07/02/2009

At 42, Wakefield's not getting older, he's getting better
With a 10-3 record and a 4.18 ERA heading into Friday night's game, Tim Wakefield should be a strong candidate for the American League All-Star team

07/01/2009

Red Sox journal: Bay unfazed by his 0-for-Baltimore series

Red Sox 6, Orioles 5: Papelbon's now the Sox' all-time saves leader

Red Sox 6, Orioles 5: Sox turn tables on O's
One night after blowing a nine-run lead to Baltimore, Boston rallies from a 5-1, ninth-inning deficit and pulls it out in 11

Orioles 11, Red Sox 10: Smoltz' performance a bright spot for the Sox

06/30/2009

Orioles 11, Red Sox 10: A monumental collapse for the Sox
Boston's bullpen blows a 10-1, seventh-inning lead and loses in Baltimore

Francona uneasy with 'this time it counts' approach to All-Star Game
The Sox' skipper believes the decision to give home-field advantage in the World Series to the league that wins the All-Star Game puts the manager -- trying to win, but also trying to get everyone into the game -- in a difficult position

Red Sox journal: Proceeding with caution -- Lowell is on DL
Even though the Sox' third baseman is feeling better after receiving an injection in his hip, the Sox decide to give Lowell a few weeks' rest

06/29/2009

Red Sox 4, Orioles 0: Drew leads the way and Lester does the rest
"It seems like every time [Terry Francona] mixes it up, we do something good for him," Dustin Pedroia says.

Papelbon ties Red Sox' saves record, says ‘I’m coming after’ Rivera
BALTIMORE –– Jonathan Papelbon was walking down the hall in the team’s hotel here late Sunday night when teammate Dustin Pedroia came running out of his room.

Pedroia returns to second spot; Lowell treated with injection
BALTIMORE — Dustin Pedroia says he doesn’t care either way, but manager Terry Francona believes moving Pedroia back to the No. 2 spot in the order will help him.

06/28/2009

Braves 2, Red Sox 1: Boston shedding no tears over end of interleague play
ATLANTA –– The Red Sox can finally put interleague games behind them for 2009.

Despite early scare, Penny delivers another sharp performance
ATLANTA –– The Red Sox took a chance when they signed Brad Penny during the offseason. He battled shoulder problems all last season with the Dodgers, and he’s remained healthy so far for Boston in 2009.

Lowell to receive injection for aching hip
ATLANTA –– Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell was to return to Boston on Sunday night and on Monday morning will receive a Synvisc injection into his surgically repaired hip.

Red Sox are believers in rookie phenom Tommy Hanson
ATLANTA – Until Sunday, the Red Sox had not faced Braves pitching prospect Tommy Hanson. They hope they don’t see him again anytime soon.

06/27/2009

Red Sox journal: Bay gets a rare day off

Red Sox 1, Braves 0: Kotsay steps in and comes through

06/26/2009

Beckett shakes off illness and gives Braves a sick feeling
ATLANTA –– The fact Josh Beckett had been bothered by "intestinal turmoil" and some "throat stuff" all week didn’t stifle his ability to dominate the Atlanta Braves –– again.

Red Sox 4, Braves 1: Beckett’s arm, Pedroia’s baserunning lead Boston past Atlanta
ATLANTA — There are many different ways to win a ballgame. The Red Sox’ Dustin Pedroia has accomplished almost every single one of them.

Lowell out indefinitely, might receive injection for hip problem
ATLANTA –– Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell was out of Friday’s lineup because of soreness in his surgically repaired hip.

06/25/2009

Smoltz's debut a continuation of the Sox' offseason blueprint
Instead of signing big-name free agents during the offseason, general manager Theo Epstein -- after being rebuffed by Mark Teixeira and A.J. Burnett, both of whom signed megacontracts with the Yankees -- went a different route and acquired a mix of short-term, low-priced players, all of whom fill a different role.

Nationals 9, Red Sox 3: Smoltz encouraged despite rocky Boston beginning
'I can't be disappointed,' said the veteran right-hander, who says he feels fine and thinks his performance will get better in subsequent starts

Red Sox journal: Ortiz pleased about reaching latest milestone
'I'm having fun now,' says the rejuvenated slugger

06/24/2009

Dusty Brown's 'awesome' time with the Sox comes to an end
With pitcher John Smoltz set to be activated on Thursday, Brown was sent back to the minors.

Green avoids injury when broken bat flies toward him as he tries to field ground ball
"It happened so fast you really don't have time to react. I just did what I had to do to try to get out of the way of the bat," he said.

Red Sox 6, Nationals 4: Ortiz and Varitek power Sox to victory
Ortiz hits a three-run homer and Varitek adds a two-run shot as Boston jumps out to a 6-1 lead, then holds off Washington

Red Sox journal: Smoltz, on the eve of his first Sox start, is raring to go

For now, Lugo is content with playing the good soldier
Julio Lugo isn't exactly thrilled to be riding the pine for the Red Sox, but he's willing to wait and see how things pan out when Jed Lowrie returns.

06/23/2009

A capital performance for Bay
His 4-for-6 performance against the Nationals, including a home run, three singles, three runs scored and three RBI, increased his average to .286 and helped Boston to an 11-3 victory.

Dusty Brown makes major-league debut
Brown's stay with the Sox will be a short one, since the club needs to activate veteran pitcher John Smoltz for his start against the Nationals on Thursday.

Red Sox 11, Nationals 3: Sox make successful return to Washington
Back in the capital for the first time since being honored for their 2007 World Series championship, the Red Sox pound out 17 hits and rout the Nats before the biggest crowd in the history of Nationals Park

Red Sox journal: Nationals Park gets thumbs-up from Sox
'Boston needs a place like this,' says David Ortiz

06/19/2009

Braves 8, Red Sox 2: Masterson effective again in relief of Dice-K

Red Sox journal: Braves' Jones says Youkilis is a hitter to be feared
During the World Baseball Classic, Kevin Youkilis made fans out of USA-squad teammates Jones and Brian McCann, both of the Atlanta Braves.

Papelbon: I don't want to leave Boston
Clarifying statements he made earlier about playing for the Yankees, the Boston reliever says he's happy with the Red Sox.

Lowe looks back with fondness at his time with Red Sox
Lowe will face Josh Beckett Saturday night in his first start at Fenway since Game Four of the ALCS against the Yankees in 2004

06/18/2009

Red Sox journal: Drew gets the night off (updated postgame)
Drew, who has battled back problems, reported that he is healthy and ready whenever called on.

06/17/2009

Red Sox 6, Marlins 1: Penny shines again for Sox
The veteran right-hander raises his record to 6-2 as he leads Boston to its second straight win over the Marlins

06/11/2009

Red Sox 4, Yankees 3: Ortiz sticks it to Yanks

Red Sox 4, Yankees 3: Two great defensive plays helped win the battle

Red Sox journal: Lowrie to take BP in Lowell early next week

06/10/2009

Okajima 'was our star of the game,' according to Papelbon
With the Sox holding a one-run lead and a runner on second in the top of the eighth inning, he struck out Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon to secure Boston's slim advantage.

Red Sox 6, Yankees 5: Sox make it seven in a row against Yanks
Boston pounds Chien-Ming Wang in building leads of 4-1 and 6-2, then holds on with Jonathan Papelbon nailing down his 15th save

Red Sox journal: Sox turn to pitching in second day of draft

A couple of firsts for Daniel Bard on Tuesday
The young right-hander faces the Yankees, and pitches in the ninth inning, for the first time

06/09/2009

Red Sox 7, Yankees 0: Confident Beckett outpitches Burnett
As the two clubs battle for the top spot in the A.L. East during this three-game set, Josh Beckett gave a vintage performance to help Boston to a 7-0 victory on a rainy, cold and windy night. He worked six scoreless innings and allowed only one hit with two walks and eight strikeouts.

Portsmouth High's Westmoreland bound for Lowell
Westmoreland needed offseason shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum and he’s been rehabbing in Fort Myers since December.

06/08/2009

No one tries harder than David: Teammates see signs of life from Ortiz
BOSTON –– The erase board on the back of the Red Sox clubhouse door on Friday read: "Early BP tomorrow at 3 p.m."

06/07/2009

Red Sox journal: Ortiz has six-game hitting streak

Rangers 6, Red Sox 3: Kotsay gets the job done off the bench
Mark Kotsay, who was acquired via trade from Atlanta last August, went 2-for-3, including a solo home run and two runs scored. It was his first homer as a Red Sox.

06/06/2009

Red Sox 8, Rangers 1: Near no-hitters are no coincidence with these Sox

Red Sox vs. Rangers: Lugo smarting over what he feels is unfair criticism
The veteran shortstop doesn't agree with critics who say his defense has deteroriated

Red Sox journal: Baldelli-Sox 'partnership' working well
The Rhode Island native is benefitting from the plan he and the team worked out in spring training

06/05/2009

Red Sox hope to continue to prosper in the draft
No matter if the economy is good, or in dire straits, Boston's philosophy is to put the necessary resources into scouting and development in order to help the Red Sox remain perennial winners.

Red Sox journal: Despite 'dry' eyes, Ortiz's vision is 20-20

06/04/2009

PawSox 7, Louisville 3: The offense finally comes to life
PawSox come through in crucial situations, backing the pitching of Clay Buchholz, as they defeat the Bats

Buchholz' sterling year continues, but to what end?
The right-hander is now 4-0 with a 1.74 ERA after Thursday night's victory; however, his road to Boston seems even more clogged as John Smoltz prepares to join the Red Sox

PawSox journal: Lopez back on track after time at McCoy
The ex-Red Sox left-hander says in 'a little better place' mentally than he was at the time of his demotion