Game time: 7:05 pm

Scheduled starters: J.P. Howell (1-2, 5.19) v. Josh Beckett (11-2, 3.38)

The game will be on NESN.

Boston weather:

2 pm observation at KBOS: Wind out of the southwest at 14 mph, visibility 8 miles, few clouds at 2,200 feet, broken clouds at 3,300 feet, temperature 78F, DP 67F.


Forecast:

Watch the skies! The warm front is moving through southern NE and a cold front is approaching from the NW. The main actor right now, though, is that the low overcast is breaking up, and there's been considerable heating since late morning. It was in the 60s this morning, but inland stations are all in the 80s now. The dew points are approaching 70F. There's a lot of energy aloft, and increased solar heating throught the afternoon will tap that energy, and that could result in some severe isolated thunderstorms. These types of storms tend to dump a lot of water in a short period of time, and can produce hail and strong winds. So, there's a chance of a thunderstorm this afternoon and continuing into the evening. They'll most likely be able to play this game, but there could be a rain delay.


Forgot... The wind will be blowing out toward left, except in thunderstorms, but they won't be playing in a thunderstorm.

07/05 17:20:37 ET

Let's make like a tree and get the f**k out of this series with a sweep!

I can't be irate at Tito over this, but is it too much to play Ortiz at 1B for one game to get WMP ABs against a LHP?

Hinske career vs. LHP: .226/.292/.379.

Apparently it is. They haven't done this going 4 seasons now. This isn't going to change. There's probably a reason for it.

Why is the posting of the lineups prompting for bitching and moaning every night?

Ortiz has played an occasional game at first at home. I'm not asking to put him out there everyday.

WMP needs ABs, he wouldn't even be in the field, and Hinske is atrocious against LHP - please tell me what's so wrong about inquiring why he isn't in the lineup.

Yeah, because Wily Mo looked awesome against lefty Scott Kazmir on Tuesday night...

Woohoo! One-game samples! Care to look at WMPs career line vs. LHP?

Let's get some runs on the board quickly tonight... There's a line of showers with some intense imbedded thunderstorms stretching from northeast Essex County to northern Hamden County. The line is moving southeast, but the track of the cells appears to be more toward the east. It is moving slowly, but if it continues on its current track it will likely be in Boston around 8:30 pm. The line of showers is solid, but the thunderstorms are scattered, so there's a good chance there'll be some rain in Boston, but not necessarily a severe storm.

I'm at work, in Lowell, and its been absolutely pouring for about 20 minutes.

I know he's got a whopping .261 average and I know that he has 11 K's and 4 hits in his last 10 games for a .167 AVG. Compared to Hinske who' s hitting .333 with a couple of HR's over his last 10.

It's convenient to completely ignore handedness, isn't it?

-Nice start to the inning. Drew gets an infield hit, followed by a single up the middle by Pedroia.
-Papi crushes one, but Pena knocks it down and gets Peds out at 2nd. Drew on 3rd, Papi on 1st 1 out. Comeon Manny, you're Due.
-Nice to see papi get into a ball though

-Yeah, Manny loops one into Left field on a hanging Change. 1-0 Good guys, Papi to 2nd, Manny on 1st still one out

-Lowell lines one into center, bases loaded 1 out.

Tek is walked with the bases loaded, Papi in from 3rd 2-0. Manny to 3rd, Lowell to 2nd, Tek to 1st

COCO HITS A GRAND SLAM!!!!!! 6-0
WOW, that was a shot!!!

HOLY SHIT, COCO!!!!!!!

Hoooah!!! *opens a beer*

Well JVB, at this rate I think we can put our discussion behind us since this lefty, Howell, will likely be out of the game within an inning and if theSox score a couple more runs you'll probably see Wil Mo anyways.

Nice way to put the punctuation mark on a ten game losing streak.

I'm looking at the line, and I see a significant tilt but not a lot of southeasterly sag, in fact, the individual cells appear to be riding up in a predominately ENE'ly fashion. This jives with my fancy-pants, university-paid for radar analysis program which (aside from cell rotation and hook echos when I'm too lazy to look at base velocity) tells me what I already know. It's progging the line (and showers) to maybe start to eek into the Boston area after 9, but barring a significant amount of convective development, appears to keep the heavy rain and cells to the north.

We might see some shower activity before the end of the game, but I'm pretty confident we'll get 6 or 7 dry innings in at least.

So-- more runs I say!

Oh. And Coco's f*cking awesome.

And of course, if we keep hitting like this, the rain might get here with us up 29-0 in the 4th inning.

DFA Beckett

Beckett strikes out the first 4 he faces then gives up a hit? That bum, pull him now.


DAMN you beat me to it

5.

Papi with the lead off Double. Good to see his bat coming around.

Nice swing by Ortiz, working the wall.

A HR by Papi or Manny would be nice

Manny walks. Men on 1st and 2nd no outs. Comeon Mikey!

HEY MIKEY, HE LIKES IT!!! 3 Run HR!~!~!~!~!~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111

Wow.

Let the smackdown continue.

Nice to see Lowell hitting with some power again...

Tek with a single to follow. 9-0 good guys, no outs.

Coco from the other side?



Groundout?

Trade him, start WMP.

I hate to bring this up, but if there is any night where the D-Rays might get cranky and start a brawl, tonight might be the night.

This has the makings of the game against the Marlins in 03 (or so) when we put up something in the 20s.

Yup, I 100% remember that one! in fact johnny damon went 3 for 3 in 1st inning!!

1st and 3rd, 1 out. Comeon Josh, blow em away.

Damn, 9-2

7 K for Beckett through 3

This is exackly what the Sox should be doing to horrible teams like the Rays.

Sidenote: me and jen had tix to tonights game and couldnt go.

At least Tampa Bay has the Buccaneers.

Alstott rules!

Lugo with a 2 run single. Woot! 13-2

Stop the game and give him the ball.

What a weird play for run #13.

I just saw a pig fly by my window. Coincidentally, Lugo also just got a hit. Mendoza line, here we come

Tek doesn't slide with a big lead when normally that is exactly what he would do. He avoids injury. He's such a smart ballplayer.

I don't know... 13-2 in the after the 3rd... Isn't that just hot? ...

Almost 2 hours to play 3 innings. Wow, that's insane.

WOW! loving this! 13 runs / 14 hits , however we need to get to 5th inning to make it "official" game because according to radar doppler images its about 45 minutes away

Gomes is tryin to start crap. Just keep crying and go to 1st ya baby.

Dun dun dunnnnnnn...

LBF, you think Tampa Bay pitching will return the same favor? I am gonna call it on 2nd out ( HBP )

Josh just wanted to get him off the plate. He could've moved.

TB is a lowlife organization, wouldn't surprise me to see a beanball war.

HAHA Arroyo Homered for Cincinatti.

These two teams must have some sort of record for most HBP/games played ratio.

BWAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!!!

That just made me spit up my beer. Classic.

I am unable to watch the game tonite. I've got it on radio. I'm not paying that close attention, since the lead is so huge. I know Lugo got a hit. Has he had more, and if not. Has he looked bad at the plate?