August 14, 2008. Boston, MA - With his shaved head and hustling style, Kevin Youkilis will never be mistaken for Manny Ramirez. But there is one similarity, at least lately -- the power Youkilis has brought to the cleanup spot held by Ramirez until he was traded July 31. Youkilis doubled in each of his first three at-bats Wednesday night, leading another hitting outburst that gave the Boston Red Sox an 8-4 win over the Texas Rangers.
"You can't worry about where you hit," Youkilis said. "When you go up there it's not like they put a number on you saying you're hitting fourth today." He delivered a day after his three-run homer gave the Red Sox a 19-17 victory, a win that came after they blew a 10-run cushion. Youkilis homered twice in that wild win. Youkilis "has had a phenomenal offensive year," Boston's Jason Varitek said. "We've known about him as a hitter, but now he's added some power."
In seven games batting fourth since Ramirez left, Youkilis is 10-for-25 with two home runs, five doubles and eight RBIs. His 22 homers are six more than the career high he set last year, his 83 RBIs match his best total and he's only two points behind AL batting leader Johnny Damon.
Texas trailed 8-0 in the eighth inning, but Milton Bradley's three-run homer made it 8-4. The Rangers then put their first two batters on base in the ninth before Ian Kinsler -- leading the majors in hits -- grounded into a double play and Texas fell short of another big comeback.
Jon Lester (11-4) held the top-hitting team in baseball to seven hits in 7 1/3 innings. He left shortly after Kinsler's solo homer, and the Red Sox got a mini-scare later in the eighth when Mike Timlin allowed Bradley's 20th home run. "We made it a little more interesting than we needed to," Boston manager Terry Francona said. Javier Lopez got the final two outs of the inning and Justin Masterson worked the ninth.
Showing posts with label Kevin Youkilis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kevin Youkilis. Show all posts
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Bailey up; Pauley down
Quick call-up and send-down for David Pauley. He sat in the Sox bullpen tonight and was then sent back to Pawtucket and DH/1B/OF Jeff Bailey was recalled.
Don't know if this is the final move on this roster spot. The Sox might be scouring the waiver wire for another solution and perhaps a corner infielder who may protect them with Mike Lowell on the DL. Stay tuned.
MY TAKE ON THIS: Probably should have gone with Bailey to begin with. I guess that Pauley just wanted to make sure that Boston looks the same as it did last time he was up. Will go with Bailey until they see how Lowell's injury is in two weeks. I think that Mike is out for the duration. What a shame. The 'Youk' looks like he's going to finish with Lowell-like stats for the year (last season). Kevin and Dustin are really sparking the club right now.
Don't know if this is the final move on this roster spot. The Sox might be scouring the waiver wire for another solution and perhaps a corner infielder who may protect them with Mike Lowell on the DL. Stay tuned.
MY TAKE ON THIS: Probably should have gone with Bailey to begin with. I guess that Pauley just wanted to make sure that Boston looks the same as it did last time he was up. Will go with Bailey until they see how Lowell's injury is in two weeks. I think that Mike is out for the duration. What a shame. The 'Youk' looks like he's going to finish with Lowell-like stats for the year (last season). Kevin and Dustin are really sparking the club right now.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Player News
AUGUST 6, 2008. Kevin Youkilis-1B- Red Sox
Kevin Youkilis left Wednesday's game after one inning because of a right hand contusion.
Youkilis was hit by a Luke Hochevar pitch. He stayed in to run, but Sean Casey replaced him on defense. Youkilis is day-to-day.
Joba Chamberlain-R- Yankees The Yankees said Joba Chamberlain was diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinitis and that he's been told to rest his arm for a week. The smart move for the Yankees would be to try to get by without Joba for the rest of the month and bring him back when rosters expand. They'll definitely be careful with such a big piece of their future.
Jason Isringhausen-R- Cardinals The Cardinals said they're going to a closer-by-committee following Jason Isringhausen's poor outing on Tuesday. Izzy still hasn't blown a save since returning from the disabled list, but neither has he done anything to inspire much confidence. The Cards could go back to giving save opportunities to Ryan Franklin for now, and they still haven't ruled out bringing Adam Wainwright back as a closer.
Chris Britton-R- Yankees Yankees recalled RHP Chris Britton from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Britton has a 3.38 ERA in 10 2/3 innings for the Yankees this season. He'll get another chance to pitch in middle relief.
Brian Giles-OF- Padres Brian Giles has been claimed off revocable waivers, according to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal. Giles and dozens of other players, but this one qualifies as news for some reason. It's highly unlikely that Giles will be traded. The Padres intend to pick up his option and keep him for 2009.
Tim Lincecum-S- Giants Tim Lincecum allowed just two runs in eight innings to lead the Giants past the Braves on Wednesday afternoon. Lincecum allowed just five hits while striking out eight, although he did issue four walks on the afternoon. Still, he picked up his first win since July 13 and lowered his ERA to 2.68 on the season. He'll pitch in Houston in his next outing.
Eric Chavez-3B- Athletics thletics transferred third baseman Eric Chavez from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list. Chavez is out for the season after surgery on his right shoulder.
Jeff Karstens-S- Pirates Jeff Karstens took a perfect game into the eighth inning and complete a two-hit shutout to defeat the Diamondbacks on Wednesday. Karstens, who gave up 18 earned runs in 14 2/3 innings for the Yankees last year, is unscored upon in 15 innings for the Pirates. The fast start practically guarantees that he'll remain in the rotation for the rest of the season, but it barely alters his long-term outlook. The poor man's Bronson Arroyo shouldn't last as more than a fifth starter or be a particularly good one of those.
Kevin Youkilis left Wednesday's game after one inning because of a right hand contusion.
Youkilis was hit by a Luke Hochevar pitch. He stayed in to run, but Sean Casey replaced him on defense. Youkilis is day-to-day.
Joba Chamberlain-R- Yankees The Yankees said Joba Chamberlain was diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinitis and that he's been told to rest his arm for a week. The smart move for the Yankees would be to try to get by without Joba for the rest of the month and bring him back when rosters expand. They'll definitely be careful with such a big piece of their future.
Jason Isringhausen-R- Cardinals The Cardinals said they're going to a closer-by-committee following Jason Isringhausen's poor outing on Tuesday. Izzy still hasn't blown a save since returning from the disabled list, but neither has he done anything to inspire much confidence. The Cards could go back to giving save opportunities to Ryan Franklin for now, and they still haven't ruled out bringing Adam Wainwright back as a closer.
Chris Britton-R- Yankees Yankees recalled RHP Chris Britton from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Britton has a 3.38 ERA in 10 2/3 innings for the Yankees this season. He'll get another chance to pitch in middle relief.
Brian Giles-OF- Padres Brian Giles has been claimed off revocable waivers, according to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal. Giles and dozens of other players, but this one qualifies as news for some reason. It's highly unlikely that Giles will be traded. The Padres intend to pick up his option and keep him for 2009.
Tim Lincecum-S- Giants Tim Lincecum allowed just two runs in eight innings to lead the Giants past the Braves on Wednesday afternoon. Lincecum allowed just five hits while striking out eight, although he did issue four walks on the afternoon. Still, he picked up his first win since July 13 and lowered his ERA to 2.68 on the season. He'll pitch in Houston in his next outing.
Eric Chavez-3B- Athletics thletics transferred third baseman Eric Chavez from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list. Chavez is out for the season after surgery on his right shoulder.
Jeff Karstens-S- Pirates Jeff Karstens took a perfect game into the eighth inning and complete a two-hit shutout to defeat the Diamondbacks on Wednesday. Karstens, who gave up 18 earned runs in 14 2/3 innings for the Yankees last year, is unscored upon in 15 innings for the Pirates. The fast start practically guarantees that he'll remain in the rotation for the rest of the season, but it barely alters his long-term outlook. The poor man's Bronson Arroyo shouldn't last as more than a fifth starter or be a particularly good one of those.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Wake's puts O's to sleep; Sox win 12-1
July 12. BOSTON, MA -- Tim Wakefield (6-6 3.60) put together another dandy, allowing just two hits while walking one in 7 innings of work. He retired the final 13 men to face him before giving way to the bullpen in the eighth inning. Kevin Youkilis' first career grand slam helped him tally his first six-RBI game, and J.D. Drew and Manny Ramirez homered on consecutive pitches in the first inning to stake Wakefield (6-6) to an early lead.
"I think that's actually the best I've seen him pitch," said Francona, who had to leave Wakefield off the World Series roster last fall because of lingering back and shoulder problems. "He worked hard to stay where he is. When last year ended, and he wasn't able to pitch, it was very important to him to come back and take the ball when it's his turn." Youkilis, who had four RBIs in Boston's 18-5 victory over Minnesota on Wednesday, homered in the third when the Red Sox scored seven times to chase Radhames Liz (3-2). Youkilis also added a sacrifice fly in the fourth and a run-scoring infield single in the eighth.
Wakefield went at least seven innings in seven straight games before lasting 6 1/3 last Sunday. But he had just two wins to show for the streak, with three losses in which the Red Sox scored a total of five runs and two no-decisions when the bullpen blew the lead. The Red Sox scored 12 runs for the fourth time this season and improved to 35-11 at home (best in MLB).
"I think that's actually the best I've seen him pitch," said Francona, who had to leave Wakefield off the World Series roster last fall because of lingering back and shoulder problems. "He worked hard to stay where he is. When last year ended, and he wasn't able to pitch, it was very important to him to come back and take the ball when it's his turn." Youkilis, who had four RBIs in Boston's 18-5 victory over Minnesota on Wednesday, homered in the third when the Red Sox scored seven times to chase Radhames Liz (3-2). Youkilis also added a sacrifice fly in the fourth and a run-scoring infield single in the eighth.
Wakefield went at least seven innings in seven straight games before lasting 6 1/3 last Sunday. But he had just two wins to show for the streak, with three losses in which the Red Sox scored a total of five runs and two no-decisions when the bullpen blew the lead. The Red Sox scored 12 runs for the fourth time this season and improved to 35-11 at home (best in MLB).
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Youkilis Hits Walk-off in 13th; Sox Win 5-3
June 22, 2008. BOSTON, MA Kevin Youkilis socked his second home run of the game in the bottom half of the 13th inning, giving the Red Sox a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. After leading off the 10th, 11th and 12th innings with doubles and failing to score, Kevin You-Killed-Us hit a two-run home run off of Mike Parisi in the bottom of the 13th inning to lift the Boston Red Sox to a 5-3 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday.
The Red Sox avoided being swept in a series at home for the first time since losing two contests to the Blue Jays last April. The Cardinals had a chance to take the lead in the top of the 13th off Javier Lopez(2-0), but Chris Duncan was thrown out at home plate by Red Sox right fielder J.D. Drew trying to score on Adam Kennedy's base hit. "He hit the ball hard enough to be able field it on a nice run," Drew said. "I was surprised to see him going and it wound up that it was a nice hop to Tek and he had time to duck under."
After the Red Sox scored twice in the eighth to take a 3-2 lead, the Cardinals tied the game in the ninth off Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, who blew his fourth save opportunity of the season. After striking out the first two Cardinals he faced, Duncan drew a walk and Adam Kennedy doubled to center to tie the game at 3. Joel Pineiro, who hasn't won since April 29, gave up two runs and seven hits over seven-plus innings. In his last three starts, Pineiro has allowed only five earned runs over 19 innings. Lester was nearly as good as Pineiro, allowing nine hits over 7 1/3 innings. It was his 11th straight start in which he has held his opponent to three earned runs or fewer.
The Red Sox avoided being swept in a series at home for the first time since losing two contests to the Blue Jays last April. The Cardinals had a chance to take the lead in the top of the 13th off Javier Lopez(2-0), but Chris Duncan was thrown out at home plate by Red Sox right fielder J.D. Drew trying to score on Adam Kennedy's base hit. "He hit the ball hard enough to be able field it on a nice run," Drew said. "I was surprised to see him going and it wound up that it was a nice hop to Tek and he had time to duck under."
After the Red Sox scored twice in the eighth to take a 3-2 lead, the Cardinals tied the game in the ninth off Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, who blew his fourth save opportunity of the season. After striking out the first two Cardinals he faced, Duncan drew a walk and Adam Kennedy doubled to center to tie the game at 3. Joel Pineiro, who hasn't won since April 29, gave up two runs and seven hits over seven-plus innings. In his last three starts, Pineiro has allowed only five earned runs over 19 innings. Lester was nearly as good as Pineiro, allowing nine hits over 7 1/3 innings. It was his 11th straight start in which he has held his opponent to three earned runs or fewer.
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