Friday, July 08, 2005
Sox Fall In Rain to O's; Payton Dealt
After a slew of roster moves, the Red Sox lost a 3-1, rain-shortened game to the second place Orioles last night in Baltimore. After six innings, umpires called for a rain delay as precipitation worsened. An hour later, with the rain unwavering, the game was called.
The Sox' only run came on a wild pitch by Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera in the third inning. As the ball went to the backstop, Mark Bellhorn sprinted home from third base to give Boston a 1-0 lead.
David Wells soon coughed up the lead, however. Two solo home runs in the bottom of the third by Eli Marrero (who's hitting .185) and Melvin Mora put Baltimore ahead for good. Another run was added by the O's on Sammy Sosa's RBI single in the sixth, a run that proved unnecessary in what was a six-inning game.
The Orioles retained second place with the win, and now stand 3 games behind first-place Boston in the AL East. The Yankees defeated Cleveland, 7-2, in Yankee Stadium, and now move to 3 1/2 games behind the Sox.
Weather permitting, tonight's matchup pitts Bronson Arroyo (6-5, 4.15) against Sidney Ponson (7-6, 5.80) at 7:35.
Payton Heading to Oakland
Several Boston-area newspapers are confirming that disgrunted outfielder Jay Payton, who was designated for assignment before last night's game, will be traded to Oakland for reliever Chad Bradford when Bradford comes off of the disabled list, likely after the All-Star break.
Bradford has not pitched in 2005 due to back surgery. Last season, in what was his worst season since becoming a regular for Oakland out of the bullpen, he went 5-7 with a 4.42 ERA. His submarine-style delivery to tough for righthanded batter to pick up, and he held them to a .202 batting average in 2004.
Payton has begged the Boston front office for two months to move him to another city, and he finally has gotten his wish. The former Mets first-round pick out of Georgia Tech hit .263 with 5 homes runs in a reserve role this season. He could become Oakland's starting center fielder if Mark Kotsay is moved before the deadline.
When Payton was designated for assignment, outfielder Adam Stern was activated off of the sixty-day disabled list and made his first major league start last night. Lenny DiNardo was optioned back to Pawtucket. The Sox also made a trade, exchanging utility infielders with the Indians. The trade sent Ramon Vazquez to Cleveland for Alex Cora.
Schilling Stumbles in Pawtucket
Curt Schilling, in a rehab relief appearance for AAA Pawtucket, allowed two runs, one earned on two hits in a 7-3 loss to Ottawa. Schilling pitched the ninth inning, and the earned run raised his Pawtucket ERA to 7.41 on the season.
Despite the struggles, Schilling and the Pawtucket coaching staff seem to have few concerns. He seems to remain on schedule to return to Boston after the All-Star Break.
The Sox' only run came on a wild pitch by Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera in the third inning. As the ball went to the backstop, Mark Bellhorn sprinted home from third base to give Boston a 1-0 lead.
David Wells soon coughed up the lead, however. Two solo home runs in the bottom of the third by Eli Marrero (who's hitting .185) and Melvin Mora put Baltimore ahead for good. Another run was added by the O's on Sammy Sosa's RBI single in the sixth, a run that proved unnecessary in what was a six-inning game.
The Orioles retained second place with the win, and now stand 3 games behind first-place Boston in the AL East. The Yankees defeated Cleveland, 7-2, in Yankee Stadium, and now move to 3 1/2 games behind the Sox.
Weather permitting, tonight's matchup pitts Bronson Arroyo (6-5, 4.15) against Sidney Ponson (7-6, 5.80) at 7:35.
Payton Heading to Oakland
Several Boston-area newspapers are confirming that disgrunted outfielder Jay Payton, who was designated for assignment before last night's game, will be traded to Oakland for reliever Chad Bradford when Bradford comes off of the disabled list, likely after the All-Star break.
Bradford has not pitched in 2005 due to back surgery. Last season, in what was his worst season since becoming a regular for Oakland out of the bullpen, he went 5-7 with a 4.42 ERA. His submarine-style delivery to tough for righthanded batter to pick up, and he held them to a .202 batting average in 2004.
Payton has begged the Boston front office for two months to move him to another city, and he finally has gotten his wish. The former Mets first-round pick out of Georgia Tech hit .263 with 5 homes runs in a reserve role this season. He could become Oakland's starting center fielder if Mark Kotsay is moved before the deadline.
When Payton was designated for assignment, outfielder Adam Stern was activated off of the sixty-day disabled list and made his first major league start last night. Lenny DiNardo was optioned back to Pawtucket. The Sox also made a trade, exchanging utility infielders with the Indians. The trade sent Ramon Vazquez to Cleveland for Alex Cora.
Schilling Stumbles in Pawtucket
Curt Schilling, in a rehab relief appearance for AAA Pawtucket, allowed two runs, one earned on two hits in a 7-3 loss to Ottawa. Schilling pitched the ninth inning, and the earned run raised his Pawtucket ERA to 7.41 on the season.
Despite the struggles, Schilling and the Pawtucket coaching staff seem to have few concerns. He seems to remain on schedule to return to Boston after the All-Star Break.
# posted by Dave @ 12:11 PM 
