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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2011 14:27:23 GMT -5
[shadow=red,left,300]Boston Red Sox (82-61) @ Tampa Bay Rays (83-60)[/shadow]
BOS: James McDonald (9-7, 4.18 ERA) TB: Tyler Matzek (11-12, 4.87 ERA)
While the Rays and Red Sox have done a good job keeping the Yankees at arm's length, neither team has been able to go on a stretch that would definitively claim themselves the division. This makes tonight's contest between the teams even more important.
The Red Sox send James McDonald to the hill, and the former Dodgers prospect has acquainted himself nicely to Boston, with a 3-2 record and an ERA below four. He'll be taking on an enigma in Tyler Matzek who hasn't been able to get himself on track this season.
Matzek is 7-9 with Tampa Bay this year with an ERA of five and a half. He's been giving home runs with alarming regularity, and hasn't gotten out of the fifth inning in three starts. Many are questioning whether Matzek is a true ace or just an overhyped strikeout machine.
Either way, Matzek will be asked to stifle one of the best offenses in the American League. That task was made easier after Red Sox cleanup hitter Waldemir Balentien wend down for the season with a shoulder injury. Balentien had six RBI's during the two teams last series, and now the Red Sox have to make a decision on how to replace him.
McDonald also has to navigate a treacherous lineup, and this one will be at full strength. Tampa Bay's lineup features a red-hot Marvin Webb, and also Brent Peterson, who should pick up his second 100-RBI campaign in three seasons.
Questions for the GM's. For Derek Bobola, Balentien is down for the count. How are you going to replace him, both in the field, and in the lineup?
Most of the Rays have never faced McDonald. Is that a strength or a weakness for him?
The Rays have an elite bullpen and a strikeout pitcher on the hill. Are you going to play for one-run, or will you try to mash away?
For E.J. Joseph, Tyler Matzek has been a disappointment. Any idea why he's struggled so much?
On the contrary, Ian Kinsler looked washed up last year in Texas, but he's been superb on the Rays. What has been the reason for that?
Finally, what's the one key to shutting down the Boston lineup?
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Post by Derek _ Red Sox on Jun 29, 2011 20:29:05 GMT -5
Balentien is down for the count. How are you going to replace him, both in the field, and in the lineup?
Balentien going down is a tough blow but we prided ourselves on the depth of our lineup all season, so now when an injury like this occurs we can't make excuses, we have to come out and play baseball. We have a few different options. Fuentes could move to right while Mesa or Pie could move to left if we want to go with speed and good contact guys. If we are looking for more power we could go with Cody Ross, Jason Place or David Dinatale. Josh Anderson from AAA could get a call up as well.
Most of the Rays have never faced McDonald. Is that a strength or a weakness for him?
With a lineup as talented as the Rays, I'm sure they are going to be prepared just like McDonald will be prepared going in to this game as well. James is going to have his hands full but we have complete confidence that he pitch well and keep us in the game, and he isn't going into this battle alone either.
The Rays have an elite bullpen and a strikeout pitcher on the hill. Are you going to play for one-run, or will you try to mash away?
We are going to go into this game with the same strategy as we always do and that's to score more runs than the opponent. It would be great for us to jump out to an early lead and keep adding on runs but against an opponent like Tampa is might take time and we may need to manufacture runs.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2011 20:50:52 GMT -5
For E.J. Joseph, Tyler Matzek has been a disappointment. Any idea why he's struggled so much?
Honestly have no idea. It's normal for a pitcher of any caliber to hit a wall at some point, especially when you're only 23 and have had as much success as Matzek has had, but the fact is that he's still throwing the ball well besides the home runs. I think it's a prolonged stretch of bad luck and it's going to turn around starting with tonight.
On the contrary, Ian Kinsler looked washed up last year in Texas, but he's been superb on the Rays. What has been the reason for that?
Kinsler was merely a throw-in into the Matzek deal, and we couldn't have been happier about that. Sometimes a change of scenery is all a player needs, and that's clearly what Kinsler needed. He's been a revelation here in Tampa, arguably our best all around hitter this year, and without him I'm not sure where we'd be. All I know is that we're excited to have him on the team.
Finally, what's the one key to shutting down the Boston lineup?
Throwing strikes and keeping the ball in the yard, but that's much easier said than done. With an offense as prolific as theirs is, sometimes you just have to get lucky...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2011 13:58:41 GMT -5
Postgame Wrap
Red Sox 4 - Rays 3
The Red Sox and Rays engaged in a classic on Monday Night's Game of the Week. While the Rays would differ, the Red Sox would say the ending was simply grand.
Curtis Granderson completed Boston's comeback from a 3-1 deficit with a ninth inning home run, tying the teams atop the American League East.
The home run came off Mark Miller, who has struggled in the second half after a strong first half. In 32.1 second half innings, Miller has allowed 15 runs. He's allowed runs in half his second-half appearances. He allowed a fast ball to get up in the zone and Granderson blasted it to right center field.
Daniel Bard worked around a two-out single for his 34th save.
While Hanley Ramirez led off the game with a home run off Tyler Matzek, Tampa Bay did damage in the first. A two-out triple by Brent Peterson off James McDonald scored two runs, while Ian Kinsler doubled in Peterson to give the Rays a quick 3-1 lead. McDonald would later settled down and retire nine in a row at one point.
Boston tied the game in the fifth with the bottom of the lineup. Backup catcher Caleb Joseph homered with one out, before Reymond Fuentes doubled. A wild pitch sent him to third, before Ramirez hit one deep enough to left center that Fuentes was able to score, tying the game at three.
McDonald worked into serious trouble in the sixth, giving up a single to Guillermo Pimentel, and walks to Adam Dunn and Ian Kinsler with nobody out. With the game in the balance, he struck out Derek Norris and Brandon Hicks, before getting Ryan Westmoreland to fly out to shallow left, ending the threat.
It was Boston's turn to threaten in the eighth, with Adrian Gonzalez singling, and Kevin Youkilis doubling pinch runner Eliezer Mesa to third with one out. However, Matzek got Wang-wei Lin to ground to Brandon Hicks playing in to hold the runner, and got Cody Ross to ground to Conor Gillaspie to keep the game tied.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Rays again threatened with one out and two on, but Brandon Lyon induced a double play from Michael Sheridan to end the inning. This set the stage for Granderson's heroics in the ninth, and a down-to-the wire division race which may come down to the season's final days.
Questions for the GM's. for Derek Bobola, your bullpen was tremendous. Talk about their performance to keep the game tied.
Curtis Granderson hasn't had the best offensive season, but he came through big in the ninth. Has that been the norm for him?
Hanley Ramirez had another strong game from the leadoff spot. What has batting him leadoff meant for your offense?
For E.J. Joseph, Mark Miller isn't the same Mark Miller that began the year. Why is that?
While Matzek wasn't bad, he wasn't able to dominate the lower portions of Boston's lineup. What does that say to you?
Your team had a chance to break the game open in the sixth inning, but failed to push through. Talk a little bit about that sequence.
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Post by Derek _ Red Sox on Jun 30, 2011 21:14:20 GMT -5
your bullpen was tremendous. Talk about their performance to keep the game tied. Our bullpen is something we are proud of as we have a group of guys that love to compete and accepted their roles for the best interest of the club. I'd definitely consider our pen one of our strengths and with an offense like we have it can be overlooked but without their success we are not competing for another division title with 2 weeks to go.
The off-season brought a few new faces (Affeldt, Lyon), plus the acquistion of Moylan at the deadline gives us a veteran group to bridge the gap between our starters and Bard. We also just acquired Chris Narveson off waivers from Minnesota who we see as a potential starter down the road for us but for now he will see time in the bullpen and he could be a nice addition as well.
Curtis Granderson hasn't had the best offensive season, but he came through big in the ninth. Has that been the norm for him?
Grandy has been everything we hoped for when we acquired him in the off-season. We were looking for two things specifically out of that position this year, great defense and some pop. Grandy has hit 15 homers for us and played terrific in the field.
Hanley Ramirez had another strong game from the leadoff spot. What has batting him leadoff meant for your offense?
Hanley has been simply amazing in the leadoff spot. He is hitting .369 as a leadoff man and getting on base at a .454 clip. He has definitely ignited our offense and his ability to move around in the lineup has allowed us to get the most out of other players as well in spots where they are a bit more comfortable.
On a side note, sweeping Tampa was a great accomplishment for our guys and something they should be proud of but we got 3 more games this week against them that are even more important than the last and we know we have a big challenge ahead of us. After that series, we have a critical series against the Yankees as well so our guys are focused and ready to fight for a chance to be in the playoffs.
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