Turgasso's Boston Red Sox fan blog

Wakefield's sink or swim starts continued last night as the knuckleball proved ineffective; The Sox found themselves down 7-0 by the top of the 4th inning as Wakefield allowed 8 runs and 8 hits over 5 innings. Going into his 16th season in the majors at the age of 42 this summer, one has to wonder how much longer the 2nd most senior member of the Sox pitching staff can be effective.

Pine Tar proved to bring about the strangest event of the night when Boston hitting coach Dave Magadan was ejected in the top of the 6th inning for arguing with home-plate umpire Tim Tschida. In an effort to keep MLB games moving, pine tar has to be ready before the bat boy cones out.

The night owls will be anxiously waiting to see if Beckett in back to his old pitching self as he goes for his 6th win.

Continue reading "Knuckle Ball sinks"

The sox now own baseball's best home record of 21-5, surpassed only by 1978's 22-4--sweeping a home stand for the first time in 2 years by clinching the last of a 4 game series against Kansas City.  Dice-K now owns an AL leading 8-0 record,  walking 6 to lead the majors in BBs.  Perhaps Varitek's day off affected his high pitch count (118 in 5 2/3 innings, 67 strikes), since he's not used to Cash.

This afternoon's slugfest rang up a combined 19 runs scored, 27 hits and 1 error with JD Drew & Mike Lowell both hitting grand slams.  Bill Buckner & Tony Armas were the last two Sox to hit 2 grand slams at Fenway on August 7, 1984. Youkilis moved into the #3 spot for AL league leading hitters at 320.

The funniest thing I've read all week is how Jacoby Ellsbury dressed up as Johnny Damon for Halloween--though it didn't specify which Damon, the long haired leading idiot of 2004's world series champions or the short haired New York Yankee.

Continue reading "Slugfest at Fenway!"

The first of only 3 remaining weekday games at Fenway this afternoon, Dice-K goes for AL leading 8th win as he inches closer to snatching the ERA AL leader spot from the Indian's lefty Cliff Lee.  The Sox are looking for their 7th consecutive victory and a series sweep before heading out to the doldrums of10 PM EST starts-- otherwise known as a road trip to the AL West.

Its been 7 days since Manny's last homerun, so all eyes will be on #24 as he tries to join the 500 club before his 36th birthday next Friday. He's homer-less in 26 at bats going into this afternoon's game-- with 3 consecutive strike outs last night. WTG Manny!!

Do you think the pressure's on??

Continue reading "Dice-K Preview!"