Rays v Red Sox

Casey Fossum (0-0, 6.94 ERA) is going against Matt Clement (1-1, 9.00 ERA) at Fenway.

The Rays lineup: CC - lf; Jorge Cantu - 2b; Travis Lee - 1b; Jonny Gomes - DH; Russell Branyan - rf; Ty Wigginton - 3b; Toby Hall - c; Tomas Perez - ss; Joey Gathright - cf.

And on the coverage (Rays tv feed - yeah!), I'm currently getting the shots that aren't meant to be going out live.  I love it!  Already heard Joe Magrane complain about one of tonight's umpires, and seen Ruddy Lugo have to walk across the field carrying a pink Barbie bag - apparently filled with candy and seeds.  The stuff you learn from MLB.tv!

Huh.  That'll teach me - I just closed down the media player because it was glitching a bit, opened it up again and now I've got the NESN feed.  Booooooo!

So I wasn't sure how to do this live blogging thing - but I've taken a sneak peak over at Red Sox Chick, who's live-blogging too, and well I figured I'll do as she's doing.  Updates downwards not upwards!

All times are British time by the way!

00:11 - CC and Cantu have struck out, but Travis Lee's gotten on with a walk, and Jonny Gomes has gotten a 2-out hit.  Go Jonny, go.

00:15 - And we leave them both on - Branyan flies out to Wily Mo Pena.  I can see this going badly.  My computer does not seem to be streaming well tonight...

00:21 - Man you should see the shift they played on David Ortiz.  Four men in the outfield.  and then he goes and grounds out to 2nd - well the shortstop at 2nd.  1-2-3 for Casey first up.  Good stuff.

00:28 - And a 1-2-3 for Matt Clement.  Manny and Jason Varitek up next for the Sox.  And Varitek always seems to dominate the Rays.

00:33 - Great play Russell Branyan to rob Varitek of extra bases.  Showing up CC and Joey G for speed!

00:43 - Two 2-out hits and a walk.  Casey, Casey, Casey.  Not that he was helped much by Jorge Cantu.  Bit of a misplay - but they called it a hit so it'll all be forgotten in the morning now.  Boston left the bases loaded so no harm done.

00:46 - CC's on first.  Watch them Sox worry...

00:49 - Or not.  That was a waste.  I don't get the plan with Carl on base at the moment.  He's only got 2 steals so far this year - why?  He's one of the best runners in the league - let him run!!

00:56  - Ortiz doubled off the wall.  Pretty useful sometimes that big Green thing at Fenway.  One day I'll get to go see it for myself... 

Just the one-run though.  And we all know the Rays are great coming from behind, right?  Right???

01:04 - Two more K's for Matt Clement.  I hate it when Rays strike out.  I don't know why - everyone does sometimes, but I think its really annoying.

And I know the answer to the NESN trivia question.  I love it when I do.  Normally they are HARD.  But I know the Rays!!

01:09 - Don't you just love Casey Fossum's 'eephus' pitch.  I don't think its fast enough to register on the speed gun.  I heard it got to 47mph once.  Even I can throw the ball that hard!

Good, quick inning.  Even with an error from Ty.  Bit harsh that call.

01:14 - Toby Hall may be the worst baserunner ever.  Remy reckons that Manny plays the ball really well of the Monster.  Well yeah.  But I could have made it to second.  And I haven't done any running for years.

Great missed hit-and-run too.  Toby out by about 30 feet.  Interesting call that one.

And Joey gets on and doesn't run until a count where CC has to swing at it pretty much whatever.  We're hitting for power this year, but why aren't we using our speed?

Boston 1 Tampa Bay 0, middle of the 5th.

01:24 - Well maybe I'll lay off Toby's running a little.  CC just held Youkilis to a long single of the wall.

Russ Branyan's showing himself to be a bit of a mover in rightfield.  I never would have thought it.

Well done Casey - didn't let the lead-off single get anywhere.

01:34 - Cantu looks as though he plays a pretty mean game of golf - judging by the swing he just took to single into centre...

I think that Jonny Gomes might won day win a very special triple crown - most homeruns, most walks and most strikeouts.  I think he could go through a whole season without doing anything else.

Hmm its not happening at the moment is it?  Thats two lead-off singles wasted.  And that one with the heart of the order coming up.  Annoying.

A question - how come sometimes I get to see the commercials between innings - ie today - and sometimes I have to sit and stare at a blank screen, or random stadium cam?  Its not really a complaint.  But I like American ads.

01:42 - NESN just showed a clip of the 33 inning PawSox minor league game.  Not even I could stay up long enough to watch that all the way through!

Best inning of the night for Casey.  Still 1-0 Sox after 6.

01:45 - Ty is on FIRE.  Homer number 6 over the Monster.  Game on...!!!

And a double for Toby.  All your running is forgiven!  Toby has a HOT bat at the moment.

And for Tomas Perez!  Is there nothing this guy can't do?!  Sorry Cyn, I guess you're not loving this.

Stupid baserunning there though Tomas.  Not so smart.

01:56 - Strike three looking Jorge?  Oh dear.  That was a waste - 2 runs in, a runner on second and no-one out, and we couldn't add any more.

Still - 2-1 Rays, middle of the 7th.

02:00 - Casey's out to start the 7th - with 97 pitches thrown.  I know our bullpen's weak... but still? 

For some reason I really feel like having some donuts now.  Is that odd for 2 in the morning?  I guess advertising works.

Lead off walk to Wily Mo Pena.  Not good.

02:04 - Nice bunt by Gonzalez.  Thats it for Fossum - 6 1/3 IP 5 hits, 2ER, 2BB and 1 K.  Pretty nice outing right there Casey.

Scott Dunn on in relief.  Show 'em what you got Scotty.

02:09 - Not what I had in mind right there Scott - he walks Youkilis on a wild pitch - Pena goes to 3rd.

02:10 - And we're all square.  Got Youkilis out at second at least - 2 outs now, and a runner on 1st.

02:13 - Why oh why oh why... We have 8, yes EIGHT relievers on the club.  And still can't hold leads.  Ortiz doubles.  Shawn Camp's a-coming I think.

02:17 - They've taken Ty's error away and given Pena a hit.  Isn't that nice?

02:19 - And there go the Sox - Manny drives in two more on a single that Branyan just couldn't get to.  We need relief pitchers.  Why has it taken them so long to get Chad Orvella back with the team?

Oh dear 3 runs on 2 hits - 4-2 Sox, with 2 innings to go.

I've got to say it...

I gotta have more COWBELL...

Lets go D-Rays!!

02:25 - Lead-off walk for Travis.  Come on!  Thats it for Clement - he's had a good outing.  Which is annoying!  Timlin's coming in from the 'pen.  Show him what you got Jonny!

Nice double Jonny.  Love the slide into second - as fun as ever!

02:31 - Way to go Russ Branyan!!  Two-run double, tie-game!!

Damon Hollins in to pinch-run for Branyan - good effort today Russ.

02:41 - Left Hollins stranded on third.  We really should have gotten him home - he was there with only one out - and that's the sort of thing that can seriously cost us against teams like the Red Sox.  4-4 game, middle of the 8th.

02:44 - Lonnnnnnnng lead-off double for Mike Lowell off of Ruddy Lugo.  Trot Nixon's up to pinch-hit.  This is not an enjoyable game, stress-wise!

Walked Nixon.  Not good.

02:47 - And Joe Maddon has taken Lugo out the game without getting an out.  Oh dear.  Will the next contender please step forward...

02:49 - Over to you Chad Orvella.  Make me proud.

02:55 - Oh dear.  Not good.  2-out, 2-run double by Youkilis.  6-4 Sox.  Why can't the Rays pitch?

7-4 Sox, rbi single for Loretta.

03:01 - How annoying.  Two strikeouts for Chad, including Ortiz, but 2 2-out rbi hits and its 7-4 Sox,with only 3 Tampa Bay outs left.  Now would be a good time to show your stuff guys...

Joey strikes out.  Oh Dear.

03:20 - Wow.  I don't know how Cyn managed to blog the whole way through that last inning - fair play, I'm very impressed.  I'm also impressed with the fact that you managed to link all over the place whilst blogging and watching - I was struggling to keep up!

That hurts though - leaving the bases loaded in the 9th.  Great play by Stern to end it though - a worthy game-winner.  I was impressed again with how the Rays battled.  Really good.  Now if we can just find some pitching...

And now I'm off to bed.  I had a real good time doing this tonight - although its actuallty pretty stressful!!

Good Night to you all,

John