Skidding
| Game 94: July 22, 2009 | |||
| Red Sox | 1 | L: Clay Buchholz (1-1) | 55-39, 5 game losing streak |
 Rangers | 3 | W: Dustin Nippert (2-0) S: Doug Mathis (1) | 52-41, 4 game winning streak |
| Highlights: The Red Sox lost five games in the standings, were swept for the first time this season, and hold 24-25 record on the road. If this is Buchholz’s audition, he may not get the nod to stay on the roster when Tim Wakefield is ready to return. The slim pitcher didn’t pitch long enough to be part of the decision: 4 innings pitched, 6 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. | |||
Someone get the name of the kid that threw Nick Green’s home run ball from the berm in center to second base. He’s got a better arm than Jacoby Ellsbury, and might even do better in the batter’s box than the Red Sox ball hawk. Ellsbury went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. I’m dubious of the assertion that Ellsbury as leadoff hitter constitutes Boston’s best lineup because of his .335 on-base percentage. It seems that anyone they put in the top slot goes cold.
What better way to warm up than with a Kobe beef burger from Big Papi’s Grille in Framingham? Any restaurant that serves crème brulée is a must for me. I missed the grand opening yesterday but may take a jaunt down Route 9 for a little nosh.
Prior to the All-Star break there were concerns over the Red Sox bullpen, but with Daniel Bard’s ascendancy into the seventh-inning slot at least one part of the team has righted itself. A quartet of pitchers, Manny Delcarmen, Bard, Hideki Okajima, and Jonathan Papelbon held the home hitters scoreless, but the visitors couldn’t muster more than one run.
It might be refreshing to see the Rangers in the playoffs instead of the Angels, but with the latter team we know we’d get a sweep in the ALDS. This Texas club is the AL West’s equivalent of the 2009 Rays: a young team brimming with talent that doesn’t know its not supposed to be this successful.
It’s hard not to cheer for a team that ends an inning with a hug between outfielders. Nelson Cruz backhanded a fliner off Dustin Pedroia’s bat and was on a collision course with either the wall or Josh Hamilton. The Rangers center fielder embraced his teammate to slow their momentum and they made their way back to the dugout grinning goofily.
I wish I knew how to quit you!
