MLB playoffs
MLB Scores
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 | MLB | No Comments
|
|
Red Sox Magical Run Continues, Beat Rays 4-2 to Force Game 7
Sunday, October 19th, 2008 | MLB, Sports | No Comments
The Boston Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 in Game 6 of the ALCS. The teams traded home runs by the Rays B.J. Upton and the Red Sox Kevin Youkilis. Kevin Youkilis added an RBI groundout in the 3rd inning to give the Red Sox a 2-1 lead. Rays shortstop and 9th man in the order, Jason Bartlett, tied the game in the 5th inning with a solo home run. In the top of the 6th inning, Red Sox Catcher and Captain picked up his 1st hit of the 2008 ALCS – a solo home run to right field which put the Sox ahead for good. Following a Bartlett error that would have gotten the Rays out of the inning, the Red Sox scored an all-important insurance run on an RBI single by David Ortiz to give the Red Sox a 4-2 lead. Josh Beckett picked up the win for the Red Sox in an efficient 78-pitch, 5 inning gutty performance. He gave up only 2 earned runs and 4 hits and stayed out of any serious jams. The Red Sox relievers did the rest – Hideki Okajima pitched 2 innings, John Masterson pitched 1 inning and Jonathan Papelbon pitched the 9th inning for the save – only allowing 1 Rays batter to reach base with a walk in the final 4 innings of the game. Rays starter James Shields pitched well despite not having good stuff all night long. He lasted into the 6th inning with over 100 pitches, and gave up 4 runs on 9 hits and 3 walks.
The Red Sox and Rays will determine the AL Pennant-winner in Game 7 of the ALCS on Sunday, October 19th. The Red Sox will throw ace Jon Lester, while the Rays will counter with Matt Garza.
Red Sox Overcome 7-run Deficit, Top Rays 8-7 To Force Game 6
Friday, October 17th, 2008 | MLB, Sports | No Comments
The Boston Red Sox overcame the largest deficit in an elimination game in MLB playoffs history with an 8-7 victory over the Tampa Bays Rays on Thursday, October 16th. When Red Sox relievers Manny Delcarmen and Jonathan Papelbon gave up 2 runs in the 7th inning, the Rays increased their lead over the Red Sox to 7-0 after 6 1/2 innings of play. In the bottom of the 7th inning, the Red Sox used a 2-out RBI single from Dustin Pedroia and then a mammoth 3-run home run from David Ortiz (his first home run of the 2008 post-season and his 1st post-season home run in over 80 at-bats) to cut the lead to 7-4. After Papelbon pitched a perfect top of the 8th inning with 2 strikeouts, the Red Sox cut the lead to 7-6 with a leadoff walk to Jason Bay and a monster home run to deep right field by J.D. Drew. Rays reliever Dan Wheeler was able to retire the next 2 batters, but eventually gave up the tying 7th run on a double by Mark Kotsay and an RBI-single by Coco Crips. Just like that, the Red Sox scored 7 runs in 2 innings and shifted the momentum back in their favor. Red Sox reliever Jon Masterson worked a stressful 9th inning where he allowed the go-ahead run to reach 2nd base with less than 2 outs. But Masterson induced a Carlos Pena double-play ball to quell the threat. In the bottom of the 9th inning, Rays reliever J.P. Howell retired Pedroia and Ortiz without incident, but an infield single by Kevin Youkilis on which Rays third baseman Evan Longoria made a costly throwing error set the stage for the miraculous comeback. With Youkilis at 2nd base, the Rays decided to walk Jason Bay to face J.D. Drew. And once again, Drew delivered the crushing blow with a game-winning line drive single over the head of Gabe Gross to drive in the winning run. Howell took the loss for the Rays and Masterson earned the win for the Red Sox. The Rays wasted a solid outing from Scott Kazmir – 6 shutout innings in which he walked 3, gave up 2 hits and struck out 7. Only his high 111 pitch-count took him out of a game they desperately needed him to finish. Once Kazmir left the game, the Red Sox tagged the Rays bullpen for 8 earbed runs on 9 hits. Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzakadid not have his best performance – he lasted only 4 innings giving up 5 earned runs on 5 hits – including 3 home runs by B.J. Upton, Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria.
Game 6 of the ALCS is set for 8:07PM on Saturday, October 18th. Josh Becket will take the bump for the Red Sox while the Rays will counter with James Shields. Beckett was ineffective in Game 2 of the ALCS – giving up 8 earned runs including 3 home runs in only 4/13 innings of work. Shields pitched well in Game 1 of the ALCS – 2 earned runs, 6 hits and 6 strikeouts in 7 1/13 innings of work – but took the loss as Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka out-dueled him. Will the Red Sox be able to continue their magical runs in recent post-season history? Only time will tell whether we have another magical story with a Tampa Bay Rays appearance in the World Series, or a 3rd World Series appearance by the Red Sox in only 5 years…
Red Sox Need Win Tonight To Force Series Back To Florida
Thursday, October 16th, 2008 | MLB, Sports | No Comments
The Boston Red Sox face the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series tonight, October 16th at Fenway Park in Boston. The Rays moved up ace Scott Kazmir to pitch tonight’s important game. Kazmir didn’t last 5 innings against the Red Sox in Game 2 of the ALCS – he gave up 5 runs and 6 hits (including 3 home runs) in the no decision – but Manager Joe Madden still has faith in his ace. The Red Sox will counter with Daisuke Matsuzaka. Matsuzaka has been the Red Sox most consistent pitcher throughout the 2008 post-season. Matsuzaka won Game 1 of the ALCS pitching 7 scoreless innings and giving up only 4 hits and 2 walks. The Red Sox have faced this situation before. In 2004, the Red Sox trailed the New York Yankees 3-0 in the ALCS before winning the next 8 games to win the ALCS and the 2004 World Series over the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2007, the Red Sox trailed the Cleveland Indians 3-1 in the ALCS before winning the next 7 games to win the ALCS and the 2007 World Series over the Colorado Rockies. The Red Sox seem to put it all together when their backs are against the wall. A Rays win tonight, on the other hand, puts the Rays into the World Series for the 1st time in the club’s franchise. Only time will tell whether the Rays head home to St. Petersburg to prepare for Game 6 against the Red Sox on Saturday, October 18th or to prepare for Game 1 of the World Series against the Philadlephia Phillies.
Phils Win Pennant – Advance to World Series With 5-1 Win Over Dodgers
Thursday, October 16th, 2008 | MLB, Sports | No Comments
The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series to advance to the World Series with a 4-1 series win. Phillies starter Cole Hamels pitched 7 strong innings to win his 2nd game of the NLCS. He gave up only 5 hits and 1 run on a solo home run by Dodgers star Manny Ramirez. Hamels struck out 5 and walked 3 and was named the NLCS Most Valuable Player. Jimmy Rollins set the tone in the 1st inning with a feisty at-bat to lead off the game against Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley. After working the count and fouling off several pitches, he struck a solo home run to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead it would never relinquish. The Phils added 2 more runs in the 3rd inning on RBI singles by Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell. In the 5th inning, the Phils took advantage of 3 Rafael Furcal errors to tack on 2 more runs to extend the lead to 5-0. Ryan Madsen pitched a scoreless 8th inning and Brad Lidge pitched a scoreless 9th inning to seal the victory for the Phillies. For the Dodgers, Billingsley lasted only 2 2/3 innings giving up 3 earned runs. Billingsley never got into a groove allowing 4 hits and walking 4 while throwing 66 pitches. Manny Ramirez, James Loney and Matt Kemp each had 2 hits for the Dodgers, but they never managed any significant threats that Hamels couldn’t work out of. For the series, Manny Ramirez lived up to his post-season hype – he got 8 hits in 15 at-bats for a gaudy .533 batting average. He hit 2 more home runs, scored 4 runs, and had 7 RBI’s – in each game of the series he drove in a run. His on-base percentage was over .660 and his slugging percentage was over 1.050. Ramirez managed a 8-game hitting streak during the Dodgers’ 2008 post-season run.
The Philadelphia Phillies will represent the National League in the 2008 World Series. The Series will open up on Wednesday, October 22nd in either Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg or at Fenway Park in Boston. Currently, the Rays lead the Red Sox 3 games to 1 in the ALCS.
Phils Can Advance to World Series With Win Over Dodgers Tonight
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008 | Sports | No Comments
The Philadlephia Phillies face the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series tonight, October 15th at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The Phillies will throw ace Cole Hamels, while the Dodgers will counter will young star Chad Billingsley. Hamels picked up the Game 1 NLCS victory over the Dodgers, while Billingsley took the Game 2 NLCS loss. A win tonight puts the Phillies into the World Series for the 1st time in 15 years. A Dodgers win forces the NLCS back to Philadelphia, where the teams would play the final game or 2 games on Friday October 17th and Saturday, October 18th.
Rays Crush Red Sox 13-4, 1 Win Away From World Series
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008 | MLB, Sports | No Comments
The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox 13-4 in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series – the Rays 3rd win in a row over the Red Sox. The Rays used the long ball again to set the tone for an early 5-0 after only 3 innings. Carlos Pena and Evan Longoris hit home runs in the 1st inning off Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield and Willie Aybar added a 2-run home run off of Wakefield in the 3rd inning. Wakefield ended up pitching only 2 2/3 innings – yielding 5 earned runs on 6 hits and 2 walks – and took the loss. Red Sox reliever Manny Delcarmen couldn’t keep the game close for the Red Sox in middle relief – he gave up 5 earned runs on 2 hits and 3 walks all in the 6th inning. By that point, the Rays had extended their lead to 11-1 and cruised onto the 13-4 win. Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine pitched effectively – giving up only 3 earned runs and 6 hits in 7 1/3 innings of work. Sonnanstine walked 1 and struck out 2. Red Sox slugger David Ortiz got his 1st hit and only 2nd run scored of the ALCS – a triple in the 7th inning. Red Sox Catcher Kevin Cash replaced Jason Varitek in the lineup and he hit a solo home run in the 3rd inning. For the Rays, Left Fielder Carl Crawford went 5 for 5 with 2 RBI’s and 3 runs scored, while Designated Hitter Willie Aybar went 4 for 5 with 5 RBI’s and 1 run scored.
For the 2nd straight year, the Red Sox find themselves in a 3 games to 1 in the ALCS. Last year, the Red Sox trailed the Cleveland Indians 3-1 in the ALCS, before Josh Beckett pitched a gem in Game 5 of the ALCS in Cleveland, forcing the series back to Fenway Park where the Red Sox won the last 2 games of the series to advance to thier 2nd World Series in 4 years. This year, the Red Sox hope Daisuke Matsuzaka can spin some magic in Game 5 of the ALCS at Fenway Park. A win would send the series back to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg where the Red Sox would use Josh Beckett in Game 6 and Jon Lester in Game 7. The Rays will counter with James Shields on Thursday October 16th.
Unsung Heroes Lead Phils to 7-5 Win Over Dodgers
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 | Sports | No Comments
The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-5 in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Monday October 13th. The Phillies lead the Dodgers 3 games to 1 in the best of 7 series. Trailing 5-3 entering the 8th inning, the Phils used 2-run home runs by each of Center Fielder Shane Victorino and Pinch-hitter Matt Stairs to vault into the 7-5 lead. Reliever Ryan Madson picked up the win in relief, pitching 1 2/3 inning allowing only 1 hit and 1 walk. Fellow relievers J.C. Romero and Brad Lidge closed the game out for the Phillies, as Lidge picked up his 3rd save of the NLCS. After a shaky 1st inning in which Dodgers starter Derek Lowe allowed 2 earned runs, he settled down through 5 innings of work to put his team in a good position to win the game. But the bullpen could not hold onto the lead – Hong-Chih Kuo and Jonathan Broxton each allowed earned runs in relief, while Cory Wade allowed 2 earned runs to take the loss. Manny Ramirez continued his hot hitting – he had 2 hits and an RBI and was walked by the Phillies 3 other times. Dodgers 3rd baseman Casey Blake hit a solo home run in the 6th inning. The Dodgers now have their backs up to the wall – needing to win each of the next 3 games to advance to the World Series. The Phillies will throw ace Cole Hamels in Game 5 of the NLCS on Wednesday October 15th. Hamels won game 1 of the NLCS by allowing only 5 hits and 2 earned runs to the fiery Dodgers offense. The Dodgers will put their season in the hands of Chad Billingsley, who gave up 3 earned runs on 7 hits in Game 2 of the ALCS.
Rays Send Red Sox a Message With 9-1 Win
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 | Sports | No Comments
The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox 9-1 in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series to take a 2-1 lead in the series. All but one of the Rays 9 runs came courtesy of home runs – B.J. Upton’s 3-run shot and Evan Longoria’s solo home run in the 3rd inning; Rocco Baldelli’s 3-run blast in the 8th inning; and Carlos Pena’s solo home run in the 9th inning. Rays starter Matt Garza was efficient, pitching 6 solid innings and giving up only 1 earned run on 6 hits and 3 walks. Garza struck out 5 Red Sox batters to earn the win. Red Sox starter Jon Lester, on the other hand, never found his groove. After not giving up a single earned run in his previous two 2008 post-season starts, Lester was tagged for 4 earned runs in only 5 1/3 innings of work. He gave up 8 hits – including 2 home runs in the 3rd inning – and walked 2 while striking out 7. Dustin Pedroia and Mark Kotsay were the only 2 bright spots for the Red Sox hitters – each player had 2 hits.
Game 4 of the ALCS is on Tuesday, October 14th at 8:07 EST. The Rays will throw Andy Sonnanstine, while the Red Sox will counter with veteran Tim Wakefield. Not wanting to fall behind 3-1 to the Rays, the game almost takes on a “must-win” feel for the Red Sox.
Dodgers Win 7-2, Trail 2-1 in NLCS
Monday, October 13th, 2008 | Sports | No Comments
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series. The Dodgers scored 5 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning to jump out to a commanding 5-0 lead. Manny Ramirez and Casey Blake had RBI singles and Blake DeWitt drove in the final 3 runs of the inning with a crushing 3-run triple. Dodgers Starting Pitcher Hiroki Kuroda pitched 6 strong innings giving up only 2 earned runs on 5 hits. Kuroda walked one and struck out 3 in picking up the Dodgers first ALCS win of the 2008 post-season. Phillies Starting Pitcher Jamie Moyer lasted only 1 1/3 innings giving up 6 hits, 6 earned runs and striking out only 2 Dodgers batters. Tempers flared over whether or not pitchers were throwing at certain batters. Moyer hit Russell Martin with a pitch in the 1st inning. Kuroda later threw at the head of the Phillies Shane Victorino and Victorino shouted at Kuroda to avoid throwing at his head. After Victorino grounded out, he and Kuroda exchanged words and Manny Ramirez also joined the fracas because he was upset when Phillies Starter Bret Myers threw behind him in Game 2 of the NLCS. No punches were thrown and no players were ejected. It will be interesting to see if the feud continues when the 2 teams face off in Game 4 of the NLCS on Monday night. The Phllies will throw mid-season pick-up Joe Blanton, while the Dodgers will pitch Derek Lowe on 3 days rest.
