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Home » April 2011 Game CommentsApril 2011 » Home Free

Home Free

Alex Rodriguez was scratched from the lineup, an absence that Josh Beckett would appreciate. The third baseman has an impressive line against Beckett: .286 batting average, .365 on-base percentage, and .518 slugging percentage in the 56 at bats they have squared off against each other.

Looking over the splits the Yankees in general have hit Beckett well, but the starter bucked the trend in the series finale. The righty was reminiscent of his 2003 self that won the World Series MVP. Beckett had the second quality start by a Red Sox starter: 8 innings pitched, 2 hits, no runs, 1 walk, and 10 strikeouts. If starts were graded like beef, Beckett’s would only be available at fine restaurants.

Of course it was the sparkplug of the team, Dustin Pedroia, who scored the first run. Pedroia led off the third with a single up the middle and scrambled to third on Adrian Gonzalez’s rope to right. Kevin Youkilis walked to load the bases.

Then David Ortiz grounded out to Robinson Cano. The Yankees second baseman relayed to Derek Jeter, who had no problem completing the double play with a toss to Mark Teixeira. Pedroia seemed to score on the twin killing, but second base umpire Mark Wegner applied the letter of the law to Youkilis’s take-out slide and made Pedroia return to third. Fortunately for Wegner, Pedroia was driven in by Mike Cameron’s infield single to Eric Chavez. Rodriguez’s replacement bobbled the ball and couldn’t throw it across the diamond in time for the final out.

Ironically, it was probably Nick Swisher’s collision with Tsuyoshi Nishioka on April 7 that prompted Wegner’s call. Nishioka will miss three to four weeks with a fracture of the fibula.

Another incident that may have influenced Wegner was a tangle between former Red Sox player Bill Hall and former Red Sox prospect Hanley Ramirez on Friday. The Mariners meted out justice today when reliever Edward Mujica drilled Hall in their series finale in Houston.

But the Astros and Marlins have only one more series against each other. The Red Sox and Yankees have 16 more games. As tempted as Joba Chamberlain was to drill Youkilis in the bottom of the sixth, with the score 1-0, the bases loaded, and two out, he didn’t. Chamberlain can return to his head-hunting ways next series — provided he is still in the majors.

It’s one thing to turn a double play with Ortiz trucking down the first base line, but Pedroia turned a stunning double play in the third with the speedy Brett Gardner in the box. Pedroia chased down Gardner’s batted ball, dashed to second with Chavez bearing down on him, and then pivoted on the sack using it to propel his throw to first.

The home team had loaded the bases two times and had a single run to show for it. Marco Scutaro finally came through with a two-RBI double to left in the seventh with ducks on the pond and one out.

Ortiz tacked on another run in the eighth, plating Youkilis with a double to the triangle. Jonathan Papelbon took out his anger about not pitching in a save opportunity against the Yankees, striking out two of the three batters he faced.

Perhaps this game will convert the boy in this video. If not, we don’t need him.

Game 9: April 10, 2011
New York Yankees
5-4
0
L: CC Sabathia (0-1)
No extra base hits
WinBoston Red Sox
2-7
4
W: Josh Beckett (1-1)
2B: Marco Scutaro (1), David Ortiz (2)

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