4 games in non-consecutive days

Red Sox flourish-> but what happened when the sun went down?

No worry of seeing Daisuke Matsuzaka bat today, at least as in spring training I think I saw Dice-K never letting the bat touch the air above his shoulder as he would take his walks and strikeouts with a smile. Luckily he will be pitching against the Atlanta Braves in Boston. The Braves boast a balanced lineup mixed with solid veterans and new up and comers. The usual suspects are the Jones’ with Chipper in the three spot at third base and Andruw in center batting fourth. A familiar face in Edgar Renteria bats second and plays SS, obviously. Jeff Francoeur is a good player at only 23 he is hitting over .300 in RF and has been coined “The Natural” by sports illustrated.

Matsuzaka seems to do well in his first appearances against teams as they go on the hype and take pitches to see what he’s got. So by then they seem to fall behind early and often. Renteria’s the only Brave to touch Dice-k in the first, singles to left but nothing doing.

Anthony Lerew pitching for Atlanta today, but he’ll want that one back as he gives up a homerun to Julio Lugo to start the game 1-0 Boston after one.

Matsuzaka cruises, Lerew gives up a shot to Kevin Youkilis with Pedroia on after his FC-bunt, 3-0 after second for the Red Sox. It seems that Lerew is in for a long day with the Sox hitters rolling. Lerew taken out to start the third as Bobby Cox wants this game to stay close to give his team a chance. Oscar Villarreal gets Crisp to ground into a DP for the Braves to get out of the inning after the double by Mike Lowell. Mark Redman in for Villarreal in the 4th, Cox seems to want to use his pitchers but in short stints as they do have another game today and we may see some of the same relievers later on tonight if things get worse for the Braves. Dice-K cruises through five and looks real sharp today.

Ortiz singles as does Manny and Drew to load the bases with none out for Mike Lowell who takes it deep oh my! He hits a grand slam to left scoring everyone, 7-0 Red Sox. After two consecutive walks by Redman, Chad Paronto (the 4th pitcher) comes on in the bottom of the fifth and one out gets them out of the jam.
Daisuke untested after 6th. Paronto gives up a leadoff double to Ortiz who tags for third on Manny’s deep fly to center. Drew walks and Lowell singles to score Ortiz and Drew is on 2B. Crisp doubles to center its deep Drew and Mike score. Renteria charged with a throwing error as Pedroia reaches first, followed up by Lugo’s double to CF scoring both runners. Paronto is out and Macay McBride enters as I believe the fifth pitcher in six innings. Boston leads 12-0 after six innings played. Ouch! This is getting ugly folks.

Daisuke is human again as he gives up a single to Jarrod Saltalamacchia to score Chipper Jones followed up by a Jeff Francoeur blast to left the score is 12-3. I was wondering the perfect way to say the inserted catchers name as a few may have wondered, I couldn’t find the pronounced version but let’s sound it out (Salt-ala-mach-eea.)
Pena gets one back with a solo mammoth shot, 13-3 after eight. Also after seven Peter Moylan is now pitching. He is also the sixth guy to enter as the Braves pitching staff or should I say the bullpen is getting torched today.

Kyle Snyder is on for Boston and closes it out but not before Saltalamacchia singles. The game ends on a Scott “I am Canadian” Thorman ground out to SS. 13-3 Red Sox win and are 3-0 on doubleheaders this week with the finale coming tonight against these same Braves. Matsuzaka improves to 6-2 while Lerew goes to 0-2.

Tonight’s match up in the second game is a little lopsided as in the first game today as Daisuke was matched up with Lerew. Tonight has John Smoltz against Devern Hansack dueling; this is to be Hansack’s first start for the BoSox this year as he has only pitched once in an appearance for two thirds of an inning against Toronto. But he does have a good name in Hansack for a team like the Red Sox and baseball in general, just don’t ask me why.

Hansack starts quickly as he retires Johnson and Renteria but gives up a long ball to Chipper “don’t call me Larry” Jones. 1-0 Braves after one.
The BoSox hurler gives up back-to-back doubles after a Francoeur ground out to start the inning, 2-0 ATL after three innings at Fenway.

Matt Diaz homers to left after Thorman groundout to second. Hansack relieved by Joel Pineiro to begin the fifth, but doesn’t fair much better giving up two doubles, throwing a wild pitch, while the Atlanta Braves bring the score to 6-0, Smoltz coasting through 5. Pineiro gives up a HR to Johnson after walking Harris to score two.
Pineiro relieved by Javier Lopez, whilst Francona makes some changes defensively putting Pedroia at 2B, Alex Cora at 1B and Eric Hinske in LF.
Lopez struggles in seventh giving up two walks a double, triple, scoring three to run the score up to 11-0. My how the tables have turned from the previous game where the Red Sox enjoyed a 12-0 lead at one point I believe.

JC Romero on for Lopez in the 8th solid if yet unspectacular, As Smoltz leaves after seven strong innings putting on a display after Lerew’s dismal pitching performance in the previous contest. Oscar Villarreal comes on for the second time today, different games but still interesting. He’s fine as he puts the ball in play and defense makes it three up, three down in the 8th.

Donnelly spells Romero after one inning pitched. Defense is the issue for the Sox in the 9th as the Braves somehow have Brian McCann up with runners in scoring position with McCann doubling to CF scoring Woodward and Pete Orr. 14-0 is how this one ends up as Peter Moylan comes in for the ninth and sends the BoSox down in order.
To give Smoltz his sixth win on the season. Kudos to the Braves who were in a tough spot using so many pitchers earlier today and they still came out after getting blown out themselves today, returning the favor to the Red Sox who have had some good performances lately and hopefully don’t take this loss too badly.

Plus for you bloopers fans out there, check out a highlight package from tonight’s game as a Coco Crisp foul ball goes into the Red Sox dugout and Jason Varitek puts his bat out to block it, it ricochets off the bat hitting Wily Mo Pena in the forehead. Classic, everyone was alright though just a bad night all-around when the day started out so well for Boston.

Boston heads to Atlanta starting June 18th for a three game set, so look for another great series of games lopsided or otherwise and I’m out!

This has been a Red Sox game rundown by yours truly Scott Penny care of SoxNest.