Empyreal Environs

Game 117: August 9, 2008
Red Sox	6	W: Daisuke Matsuzaka (13-2)	67-50, 1 game winning streak
White Sox	2	L: Boone Logan (2-3)	64-51, 1 game losing streak
Highlights: Five years ago, Theo Epstein lost out on the Jose Contreras sweepstakes. The Yankees traded Contreras to the White Sox in 2004 for Esteban Loiaza. Of course we all know what happened in 2004, and the White Sox won the World Series in 2005. Two years ago, the Red Sox outbid the Mets, Yankees, and Rangers for the exclusive bargaining rights to Matsuzaka. The Red Sox again won the championship in 2007. Both pitchers are renown for their exquisite control (called kontorōru in Japanese), though only Matsuzaka displayed his to great effect last night. He went eight innings with three walks and four strikeouts and his defense turned in four double plays for him.

In his first start since being activated from the disabled list for right elbow tendinitis, Jose Contreras ruptured the Achilles tendon in his left foot when attempting to outrace Jacoby Ellsbury to first base in the second inning. Despite the blow to the pitching staff, D.J. Carrasco turned in an outstanding performance given the circumstances.

The reliever allowed a single run in the Red Sox’s favor over his four and one-third innings while striking out four. Ozzie Guillen decided to go with Boone Logan in the top of the seventh with the score knotted at 1-1 as Carrasco appeared to be losing his acuity. Guillen quickly learned that a tiring Carrasco might be the preferred option to a fresh Logan.

Logan allowed consecutive singles to Jacoby Ellsbury and Jason Varitek before breaking up the monotony with a free pass to J.D. Drew. Guillen delivered words of encouragement to Logan personally with the bases loaded and none out.

The mound visit did not bring the desired outcome for Guillen. Dustin Pedroia, of course, singled to left to break the tie. The second baseman probably promised this in his verbal repartee with the White Sox manager prior to the game.

David Ortiz broke the game open with a bases-clearing double to the opposite field. He has been walloping the ball of late; his first inning single up the middle broke Juan Uribe’s glove.

Ellsbury smacked a solo shot in the eighth. With his recent streak of success, Terry Francona has reinstalled him as the leadoff hitter for today. But just as the Red Sox hitters have clicked into gear their rotation suffered a blow.

Tim Wakefield was placed on the disabled list with right shoulder tightness. There has been corresponding move as of yet, but Devern Hansack might be called up to start in the knuckleballer’s spot on Tuesday.