacked on three earned runs to Josh Beckett’s line that day.

****************

Toronto manager John Gibbons sent in Marco Scutaro to pinch run at second base for catcher Gregg Zaun in the eighth inning, presumably not only because he had more speed but also because he knows how to run the bases.

Scutaro, though, made a mental mistake on the bases that likely cost Toronto a chance to go ahead.

When Scutaro entered, the Jays had runners at second and third with none out. Toronto was trailing, 1-0.

Alex Rios laced a shot to right-center, a sacrifice fly at the very least that would push home the tying run. Scutaro should have tagged up, too, even though it looked as if the ball had a chance to fall in front of right fielder Brandon Moss.

Moss made a sliding catch, but because Scutaro had gone halfway, he couldn’t tag up. He was stuck at second base with one out in a 1-1 game instead of perched on third base with one of the game’s best bunters and bat-handlers – David Eckstein – coming up.

Scutaro wanted to be able to score on Rios’ ball. But he was trying to do too much. Even if it had fallen safely and he was only able to advance one base, the Jays would have had runners at first and third with none out and the numbers two, three and four hitters coming to the plate.
The Jays were unable to take Scutaro off the hook for his baserunning blunder. Both Eckstein and Scott Rolen whiffed, leaving it a 1-1 game.

"You've got to be on third base on that ball," said Toronto manager John Gibbons. "No outs. You've got to be. If it drops you cruise into third base, but you've got to be in position to tag."

Gibbons had even less luck with his next pinch runner, John McDonald. The ex-Providence College star, running for Matt Stairs after a leadoff single in a 1-1 game in the ninth, was picked off first by Jonathan Papelbon.

"He got away with a balk move there," said Gibbons of Papelbon.

************************

Ortiz has not had many red-hot days at the plate. He seems to have one good swing a game.
Last night, Ortiz had two. After being robbed of a possible slicing double to left and whiffing in his first two at-bats,

In he seventh, Ortiz got enough of a 2-and-0 changeup to get it into the wind and have it float over the low fence in the right-field corner for a homer that broke a 0-0 deadlock. In the ninth, he ripped a single off the glove of second baseman Aaron Hill, who was playing in shallow right in the hole on the right side of the infield.

“It was nice to hear the ball come off his bat with a crisp sound,” said Francona.

*************************

The Blue Jays might want to try their luck hitting the ball to Dustin Pedroia’s left because they sure can’t get anything past him to his right.

Last night, Pedroia took a few steps to his right and made a diving grab of Adam Lind’s liner with one out in the second inning. One night earlier, Pedroia made a sensational diving stop of a hard two-out bouncer in the ninth inning and turned it into a run-saving out in a 0-0 game.

The big difference in the plays? Pedroia’s left shoulder popped out after Tuesday night’s grab and had to be slipped back into place. That didn’t happen on last night’s catch.

Pedroia also made a solid play on a ball hit with crazy spin pretty much right at him in the sixth. Alex Rios hit the ball wide of first base. First baseman Kevin Youkilis started after it, but got caught in no-man’s land because it was Pedroia’s ball and he was too far from the bag to race back to it for Pedroia’s throw.

Matsuzaka, though, hustled over to cover the base, as pitchers are instructed to do on any grounder to the right side.

Pedroia made a confident, perfect throw to the bag, leading Matsuzaka as if it were a quarterback-wide receiver hookup, for the out.

skrasner@projo.com / 401-277-7340

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 11:06 PM | Permalink

News and notes from Red Sox clubhouse

Predictably, J.D. Drew, who left after the third inning with a strained quad, is out of the lineup again tonight.
There's no telling, for now, how long he might be sidelined.
``It's not worse,'' said manager Terry Francona, ``but it's not good enough to send him out there. He feels it. We'll see how it goes.''

Jacoby Ellsbury also remains out, limited by a right groin strain, but is feeling improvement.
``It feels better today,'' said Ellsbury. ``I came in early (Tuesday) for treatment and it feels a lot better.''
Ellsbury said the strain resulted from his attempted grab of Evan Longoria's homer Saturday night in St. Pete.
``That's when I felt it,'' he said. ``I've had it before. The last few days, there's been a lot of improvement. It's hard (to give a) time frame (for his return), but hopefully soon.''
Francona said in a best-case scenario, Ellsbury will return Thursday.
For now, the manager is limited in his moves, with just three healthy outfielders.
``It certainly takes away from your thinking,'' said Francona. ``You do what yuo do and hope the guys play good.''

Dustin Pedroia was in the lineup in the leadoff spot, with Kevin Youkilis hitting second and Mike Lowell returned to the fifth spot.
Francona said two lefties (Ellsbury and Drew) being out of the lineup led to the rehuffled order.

Bartolo Colon, who threw a 45-pitch side Monday, will throw another one Friday in anticipation of a rehab start Monday...Infielder Alex Cora (elbow) continues to make strides. He threw from a distance of 105 feet today and will soon graduate to fielding grounders, making double plays and eventually, relay throws from the outfield...Dustin Pedroia, who felt a subluxation of his left shoulder in making his game-saving stop in the top of the ninth inning, felt fine today and was in the lineup.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 4:26 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Lineups

TORONTO

Alex Rios RF
David Eckstein SS
Scott Rolen 3B
Matt Stairs DH
Vernon Wells CF
Lyle Overbay 1B
Aaron Hill 2B
Adam Lind LF
Gregg Zaun C

Dustin McGowan SP

BOSTON

Dustin Pedroia 2B
Kevin Youkilis 1B
David Ortiz DH
Manny Ramirez LF
Mike Lowell 3B
Brandon Moss RF
Jason Varitek C
Coco Crisp CF
Julio Lugo SS

Daisuke Matsuzaka SP

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 4:19 PM | Permalink

PawSox rough up Francisco Liriano, beat Rochester

The Pawtucket Red Sox touched up Francisco Liriano, the onetime Minnesota Twins phenom who was recently demoted to Rochester, for four runs in 4.1 innings en route to a 4-2 victory today at Rochester. Liriano walked five and surrendered a home run to Jeff Bailey.

Knuckleballer Charlie Zink pitched six strong innings to get the win.

Click here to see the box score.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:08 PM to PawSox | Permalink

Projo SoxTalk with McAdam: Red Sox win a thriller

Click the play button below to hear Sean's comments, recorded this morning. Today's topics: Last night's ninth-inning victory, Dustin Pedroia as a danger to his own health, up-and-down Jon Lester very much up last night, and Roy Halladay's frustrating world.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 1:32 PM to Projo SoxTalk with Sean McAdam | Permalink

More on Manny's commercials for ESPN

As Art mentioned in his Baseball Today posting, Manny Ramirez spent the Red Sox' Monday off-day in Connecticut to film two ESPN commercials, according to the blog of sportswriter Joe Haggerty.

Haggerty doesn't have any details on what the commercials will show. They are part of the network's humorous "This is SportsCenter" ad campaign (the Celtics' Big Three are featured on one ad that is currently in heavy rotation). Seth Ader, senior director of ESPN marketing, said Ramirez arrived to the shoot on time and worked well with SportsCenter anchors Jay Harris, Karl Ravech and Steve Levy.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 10:11 AM to Projo Mannybeingmanny | Permalink

Baseball Today: Wednesday, April 30

Journal photo / Gretchen Ertl

'WHAT A GAME': Those were the words out of Jerry Remy's mouth less than two seconds after David Ortiz had crossed the plate with the only run of the night, and how true they were. A 0-0 battle between the grizzled vet and the up-and-coming youngster; a game-saving defensive play with two outs in the top of the ninth; a game-winning rally started with two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the ninth. Baseball, as the old saying goes, like it oughta be.

Paul Kenyon provides the details, with heavy emphasis on Jon Lester (above, who scattered one hit over eight innings) and Dustin Pedroia's ninth-inning dive to snare the headed-up-the-middle shot by Vernon Wells, which turned what would have been a run-scoring single into an inning-ending out. ("Superman at second base," is how Wells described Pedroia in the Toronto Globe and Mail.) Gretchen Ertl has the story in pictures, and we've been remiss in not pointing to these brilliant nightly slideshows; from now on, you'll see more of them. Sean McAdam details the hard-luck night of Roy Halladay, a throwback to the days when pitchers finished when they started; this was his fourth straight complete game (though, unfortunately for him, he's lost three of them). And Steven Krasner goes Inside The Game on a number of topics, including why the Sox didn't run for Ortiz in the ninth, Pedroia hurting his shoulder on his ninth-inning play (hint: those two items are related), and J.D. Drew's 2007 imitation.

Quite a night. Like we said: Baseball like it oughta be.

HE'S BACK: Last night also marked the return of Mike Lowell, chronicled here by Kenyon and Krasner. The notebook includes the latest health news, including Drew having to leave the game because of a quad strain.

Journal photo / Gretchen Ertl

TIP OF THE HAT: Kevin Youkilis (shown hitting the ninth-inning single that scored Ortiz) had nothing but praise for Halladay after the game: "[He's] going to be a Hall of Fame pitcher."

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE . . . "You know we always get up to play the Red Sox," said Gregg Zaun on his blog prior to last night's game (www2.sportsnet.ca), but being up for the game didn't prevent the struggling Blue Jays from suffering their 15th loss in 26 tries. It's getting so bad that John Gibbons' grandmother, who lives on Boston's North Shore, asked him if he was going to be fired. (Toronto Star)

IT HAPPENS: Hey, it's like Jim Rice said on his Ask 14 blog: Sometimes you just get outplayed. Look at the Sox last weekend in Tampa.

BUMP IN THE ROAD: Craig Hansen hadn't allowed a run in Pawtucket all season, but he gave up three in last night's 9-3 loss at Rochester. (projo.com)

TOO EXPENSIVE: Padres general manager Kevin Towers has asked about Coco Crisp, but says the Red Sox' asking price -- Triple-A left fielder Chase Headley -- is too high. (San Diego Union-Tribune)

SMOKIN': Luis Tiant has introduced "El Tiante" cigars to the South Shore. (wickedlocal.com)

AD MAN: Joe Haggerty reports Manny Ramirez spent Monday's off-day filming a series of commercials at ESPN. (hackswithhaggs.com)

PHIL OF DISASTER: Somewhere Hank Steinbrenner is seething. Phil Hughes was shaky yet again and the Yankees fell to 2-9 in games started by Hughes and fellow rookie Ian Kennedy as the Yanks lost to the Tigers, 6-4. (New York Daily News) The Post's Joel Sherman is the first to call for Hughes to be sent back to the minor leagues, and the Daily News' John Harper thinks it will take a minor miracle to save Hughes' season.

IN THE GOOD-NEWS DEPARTMENT . . . Joba Chamberlain's father is out of the hospital. (New York Post)

IN THE BAD-NEWS DEPARTMENT . . . When they were struggling early last season, Baseball Musings' David Pinto continually expressed the opinion that the Yankees would break out of it and make a run at a postseason berth . . . and he was right. This year, though, he thinks the Yanks "just [don't] have it."

A-LIST: The dreaded strained quad has forced Alex Rodriguez to the disabled list. (New York Post)

LUCKY DRIVER: Johnny Damon gave Gary Sheffield a ride to Yankee Stadium yesterday. After Sheffield slammed a two-run homer last night, he's going to ask Damon for another ride today. (New York Post)

ON THE RISE: ProJo's Fantasy Blog thinks Damon is turning the corner and starting to play better.

LOOKING TO THE STARS: The Yankees and MLB announced plans for July's All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium. (mlb.com) If you'd like to be there, bring your wallet . . . and maybe somebody else's, too. (The Journal News)

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR: We expressed the sentiment yesterday that Roger Clemens -- had he an ounce of self-awareness, which is questionable -- should rue the day he decided not to admit to the use of performance-enhancing drugs, ask for forgiveness (which he would have gotten, same as everyone else), and disappear into the sunset. Today, the Globe's Nick Cafardo writes the same thing, especially since Clemens' bullheaded insistence on fighting an unwinnable fight is leading to his reputation -- and who knows, maybe his personal life -- being shattered into a million pieces. Today's Daily News revelation: He had extramarital relationships with plenty of women other than Mindy McCready. (And just to bring it even deeper into the gutter, the Boston Herald reports that Clemens also hit on the wife of former wrestler Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake.) As yahoo.com's Tim Brown said yesterday, none of this would have been looked into had Clemens' against-all-odds exhortations that he's telling the truth, and everyone else is lying, invited -- indeed, demanded -- further examination into his affairs. Mike Lupica tears Clemens and his lawyer, Rusty Hardin, to shreds: "Clemens and Hardin were going to bully everybody and roll over everybody, and how has that worked out for both of them?" (New York Daily News)

Not too well, Mike. Not too well.

JUST WAIT: Doug Mientkiewicz, who played with him in Minnesota, says Mets fans haven't seen the real Johan Santana yet. (Newsday)

DECISION COMING? Vin Scully, who's been broadcasting Dodger games since 1950, says he'll talk to his wife when his contract expires at the end of the season and see if she wants him to retire. (New York Times)

END OF THE LINE: Matt Morris, released by the Pirates on Sunday, told his hometown newspaper that he's decided to hang 'em up. (Times Herald-Record) Across the continent in San Francisco, Giant pitching hopefuls Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum remember their ex-teammate and mentor fondly. (mlb.com)

YEAR TO FORGET: Travis Hafner is hitting .243 since last May 1, including the postseason, and he and the Indians can't figure out why. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

THE GREAT DEBATE: USA Today examines the spate of long-term contracts signed by younger players that appear to work in favor of the club, and frames the issue in the words of two agents whose philosophies appear to be diametrically opposed:

Paul Cohen: "To me, it's a no-brainer. Unless you want to live in the middle of Beverly Hills or Fifth Avenue, you're set for life. If you just get 5% of your investment, you never have to work another day in your life."

Scott Boras: "These deals are strongly club-oriented. I can only speak for our clients, but almost every client has benefited substantially from not signing those deals."

What a shock that Boras came down on that side of the argument, eh?

LOCAL BOYS: Chris Iannetta, pressed into action at a strange position (third base) because of a spate of Rockie injuries -- one of which is mentioned below -- had a game "I'll remember . . . for the rest of my life" as he homered and doubled and led Colorado over the Giants, 3-2 (mlb.com) . . . The White Sox' Paul Konerko, whose mother is a Rhode Island native and whose grandparents still live here, became a 10-5 man yesterday and how has the right to veto any trade. (Chicago Tribune)

MEDICAL REPORT: The Rockies may lose Troy Tulowitzki for a while because of the dreaded quad strain (Denver Post) . . . The Rangers' Jason Jennings had to leave last night's start in the third inning because of pain in his surgically repaired elbow (mlb.com) . . . Bobby Cox is happy that John Smoltz just needs rest, and not shoulder surgery (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) . . . Remember those worries that Moises Alou had a broken ankle? Well, he doesn't, and the Mets may reactivate him Friday (New York Post) . . . The A's Rich Harden will make a rehab start Thursday. (San Francisco Chronicle)

HERE AND THERE: The Daily Herald's Barry Rozner wonders if Ken Griffey, allegedly unhappy with the going-nowhere Reds, wouldn't be a good fit for the Cubs . . . Jason Botts, designated for assignment by the Rangers, wants to make a new start somewhere else (Dallas Morning News) . . . Ryan Freel is frustrated that he's not playing more in Cincinnati (frontier.cincinnati.com) . . . Mike Cameron had three hits in his Brewer debut (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) . . . Everyone says otherwise, but it sure looks like Shane Victorino has lost his starting job with the Phillies. (Philadelphia Daily News)

OLD FRIENDS: Joel Piniero allowed only one hit over seven innings as the Cardinals beat the Reds. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) As a last tribute to Bob Lobel: Why can't we get players like that?? (Boston Globe) . . . Todd Jones celebrates his 40th birthday by reminiscing about his long career on his blog. (sportingnews.com) He also got the save in the Tigers' win at Yankee Stadium last night (mlb.com) . . . Cliff Floyd, recovering from knee surgery, may be activated on the Rays' next homestand (St. Petersburg Times) . . . Bret Saberhagen's son Drew is playing well at the University of Tennessee. (tricitiessports.com)

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art Martone  at 6:46 AM | Permalink