Alright, El Barto! I've got to say that when I was trying to figure out pitching match-ups and which team was more likely to get the win through July (What can I say? I'm a plan-ahead type person.) I was, subconsciously, giving the win to Beckett and the loss to Bartolo every time they came up-until I realized it and felt bad that I was giving Colon so many losses-but I might have to rethink that strategy.
He went six innings tonight and threw only ninety-three pitches. He struck out seven, walked only one, gave up five hits but allowed only one run (on a home run), on the way to his one hundred and fiftieth career win. And he was a trooper-he took a line drive off the wrist of his pitching hand in the fourth inning but kept on pitching. It was a really nice rebound performance.
David Aardsma came out for the seventh inning and did pretty well. He was greatly aided by another really good catch by Drew and he did give up a double but his performance was book-ended with swinging strike outs. And as is always important to note when Aardsma pitches: no walks! (Although, he did twice go to a full count.)
Javier Lopez came out to pitch the eighth inning and faced three batters. He got the first one to strike out swinging. The second batter (a lefty) got a walk on five pitches. Luckily for him, the next batter grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Timlin came out for the ninth inning and didn't have it tonight. He gave up a double to the first batter and then gave up another to Millar to bring in another Orioles run (I guess that Millar's been getting too much heat from Baltimore to give his old buddy Timlin another break.) The next batter grounded out to second and the fourth batter of the inning lined out to first. The inning could have been over on the next play but Pedroia just couldn't handle it; the runner reached first on the error and Millar scored. The next batter singled and that was it for Timlin.
Papelbon was brought in for the last out of the ninth. With runners on first and second, the batter fouled off three pitches and took a low one for a ball before he grounded out to first to end the game.
Garrett Olson took an inning to settle down and the Sox took advantage of that. In the first inning, Ellsbury singled to start things off. Pedroia popped out for the first out. With Drew up to bat, Ellsbury took off for second after the third pitch but he must have mis-read the pitcher because the next thing thrown wasn't a pitch but a pick-off attempt. Luckily for Ellsbury, it got away from Millar and Ellsbury scooted over to third. With the pitcher's attention back on Drew, he swung and missed at a pitch before doubling to right and batting in Ellsbury. Manny grounded out to second for the second out and Drew moved over to third. Lowell was up next and drew a walk on four pitches-the last of which was in the dirt and rolled away from the catcher, allowing Drew to score. Youkilis got himself a walk. With Lowell on second and Youkilis on first, Varitek hit a home run to left to clear the bases and to put the Sox up 0-5. Coco lined out to end the inning.
They weren't able to do anything more to Olson until the sixth inning. Lowell opened things up with a home run to left. Youkilis would then double but was not be able to advance any further.
Both Varitek (in the third) and Lugo (in the fourth) grounded into double plays today but it's still an improvement over yesterday.
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