The weekend for the Boston Red Sox started off on a horrible note. As the Atlanta Braves arrived in Boston, and promptly spanked the Sox and their starter Daisuke Matsuzaka all over Fenway Park. Fortunately for the Sox and all the proud members of Red Sox Nation, that’s where the bad news ends and the good begins! Basically thanks to Josh Beckett and Nick Green and their outstanding performances during the entire series! Since the Sox came back and took the next two games, winning the series 2 games to 1 with the Braves. So it’s time now to jump right into it and review this past weekend’s series with Atlanta!
Game One – Atlanta 8 – Boston 2
The Braves just loved seeing Dice-K on the mound as they had a field day lighting him up for 6 runs on 8 hits. This game was so ugly and out of control early on that Dice-K only lasted 4 innings, as he allowed the Braves to jump to an early lead. A lead that Atlanta never looked back, as they easily won this game over Boston in the series opener. The Braves capitalized by knocking Dice-K around using the long ball and the doubles game. As 5 of their 8 hits against him went for extra bases (1HR, 4 Doubles) to go along with 4 free passes on the base paths we allowed them.
The Sox who managed only 1 hit in the previous nights game, actually doubled their hit total this night. As they knocked the Braves pitching staff around for a whopping 2 hits on the evening. The only man in the Sox line-up that could figure out the Braves pitching was Jason Bay, who went 2 for 3 on the night with. Bay also had both of Boston’s hits in the game as he doubled of Kenshin Kawakami in the second inning, and then homered off him again in the sixth. Bay’s home-run his 18th on the season provided the only Boston would score on the night.
Game Two – Boston 3 – Atlanta 0
The was the feature match-up of the series as it pitted Beckett (8-3) verse an old friend of ours in Derek Lowe (7-5). Lowe who was making his first trip back to Boston since his departure after the 2004 season, received a HUGE ovation from the Fenway faithful on two different occasions. Actually pitched a pretty good game, but Beckett was simply masterful of the Braves hitters. As he only allowed 5 hits (all singles) while going the distance for a complete game shutout. While only throwing 94 total pitches on the evening. Which was a very welcoming site as Beckett going the distance allowed the Sox to rest their entire bullpen, which was much needed.
Boston’s bats finally came to life after they had taken the previous two nights off. The Sox offense which produced 7 hits (5 doubles) on the night gave Beckett all the runs he needed in the middle innings of the game. As they scored single runs in the 5th, 6th and 7th innings off the bats of Green (2 hits and 1 RBI), Jason Varitek (2 hits,2 runs scored) and Dustin Pedroia. Boston also received defensive contributions from Kevin Youkilis and Mark Kotsay as they both came up with some nifty plays in the field.
Game Three – Boston 6 – Atlanta 5
First off I Just have to say to Nick Green I love you man, as does all of Red Sox Nation! The fans at Fenway who braved the crappy Father’s Dayweather in the series finale, were treated to an offensive explosion at the plate by both teams. As the two teams combined for 24 hits (14 Braves, 10 Sox) and 11 runs, in a back and forthgame. As both starters Tim Wakefield and Jair Jurrjens each were roughed up early on, but somehow both managed to pitch into the seventh inning. The crowd also saw the Sox bullpen (Ramon Ramirez andHideki Okajima) each blowing save opportunities (in the 7th and 8th) as they allowed the Braves to climb back into the game.
In this type of back and forth game there’s only one way possible for this end, withsomething magical happening. And boy oh boy did it ever, thanks to the man named Green and his mighty bat. Withthe game tied at 5 going into the bottom of the ninth, up to the plate strolls Green to lead off for the Sox and ever quicker to end it. Green’s bat combined with a friendly windy push by Mother Nature herself ended it with a walk-off home run on the innings first pitch. Then it was time for the fireworks to begin as Green was trounced and mauled by his fellow teammates as he touched the plate and won the game for the Sox.
So thanks to people named Beckett, Green, Youkilis and Bay, the Sox won the series with the Braves 2 games to 1. Plus they sent the packed house at Fenway (especially all the DADS) home smiling. They also closed out their final home stand for the month of June going 4-2 verse the Florida Marlins and Braves. Now it’s time to hit the road for a 9 game road-trip that has the team facing the Washington Nationals, the Braves and finally wrapping things up with the Baltimore Orioles.
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