After one season in the American League, Josh Beckett emerged as one of baseball's best starting pitchers in 2007. Expect the same from Daisuke Matsuzaka this year. Dice-K took one step closer to providing the Red Sox with dual aces by blanking the Detroit Tigers through 6.2 innings in Boston's 5-0 victory this afternoon.
Revitalized after an off day and fueled by the excitement of receiving their World Series rings, the Sox looked impressive after a lackluster weekend in Toronto that resulted in the wrong side of a three-game sweep. Matsuzaka limited the Tigers to four hits while striking out seven and walking four. He is now 2-0 with a 1.47 ERA and has allowed three runs and eight hits over 18.1 innings in three starts this year.
Boston's bats had no trouble solving Kenny Rogers, who labored through 107 pitches in 4.2 innings. The Sox scored single runs in the second (on a Coco Crisp sacrifice fly), third (thanks to a Manny Ramirez triple coupled with a Placido Polanco throwing error) and fourth (courtesy of a Kevin Youkilis sacrifice fly) innings. The Sox plated two more runs in the sixth off reliever Jason Grilli, who surrendered an RBI double to Youkilis and a based loaded walk to J.D. Drew.
Manny Delcarmen, who was roughed up in Toronto, regained his confidence with 1.1 scoreless innings and Hideki Okajima preserved the shutout by retiring the side in order in the ninth.
Youkilis (3-for-3, 2 RBI, one run), Jason Varitek (2-for-4) and Julio Lugo (2-for-4) continue to swing productive bats. Every Sox starter had a hit except for David Ortiz and Mike Lowell.
It was an encouraging performance for the Sox, who looked sluggish on the mound (at least the relievers did), at the plate and in the field at Toronto. Amazingly, the Tigers are now 0-7. On Tuesday night, Jon Lester will oppose Jeremy Bonderman while Tim Wakefield and Nate Robertson will get the call on Wednesday evening.
Timlin to return for Sox-Yankees series
According to multiple media outlets, the Sox will activate Mike Timlin from the disabled list in time for the weekend set against the Yankees at Fenway Park. Bryan Corey, Javier Lopez and David Aardsma are the leading candidates to be designated for assignment to make room for Timlin, yet it is most likely that Corey will be the odd man out.
Timlin's return is good news for the Boston bullpen, which was shaky over the weekend against the Blue Jays. Last year, just when it looked like Timlin could no longer retire hitters on a consistent basis, he was a steadying force and significantly contributed to Boston's American League East title and World Series championship.
Sox-Dodgers play the trading game
Pawtucket gained a new bullpen arm today when the Red Sox acquired 28-year-old right-handed reliever Eric Hull for 23-year-old shortstop Christian Lara.
Hull spent most of the 2007 season at Triple A Las Vegas where he was 4-3 with a 2.74 ERA, allowing 59 hits in 65.2 innings and 49 appearances. He had no record and a 4.05 ERA in five games for the Dodgers, allowing three runs and four hits in 6.2 innings.
A solid defensive shortstop, Lara had not advanced past Single-A in the Red Sox organization after the team signed him as an international free agent in 2002.
Recent Comments