Boston Red Sox

First, the good news: Yanks lose on a homer in the bottom of the tenth. I caught the dong-followed-by-celebration on MLBN.The Red Sox didn't get a hit through 6 and a third. NESN, at the end of the game, put up their three storylines of the game, and the top one was "Red Sox Almost No-Hit." That would be like preparing your new year's resolutions on September 14th. Or claiming the 2013 baseball season is "almost" over on August 5th. I could maybe see calling it that if we only ended up with one hit, but this was a game in which we scored a run on four hits. Great job by that pitcher, but he himself would tell you that he didn't even almost pitch a no-hitter tonight.After Ortiz broke up the so-called near no-hitter, we loaded the bases, but Middlebrooks struck out on a pitch at his eyes that would have been ball four. Drew K'd to end the inning. So we didn't score, but it was only 2-0 as Doubront had a pretty good game himself.In the eighth it looked like we might pull this one out. With two on and one out, their shortstop made an error, making it 2-1 and putting the tying run at third. But Papi grounded into a DP and there's your inning. I tried to feel better by telling myself that we were already in a better position because of the E, but myself didn't listen. The Honky Hose got the run back after two were out in the bottom half (we were using with the lesser "we're not winning or tied right now" relievers, in a theory used by all that I'll never understand), and we went down uno-due-tre in the pouring rain in the ninth. 3-1 Chicago, finality.So we remain 1.5 back. O's and Devs are 4 out each. Jays are too far back to pinpoint their distance from the pack. But with an 18-27 record, they're one win away from NESN calling them almost a .500 team!

The Red Sox offense was held almost completely in check Tuesday night by Jose Quintana, leaving Felix Doubront the hard-luck loser in Chicago. While Sox fans were certainly not able to assume a win heading into tonight's game, it was not because of the Jose Quinatana part of the matchup, put the Felix Doubront part. To his credit, though, Felix had his most solid game in weeks. Whether because of the White Sox' general struggles against lefties (excepting, apparently, Jon Lester) or because Doubront is actually learning what he needs to do to be useful with his diminished fastball velocity, Boston's southpaw was able to record outs. In fact, for a while this was a bonafide pitching duel. Through the first four innings, the only hit either one had allowed was a dribbler down the third base by Alexei Ramirez that Will Middlebrooks didn't even leave Will Middlebrooks with a throw to make. Other than that, each pitcher had offered up one walk, with Doubront erasing his on a double play ball from the next batter. The fifth inning, unfortunately for the Red Sox, brought change for Doubront. With two outs, a simple ground ball got through the left side for the first legitimate hit against Doubront, Then, perhaps because it was his first pitch out of the stretch,, Doubront grooved a fastball to Jeff Keppinger. Gone. The White Sox took a 2-0 lead on the homer, and never really looked back. The Red Sox would at least mount a couple of rallies. A broken bat single from David Ortiz ended Quintana's run at a no-hitter, and even opened the flood gates ever so slightly, with Mike Napoli and Daniel Nava both adding singles of their own. From there Robing Ventura turned to Jesse Crain, which proved to be the perfect move, as the ever-reliable reliever struck out Will Middlebrooks and Stephen Drew to end the inning. In the very next inning, the Sox went right back to work, putting runners on second and third with just one out and Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz. Pedroia's ground ball to short didn't seem like it was going to continue the rally, but the ball got past Alexei Ramirez, bringing in only one run because Jacoby Ellsbury had to hold up before advancing to third. Unfortunately, David Ortiz was not up to producing one of his patented bits of magic, swinging at the first pitch and grounding into a double play. The White Sox would pick up an insurance run in the bottom of the inning, and then call on Addison Reed, who kept the Boston offense quiet for one inning more to secure the 3-1 win for Chicago. Read more Red Sox: Daniel Nava strengthening Red Sox’ outfield’s present, and maybe future MLB’s time problem: Rain delays, not long at-bats or replay Starting pitching the difference in 2013 What's wrong with Jacoby Ellsbury? Daniel Bard walks five, sinks further, Juan Nieves concerned

Top 4th: Red Sox 0, White Sox 0 - Fast moving game so far. Only one infield hit by the White Sox. Gomes and Pedroia grounded out to third and David Ortiz, who popped to third base in his first...

I wrote up a brilliant post comparing the 2013 Red Sox to every character in Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels. Then I lost my wifi connection and my laptop shit the bed and it was all gone, Pete Tong. So now all you get is a Dick Pole card and “Go Red Sox.” Rage on! The post Felix Doubront, Deliver Us From Evil appeared first on Surviving Grady.

Go here to get it. This years' MLB Draft Book costs whatever you wish to donate to helping me improve my coverage next year. $0.01 is the minimum just to run the transaction. Donate and I'll email you the book in PDF form. It is 101 pages of Prospect info. Those that donate will likely get a discount on next years book or additional information that the rest will not get or both. Almost all of this information is available on Minor League Ball or on my blog but I compiled it to have in one place for easy access. If you don't like PayPal and don't want a discount next year, you can download a lower quality version here. Go here to get it. This years' MLB Draft Book costs whatever you wish to donate to helping me improve my coverage next year. $0.01 is the minimum just to run the transaction. Donate and I'll email you the book in PDF form. It is 101 pages of Prospect info. Those that donate will likely get a discount on next years book or additional information that the rest will not get or both. Almost all of this information is available on Minor League Ball or on my blog but I compiled it to have in one place for easy access. If you don't like PayPal and don't want a discount next year, you can download a lower quality version here.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff CHICAGO ? Red Sox manager John Farrell is sticking with Jacoby Ellsbury at the top of the order. But he has given thought to dropping the struggling center fielder down. "I've considered it, yes," Farrell...

They take their baseball seriously in Chicago. They are also unfailingly loyal. The only thing that would be worse is if he had some Cubbies gear, too. In the first frame with two runners on Adam Dunn accomplished the true outcome that gave his team a 3-0 lead. The White

Trade possibilities, the starting rotation and Fenway crowd behavior are on readers minds in the latest Red Sox mailbag.

Here is tonight's lineup vs. the White Sox: Ellsbury CF Gomes LF Pedroia 2B Ortiz DH Napoli 1B Nava RF Middlebrooks 3B Drew SS Saltalamacchia C Doubront SP Game time is at 8:10pm EST.

If (Farrell) called me right now, I'd say, 'Hell, yeah, I'd play him. Take him. He's ready,' but the arm and all that stuff needs to be taken care of right now. That's the tease. You want to pop him out of here and bring him up there, but what do you do if after five days his arm is sore? -Gary DiSarcina on bringing up Jackie Bradley Jr.