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Arizona 2, Boston 1

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON _ It was slated as a pitchers’ duel. It was a pitchers’ duel.

The Sox’ Josh Beckett and the Diamondbacks’ Dan Haren painted masterpieces. The pair of right-handers entered lMonday night's interleague game at Fenway with matching 7-4 records. Haren was slightly better in the ERA department with a 3.26 compared to Beckett’s 3.87.

The clash was everything it was hyped up to be – and then some.

In the end, however, it was Haren who was a little bit better as Arizona barely defeated Boston, 2-1. Haren completely dominated and finished seven solid scoreless innings and allowed just two hits with one walk and five strikeouts. He threw 98 pitches, 61 for strikes.

“I’ll tell you what, he can reach back for a fastball when he needs it and his off-speed stuff is so good, along with the deception he creates in his delivery, he really did a good job against us,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona.

Beckett was almost equally impressive with his eight-inning performance. He allowed only two runs – both in the seventh inning – on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. He threw 115 pitches, 75 for strikes.

“He’s tough,” said Beckett referring to Haren. “It don’t matter who he is pitching against. He throws the balls on the black pretty much the whole time with all of his pitches. That’s why he is regarded as one of the best.”

Both hurlers were bringing it from the start to thrill the 37,694 in attendance.

“Sometimes it’s better when we score nine,” said Beckett as Boston combined for only four hits. “It seems like we win a lot more of those games. It’s fun to sit over there when you’re pitching because you’re more locked than any other day when you’re not pitching. It’s fun to watch a guy work like that, obviously it’s a little more fun when you’re on the winning end.”

Beckett, making his 14th start of the season, allowed only three hits through the first six innings until he surrendered a pair of runs in the seventh as Arizona gained a 2-0 advantage.

Haren completely kept the Red Sox off balance all night. He retired the first six batters he faced before he allowed his first hit of the game to Sox’ Jason Varitek in the third inning. Varitek doubled to snap a 0-for-24 skid, the longest slump of his career. It went for naught, however, as he was left stranded.

The only other hit Haren allowed was a single in the seventh inning to Mike Lowell. Haren was done after seven full innings, but the Diamondbacks’ bullpen couldn’t keep the Boston bats quiet for long.

After Beckett retired the side in order in the top of the eighth, the Red Sox loaded the bases on Arizona reliever Tony Pena.

With one out, the right-hander walked Julio Lugo and surrendered back-to-back singles to Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia. J.D. Drew drove in Boston’s only run of the game with a sacrifice fly to center field before Manny Ramirez lined out to third.

That ball was hit so hard it was as though he shot it out of a Civil War cannon. Fortunately, Diamondbacks’ third baseman Mark Reynolds was able to snare the scorching liner before it decapitated him.

“Manny’s at-bat was a great at-bat,” said Francona. “You’ve got a guy throwing 97 and Manny hit a ball about as hard as you can hit it. He almost hit it through the third baseman. It was disappointing it was an out, but not disappointing in his approach.”

Pena was out of his jam, but Boston’s deficit was cut to one, 2-1.

Another reason Beckett’s eight-inning performance was key for Boston was due to its overly taxed bullpen, which had worked a total of 13 innings on Saturday and Sunday. So, Red Sox reliever David Aardsma was given the ball in the top of the ninth.

The hard-throwing right-hander loaded the bases, including a single, walk, sacrifice bunt and intentional walk. With one out, Aardsma struck out back-to-back hitters, both on 97 MPH fastballs to end the threat.

"He's always had the arm and there's a lot to like," said Francona. "Now he's starting to throw the ball where he wants to a little bit more. We're seeing some pretty good results."

Former Red Sox reliever and Diamondbacks closer Brandon Lyon retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to hold on to the win.

The only thing missing in this pitchers’ standoff was the Old Western music playing in the background as Beckett and the Red Sox lay on the ground with Haren and the Diamondbacks standing over with a smoking gun – Haren’s right arm.

“That was a good one,” said Francona of the pitchers’ performances. “Beckett was outstanding, also. That was two really good pitchers.”

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 11:28 PM | Permalink

Late Red Sox Notes

J.D. Drew drove in the only Red Sox run on a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning. It was Drew's 23rd RBI in 21 games this month. Drew, however, had his second straight hitless game...Arizona, which swept the Red Sox in interleague play back in 2002, is now 4-0 in four games at Fenway. The Diamondbacks are the only team the Sox have hosted at Fenway and never beaten...When Dustin Pedroia struck out in the third inning, it snapped a stretch of 72 straight plate appearances without striking out, the longest active streak in the major leagues. His last strikeout had come back on June 4 against Tampa Bay.

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 11:24 PM | Permalink

Postgame: Aardsma Becoming Mr. K

By STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- David Aardsma was pitching on fumes.

But the right-hander ignored his fatigue, took the ball and blazed his way out of trouble in the ninth inning, racking up a couple more dominant strikeouts with his blazing fastball.

Aardsma worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam by whiffing Justin Upton and Eric Byrnes. His last pitch, a 97 mph heater that was up, simply blew away Byrnes, keeping it a 2-1 deficit.

It was yet another in a string of eye-popping performances by Aardsma.

He was working for the third time in four days, and he had been up and throwing lightly in the bullpen in the 13th inning of Sunday's game, though he didn't get into that one.

Aardsma worked a spotless inning on Friday night against St. Louis, whiffing all three batters he faced. He did the same the next day against the Cardinals. And last night made it an amazing eight punchouts in his last three innings, running his season total to 38 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings.

He has been impressive of late, working a total of 7 1/3 scoreless innings in his last seven outings. Aardsma has 12 strikeouts over that stretch, which has lowered his earned-run average from 3.18 to 2.52.

"I thought what we asked from Aardsma tonight was pushing it a little bit but obviously he wasn't backing off on his velocity," said Boston manager Terry Francona.

As he sat in a chair in front of his locker, ice packs on several parts of his body, Aardsma admitted he was tired.

"I'm absolutely wiped out," said Aardsma. "You just want to go out there and give everything you have. I don't feel fresh, obviously. I've thrown a decent amount lately. But if they were going to get a hit, it was going to be off my best stuff."

Aardsma had a simple explanation for his rash of Ks recently.

"Getting ahead of the hitters helps out a lot," said Aardsma. "A lot of the strikeouts were on pitches that were out of the strike zone when I was ahead in the count."

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 11:21 PM | Permalink

Postgame notes: Youkilis update

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON _ Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis was removed from Monday's game after being hit in the eye by the baseball. He suffered a contusion under the right eye and was taken for a precautionary CT scan.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said after the game the test came back negative.

In between the fourth and fifth innings, Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell short-hopped a throw to Youkilis. The ball bounced off the clay and drilled him in the right eye. Youkilis was attended to by team trainer Paul Lessard and Francona and removed from the game.

"His eye was getting puffier and puffier pretty much by the second," said Francona. "By the time I got out there he wanted to stay in, he always wants to stay in. The way it was swelling, and as quickly as it was swelling, there's was no way we were going to let him go hit."

Youkilis will be examined again Tuesday morning.

"If it get too swollen it will certainly limit his eye sight, which wouldn't be good to play him (Tuesday night), so we'll see how he's doing."

Because backup first baseman Sean Casey began his three-game suspension Monday night for his involvement in the bench-clearing brawl with the Tampa Bay Rays on June 5 at Fenway Park, he was unavailable to replace the injured Youkilis.

"The timing. . . that's the way it usually works," said Francona.

So, Brandon Moss was inserted into the game. An outfielder by trade, the Red Sox began to work him out as a first baseman late last season. This year in Pawtucket he played 32 of his 37 games for the PawSox at first. Monday night was his first MLB game at first.

"We're fortunate we had him here tonight," said Francona. "We would like to see Moss play more, but we have Casey here. We didn't have Casey tonight, but at least we had somebody to play first."

dfue

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 11:09 PM | Permalink

Postgame: Moss Blames Himself

By STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Brandon Moss knew he was the backup plan at first base because Sean Casey dropped his appeal of a three-game suspension for his part in a brawl with the Rays and began serving it last night.

"I didn't expect anything to happen," said Moss. "That always when something happens."

That "something" turned out to be a bruise under first baseman Kevin Youkilis's right eye, the result of a bad hop during infield practice before the fifth inning, costing the Sox the services of the Gold Glover.

So Moss was thrust into the game at first base, his major league debut at the position. And Moss was unable to make a play in a key spot in the seventh inning, costing the Red Sox a run that proved pivotal in Boston's 2-1 loss to Arizona.

The Diamondbacks, leading by 1-0, had runners at second and third with one out. The infield was in. Chris Snyder hit a broken-bat grounder to Moss, with Mark Reynolds taking off from third base on contact.

Moss bobbled the ball and was forced to settle for the out at first when he finally latched onto it. He was kicking himself after the game.

"I took my eye off it. I looked up and saw the runner going home," said Moss, an outfielder by trade who didn't start playing the position until last winter and had 32 games of experience at the position in Pawtucket.

"As soon as I did that, the ball got away from me. If I field that ball cleanly, I know I'll (throw him out) at home," said Moss.

And while it appeared as if the ball had a lot of spin on it, a function of being hit off the end of the bat, Moss was having none of that as an excuse.

"It was a candy hop I got," he said. "It couldn't have been an easier grounder to field. It was right to me. I tried to do too much too soon. It's a shame the game turned out the way it did. It ended up being the freaking winning run. That's my responsibility."

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 11:09 PM | Permalink

Oakland's Haren Shuts Down Sox

by SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Matched against Josh Beckett last night, Dan Haren knew he couldn't afford to make many mistakes. So he didn't.
Haren held the Red Sox scoreless on two hits over seven innings and outdueled Beckett as the Arizona Diamondbacks edged the Sox, 2-1.
``Every run is at a premium in games like this,'' said Haren, who improved to 8-4 and recorded his first career win at Fenway. ``Every pitch is a grind. It's a tough place to win in general.''
Facing Beckett -- who was nearly as good, limiting the Diamondbacks to two runs over eight innings -- made the night an even bigger challenge.
``He knew,'' said Arizona manager Bob Melvin, ``he had to be really good and couldn't give much up.''
Until the seventh, Haren had allowed just one hit -- a Wall double by slumping Jason Varitek in the third. It helped that he walked just one hitter.
``Against a lineup like that,'' said Haren, ``you can't fall behind or walk guys. I was pretty aggressive with my fastball and when I was ahead (in the count), I made sure I stayed ahead.''
Haren threw 98 pitches through seven innings, but Melvin didn't consider sending him back out out for the eighth.
``He was cooked,'' said Melvin. ``I think he threw 24 (pitches) in the seventh and the last four or five, he had to work very hard (with runners at the corners).''
``In a 0-0 game,'' said Haren, ``so much effort goes into every pitch. It was a max effort game.''
After retiring the first six hitters he faced, Haren yielded Varitek's leadoff double in the third and issued a two-out walk to Jacoby Ellsbury later in the same inning.
But he fanned Dustin Pedroia to strand both baserunners and retired the next 11 in a row before laboring to get through the seventh.
``That might have been (the best stuff) Danny's had all year,'' said Mevlin. ``He was 94-95 mph (with his fastball) with a good breaking ball and a good split.''

Posted by Sean McAdam  at 11:07 PM | Permalink

Schilling update

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON _ Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling underwent successful surgery to repair his damaged biceps tendon and right shoulder this afternoon in Wilmington, Del. The procedure was performed by his personal physician Dr. Craig Morgan.

“Everything went well,” said Morgan.

The doctor also said Schilling was experiencing some pain after the surgery, and because of the late afternoon hour in which the surgery was completed, Schilling will remain in the hospital overnight and will fly back to Boston on Tuesday.

Morgan explained Schilling had a disease in his biceps tendon, which was the primary diagnosis back in January when Morgan first examined the pitcher. Schilling also had a tear in his labrum – similar to the one he had in 1995. He also had “tiny, tiny” partial tear in his rotator cuff, which Morgan fixed with a small stitch and didn’t think it was anything significant.

“The rest of the stuff in his shoulder was healthy,” Morgan said. “His prognosis to have all those things heal is good. Now, whether he wants to go through the rehab to be able to pitch at the major-league level at age 41 remains to be seen, and it’s his decision.”

Morgan explained the rehab process would be daily four-hour exercises for the next six months if Schilling has a chance to pitch in the big leagues again. If he can mentally put himself through that, then Morgan said Schilling has a good chance to pitch again.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona called Schilling yesterday morning to wish him “good luck” before the procedure took place.

Schilling suffered the injury sometime during the offseason after he signed a one-year $8-million contract with the Red Sox, which included incentives. The club can not pinpoint exactly when it occurred, but Schilling began to feel the pain when he started to throw in January to prepare for spring training.

Schilling was examined by Morgan and the doctor recommended and was quite adamant that Schilling should have surgery. The Red Sox wanted to take the conservative approach of strengthening the biceps and shoulder. The reason Morgan suggested immediate surgery was so Schilling could begin his rehab and possibly be ready to pitch at some point during the 2008 season.

“The best treatment was for him to have surgery,” said Morgan. “The rehab would be about six months, which if he would have had in January he would have been able to pitch the last part of the season and probably into the postseason. Now that option is not available for this year.”

Ultimately, Schilling and the Red Sox decided to go the conservative route until last week after Schilling experienced discomfort while throwing a bullpen session.

Schilling met with GM Theo Epstein, Francona and the club’s medical staff and decided on the season-ending surgery. Epstein admitted last week that when he spoke with Schilling, the three-time World Series champion said he felt like he has already thrown his last pitch.

Ironically, at the exact moment Schilling was having the surgery, Francona was in the midst of a discussing with the local media whether or not Schilling should be a Hall of Famer.

“I should be better informed because he’s pitched for a long time,” said the manager. “I think it’s more of that I’ve never stopped and thought about it. I kind of get the sense because of the timing of everything – with the surgery – that argument is starting to go up. It’s a fun argument for baseball people and people who care about baseball. I need to look at it better.”

Schilling pitched for Francona while the two were in Philadelphia back in the late 90s, and again here in Boston. So, it’s safe to say Francona is hoping some day the big-game pitcher has a plaque hanging in Cooperstown.

“I would be a cheerleader for him because he’s pitched for me for so long,” he said. “I haven’t looked at enough stuff to give an unbiased opinion because I’ve never stopped to think about it.

Discussing the history of the game comes natural for Francona. He has spent his entire life involved in the game. He is a son of a former major-leaguer, he played, coached, was a scout and has managed, so the game has become his life. To talk about the game is honoring the game.

“Our game is the greatest game to talk about in the world,” he said. “There’s so much history, and that’s part about being a baseball fan. . . “There’s so much to argue about, maybe argue is the wrong word, it’s part of what makes our game so special.”

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 9:13 PM | Permalink

Game update: Youkilis injured

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON _ Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis has just been removed from the game after being hit in the eye by the baseball. He suffered a contusion under the right eye and was taken for a precautionary CT scan.

In between the fourth and fifth innings, Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell short-hopped a throw to Youkilis. The ball bounced off the clay and drilled him in the right eye. Youkilis was attended to by team trainer Paul Lessard and manager Terry Francona and removed from the game.

Brandon Moss is now playing first. Moss is a natural outfielder, but the Red Sox began to work him out as a first baseman late last season. This year in Pawtucket he played 32 of his 37 games for the PawSox at first. This is his first time playing first in the majors.

The reason Moss is playing first base is due to the fact that backup first baseman Sean Casey began is three-game suspension tonight for his part in June 5 bench-clearing brawl against Tampa at Fenway Park.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 8:49 PM | Permalink

Pregame notes: Schilling has surgery

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON _ Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling underwent surgery this afternoon in Wilmington, Del., to repair his damaged biceps tendon and shoulder.

Rob Bradford of The Boston Herald first reported the story earlier this afternoon, and Red Sox manager Terry Francona just confirmed the veteran right-hander was under the knife. Francona didn’t have an update, but said he called to wish him “good luck” before the procedure took place.

Ironically, at the exact moment Schilling was having the surgery, Francona was in the midst of a discussing with the local media whether or not Schilling should be a Hall of Famer.

“I should be better informed because he’s pitched for a long time,” said the manager. “I think it’s more of that I’ve never stopped and thought about it. I kind of get the sense because of the timing of everything – with the surgery – that argument is starting to go up. It’s a fun argument for baseball people and people who care about baseball. I need to look at it better.”

Schilling pitched for Francona while the two were in Philadelphia back in the late 90s, and again here in Boston. So, it’s safe to say Francona is hoping some day the big-game pitcher has a plaque hanging in Cooperstown.

“I would be a cheerleader for him because he’s pitched for me for so long,” he said. “I haven’t looked at enough stuff to give an unbiased opinion because I’ve never stopped to think about it.

Discussing the history of the game comes natural for Francona. He has spent his entire life involved in the game. He is a son of a former major-leaguer, he played, coached, was a scout and has managed, so the game has become his life. To talk about the game is honoring the game.

“Our game is the greatest game to talk about in the world,” he said. “There’s so much history, and that’s part about being a baseball fan. . . “There’s so much to argue about, maybe argue is the wrong word, it’s part of what makes our game so special.”

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 5:19 PM | Permalink

Pregame notes: Suspension updates

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON _ Red Sox first baseman Sean Casey has dropped his appeal and will begin to serve his suspension tonight. Center fielder Coco Crisp also had his appeal heard and no decision has been made yet.

Both players were involved in a bench-clearing brawl with the Tampa Bay Rays on June 5 at Fenway Park. Crisp was suspended for seven games, pitcher Jon Lester for five games and Casey for three games. Lester already served his suspension.

The appeals were heard this afternoon via a web conference.

“I’ve never been in one before, but everything went fine,” said Crisp. “Is there any news? No. I should probably hear in a few days. There’s really nothing to talk about now, because I don’t have any information.”

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 4:48 PM | Permalink

Weather update from Fenway

Per the Red Sox:

The current weather forecast (provided by the Red Sox private weather service, Meteorlogix) in the vicinity of Fenway Park calls for a possibility of scattered rain showers during the afternoon and evening hours.

The Fenway Park gates will open at the regularly scheduled time of 5:05 p.m., and the Red Sox hope that tonight’s game with the Arizona Diamondbacks will begin at the scheduled time at 7:05 p.m. However, the Red Sox want to alert our fans to the current forecast and the possibility of delay.

This forecast is of course subject to change as the day progresses. Additional updates will be provided as necessary.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 4:17 PM | Permalink

Starting Lineups, June 23

RED SOX

Ellsbury lf
Pedroia 2b
JD Drew rf
Ramirez dh
Lowell 3b
Youkilis 1b
Varitek c
Crisp cf
Lugo ss

Beckett p

DIAMONDBACKS

Byrnes lf
S. Drew ss
Hudson 2b
Jackson 1b
Tracy dh
Reynolds 3b
Young cf
Snyder c
Upton rf

Haren p

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 4:09 PM | Permalink

Pregame notes: The tarp is on

The grounds crew here at Fenway Park just put the tarp on the field. The forecast doesn't look too promising.

One of the most impressive things to see a pitcher do is play long toss. Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka and pitching coach John Farrell are playing right now in the outfield. Farrell is standing on the warning track just behind Pesky's Pole. Dice-K is standing in left-center field and the throws from both guys are right on target. Pretty impressive.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 3:11 PM | Permalink

Projo SoxTalk with McAdam: Red Sox work overtime to avoid sweep

Click the play button below to hear Sean's comments, recorded this morning. The topics: yesterday's long afternoon at Fenway Park, Jonathan Papelbon's recent troubles, Daisuke Matsuzaka's disastrous start on Saturday, and the coming series with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Here are some excerpts from Sean's comments:

On Papelbon: "I thought he threw the ball very well yesterday. He particularly overmatched the first two guys [he faced]. Ankiel was absolutely no match for Papelbon's fastball when he got it going. I'm more inclined to chalk up yesterday as a bit of an aberration, and perhaps a false first step on Coco Crisp's part to initially come in on Kennedy's ball and then have to scramble back and not get it. That doesn't change the fact that the ball was hit almost 400 feet, but I wouldn't be too concerned about Jonathan Papelbon."

On Matsuzaka: "Certainly when a guy who's been sidelined with shoulder problems comes back and is as ineffective as Matsuzaka was Saturday, it raises some eyebrows. So I think all eyes will be on him Friday night, when he makes his second start [in Houston].

On the Diamondbacks: "Arizona is where it is [first place in the NL West] because of starting pitching. The front two of [tonight's starter ] Dan Haren and Brandon Webb are as formidable as any two in the National League, and Randy Johnson has actually been pretty effective since coming back -- he'll go on Wednesday. ... They may be a typical National League team these days, where offense doesn't play much of a part, but their pitching makes them a team to be reckoned with."

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 10:42 AM to Projo SoxTalk with Sean McAdam | Permalink

Baseball Today: Monday, June 23

Journal photo / Mary Murphy

ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL: By the time Kevin Youkilis came to bat in the 13th inning yesterday it was pretty obvious that the Red Sox-Cardinals game was only going to end with a home run; both teams had demonstrated to the satisfaction of everyone there wasn't a clutch hit to be had on this day. (And when there was a semblance of one, like Adam Kennedy's 13th-inning single, someone in the field -- in this case, J.D. Drew and Jason Varitek -- would take care of it; more on that later.) So Youkilis pulled down the curtain on the 5 1/2-hour (rain included) day at the ballpark with a two-run shot into the Monster Seats in left-center, enabling the Red Sox to escape with a 5-3 win that salvaged the finale of the weekend series. Joe McDonald has the details of a long and unfruitful day at the ballpark, which included, among other things:

-- The Red Sox wasting leadoff doubles in the 10th, 11th and 12th innings.
-- Three members of the Sox (J.D. Drew, Alex Cora and Jacoby Ellsbury) striking out in extra innings with the winning run on third base, Drew and Cora doing so with one out.
-- The Cardinals squandering a pair of first-and-second, one-out opportunities in extra innings, one of which morphed into a bases-loaded, two-out chance.
-- There was even a little bad luck thrown in on the Sox' side, as well, as Steven Krasner relates.

But, thanks to Youkilis, the Sox were dancing at the end (above). "I know it’s a heck of a lot better hearing the music" -- the trilogy of Dirty Water, Tessie and Joy To The World that accompanies each Fenway Park victory -- "than coming in frustrated after a long day," sighed Terry Francona.

STOP THE MUSIC: But the reason the Sox missed hearing the Standells, the Dropkick Murphys and Three Dog Night about an hour-and-a-half earlier may actually have been the news of the day. Jonathan Papelbon blew his fourth save of the year, and the second in his last four chances, and this one was perhaps the disconcerting of them all. Krasner has a detailed breakdown of how it happened; it involved Papelbon abandoning the fastball that had blown away the first two hitters in the ninth and going to his splitter. The result was a four-pitch walk to .234 hitter Chris Duncan and a run-scoring double to Kennedy -- who came to the plate with a .305 on-base percentage and a .306 slugging percentage -- that tied the game. (In Papelbon's defense, Kennedy's ball, as well hit as it was, probably should have been caught by Coco Crisp, who's not throwing the leather the way he did in 2007.) The Globe's Nick Cafardo looks a little closer at the bullpen and notes, "When you couple Papelbon's blown saves and the struggles of set-up man Hideki Okajima, the concerns are clear. "

NO, KEEP THE MUSIC GOING: The Herald's Tony Massarotti, on the other hand, thinks the fact the Sox win games like this makes the question not can they win another World Series, but can anybody else beat them?

'DISGUSTING': The good news, bullpen-wise, was the five-up, five-down performance of Craig Hansen, who kept the game tied in the 11th with a three-pitch strikeout of Ryan Ludwick with the bases loaded. Krasner reports Manny Delcarmen judged Hansen's performance as "disgusting." If you think that's a bad thing, you're showing your age.

NOT SAFE AT HOME: When Hansen was lifted one batter into the 13th, the Cardinals arose. Duncan greeted Javier Lopez with a double off the wall and Kennedy followed with a single to right, prompting third-base coach Jose Oquendo to wave Duncan home. But Drew and Varitek combined to keep the score tied, Drew with a throw that beat Duncan to the plate by about 15 feet and Varitek by hunkering down and absorbing the knock-him-over, knock-it-out collision without
dropping the ball. Krasner tells us all about it, with reaction from the Sox' principles.

OTHER NOTES OF THE DAY: Crisp's defense yesterday wasn't all bad; he and Ellsbury both turned in some nice plays in the field . . . Lost in the excitement -- or whatever it was yesterday turned into -- was another fine start from Jon Lester . . . Dustin Pedroia had a four-hit afternoon and has lifted his average from .260 to .282 over the last 10 games . . . Krasner has all the details.

IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER: The blog Bird Land thinks yesterday's was one of the greatest games in Cardinals history.

THE BIG PICTURE: Apparently that's a majority opinion in Cardinal Nation. Tony La Russa was proud of the way his team battled over the weekend and Bernie Miklasz -- a sometimes critic of the manager -- thinks La Russa deserves much of the credit because, as he says, "I don't know if we realize how difficult it is for a team to go into Boston and win two out of three." (Both stories St. Louis Post-Dispatch) Which, when you step back and think about it, is true; the only other series the Sox lost at home this year was to the Angels in April.

OTHER NOTES OF THE WEEKEND: The series began Friday night with the Sox honoring the Celtics for winning the NBA championship, but -- in a sneak preview of yesterday -- wasting scoring opportunity after scoring opportunity in a 5-4 loss. McDonald recaps it all . . . Saturday was a disaster, Boston-wise, as the back-with-the-big-club Daisuke Matsuzaka was routed in the second inning of a 9-3 defeat. Sean McAdam, though, tells us of Chris Smith's major-league debut, which looks pretty good in the box score but -- in true, other-than-that, how-did-you-like-the-play-Mrs.-Lincoln? fashion -- was marred by a grand slam allowed to the first batter he faced.

WHERE THEY RANK: Speaking of the Celtics and championships, Chad Finn ranks the six Boston titles of the 21st century. Not surprisingly, Red Sox 2004 comes in on top. Me, I'd put the 2001 Pats a little higher.


AP Photo

END OF THE LINE? Just about the same time we were signing off here last Friday, Curt Schilling was on WEEI Radio announcing the end of his season, and possibly his career. (weei.com) While yours truly had the news, Sean McAdam had the more important piece. He put the Boston portion of Schilling's career into perspective and demonstrated how -- with his fearlessness in big moments and willingness to tackle situations that past Red Sox teams, and players, had shrunk from -- he helped turn Boston into a place where "October isn’t something to dread, but to welcome." The bloody sock (above) is the iconic symbol of all that; it forever reminds us of a night when he limped on one leg into what Theo Epstein called "the belly of the beast" and did something -- beat the Yankees, in Yankee Stadium, in a game that meant everything -- that no Red Sox pitcher, or team, was allegedly capable of doing.

The temptation is to attribute too much credit for what's happened here since 2004 to one guy, and that's wrong because Schilling certainly wasn't alone. Nor is it accurate to whitewash Schilling into an heroic knight on a steed; he had plenty of moments when he was more blowhard than braveheart, especially since there didn't seem to be anything he could refrain from commenting on, sometimes inappropriately. But there's no underestimating what he did in Boston, either, and he's inextricably intertwined with the change-of-fortune success the Red Sox have had since 2004. Like him or hate him -- and, truth be told, most Boston fans adored him -- you can't deny him his place in this franchise's history.

As we speak today, he's undergoing shoulder surgery; his baseball future hinges on the outcome. Good luck, Curt. We'll never forget you.

'NOT A THING IN THE WORLD TO BE UPSET ABOUT': Sometime Friday afternoon Schilling took to 38pitches.com to say his own goodbyes and said that if this is end, he has no regrets.

KNEW IT WAS COMING: McAdam and McDonald report that the Sox, both in the front office and the clubhouse, were saddened, if unsurprised, by the news.

GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES: And now the Schilling-In-The-Hall-of-Fame debate begins. The first salvo is fired by The Sporting News' Sean Deveney: He says yes.

THE BEST TRADES ARE THE ONES . . . Remember how close the Sox came to picking up Todd Helton? If this story in the Denver Post is any indication, be thankful they didn't.

QUIET FINISH: A homestand that picked up steam with a sweep of the Cubs ended on a down note for the Rays, who lost to the Astros yesterday and dropped two out of three in the series to Houston. (Tampa Tribune)

HANG ON A SECOND: Yankee fans had double reason to celebrate yesterday: Andy Pettitte beat the Reds, avoiding a three-game sweep, and their favorite whipping boy, Kyle Farnsworth, hurt his finger. (New York Daily News) But the blog River Ave. Blues says Farnsworth isn't "totally useless. Yet."

THE DEAD HORSE SHOWS SIGNS OF LIFE: The New York Daily News' John Harper says "there is a very real sense these Mets are in good hands with Jerry Manuel taking over for Willie Randolph. Smart, relaxed and self-assured, Manuel's ascension seems to have loosened the atmosphere around the Mets and helped them refocus on baseball." In what may or may not be a related incident, Manuel compares Mets fans to fertilizer. (New York Post)

LET'S GO BACK TO BEATING IT ANYWAY: The Daily News' Bill Madden says Randolph had no chance with the backstabbers in the Mets front office. And his former teammates, Jim Kaat, says Willie deserved better. (yesnetwork.com)

TURNAROUND: Right after being swept by the Rays, the Cubs come home and sweep the White Sox. (Chicago Tribune) The vanquished manager, Ozzie Guillen, salutes the victors. (Chicago Sun-Times)

HE DID IT ONCE (ACTUALLY, TWICE), SO . . . The Blue Jays are giving Cito Gaston the chance to do it again. (Toronto Star) Our pal the Tao of Stieb is aghast. As are we.

NUMBER ONE: The Jays won their first game for Gaston -- after two defeats -- yesterday. (Toronto Globe and Mail) One last Jays note: Matt Stairs is happy Gary Denbo was shown the door, along with John McLaren and Ernie Whitt. (National Post) Well, one really last Jays note: Whitt's firing drove the long-time Blue Jay to tears. (Toronto Sun)

NOTHING'S CHANGED: His high school graduation was covered live on national radio, and Bob Feller henceforth acted like someone who felt his high school graduation deserved to be covered live on national radio. (Which should be a lesson to all who think athletic self-absorption is a novel concept.) Shysterball reports the years haven't mellowed him any.

HERE AND THERE: The Pirates' Ian Snell has a sore elbow (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) . . . After his latest dismal outing, the Dodgers' Scott Proctor described himself as "(bleeping) pathetic" (Los Angeles Daily News) . . . The Astros have lifted Shawn Chacon out of their starting rotation (Houston Chronicle) . . . Mark Teixeira had a three-homer day for the Braves yesterday (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) . . . The Tigers still don't know when Gary Sheffield will return (Detroit Free Press) . . . Moises Alou's career may be over. (New York Post)

OLD FRIENDS: Bronson Arroyo has heard the rumors that have him headed to the Yankees and sounds like he's lukewarm about it, since he's come to enjoy life in baseball's slow lane (New York Daily News) . . . Justin Duchscherer has a big fan: Baseball Musings' David Pinto . . . Ken Harrelson talks about his career, and his life, with the Chicago Sun-Times.

AND FINALLY . . . It's not really baseball news, but interesting nonetheless: Newsday reports that the end may be near for WFAN's Mike And The Mad Dog show.

-- ART MARTONE

Posted by Art Martone  at 7:04 AM | Permalink