Inning by Inning analysis –

August 19, 2006

Pregame Josh Beckett against Randy Johnson. Johnson has been strong his last few games, and Beckett has been crappy his last 20. The lack of Jason Veritek seems to have a negative effect on Beckett. His last game, the only times he hit the target Lopez set up for him, Lopez had set up outside the strike zone.
What Beckett needs to do is get his fastball over for a strike on the first pitch. Once he falls behind 2-0 or 3-1, he tries throwing a fastball middle-in every time, and some lucky fan eating a hotdog on the other side of the green monster gets a souvenir (and a concussion).

I’ll begin the analysis in the top of the second.
Top 2 Yankees get two: homer by Bernie Williams, double by Damon. Why does Javy Lopez insist on calling for pitches on the corner on a 2-0 count? Beckett keeps missing by a fraction, falling behind, and then throwing a fastball right down the middle on 3-1 or 2-0.

Bottom 2 Javy grounds into a double play to end the inning. He is quickly closing in on the leauge leaders in that category.

Top 3 Beckett proves unable to hit the mit with consistency. He gives up another run, and throws 23 pitches. That makes 63 through 3.

Bottom 3 1-2-3 go the Red Sox. Through 3 innings, Randy Johnson: no runs, no hits, 1 walk 29 pitches. Josh Beckett: 3 runs, 4 hits, 4 walks, 63 pitches.

Top 4 1-2-3 inning. Beckett only throws 9 pitches. Of the 19 batters he has faced, 6 have received first pitch strikes.

Bottom 4 With one out, a couple of walks brings up Manny. On a 2-1 count, Manny hits a 3 run homer. Two batters later, Pena gets an RBI single. Kapler grounds into a double play to end the inning, but the Sox score 4 times to take a 4-3 lead.

Top 4 A-Rod hits an RBI double on a chopper over Lowell. Posada beats out a near double play as a run scores. 5-4 Yankees. Beckett throws almost 100 pitches through 5 innings. Lopez still ******* out as the Sox catcher. He allows Jorge Posada to steal WITHOUT A THROW. The Red Sox pitcher’s ERA has gone up nearly a run since the loss of Veritek. And Yankee fans continue to complain about Matsui and Sheffield, when their replacements (Melky and Abreu) are hitting about as good as them.

Bottom 4 Two walks and Johnson is gone. Loretta bunts the runners over. Ortiz hits a sac-fly to tie the game.

Top 5 With two on, Beckett walks two batters, and leaves. Delcarmen comes in and walks A-Rod, no thanks to Javy who sets up on the corner on a 2-0 pitch. A triple for Posada makes it 10-5.

Comments will cease now, as the Yankees take all hope away from Red Sox Nation.

Written by mlblogsredsoxwinner Posted in Dailies