Ramon Ramirez Is Terrible

The Boston Red Sox scored 4 unanswered runs in the first 2 innings. Tim Wakefield gave up 4 in the third to tie the game up, but at the end of his 6 inning outing, retired 11 batters in a row. 6 relievers were used, and 5 of them gave up a combined 2 hits and 1 walk. Ramon Ramirez gave up a hit, a run, and 2 walks...and another loss.

Ramirez is 0-3 and the season, with an ERA of almost 5. I can understand putting him in the game to get him some more innings to see if he's going to turn things around, but not when the game is on the line, Francona, come on. But when you look at it, every starter except JD Drew had a hit in the game, they just couldn't string any together past the 2nd inning.

The rubber match between the Sox and Oakland A's is today at 3:07 EST. Clay Buchholz (10-4) is up against Gio Gonzalez (8-6). The Red Sox will look to win their 3rd series this month, and the first of their 3-series, 10-game West Coast Swing road trip.

Rollin' The Dice

Daisuke Matsuzaka finally showed Sox Nation that he can still play with the big kids. In his third start this season, Matsuzaka caged the Toronto Blue Jays for 7 innings, allowing just 3 hits and 1 run while striking out 9 batters, one below his career high.

On the offensive side, Varitek, Drew and Pedroia each had a pair of hits, with Varitek having the lone home run of the game, his sixth of the season.

Sox go for the sweep and look to remain perfect against the Jays this afternoon, as Tim Wakefield comes out of the bullpen and into the starter role to face Shaun Marcum.

Go Sox.