Did the Sox really have to run into Roy Halladay on his way to yet another Cy? What the hell, I feel like firing up MVP Baseball and replaying this game into a win. Bronson Arroyo pitched decently (8 IP, 3 ER), but Halladay’s in some sort of zone.
That 5th inning was particulary frustrating: men on 1st and 2nd, no one out, and each player then decides to make an out his favourite way: Mueller with the flyout, Bellhorn with the K, Damon with the groundout. If they had grouded out, flied out, and then K’d the Sox might have gotten one run. But then, proving that things don’t work out that way in real life - came a 6th inning where the bases were loaded with no outs and a Nixon sac fly turned into a sort-of double play.
Meanwhile, Ramon Vazquez has left the building.
One day after recalling Abe Alvarez from Triple-A Pawtucket, the Red Sox sent the pitcher back down, along with infielder Ramon Vazquez.
Left-hander Lenny DiNardo and right-hander Jeremi Gonzalez will be recalled from Pawtucket on Monday.
Poor Abe. Brought in from Rhode Island just to see the sights of Boston. I suppose the game was considered too close to risk on a (semi-)rookie lefty, on the grounds that a bad outing could ruin his confidence (see Meredith, Cla), but any signs over the past few days that Alan Embree is any good seems to have been only so much fool’s gold. Good to see Lenny D back. But I would like to see some shoring up of the bullpen. Shingo Takatsu?