Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff
The Boston Celtics announced Friday night that the club has requested waivers on guard Gabe Pruitt.
Pruitt was originally drafted by the Celtics with the 32nd pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. The 6'4 170-pound guard appeared in 62 career games over two seasons with the team averaging 2.0 points per game.
Pruitt averaged 10.6 points, 4.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game for the Celtics during the 2009 Orlando Summer League.
Lowell fans can relax. Ryan Westmoreland is still a Spinner.
The buzz among members of the Spinners staff and early arrivals at LeLacheur Park this evening was that the Red Sox had included the immensely talented Westmoreland in a major-league trade, especially when Westmoreland's name wasn't in the starting lineup for tonight's game against the Tri-City ValleyCats.
But while the Red Sox have been talking deals with several major-league teams before tomorrow's 3 p.m. trading deadline, nothing has been consummated and Westmoreland is still here. He appeared in uniform in the Spinners dugout a few minutes before game time and came onto the field when the Spinners' Fan of the Day was introduced.
Westmoreland was also interviewed by The Sun's Matt Spencer before the game for a feature story and said he had heard nothing except the same rumors everyone else was hearing. The most popular rumor was Westmoreland being included with Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden in a trade for Toronto's Roy Halladay.
Westmoreland is hitting .285 with a .508 slugging percentage and .391 on-base percentage for the Spinners. He is tied for second in the New York-Penn League in homers with six -- one shy of the Spinners record for homers in a season by a lefthanded batter -- and tied for fourth in RBI with 25 and tied for fourth in walks with 23. Westmoreland, who also has seven doubles and two triples in 34 games for the Spinners, is 11-for-11 in stolen bases.
There is some question whether or not Westmoreland is even eligible to be traded. MLB rules prohibit players from being traded until one year has passed since they were drafted and signed. Westmoreland's offiial signing date was not readily available, but it is known he didn't sign with the Red Sox last year until shortly before the Aug. 15 deadline.
Westmoreland was a sixth-round draft pick by the Red Sox in June of 2008 but received first-round money -- a $2 million bonus -- to sign and forego a scholarship to Vanderbilt.
Up until now the Red Sox had been one of the few teams that had escaped the notoriety of having major-league players test positive for performance enhancing drugs. No more with the report in the New York Times today that both David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, the cornerstones of the Red Sox offense from 2003-2008, were among the 100-plus players who tested postitive in 2003.
Ramirez, of course, was caught in a different drug scandal earlier this season while playing for the Dodgers and was banned for 50 games.
Former Red Sox players like Roger Clemens have also allegedly tested positive, but none of them has been accused of using PEDs while with the Red Sox.
The whispers have been circulating for years about Ortiz, whose physical size increased noticeably after signing with the Red Sox as a free agent before the 2003 season.
While Ortiz has said he will address the Times report later after he finds out from the players union exactly what PED he allegedly tested positive for, in his defense it should be noted in 2006 when he hit a club-record 54 homers, MLB's testing program was already in place and he obviously didn't fail any tests that year.
But if Ortiz has been using HGH, he would not have tested positive because human growth hormone is undetectable in the tests MLB uses.
Andrew Bailey, the former Mill City All-Americans pitcher who played in Lowell in 2004, picked up his 13th save of the season and second in two nights against the Red Sox, but it wasn't easy. Ellsbury led off the ninth with a single, and Pedroia reached on an infield hit. Bailey fanned both Kevin Youkilis and Jason Bay but gave up a two-out RBI single to Lowell, his fifth RBI of the night.
He then got Drew to ground out to first base and preserve Oakland's 8-6 triumph.
The Red Sox started to make things uncomfortable for the Athletics in the eighth. Right fielder Ryan Sweeney knocked center fielder Davis off a flyball off the bat of Jason Bay and was charged with a three-base error. Lowell brought home Bay with a sacrifice fly, his fourth RBI of the night, cutting Oakland's lead to 8-5. J.D. Drew lashed a pinch hit single off Brad Ziegler, and Jason Varitek drew a two-out walk to bring the tying run to the plate in the presence of pinch hitter David Ortiz. Journeyman lefthander Craig Breslow came out of the bullpen to retire Ortiz on a pop up and end the threat.
The Red Sox finally rid themselves of Anderson, who gave up 11 hits over 22 innings with 22 strikeouts in three starts against them this season while compiling a 2.05 ERA, in the seventh. Jacoby Ellsbury yanked a triple inside the first-base bag with one out off reliever Michael Wuertz and came home on a ground out by Pedroia, trimming Oakland's lead to 8-4.
Ellis chased Penny with a leadoff double in the sixth, and before reliever Justin Masterson could get out of the inning the Athletics had two more runs and a commanding 8-3 lead.
Davis put down a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by Masterson and advanced Ellis to third, but Dustin Pedroia dropped the throw for an error. Eric Patterson slammed a double off The Wall, scoring both runners.
After both Penny and Anderson settled down to hurl three scoreless innings each following the wild first inning, the Athletics struck again in the sixth. Suzuki swatted Penny's first pitch of the fifth inning into the Monster Seats for his sixth homer to put the Athletics ahead 6-3. Cust followed by lashing a ball off The Wall but was cut down by Jason Bay trying to stretch the hit into a double, and Penny got out of the inning without more damage.
The Red Sox got right back into the game in the bottom of the inning. Lefthander Brett Anderson -- who shut out the Sox on two hits when he faced them on July 6 -- walked Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis interspersed with strikeouts of Dustin Pedroia and Jason Bay. Mike Lowell, the one Soxer for whom the rookie Anderson has not been a mystery, lofted a 1-and-2 pitch into the last row of the Monster Seats in left-center, cutting Oakland's lead to 5-3. It was Lowell's second homer in three at-bats against Anderson this year and 11th of the season but first since June 10.
The Athletics wasted no time picking right up where they left off from Tuesday's night's late-inning, come-from-behind victory. Adam Kennedy lofted Brad Penny's first pitch of the game into the front row of the Monster Seats for his eighth homer of the season. Four pitches into the game the A's already had a run and three hits as Orlando Cabrera and Kurt Suzuki followed Kennedy's homer with singles. Penny, noted for his outstanding control, then walked Jack Cust on five pitches to load the bases, still with nobody out.
Ryan Sweeney grounded into a force as Cabrera scored, and then Penny walked Tommy Everidge after being ahead of him in the count 1-and-2, reloading the bases. After Mark Ellis fouled out for the second out, Rajai Davis slammed a 3-and-2 pitch high off The Wall in left center to clear the bases and put the Athletics up 5-0 as boos cascaded from the Fenway stands.
Penny finally caught Eric Patterson, the ninth batter of the inning, looking at a 3-and-2 pitch for strike three to end the inning.
Starting Lineups
The starting lineups for tonight's game between the Oakland Athletics and Red Sox:
Athletics
Adam Kennedy, 3b
Orlando Cabrera, ss
Kurt Suzuki, c
Jack Cust, dh
Ryan Sweeney, rf
Tommy Everidge, 1b
Mark Ellis, 2b
Rajai Davis, cf
Eric Patterson, lf
Brett Anderson, lhp
Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, cf
Dustin Pedroia, 2b
Kevin Youkilis, 3b
Jason Bay, lf
Mike Lowell, dh
Rocco Baldelli, rf
Adam LaRoche, 1b
Jason Varitek, c
Jed Lowrie, ss
Brad Penny, rhp
Manny Delcarmen put down the Athletics in the ninth, and the Red Sox won 8-3, giving Beckett (12-4) his AL-leading 12th victory of the season.
The Red Sox had 14 hits and 8 runs, their biggest offensive output since the All-Star Break.
The Athletics chased Beckett in the eighth after Scott Hairston led off with a triple. Beckett threw 103 pitches, 77 of them for strikes, but gave up eight hits in seven-plus innings with one walk and 10 strikeouts. Fireballing rookie Daniel Bard took over and struck out Jack Cust on a 99-mph fastball, but Suzuki brought in Hairston with a grounder to short. After an infield hit by Sweeney, Bard fanned Ellis to end the frame with the Red Sox ahead 8-3.
The Red Sox pushed their lead back to six runs by scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh off reliever Edgar Gonzalez. Bay drew a one-out walk and went to third on a double by J.D. Drew. After LaRoche was retired on a comebacker and Varitek was walked intentionally to load the bases, Jed Lowrie blooped a ground-rule double behind third base that put the Sox ahead 8-2.
The Athletics picked up another run off Beckett in the seventh. Mark Ellis doubled off The Wall and came around to score on a pair of flyballs, the second a sacrifice fly by Eric Patterson that made the score 6-2. Beckett, who seemed more inclined to just let the A's hit the ball with such a comfortable lead, fanned Orlando Cabrera to end the seventh for his 10th strikeout of the night. It was Beckett's second 10-K game of the season and first since Opening Day.
The Athletics finally got to Beckett in the sixth. Adam Kennedy and Orlando Cabrera stroked one-out singles, and Jack Cust drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Kurt Suzuki lashed a single to center to bring home the Oakland run, trimming the Sox' lead to 6-1, before Ryan Sweeney struck out to end the inning. It was Beckett's ninth strikeout of the game.
The Red Sox upped their lead to 6-0 in the fifth against Cahill when Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz, and Bay opened the inning with successive singles. A double play bailed Cahill out of further trouble.
The Red Sox staked Beckett to a 5-0 edge in the fourth. Jason Bay led off with a walk, J.D. Drew singled, and LaRoche hammered his second double of the game, this time off the Green Monster to chase home Bay. Jason Varitek dumped a single into right for another run, and Ellsbury beat out an infield hit to short as LaRoche scored the third run of the inning.
Beckett was sharp through the first four innings, allowing just two hits, walking nobody, and fanning six. More than 80 percent of his pitches had been thrown for strikes.
The Red Sox increased their lead to 2-0 in the third. Jacoby Ellsbury led off with a triple into the right-field corner and trotted home on a sacrifice fly by Pedroia.
Oakland hit into an unusual double play in the top of the inning. Eric Patterson, who had reached on an infield single, was running on a pitch that Adam Kennedy popped up to first base. Patterson overslid the bag and in his haste to scramble back to first neglected to retouch second. First baseman Adam LaRoche caught the pop and flipped the ball to Josh Beckett covering first, but Patterson was back by then. Pedroia, knowing Patterson had not touched second on his way back, called for the ball from Beckett, touched second, and Patterson was ruled out by second base umpire Fieldin Culbreth to complete the double play.
Dustin Pedroia quickly put the Red Sox in front 1-0 with a one-out homer in the bottom of the first inning that hit the base of the light tower in left field. It was the 21st homer allowed by Oakland's Trevor Cahill in 111 innings this season.
The Red Sox try to improve upon the best home record (33-15) in baseball tonight against the Athletics. The Red Sox are 150-85 all-time against Oakland at Fenway Park and have won 8 of the last 9 here against the Athletics ... The Red Sox bullpen has not surrendered a run since the All-Star break, hurling 22 scoreless innings ... Josh Beckett is 6-0 with a 2.44 ERA at Fenway and has an 0.59 ERA in his last 4 starts here ... The starting lineups for tonight's game:
Athletics
Adam Kennedy, 3b
Orlando Cabrera, ss
Scott Hairston, lf
Jack Cust, dh
Kurt Suzuki, c
Ryan Sweeney, rf
Mark Ellis, 2b
Bobby Crosby, 3b
Eric Patterson, cf
Trevor Cahill, rhp
Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, cf
Dustin Pedroia, 2b
Kevin Youkilis, 3b
David Ortiz, dh
Jason Bay, lf
J.D. Drew, rf
Adam LaRoche, 1b
Jason Varitek, c
Jed Lowrie, ss
Josh Beckett, rhp
Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff
"Idyllic" thoughts while waiting breathlessly for American Idol producers to pony up some cash for Paula Abdul (next time someone complains about how much money athletes make, remind them that Ryan Seacrest just inked a $45-million/3-year deal. And you thought J.D. Drew was overpaid!):
-Julio Lugo, previous holder of "the biggest waste of money on Boston's roster" title, is now gone. As a result, the Fenway boo birds target is now squarely on Drew's back.
How much longer a .245 average and mediocre power numbers are tolerated remains to be seen. The Sox right fielder is very fortunate he belted that Grand Slam in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series back in 2007, or there might have been a move to run him out of town long before Lugo was jettisoned.
-At the very least, could we move Drew out of the leadoff spot and get Jacoby Ellsbury back to the top of the order, where he belongs.
I know, I know. Drew has a higher On Base Percentage (.365 to .343) than his outfield partner, but those numbers are deceiving because a high number of walks are what account for Drew's slight lead in that category. Drew only has two stolen bases, so the only way he's going anywhere after getting to first base is via assistance from someone behind him in the order.
Ellsbury, on the other hand, has 40-stolen bases and is the prototypical disruptor on the base paths. Batting the speedy center fielder 6th or 7th is a waste of his talents. It's frustrating watching Ellsbury steal his way into scoring position, only to have the likes of Nick Green, Jason Varitek, Jed Lowrie and George Kottaras leave him stranded.
Come on, Tito. You finally listened on Big Papi. Let's do the right thing with the leadoff spot, too.
-Danny Ainge's stellar off-season continued with the signing of Marquis Daniels.
The 6'6" swing man offers a perfect backup for both Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, something the Celtics sorely lacked after James Posey's departure. In Daniels and Rasheed Wallace, Ainge completely revitalized a bench that was non-existent by the end of the playoffs.
Would I like to see a quality backup point guard added to the mix? Sure, but the C's won a title with Eddie House backing up a very inexperienced Rajon Rondo, so there's no reason why House and an improved, trade talk motivated Rondo shouldn't be more than enough to lead a healthy squad to banner # 18.
-Had Tom Watson hung on to win the British Open, wouldn't it have been the greatest accomplishment by an elderly athlete in history?
Perhaps one could argue 45-year old George Foreman winning the Heavyweight title was even more remarkable, but big George only had to beat a human punching bag by the name of Michael Moorer to win his crown. The 59-year old Watson was better than the best golfers in the world over 71-holes and one drive. Alas, a misplaced approach shot on the 72nd hole, followed by a poor putt and four "Panos-like" playoff holes brought the fairy tale to an unhappy ending.
That's the view from here...how do you see things?
From the very day the Red Sox signed shortstop Julio Lugo to a four-year, $36 million contract, it seemed inevitable that this day would come. The Sox tacitly admitted today that they made an E-6 in judgment way back then by designating Lugo for assignment, meaning they must trade him or release him within the next 10 days. Because of his long major-league service, Lugo can't be sent to the minors without his permission.
The Red Sox still owe him $13.5 million, most of which they will probably be forced to swallow even if another team takes him.
The signing wasn't a total disaster for the Red Sox, however. They did win the 2007 World Series with Lugo at shortstop. But he was always perceived as the weak link in the lineup, and as time went on the link became even weaker.
The Red Sox hung onto him longer than they should have, hoping he would improve enough that they could get someone useful for him in a trade. But Lugo's weaknesses just became more obvious: his lack of range, erratic fielding, inability to drive in runs, or even steal bases in big situations.
The time to move Lugo and move on was overdue, and the at last the time has come.
Who, including the Red Sox wouldn't want to have Roy Halladay in their rotation? For a variety of reasons, I don't think you'll see Halladay wearing a Red Sox uniform this year or in the immediate future.
First and foremost, the Red Sox don't need Halladay as desperately as most other teams do. The Sox rotation is solid and talented arms are backed up in the organization. While the Red Sox have the talent to trade the three or four prospects the Blue Jays are looking for, it just doesn't make sense for the Red Sox to put a big dent in their farm system for a pitcher -- however much of a stud he is -- at a position where the club is already well stocked.
Secondly, I don't think the Blue Jays really want to trade their ace to a team in the same division so he can come back and beat them four or five times a year. Frankly, I don't think the Jays really want to trade Halladay at all. But it doesn't hurt to listen to what other teams might offer, and, hey, GM J.P. Ricciardi just might get overwhelmed. I just don't see that kind of offer coming from the Red Sox, nor do I think the Yankees have enough of what the Jays are seeking.
The team that could use Halladay the most and has a glut of prospects to trade is the Rangers. Pitching is the Rangers' Achilles Heel, and adding an elite ace like Halladay could very well make the difference in their bid to outlast the Angels in the AL West. The Rangers, according to Baseball America, have the best farm system among the 30 major-league clubs.
Even if the Rangers are willing to give up hot prospect Justin Smoak, one of their catchers, and one or two other prospects, can they afford Halladay financially? Tom Hicks, their owner, is having financial difficulties and may be putting the club up for sale.
When it all shakes out, I think Halladay will still be wearing a Blue Jays uniform.
Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff
Five quick rounds in honor of "The Fighter" boxing scenes being shot at Tsongas Arena this week:
1) Arturo Gatti's apparent murder casts a pall over the opening week of shooting for the movie chronicling Micky Ward's rise to boxing stardom. The two will forever be linked in boxing history, and hardly a media report was filed about Gatti's death without mentioning Ward and their trilogy of legendary fights. Micky, a normally happy-go-lucky guy, was noticeably sullen over his friend's fate. Let's hope all the activity surrounding the movie, and his involvement with it, helps take Ward's mind off these difficult times.
2) Ironically the three Ward-Gatti bouts, which put an exclamation point on both fighters' careers, aren't likely to make Hollywood script. Barring some last minute change, "The Fighter" boxing scenes will conclude with the Lowell legend's championship knockout of Shea Neary in London. That triumph took place in March of 2000, more than two years before the Ward-Gatti I showdown in May of 2002.
3) Here's hoping for an American League victory in the All-Star game. The way the Red Sox starting pitchers and Josh Beckett in particular are dealing from the mound right now, the Sox are shaping up as the AL's World Series entry. The home field advantage that goes with an All-Star victory will be much appreciated by Boston's bats, which seem to prefer Fenway over the road.
4) If this Patriots off-season seems like the longest one in ages, well, that's because it is. The 2002 season was the last one in which Bill Belichick's troops began vacation before the playoffs, so there's been plenty of time to digest the 2008 season. In case you haven't already marked your calendars, training camp opens Thursday July 30th, with the regular season opener Monday September 14th, at home versus the Bills.
5) Whether Tom Brady returns from injury to 50-Touchdown All-World status or simply settles for being the efficient, clutch machine who directed 3 Super Bowl triumphs will not be the determining factor in 2009. The defense, which is doing a Benjamin Button impression and growing young before our very eyes, will have final say in how deep into the playoffs the Pats play.
While a transition to youth was sorely needed, it still remains to be seen which of the kiddie corps will step up and grab the leadership mantle vacated by veteran field generals like Roman Phifer, Ted Johnson, Willie McGinest, Ty Law, Rodney Harrison and Mike Vrabel. That gradual erosion of elder statesmen, more than anything else, is why New England hasn't hosted a parade featuring the Lombardi Trophy in four years.
Josh Beckett tossed a three-hit shutout with no walks and seven strikeouts for his 100th career victory, taming the Royals with just 94 pitches, 67 for strikes. It was his fourth career shutout, second this season. The Red Sox won 6-0 and finished the unofficial first half of the season with a 54-34 record.
Beckett is now 11-3 and tied with teammate Tim Wakefield for the AL lead in victories.
The Red Sox added another run in the eighth off KC closer Joakim Soria. David Oritz led off with a double. Bay was hit by a pitch for the second time, the fifth time he reached base in the game. After Varitek flied out, Baldelli ripped a double to left-center, scoring Ortiz and making the score 6-0. Green hit a ball to center deep enough for a sacrifice fly, but Baldelli was thrown out at third before a coasting Bay touched the plate, and the run didn't count.
The Red Sox made it 5-0 after pushing across a run in the fifth. Green again walked to start the inning, finishing Tejeda. Bates greeted reliever Jamey Wright with his third hit of the game, a single to right that sent Green to third, from where he scored when Ellsbury rapped into a double play.
Jacoby Ellsbury, who led the AL with 50 steals as a rookie last season, stole his 40th base of the season in the fourth inning today. That makes him only the second player in Red Sox history with two seasons of 40 or more thefts. Hall of Famer Tris Speaker performed the feat for three straight years from 1912-14.
The Red Sox upped their lead to 4-0 in the fourth but were lacking the big two-out hit that would have given them a comfortable lead, especially after blowing a 4-0 lead in an 8-6 loss on Thursday and coming within an extra-base hit of squandering a nine-run lead last night. Through four innings the Red Sox had stranded nine runners on base.
Nick Green started the fourth with a walk, and former Lowell Spinners first baseman Aaron Bates belted his second double of a game, a blast off the wall in straightaway enter, that made it 2-0 and finished Chen, who threw 78 pitches in three-plus innings.
Jacoby Ellsbury put down a sacrifice bunt and reached when reliever Robinson Tejeda's throw to third was too late to nab Bates. After walking Pedroia to load the bases, Tejeda struck out Youkilis. A broken-bat grounder by David Ortiz brought home Bates. Walks to Jason Bay -- who walked for the third time after seeing a total of 12 pitches -- and Jason Varitek forced home Ellsbury to make the score 4-0. Rocco Baldelli flied out to deep center with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Reigning AL MVP Dustin Pedroia will not be participating in the All-Star Game Tuesday night in St. Louis. Because his wife, Kelli, has been hospitalized with complications from her pregnancy, Pedroia announced yesterday he will spend the off-time with his wife.
Tampa Bay first baseman Carlos Pena, who leads the AL in homers with 24, will replace Pedroia on the AL roster.
"After consulting with Tito [Terry Francona], Theo [Epstein], Phyllis Merhige of Major League Baseball and my wife, Kelli, I have decided to withdraw from this year's All-Star Game in St. Louis. I will instead stay in Boston with my wife as we tend to a serious family health matter," Pedroia said in a prepared statement.
"This was certainly not an easy decision. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the game of baseball and for the All-Star Game and am incredibly honored that the fans voted me this year's starting second baseman for the American League. I am disappointed that I will not be able to enjoy the amazing experience with the other All-Stars, especially with my Red Sox teammates, but it is important that I put my family first at this time.
"I want to thank Major League Baseball as well as Tito and Theo for supporting me in this decision and I would like to thank the fans for their understanding and the continued support they have shown throughout my career."
The Red Sox struck quickly against lefthander Bruce Chen in the bottom of the first. Dustin Pedroia lofted a double off the top of the scoreboard in left, and Kevin Youkilis dumped a single into left-center to bring him home and put the Red Sox ahead 1-0.
The starting lineups for today's game against the Kansas City Royals, the last game before the All-Star break:
Royals
David DeJesus, rf
Mitch Maier, cf
Billy Butler, 1b
Mark Teahen, 3b
Jose Guillen, lf
Brayan Pena, dh
Alberto Callaspo, 2b
John Buck, c
Tony Pena, ss
Bruce Chen, lhp
Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, cf
Dustin Pedroia, 2b
Kevin Youkilis 3b
David Ortiz, dh
Jason Bay, lf
Jason Varitek, c
Rocco Baldelli, rf
Nick Green, ss
Aaron Bates, 1b
Josh Beckett, rhp
Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff
The Boston Celtics officially announced that free agent Rasheed Wallace has signed a contract with the Celtics. Today was the first day free agents could officially sign deals. It had been reported earlier this week that an agreement had been reached between Wallace and the Celtics.
The 6-foot-11 230 pound forward/center is a four-time NBA All-Star, and the fourth overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft out of the Univesity of North Carolina. Wallace was a member of the Detroit Pistons NBA championship team in 2003-04.
"We are ecstatic to be able to add a player the caliber of Rasheed Wallace to our team," Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said in a statement released by the team. "It is not every day that you can add a four-time All-Star and a player with championship experience."
Wallace averaged 12 points and 7.4 rebounds per game this past season for the Pistons. He has averaged 15 points and 6.9 rebounds for his career, and he is also a career 34 percent 3-point shooter. Wallace has recorded 1.3 blocked shots per game in 14 seasons.
A press conference to introduce Wallace is expected for Thursday. A time had not been set as of yet. Comcast Sports Net New England will carry the conference live and provide reaction after the conference concludes. Gary Tanguay will be in the CSN studio and Greg Dickerson will be on site.
Jonathan Papelbon retired the Athletics in the ninth for his 21st save, allowing one hit and fanning three, and preserved Beckett's 10th win as the Red Sox trimmed Oakland 5-2. It was the first time Papelbon struck out more than one batter in an outing since June 2, a span of 13 appearances.
The Red Sox restored their three-run advantage with a two-out run of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Ellsbury stroked a double and took third on a wild pitch with one out. After Bates drew a walk and Drew struck out, Pedroia delivered a single to left to put the Red Sox on top 5-2.
The Athletics staged a two-out rally in the fifth and picked up a run. Ryan Sweeney, after a long at-bat, drilled a double into the center-field triangle, and Mark Ellis walked. Adam Kennedy ripped a double to left-center, scoring Sweeney and cutting the Sox' lead to 4-2, before Beckett retired Orlando Cabrera on a grounder to short and end the inning.
The Red Sox added to their lead and chased Eveland, who was on a 75-pitch count after coming off the DL, in the third inning. J.D. Drew started the inning with a double, and Dustin Pedroia walked. After Kevin Youkilis flied out and Bay rapped into a force play, Ortiz walked to load the bases for Jason Varitek, who bounced a single up the middle to put the Sox ahead 4-1.
Jacoby Ellsbury reached on an infield hit to reload the bases and finish Eveland. Edgar Gonzalez retired Nick Green on a fly to end the inning.
The Red Sox forged ahead in the bottom of the second. Jason Bay hit a towering fly into the Monster Seats in left-center off southpaw Dana Eveland for his 20th homer of the season and league-leading 71st RBI to tie the score. The Sox then loaded the bases when David Ortiz slammed a double off The Wall, Jason Varitek singled, and Jacoby Ellsbury walked. But they could get just one more run. Nick Green bounced to shortstop Orlando Cabrera, who tagged Varitek running by and threw to first for a double play as Ortiz scored to put the Sox ahead 2-1. Aaron Bates, the 39th former Lowell Spinner to reach the big leagues, struck out to end the inning.
The Athletics struck quickly against Josh Beckett. Newcomer Scott Hairston, the third batter of the game, pounced on a 96-mph fastball from Beckett and whacked it off the light tower in left to put the A's ahead 1-0.
The starting lineups for tonight's game between the Oakland Athletics and Red Sox:
Athletics
Adam Kennedy, 3b
Orlando Cabrera, ss
Scott Hairston, cf
Matt Holliday, lf
Jason Giambi, 1b
Kurt Suzuki, c
Jack Cust, dh
Ryan Sweeney, rf
Mark Ellis, 2b
Dana Eveland, lhp
Red Sox
J.D. Drew, rf
Dustin Pedroia, 2b
Kevin Youkilis, 3b
Jason Bay, lf
David Ortiz, dh
Jason Varitek, c
Jacoby Ellsbury, cf
Nick Green, ss
Aaron Bates, 1b
Josh Beckett, rhp
Three strikes, and then I'm out:
Strike 1: On the list of unlikeable NBA characters, Rasheed Wallace ranks near the top of any rankings. His on-court demeanor is surly. The non-stop whining to officials is annoying to fans, never mind the folks in striped shirts. He comes with a reputation as a coach killer. In short, "Sheed" is one of the last guys you'd want to root for on a basketball court.
Of course, root for him is exactly what I, and the rest of Celtics fans, will now have to do. And you know what? I'll be more than happy to do it because the C's just became odds on favorites to recapture the title.
Danny Ainge made the best move of what has been a blockbuster NBA offseason. The Cavaliers now bow in the presence of Shaquille O'Neal, the Magic pulled Vince Carter out of a hat and the Spurs hope to ride Richard Jefferson back to the top of the league.
But none of the above teams added what the Celtics hoops el Jeffe added to the mix: a big man with low post skills and 3-point range, a tenacious rebounder, a darned good defender and a proven winner. Oh, and despite the cranky disposition, he also happens to be the quintessential team player who has no ego and is more than happy to contribute off the bench.
Wallace, for minimal money and only two years, is a steal of a deal for Ainge and the C's. He'll perfectly complement Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins, giving Boston the best "bigs" in the league and a presence off the pine, something sorely lacking last year (count me as a "Yes" vote on Grant Hill, too).
With the defending champion Lakers adding another bad boy, Ron Artest, to the roster, Ainge needed to do something big, and he did. Give Dealin' Danny an A+ on this one (Artest's acquisition by Los Angeles only gets an A-, because that hot head is far more likely to self-destruct than 'Sheed) and barring injury, pencil in your NBA Finals matchup right now: Celtics vs. Lakers...see you in June!
Strike 2: You have to be happy for Tim Wakefield.
In many ways, Wake's selection to the midsummer classic is the equivalent of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Oscars or Grammys. Becoming the oldest first time All-Star since Satchel Page is a fitting tribute to one of the great people in baseball, on or off the field.
One small problem: I'm not so sure a 4.30 Earned Run Average and 1.35 Walk and Hits per Innings Pitched ratio is deserving of the honor. Plus, the way the knuckleball tends to blow hot and cold, Wake is a pretty good bet as the pitcher most likely to get shelled next Tuesday night.
Strike 3: Was Federer-Roddick one of the great tennis matches in history? It sure was. Was it THE greatest, as some are in a rush to proclaim? Hell no!
Simply put, today's game is one of brute force, with very little room for finesse or variety of skills. Sure it was great competition and great fun, but to watch two guys pound each other with booming serves and baseline blasts over five long sets gets kind of repetitive, to be honest. Heck, Federer alone served 50 aces, and he's not even known for his serve. (Hey Andy, you think you could actually stretch for a couple of those? No? OK, how bout twitching your leg muscles and pretending you wanted to return one or two of them?)
Perhaps this is old age rearing its ugly head, but give me the contrasting styles of Baseline Bjorn Borg versus the serve and volley touch game of John McEnroe on a tennis court any day of the week.
That's the view from here....how do you see things?
Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff
Several published reports surfaced Sunday night that free agent big man Rasheed Wallace has agreed to a deal with the Boston Celtics.
Comcast Sports Net caught up with Wallace's agent Bill Strickland during "Sports Sunday" and he talked about Wallace's decision to become a member of the Boston Celtics despite several other suitors.
View the video from that interview, courtesy of Comcast Sports Net, below:
The Mariners won the game in the 11th against reliever Ramon Ramirez. Franklin Gutierrez led off with a single, and Langerhans walked on four pitches. After Chris Woodward sacrificed and the infield was brought in to cut down the runner at the plate, Ramirez got ahead of Johnson 0-and-2 and then saw him loop a ball over the head of first baseman Kotsay for his third double of the game, putting the Mariners ahead 7-5. Johnson came into the game hitting just .187.
Mark Lowe gave up George Kottaras' first major-league homer with two outs in the bottom of the 11th, a blast over the visitors' bullpen, and then gave up a single to Drew. But Lowe retired Dustin Pedroia for the final out to record his first save of the season.
The Red Sox knotted the score against the Mariners' bullpen in the eighth. Bay coaxed a one-out walk from reliever Sean White, and Mark Kotsay drilled a single. Sean Kelley reliever White and retired Jacoby Ellsbury on a fly to deep left, and then Nick Green brushed The Wall for a two-run double that knotted the score at 5-5. George Kottaras fouled out to end the inning.
The Mariners got that run back quickly against Wakefield when Jose Lopez led off the eighth with his 11th homer of the season, a lob into the Monster Seats, restoring their two-run lead at 5-3.
The Red Sox closed the gap to 4-3 in the seventh against Hernandez when J.D. Drew launched his 11th homer into the center-field bleachers.
The Mariners could thank a fan in the first row of the box seats near their dugout for letting them take a 4-2 lead in the fourth.
The fan caught a foul ball in his cap in front of third baseman Kevin Youkilis to allow Ryan Langerhans to stay alive at the plate. He doubled on the next pitch while hundreds of other fans began chanting "It's all your fault!" Chris Woodward flied to center for what should have been the final out of the inning.
Johnson then slammed his second double of the game, and light-hitting Ronny Cedeno (.131) lofted a three-run homer next to the flagpole in shallow center field as the chants grew louder.
The Mariners nicked Tim Wakefield for a run in the third. Rob Johnson led off with a double, took third on a sharp single to center by the league's leading hitter, Ichiro Suzuki, and scored on a single by Russell Branyan. But Wakefield got the next two batters to pop out and limit the damage to a single run.
The Red Sox jumped in front 2-0 in the first inning against righthander Felix Hernandez, the American League Pitcher of the Month for June (3-0, 0.94), who gave up his first runs at Fenway in 16 career innings.
Dustin Pedroia reached on an infield hit, and David Ortiz, installed in the cleanup position, drew a two-out walk. Jason Bay ended an 0-for-17 tailspin with his first hit as an American citizen, lobbing a ground-rule double into the right-field stands for his league-leading 70th RBI of the season. Bay, a Canadian by birth, took the oath of citizenship yesterday at Faneuil Hall in Boston. Ortiz came home when Hernandez uncorked a wild pitch.
Tim Wakefield makes history tonight when he starts a game for the Red Sox for the 383rd time in his career, more than any other pitcher in the 109-year history of the club. He currently shares the record with Roger Clemens.
Wakefield will be opposed on the mound by the Mariners' Felix Hernandez, who has yet to give up a run in 15 career innings at Fenway Park and was just named AL Pitcher of the Month after going 3-0 with an 0.94 ERA in June.
The starting lineups:
Mariners
Ichiro Suzuki, rf
Russell Branyan, 1b
Jose Lopez, 2b
Ken Griffey, Jr., dh
Franklin Gutierrez, cf
Ryan Langerhans, lf
Chris Woodward, 3b
Rob Johnson, c
Ronny Cedeno, ss
Felix Hernandez, rhp
Red Sox
J.D. Drew, rf
Dustin Pedroia, 2b
Kevin Youkilis, 3b
David Ortiz, dh
Jason Bay, lf
Mark Kotsay, 1b
Jacoby Ellsbury, cf
Nick Green, ss
George Kottaras, c
Tim Wakefield, rhp
Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff
The Boston Celtics announced their roster for the 2009 Orlando Summer League, which will begin play on Monday, July 6.
Second round draft pick Lester Hudson, Gabe Pruitt, and 2008 draft picks J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker will participate in the Summer League entry. Filling out the roster will be Mike Sweetney, Nick Fazekas, Coby Karl, Robert Swift and Darius Washington. Rookie free agents on the roster include Chris Lofton, Bryce Taylor, Kevin Rogers and Bryan Mullins.
The Roster:
NO. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. College
57 Nick Fazekas F 7-0 235 Nevada
4 J.R. Giddens G 6-5 215 New Mexico
26 Lester Hudson G 6-3 190 Tennessee-Martin
46 Coby Karl G 6-5 215 Boise State
37 Chris Lofton G 6-2 200 Tennessee
38 Bryan Mullins G 6-3 190 Southern Illinois
13 Gabe Pruitt G 6-4 170 Southern California
58 Kevin Rogers F 6-9 250 Baylor
47 Bryce Taylor G 6-5 210 Oregon
56 Mike Sweetney F 6-9 270 Georgetown
59 Robert Swift C 7-1 270 Bakersfield HS (CA)
12 Bill Walker F 6-6 220 Kansas State
36 Darius Washington G 6-2 195 Memphis
Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff
Free agency opens today and the Boston Celtics want Rasheed Wallace. They're apparently not playing their hand close to the vest on this one either.
Danny Ainge, the team's executive director of basketball operations and general manager told Comcast Sports Net the Celtics plan to meet with Wallace soon, though no time was set at the time of the interview.
Wallace, a 6-foot-11 forward, is a 14-year NBA veteran. He averaged 12 points and 7.4 rebounds per game this season. A four-time All-Star, he averaged 15 points and 6.9 rebounds for his career. He is also a career 34 percent 3-point shooter, and he has recorded 1.3 blocked shots per game for his 14 seasons.
The full interview will appear on Mohegan Sun Sports Tonight at 6:30 p.m.
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