Sure, the wins are nice, but…

Posted by Ted McEnroe April 30, 2008 at 11:37 pm

The Boston Red Sox are making these ninth inning wins look too easy. They needed two tries tonight, but eventually, Manny Ramirez strode home to give Jonathan Papelbon his second win in as many nights. The Red Sox starting pitching has been stellar, and with clutch hitting pulling out a pair of wins, all is well, right?

So why am I unhappy? Well, one, because I am a Sox fan, and it’s our nature. Believe it or not, I’m not that concerned with the Red Sox hitters. They have faced some strong pitching in Tampa and Toronto, even going back to Edwin Jackson in Tampa, a guy with mediocre stats but great talent if he ever puts it together.

But there are two bones to pick tonight.

1. The Red Sox pitching between starters and closer is not looking like the group that did the job so effectively in 2007.

2. Manny’s head. Not in the game. Tonight’s win should have been 90 feet easier than it was, but Manny being Manny the man-child, threw up his hands in celebration and stopped at second base as Jed Lowrie was thrown out at the plate by Vernon Wells. If Manny had kept running, he’d have been on third, and the play to win the game wouldn’t have been at all close.

I love Manny. I love his childlike enthusiasm for the game. And he’ll win more games for Boston than he’ll lose for them. But it’s the little things…

Pierce, Celtics top Hawks 110-85 and take 3-2 lead in series

Posted by Jimmy Golen, AP Sports Writer April 30, 2008 at 11:37 pm Takedowns and menacing gestures. Double technicals and flagrant fouls. And the Boston Celtics are heading to Atlanta to try to deliver the knockout punch. Paul Pierce scored a playoff-high 22 points and Ray Allen hit three 3-pointers in the middle of the third quarter Wednesday night to turn back the Hawks' last charge, leading Boston to a hard-fought 110-85 victory ...

Celtics take game 5, 110-85 over Atlanta

Posted by NECN - Sports April 30, 2008 at 11:28 pm

(NECN) - It was good to be home.

The Boston Celtics looked sloppy at times, but were able to roll over the Atlanta Hawks, 110-85 at the TD Banknorth Garden Wednesday night. The Celtics got 22 points from Paul Pierce, 20 from Kevin Garnett and 19 from Ray Allen in the win, as well as 13 points from Sam Cassell and 10 points and 7 rebounds from Leon Powe.

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Sox walk off winners

Posted by Extra Bases April 30, 2008 at 10:58 pm

Deja vu?

With men on first and second base and no outs -- last night the rally came with two outs -- Mike Lowell struck out looking. That brought up Brandon Moss in a key situation. And Moss converted, his single heading up the middle like Kevin Youkilis's did yesterday.

But Jed Lowrie, the pinch runner for David Ortiz, was called out at the plate for the second out of the inning. Rod Barajas did a masterful job of blocking the plate, grabbing the second out of the inning.

Jason Varitek made it happen, though, his single to center bringing home Manny Ramirez.

That's a 2-1 win for the Sox.

Familiar…

Posted by Extra Bases April 30, 2008 at 10:53 pm

Doesn't this seem a little familiar?

A tie game, heading into the bottom of the ninth, with David Ortiz on first base?

Hmm...

Pick off

Posted by Extra Bases April 30, 2008 at 10:48 pm

That was Jonathan Papelbon's first regular season pick off of his career.

You might remember that World Series pick off of Matt Holliday, however.

Papelbon in

Posted by Extra Bases April 30, 2008 at 10:29 pm

No sooner did Jonathan Papelbon come into the game than Matt Stairs hit a line single into centerfield. He was replaced by John McDonald on first base.

It's still 1-1 in the top of the ninth.

Sox beat the Blue Jays 2-1 in the 9th

Posted by NECN - Sports April 30, 2008 at 10:19 pm

BOSTON (AP) - Manny Ramirez slid in just ahead of the tag on
Jason Varitek's single in the ninth, giving the Boston Red Sox
their second straight win in their last at bat, 2-1 over the
Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night.

Ramirez barely beat the throw from center fielder Vernon Wells,
who had thrown out Jed Lowrie at the plate on the previous play, a
single by Brandon Moss. When umpire Sam Holbrook made the safe
call, Ramirez slammed his helmet to the ground and was swarmed by
teammates.

The Red Sox had beaten the Blue Jays 1-0 on Tuesday night on

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Tie game

Posted by Extra Bases April 30, 2008 at 10:18 pm

With men on second and third and no outs, it would have been a tall task for Hideki Okajima to prevent the tying run from scoring. And he couldn't.

Alex Rios hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Adam Lind, making the score 1-1. That means Daisuke Matsuzaka won't get the win tonight. There's still a man (Marco Scutaro) on second base with two outs.

Mike Timlin is now warming in the pen.

Quick change artists

Posted by Extra Bases April 30, 2008 at 10:11 pm

That didn't last long.

Manny Delcarmen came in for one batter, Adam Lind. When Lind singled, Delcarmen was removed for Hideki Okajima. That means the game tying run is on first base with no outs in the top of the eighth inning.

Also, Jonathan Papelbon is warming in the Red Sox bullpen.

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