5/14 @ Baltimore Orioles

[redsoxrules]

No panic in loose clubhouse at trip's end


BALTIMORE -- If the stress of dropping five games out of six is starting to weigh on the Red Sox, they have a funny way of showing it. Not even falling out of first place is a cause for panic. Instead, there's an everything-will-be-OK vibe.
As reporters staked out designated hitter David Ortiz to get an explanation of his ninth-inning ejection following Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Orioles, Manny Ramirez played the unlikely role of traffic cop/comic relief to cut the tension.

It started innocently enough, while Ortiz was shining his shoes and joking with teammates. Two lockers away, Ramirez turned to the waiting media members and said, "We turn the page. Go home."

Then things got downright funny. As Ortiz turned to face the music and explain his actions, Ramirez approached the hoard, arms outstretched, creating a buffer zone between questioners and quarry, and muttered something suggesting that Big Papi had the easy out if he wanted to take it.

The 10-game road trip that started so promisingly with three wins in four games at Detroit has turned into a 4-5 bender. It ends Wednesday at Camden Yards, when the Red Sox play an afternoon getaway game, a Thursday off-day as their reward before beginning a seven-game homestand.

"Scuffling?" asked bench coach Brad Mills, who managed the team while Terry Francona flew to be with his family in Arizona following the passing of his mother-in-law. "I think we're still having some good at-bats. ... Guys are putting good at-bats together."

That's all that has to happen, catcher Jason Varitek said. That, and, well, a couple of good outings by starting pitchers.

"Those things have to fall your way a little bit," Varitek said. "We got out there and we start with a quality pitching outing and it'll make a way, because I think we've had some decent at-bats."

Leave it to erstwhile philosopher Ramirez, who is two home runs short of 500 for his career, to put the latest disappointing chapter of the Red Sox's road trip into perspective.

"This day is gone," Ramirez said. "We're going to move on."

Pitching matchup
BOS: LHP Jon Lester (2-2, 4.06 ERA)
Lester has allowed three earned runs or less in his last three starts, and that kind of outing is just what the Red Sox need at the end of a long, frustrating road swing.

BAL: RHP Daniel Cabrera (3-1, 3.54 ERA)
What happened to the Cabrera who led the American League in losses and walks last season? This year's version has cut down on free passes, is stingy with hits and is piling up strikeouts.

Tidbits
Despite a fingernail problem, right-hander Clay Bucholz will make his next scheduled start on Sunday, when the Red Sox close out an Interleague series at Fenway Park against the Brewers. ... Ramirez has 145 RBIs in his career at Camden Yards, fourth-most all-time behind three Hall of Famers: Harmon Killebrew and Carl Yastrzemski (170 each) and Al Kaline (158).

[BoSox21]

Buchholz won't be making that start considering he's been put on the DL

[Jayhawk Bill]

Today's scheduled home plate umpire is Wally Bell. Boston has beaten Baltimore the last three times Bell has called a game between the two teams. Lester has pitched with Bell called balls and strikes once, and Boston won that game. Daniel Cabrera lost his only game pitched with Bell behind home plate.

Bell is a pitchers' umpire with, IIRC, a wide strike zone. Considering that and the afternoon getaway game, I expect a low-scoring matchup.

***

The individuals playing for Boston and Baltimore may also affect the outcome of the game.

[BoSox21]

Lineups:

Red Sox

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, RF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
6. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
7. Jason Varitek, C
8. Alex Cora, SS
9. Joanthan Van Every, CF*

-- Jon Lester, SP

Orioles

1. Brian Roberts, 2B
2. Jay Payton, LF
3. Nick Markakis, RF
4. Aubrey Huff, 3B
5. Kevin Millar, 1B
6. Ramon Hernandez, C
7. Luke Scott, DH
8. Adam Jones, CF
9. Freddie Bynum, SS

-- Daniel Cabrera, SP

*Van Every isn't guaranteed to make it to the ballpark by gametime

[riverside sluggers]

Jon Lester (4 games vs Baltimore, 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA---Career at Camden yards in 2 games, 1-0 with an 0.00 ERA)
Brian Roberts, 3 for 9 (.333 avg) 2 Doubles, K, 2 SBs
Jay Payton, 3 for 11 (.273 avg) RBI, Walk, 2 Ks
Nick Markakis, 3 for 10 (.300 avg) Double, RBI, Walk, K
Aubrey Huff, 3 for 9 (.333 avg) K
Kevin Millar, 1 for 9 (.111 avg) 2 Walks, 2 Ks
Luke Scott, 0 for 2
Adam Jones, 4 for 5 (.800 avg) Walk, K, 2 SBs
Freddie Bynum, 0 for 4, K
Guillermo Quiroz, 1 for 2 (.500 avg)
///
Alex Cintron, 2 for 2 (1.000 avg) Walk
Ramon Hernandez, 2 for 8 (.250 avg) HR, RBI, Walk, K
Melvin Mora, 3 for 8 (.375 avg) 2 RBIs, Walk, 2 Ks

Daniel Cabrera (12 games vs Boston, 2-9 with a 7.84 ERA---Career at Camden Yards in 66 games, 22-28 with a 5.08 ERA)
Jacoby Ellsbury, 5 for 10 (.500 avg) HR, RBI, K, 2 SBs
Dustin Pedroia, 4 for 8 (.500 avg) 2 Doubles, RBI, K
David Ortiz, 4 for 20 (.200 avg) 2 RBIs, 8 Walks, 4 Ks, SB
Manny Ramirez, 3 for 13 (.231 avg) 3 RBIs, 3 Walks, 2 Ks
Mike Lowell, 6 for 13 (.462 avg) Double, 2 HRs, 8 RBIs, 3 Walks
Kevin Youkilis, 6 for 16 (.375 avg) 5 Doubles, 3 RBIs, 3 Walks, 6 Ks
Jason Varitek, 4 for 18 (.222 avg) Double, HR, 4 RBIs, 3 Walks, 9 Ks, 2 SBs
Alex Cora, 11 for 23 (.478 avg) Double, Triple, HR, RBI, 4 Ks
Jonathan Van Every, 1 for 3 (.333 avg) 2 Ks
///
Sean Casey, 2 for 7 (.286 avg) Double, 2 RBIs
Kevin Cash, 0 for 3, K
Coco Crisp, 4 for 11 (.364 avg) 3 RBIs, Walk, 2 Ks
J.D. Drew, 3 for 9 (.333 avg) Double, 3 Walks, K
Julio Lugo, 3 for 19 (.158 avg) Triple, RBI, 3 Walks, 3 Ks, SB

[The Dustball]

That run was manufactured by Ellsbury's speed. Infield single, SB and scoring on the base hit. 1-0

[redsoxrules]

Vtek needs to stop swinging at the first pitch , his numbers are awfull doing so 444 OPS

[The Dustball]

So far so good today with Lester. He's attacking the zone and working very economically at 19 pitches (14 strikes) through 2 innings.

[redsoxrules]

great start for lester . first 6 retired on just 19 pitches

[redsoxrules]

should of had ellsbury steal again there , would of got out of the DP

[Jayhawk Bill]

Gary Thorne on MASN comments that the ump says that Quiroz held up, but that it looked exactly the same as what David Ortiz did last night that was called strike three.

[TheKilo]

Cabrera has thrown nothing but fastballs all day. Like, 100% of his pitches have been fastballs.

[redsoxrules]

3 fucking DP allready and were just inthe 5th

[The Dustball]

Hahahaha. AWESOME! MANNY WITH THE DEFENSE

[Jayhawk Bill]

That's the best catch I've ever seen Manny make.