Saturday, June 16, 2007

Top Of The Order Powers Sox

On a night that the Boston Red Sox and the Fenway Park crowd saluted a 2004 championship season hero, it was power from the top of the batting order and rock steady pitching by Julian Tavarez that catapulted the home team to a 10-2 drubbing of the San Francisco Giants.
Something special was in the air as Dave Roberts strode to the plate to begin the game. The crowd rose as one to salute him, and the players and manager stood on the top step of the home dugout and did the same. My eyes grew misty as I watched the spectacle as memories of that key stolen base flashed through my mind. What a way to start a Friday night of baseball! And the Sox sported a new-look lineup, with JD Drew and Dustin Pedroia batting in the one and two spots. Together they combined to go 8 for 9. The rest of the club? Would you believe 1-24? I kid you not, but the 10 runs scored by the good guys were by far the most in recent memory. Let's hope they saved some runs for the rest of the weekend.
Julian Tavarez settled down after allowing 2 first inning runs. He was rock steady through 7 as he solidified his hold on the number 5 spot in the rotation. Said ex-teammate Barry Bonds........

"He looks a lot calmer as a starter than coming out of the bullpen all wired up," said Bonds, Tavarez's teammate in San Francisco in the late 1990s. "He looked a lot calmer and knew what he wanted to do out there. You could see it in his delivery. You could see it in his face. He just was more focused."

Peter here. The bullpen finished off the Giants, as the Darkman breezed through a 1-2-3 8th inning and Joel Piniero finished things up. Coupled with the Yankees' loss to the Mets, the AL East lead grew to 8 1/2 games, and with Tom Glavine pitching for the Mets today, that lead might widen further. The Fenway pitching matchup features Daisuke Matsuzaka going against the Giants' Matt Cain, as the Red Sox hope to increase their AL East lead. Catch it on Fox in a nationally televised 3:30 duel. This morning, finally, a sense of relief has washed over RSN. Fleeting, just a hint, a taste, but sweet nonetheless. More please!
Click on the title of this post for more on the Friday night performance by Julian Tavarez, penned by the Boston Herald's Steve Buckley. Great reading. And everyone, thanks for stopping in. Have a wonderful weekend.

9 Comments:

At 6/16/2007 8:23 AM, Blogger VTek said...

I'm lovin' this series so far - Go Sox!

 
At 6/16/2007 8:27 AM, Blogger Peter N said...

Hi Carol. Last night was so much fun! And I needed it....after 2 weeks of frustration and stymied chances, a veritable blowout! I can't wait for the 3:30 game, nationally televised on Fox. Go Daisuke.........and Tavie was SO SO great!!

 
At 6/16/2007 9:12 AM, Blogger Ian said...

Hopefully JD can stay hitting now again. Tavarez is making it hard on the Sox to bring up Lester. But it also means they don't have to rush him back.

 
At 6/16/2007 10:42 AM, Blogger Peter N said...

Exactly Ian......when Tavie performs like last night, he ain't goin' nowhere! And the darkman was effortless, as was Piniero in another blowout. Another? I mis-spoke!

 
At 6/16/2007 12:05 PM, Blogger Michael Leggett said...

"Jose', Jose', Jose', Jose', Jose', Jose'", shallring in the ears of Roger "Pocket Rocket" Clemens:

Whilst Dustin Pedroia Turned Zito into a dustbin;

3:55PM-FOX Saturday Baseball

 
At 6/16/2007 12:26 PM, Blogger Peter N said...

As Billy Shakes said...."Well said in faith, M'lord."
Or something like that. I will be tuned to Fox...and thanks ML!

 
At 6/16/2007 11:23 PM, Blogger Katiee said...

that was just all around an amazing game
Pedroia, Tavarez, Roberts, Drew
niiiicee

 
At 6/17/2007 7:10 AM, Blogger Peter N said...

And now, on this Sunday morning, we are again on the verge of going 30 games over .500. This time I hope it happens! Go Timmah!!!!

 
At 6/17/2007 7:13 AM, Blogger Peter N said...

I meant 20 games over .500...wisshful thinking!

 

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