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by James Robertson.
Original Post: Nothing but bat
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Gads, as I start writing this, it's only the 4th inning - and the score of the Yankees/Sox game is already 11-6 (Yankees). The pitchers have all been rocked - starters and relievers alike. The Yankees are on their second pitcher - after Brown got rocked, they brought in Vasquez, and he got touched for two - and his control is looking none too good. Meanwhile, Arroyo got shellacked. His replacement, Mendoza, lasted part of an inning before they went to Leskanic - and he just gave up 5 runs. They brought in tomorrow's starter, Wakefield to close the inning down. I guess they'll be handing the ball to Lowe tomorrow night. At this rate, the core could be in double digits for both teams, and it could read like the score of tomorrow's Patriots game.
So here it is the bottom of the fourth - I guess with a 5 run lead, the Yankees feel ok leaving Vasquez in (and he just struck out Bellhorn, so maybe it's ok). This is going to be a game that depletes the pitching staffs if this keeps up. Sheesh, I spoke too soon - a walk to Ramirez after a boatload of pitches, followed by a single to right by Ortiz. Sturtze is getting loose (and let me tell you, that doesn't fill me with confidence) - and there's only one out. Vasquez is not finding the strike zone - and wow, did he get lucky. A line drive right at Olerud, and he was able to tag Ortiz before he got back to the bag. If Vasquez is back out there next inning, I'll be shocked.
I guess this counts as live-blogging - I'll just keep updating the post as stuff of interest happens.
Well, that didn't take long. The top of the fifth was looking quiet with 1 on (Jeter) and one out, and then bam - A-Rod doubled. Now it's 12-6, and there's A-Rod in scoring position. I wonder what the Sox will do if Wakefield starts getting pasted? That bullpen is starting to look very, very thin. And abm - Sheffield pastes another ball for a double, bringing A-Rod home - 13-6. The Sox bench is looking like a wake right now, and I don't think I've ever seen Fenway so quiet - you could just about hear a pin drop... As things have gone tonight, that was a fairly light inning - only 2 more runs scored. It's going to be a long, long night for the Red Sox bullpen at this rate...
Well, Vasquez is back out, and he's being effective. He actually threw a 1-2-3 inning! On to the 6th, and we'll see if the Yankees can get Wakefield torched out.
Maybe things are settling down for awhile. Posada went deep, but to dead center for an out. Huh. Sierra pasted one as well, but to left-center - just about the only place that ball could be caught. Two outs, but Francona can't feel good about those balls - Wakefield dodged two bullets just now. Well, lucky or not, Olerud went quietly - 1-2-3 for Wakefield. The Yankees have a little over 2 innings before they can go to Rivera - I expect to see him out there in the 8th. We'll have to see how the next few innings fall out...
Hmm - Olerud must have hurt his foot on that ground out. He's out, and now Cabrera has just slapped a double to that odd corner in center left. Damon just continued his ineffectuallness in this series - shallow pop out. Fox knows that the game is close to being a laugher - they are out in the stands interviewing Steven King (so this must be a horror movie :) ). Bellhorn just struck out, so we have Ramirez up with 2 gone. And Ramirez goes down on strikes, so it looks like Vasquez has found his pitches, and he's making them. On to the 7th - things are just getting quieter and quieter at Fenway.
And Cairo gets on with an infield hit - The Yankees have their first man on again. Jeter hasn't done much tonight (one walk) - and Damon makes a nice grab on a looper to center. Almost another Red Sox moment as Bellhorn drops a pop in shallow center, but they got Cairo at second - he was assuming an easy out there. Still, 2 outs. Now Fox is looking at stats on teams that have come back from 3-0 in a 7 game series - none in the MLB, none in the NBA - and only 2 in the NHL. In other words, if the Sox lose tonight, the fat lady is warming up. And in anticipation of that, Sheffield just pasted another ball into the green monster for a long single. Wakefield is out, Embree is coming in. Another scoring possibility for the Yankees.
And Matsui just got a single, scoring A-Rod and sending Sheffield to 3rd! 14-6, and no pitcher for the Sox has been up to the task tonight. This game is just washing away from them. And wow - Bernie Williams just put it past Damon, and 2 more runs score, and Williams get sto second. Fenway is now like a crypt - it's filled with the walking dead Sox fans. And Posada finds the wall, scoring Williams, Posada to second for another double. It's now 17-6, and Fox needs to go find Steven King again. Sierra grounds out, and the inning is mercifully over for the Sox. I don't think the Yankees are going to need Rivera at this point - not unless a comeback of epic proportions takes place. At this point, I'm not seeing it. For tonight at least, the Sox are done.
Well, there's some life left in the Sox. Ortiz doubled and Varitek homered - 17-8 now. More bad news for the Sox though - it looks like Ortiz may have hurt himself on his swing somehow. The Yankees have Quantrill warming up, and it looks like Vasquez is just about done. After a shaky start he did enough; he chewed up the middle innings. Nixon got a lot of that ball, but not enough - just a long out. Looks like Quantrill is coming in.
Another hard hit ball by Mueller, but Matsui managed to hold it to a long single. Two outs though, and Quantrill looks like he's got decent stuff tonight. Well, I spoke too soon. Cabrera just lined a single, so Damon comes up with 2 on. Damon flied out harmlessly to left, continuing his inability to hit in this series. No further damage - and Sturtze and Gordon are both warming up. With the 8th inning coing up, I don't expect to see Quantrill go back out. Of course, the open question is - will the night get any longer for Red Sox pitching in the top of the 8th?
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