Monday, July 13, 2009

Josh Beckett STUNS Royals...Boston 6 KC 0

The Kansas City Royals didn't stand a chance against a dominatingly effective Josh Beckett as the Boston Red Sox rolled to their third straight victory against that hapless and helpless club. Beckett pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only three hits, striking out seven and walking absolutely nobody. He improved his record to 11-3 and if the AL Cy Young award was given out now, he would be the winner, hands down. Since May 5th, he is 9-1 with a sparkling ERA of 2.13. Quite simply, he is our ace. Sox manager Terry Francona had these words to say...

"He attacked the strike zone with a fastball and it was very obvious they wanted to hit his fastball,” Sox manager Terry Francona said. “He worked ahead and stayed out of the middle. . . . He was so good today. That was fun to watch. I don’t think it’s a coincidence when Beckett and Jon Lester start getting deep in games, that makes us a better team,” Francona said. “Beckett’s ERA has gone from what it was the first month to now. He’s been the Beckett that we’ve come to appreciate. That’s a good guy to lean on.”

The man himself said this...

“I’m making pitches when I need to,” Beckett said after recording his second shutout in five outings. “To not give up runs to big league hitters, that’s what you have to do. You have to make pitches when you’re in those situations.”

It was a truly entertaining and fun game to watch and a future star who goes by the name of Aaron Bates was called up from Pawtucket to play first base. He responded by bashing three hits, including two doubles. He had a few words for the media after the last game before the All Star break concluded...

"We have an unbelievable minor league staff and they do a good job of preparing guys and picking players that can help out,” Bates said. “I was honored that they thought I could help out for a while. You just try and learn as much as you can and off the field stay out of everybody’s way. You try and be a sponge as much as possible. There are a lot of great players up here and you try and learn as much as possible.”

Sponge away, Aaron! In other Red Sox news, Mike Lowell will be activated within a week so we might not see Bates for a while and none other than Clay Buchholz has been named as Friday's starter against the Toronto Blue Jays up in Canada. Is he being showcased as part of a trade for Roy "Doc" Halladay? Who knows? I hope he'll do well. He had a great first half pitching for Pawtucket, going 7-2.

Tomorrow I'll have an overview of the first 88 games of the 2009 season. I like what I see...so do you, I hope. Click on the title of this post for all the glowing news about Josh and as always, BE WELL. Enjoy your Monday. Thanks for popping in, my Constant Readers (thank you Stephen). See ya..

6 Comments:

At 7/13/2009 8:52 AM, Anonymous Lisa K. said...

Three games up going into the break! Wooo-hoooo!

 
At 7/13/2009 10:00 AM, Blogger Peter N said...

A huge woo-hooooo from me, too. What a great time for the Sox 'pen to take a much-needed break. They needed it. And Clay will be going on Friday. I can't wait.

I hope your summer has been great so far, Lisa...it's so nice to hear from you.

Thanks...Pete

 
At 7/13/2009 10:01 AM, Blogger Bosox Fan in Wichita said...

It was almost unfair the way Josh got his 100th career win and it could have been worse (14 LOBs). Fun times!

 
At 7/13/2009 10:30 AM, Blogger Phillip said...

3 games up and a much needed break. I like our position. Kind of weird that Buchholz will start his first game against Toronto. Surely Theo would not be serious about Halladay....would he?

 
At 7/13/2009 11:19 AM, Anonymous Dan said...

Beckett's been unreal as of late, but I don't think you can say he'd be the Cy Young winner hands down. Greinke and Halladay? At least one of them is ahead of him. Don't forget King Felix either. Beckett's great, but he's not having the seasons of some of these guys.

 
At 7/13/2009 11:29 AM, Blogger Peter N said...

BFW, these ARE fun Red Sox times.

Hey Phillip...ya never know in baseball, but Clay will be pitching IN Toronto. The Jays will want a TON for Doc so I think what I've heard is purely speculation.

Hello to you, Dan. Josh is up there with all of them as of late. But that's why the Cy is given out at the end of the season.

To ALL of you, enjoy All Star week while our guys enjoy the much-needed rest. I appreciate you stopping in...I REALLY do! Pete

 

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