Discontinuation of game summaries

I’m sorry to say that I won’t be able to continue the summaries on a game-by-game basis. It just takes too much time to analyze every game. Maybe I can post one summary per series. I will focus more on posting my observations about the team and statistical trends, along with news and major roster changes. Hope I’m not disappointing too many of you out there.

16-12: Lester shines, Youkilis delivers walk-off, 1-0

Boston fans were treated to yet another pitcher’s duel tonight, as Jon Lester and Roy Halladay (2-4) took a 0-0 game through eight innings. Lester was masterful, and gave up only a single to Lyle Overbay for eight frames, but Jonathan Papelbon (1-0) came in to pitch the 9th and wound up with the win in the 1-0 victory. Halladay pitched his fourth consecutive complete game, but took the loss on a walk-off single by Kevin Youkilis with two outs in the bottom of the 9th. Halladay has thrown four consecutive complete games before. When that guy is healthy, he is just a groundball machine (15 in this game, though Lester matched that total tonight).

April summary: Ups and downs mark a tough month

The Red Sox are currently at 15-12 this season, but considering the Japan trip and the rash of injuries and illnesses they’ve endured, I don’t consider this too bad. We are currently in a three-way tie for first place in the division, and our players are on the mend. Here’s a look at what’s gone right and wrong thus far.

Lowell to return

Mike Lowell finished out a 3-game series at Pawtucket over the weekend, going a combined 3-13 with 3 RBI over those games. He played third base once, and was the DH in the other two games. He is expected to return to the big league club for tomorrow’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

With Alex Cora returning from the DL in a few days, this probably means we’ll be saying goodbye to Jed Lowrie for now. Lowrie has been very good in a utility role, hitting .323/.371/.419 with 3 doubles and 5 RBI in 12 games. He’s shown good patience and an above-average ability to control the strike zone, for a 24-year old. He saw time at 2B, SS and 3B, and proved to be a solid player in the field as well. His presence really helped the Sox to pull through a lot of these April injuries and illnesses. He’ll be back this season, count on it.

15-12: Offense wastes Beckett’s dominant return, 3-0

The Red Sox got another dominating outing from their starting rotation, but it went to waste for the second time within 24 hours, as James Shields (3-1) tossed a two-hit shutout at the Sox, 3-0. The Rays swept the three-game series in Tampa, moving into a tie for first place with (gasp) Baltimore.

Casey hits the DL; Moss up

The injuries continue to pile up. Sean Casey was placed on the 15-day DL for a strained right hip flexor today, despite his protesting that he could play. It’s good to be prudent with injuries early on in the season, especially while we are in first place.

It also allows the front office to evaluate young talent. OF/1B Brandon Moss was called up from Pawtucket to join the Red Sox to take Casey’s spot on the bench. Apparently Moss showed off his power while taking BP at Tropicana tonight.

15-11: Tough loss for Buchholz, 2-1

Reunited with the recuperating Jason Varitek, Clay Buchholz (1-2) shined in his first career start against the Tampa Rays, tossing a three-hit complete game. The problem is that one of those hits was a long 2-run blast by Akinori Iwamura in the bottom of the 8th that gave Tampa the victory, 2-1. Meanwhile, the Red Sox offense missed a lot of opportunities and struggled to produce just one run against the Rays tonight; they now have lost four straight, after winning six in a row.

15-10: Tampa Bay defense downs Sox, 5-4

It would have been nice to come away with an easy win in game 1 of this series in Tampa, but Tim Wakefield just didn’t have it tonight. Still, the Sox rallied to tie the game at 4-4 in the 6th inning, and the bullpen did their job admirably. With 10 hits and 5 walks, the Red Sox threatened several times, but stranded 24 baserunners in this one. Tampa Bay took away hits with good defensive plays, and Boston hit into inning-ending double plays in the 10th and 11th innings, letting this one slip away, 5-4. Our defense did a good job too, as Tampa left 23 men on base; it was a frustrating game that way.

Corey up, Masterson down

With Justin Masterson returning to Portland, pitcher Bryan Corey is rejoining the Sox bullpen for this weekend’s series in Tampa Bay.

Hopefully, we won’t need him with Tim Wakefield on the mound, who owns a 9-1 record and 2.41 ERA in 14 starts lifetime at Tropicana Field.

15-9: Bullpen spoils Masterson’s debut, 7-5

Justin Masterson looked good in his Major League debut. Really good. He went a full six innings, showcasing his sinker, slider and changeup, and held a pretty good Angels lineup to just one run. He left the game set up for the win, the score 3-1, Red Sox. But the Angels pulled a “Boston Red Sox” and rallied for a four-run 7th, and added one more each in the 8th and 9th frames, punishing the Boston bullpen, resulting in a 7-5 loss.