big comeback by the Padres in the 8th and 9th today and they won their tenth straight. The Dodgers keep winning, too, though, so San Diego is still 7.5 out.
Adrian Gonzalez hit his major league leading 21st homer today in a loss to the Phillies. Pretty astonishing considering his home games are at Petco.
Josh Beckett threw 6.1 innings of no hit ball against Detroit before Curtis Granderson singled. 9-0 Red Sox in the 8th. Seems like a lot of the no hit bids recently also featured the winning team piling up the runs. By the way, Josh Beckett has been excellent over his last four starts.
Fielding and Bard attempting to blow a ten run lead. (bottom is beginning of bottom of the 8th) Granderson tripled to center, Thomas, Anderson and Cabrera scored. Cabrera safe at first on 3rd baseman Lowell's fielding error, Laird scored, Thomas to third, Anderson to second. Anderson safe at first on shortstop Green's fielding error, Laird to third, Thomas to second. Josh Anderson hit for Magglio Ordonez. Daniel Bard relieved Josh Beckett. Polanco struck out swinging. Thomas safe at first on 2nd baseman Pedroia's throwing error, Santiago scored, Laird to second. Everett fouled out to catcher. Laird hit by pitch. Ramon Santiago ran for Brandon Inge. Inge doubled to left.
Longer than that actually. Since the end of April (which covers six starts including tonight), Beckett is 4-0, 1.97 ERA, 37 K.
In his last three starts, he has allowed one earned run in 22 2/3 innings -- a 0.4 ERA. I'd say the dominant stretch is the last three or four. at Seattle: 7 IP, 4 H Mets: 8 IP, 5 H at Minnesota: 7 IP, 3 H at Detroit: 7.2 IP, 2 H totals: 29.2 IP, 14 H, 10 BB, 3 ER. the two before that were mediocre.
Wait, how is that possible? I thought the Red Sox bullpen was infallible and that Daniel Bard was the second coming of God's only son? This must be a mistake.
They have the best bullpen in baseball. Those runs were entirely on the defense as they made 3 errors in the 8th inning.
Of course! Because we all know that The Anointed One would never give up a run on his own. (I watched the game, you know. I live in Boston. Bard is not that great, though, despite the hard-on Sox fans have for him.)
He hasn't been great but he's been pretty good. Certainly better than Javier Lopez. He has a 1.04 ERA, and 7 Ks in 8 IP. His control hasn't been great, but he has ridiculous stuff and is only 23. Aren't you the one constantly telling Don not to give up on young pitchers? And anyone who watched the game tonight and has ever seen a baseball game would be forced to conclude that those runs were on the defense. Beckett got a pop up, ground ball to second, and a strikeout, that should have ended the inning. Bard came in and immediately got a groundball to short that should have ended the inning. He then got a groundball to third that should have ended the inning. Those runs were entirely on the defense and any attempt to argue otherwise is simply arguing for the sake of arguing. Besides, like I said, they have the best bullpen in baseball. So even if the defense WASN'T entirely responsible tonight, a bad outing every so often is only normal.
Randy Johnson gets his 300th win with 6 innings of two-hit ball, giving up one unearned run. After looking completely shot in his first 8 starts he's had 3 straight good performances.
Arizona-San Diego is the last game going. I'm following it. Max Scherzer lasted only five innings because he went deep into counts. He had 5 shutout innings, but they included 5 walks and 6 Ks. He left up 2-0. Bottom of the 6th: Padres 6th Leo Rosales pitching: Will Venable: Ball, Ball, Venable doubled to right. Henry Blanco: Ball, Ball, Strike looking, Blanco flied out to right, Venable to third. Chris Burke: Ball, Foul, Strike swinging, Ball, Burke singled to left, Venable scored Edgar V. Gonzalez hit for Kevin Correia. Edgar V. Gonzalez: Pickoff attempt to third, Foul, Pickoff attempt to third, Strike swinging, Foul, Gonzalez flied out to right. Daniel Schlereth relieved Leo Rosales. Tony K. Gwynn: Strike looking, Ball, Ball, Ball, Gwynn walked, Burke to second. David Eckstein: Strike looking, Eckstein singled to center, Burke scored, Gwynn to second. Adrian Gonzalez: Ball, Foul, Ball, Ball, Gonzalez walked, Gwynn to third, Eckstein to second. Chase Headley: Ball, Foul, Headley hit by pitch, Gwynn scored, Eckstein to third, Gonzalez to second Gerardo Parra in center. Brian Giles: Ball, Giles singled to right, Eckstein and Gonzalez scored, Headley to third. Will Venable: Foul, Venable singled to left, Headley scored, Giles to second
