Red Sox Weekly Recap 5/18 - 5/24
5/18 vs. Milwaukee Brewers (11-7 W)
Despite giving up 6 earned runs over 7 innings, Beckett pitched well enough to pick up his fifth win of the season with 9 strikeouts and 1 walk. Papi's 2 big flies and individual homers from Pedroia and Youkilis helped the Sox complete the three game sweep of the Brew Crew. The Sox left 20 men on base but that's easy to overlook given the fact that 11 others crossed the plate.
5/19 vs. Kansas City Royals (7-0 W)
Where do I start? Is it with the above average offense of Jason Varitek, who raised his average to .290 and smacked his fifth home run of the season? Or perhaps with Jacoby Ellsbury, who swiped 2 more bags to bring his season total to 18? Well, sports fans, as you already know, the story of this game (and the season) was the no-hit performance by cancer survivor Jon Lester. Lester struck out 9 and walked just 2 in what was easily the most dominant start of his young career. Even more impressive is the fact that Lester achieved this feat with the knowledge that his father had been diagnosed with lymphoma, for which he is currently being treated, last month. If Lester's return to baseball last year was the feel-good story and his World Series clinching win was the icing on the cake, May 19th's no-hitter is the cherry on top.
5/20 vs. Kansas City Royals (2-1 W)
Making just the second start of his Major League career, Justin Masterson pitched better than the Sox could have hoped. Masterson recorded 5 strikeouts and let up just 1 earned run over 6.1 innings, while his counterpart Gil Meche lasted 7 full and let up 2 earned runs to go along with 8 strikeouts. Crisp and Lugo accounted for the two RBIs the Sox had in the game.
5/21 vs. Kansas City Royals (6-3 W)
Another day, another homer for Jason Varitek. The guy's with the team mainly for his superb handling of the pitching staff and his superior knowledge and understanding of the game, but the Sox captain is currently on track to have one of the best offensive seasons of his career. Bartolo Colon made his first big league start of the season and picked up the win thanks to 4 strikeouts and 3 earned runs over 5 strong innings.
5/22 vs. Kansas City Royals (11-8 W)
Dice-K picked up his eighth win of the season but looked ugly doing it; he only gave up 3 earned runs and he did strike out 7 batters, but walks continue to be a problem. Luckily, the Royals couldn't capitalize on the 6 free passes issued by Matsuzaka today. Hansen and Aardsma gave up a combined 5 earned runs in what continues to be a sub-par season for the middle relievers. Papelbon picked up his fourteenth save of the season, his second in the past 3 games.
5/23 at Oakland Athletics (8-3 L)
Tough day for Wakey. The Sox' elder statesman gave up all 8 earned runs over 5 innings, while Rich Harden recorded 8 strikeouts over 6 innings. Frank Thomas continued his assault on Wakefield's knuckleball as he launched his seventh homer of the year. Ellsbury managed 2 hits for the good guys and Dusty added a solo shot in the fourth.
5/24 at Oakland Athletics (3-0 L)
Beckett pitched masterfully with 9 strikeouts, 0 walks and 2 earned runs allowed over 7 innings, but Oakland's Justin Duchscherer kept the Sox to just 1 hit over 8 innings to get the win. The former Sox minor leaguer held his old team hitless through 6, but David Ortiz broke it up with in the seventh with a single. Manny Delcarmen gave up yet another earned run and raised his ERA to 5.59.
Despite giving up 6 earned runs over 7 innings, Beckett pitched well enough to pick up his fifth win of the season with 9 strikeouts and 1 walk. Papi's 2 big flies and individual homers from Pedroia and Youkilis helped the Sox complete the three game sweep of the Brew Crew. The Sox left 20 men on base but that's easy to overlook given the fact that 11 others crossed the plate.
5/19 vs. Kansas City Royals (7-0 W)
Where do I start? Is it with the above average offense of Jason Varitek, who raised his average to .290 and smacked his fifth home run of the season? Or perhaps with Jacoby Ellsbury, who swiped 2 more bags to bring his season total to 18? Well, sports fans, as you already know, the story of this game (and the season) was the no-hit performance by cancer survivor Jon Lester. Lester struck out 9 and walked just 2 in what was easily the most dominant start of his young career. Even more impressive is the fact that Lester achieved this feat with the knowledge that his father had been diagnosed with lymphoma, for which he is currently being treated, last month. If Lester's return to baseball last year was the feel-good story and his World Series clinching win was the icing on the cake, May 19th's no-hitter is the cherry on top.
5/20 vs. Kansas City Royals (2-1 W)
Making just the second start of his Major League career, Justin Masterson pitched better than the Sox could have hoped. Masterson recorded 5 strikeouts and let up just 1 earned run over 6.1 innings, while his counterpart Gil Meche lasted 7 full and let up 2 earned runs to go along with 8 strikeouts. Crisp and Lugo accounted for the two RBIs the Sox had in the game.
5/21 vs. Kansas City Royals (6-3 W)
Another day, another homer for Jason Varitek. The guy's with the team mainly for his superb handling of the pitching staff and his superior knowledge and understanding of the game, but the Sox captain is currently on track to have one of the best offensive seasons of his career. Bartolo Colon made his first big league start of the season and picked up the win thanks to 4 strikeouts and 3 earned runs over 5 strong innings.
5/22 vs. Kansas City Royals (11-8 W)
Dice-K picked up his eighth win of the season but looked ugly doing it; he only gave up 3 earned runs and he did strike out 7 batters, but walks continue to be a problem. Luckily, the Royals couldn't capitalize on the 6 free passes issued by Matsuzaka today. Hansen and Aardsma gave up a combined 5 earned runs in what continues to be a sub-par season for the middle relievers. Papelbon picked up his fourteenth save of the season, his second in the past 3 games.
5/23 at Oakland Athletics (8-3 L)
Tough day for Wakey. The Sox' elder statesman gave up all 8 earned runs over 5 innings, while Rich Harden recorded 8 strikeouts over 6 innings. Frank Thomas continued his assault on Wakefield's knuckleball as he launched his seventh homer of the year. Ellsbury managed 2 hits for the good guys and Dusty added a solo shot in the fourth.
5/24 at Oakland Athletics (3-0 L)
Beckett pitched masterfully with 9 strikeouts, 0 walks and 2 earned runs allowed over 7 innings, but Oakland's Justin Duchscherer kept the Sox to just 1 hit over 8 innings to get the win. The former Sox minor leaguer held his old team hitless through 6, but David Ortiz broke it up with in the seventh with a single. Manny Delcarmen gave up yet another earned run and raised his ERA to 5.59.
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