Jay’s Sports Blog™

So Friday night I missed the game and kept getting updates, but got the sweetest update when I went in to check the score myself. Boston’s favorite whipping boy, Julio Lugo, was attempting to leg out a single (which he did) and tore his left quadriceps.

On the DL for 15 days. Every angry Boston’s fan wish was granted. Jed Lowrie was called up from Pawtucket and started Saturday. He proceeded to go 0-4 in his first start since May. I’m not worried.

Francona said that he’ll alternate Cora and Lowrie at shortstop till Lugo comes back. Great news on the defensive front for the Sox and honestly the lineup can’t be any worse than with Lugo.

Hopefully (and I emphasize hopefully) Lowrie, or Cora but I’m really pulling for Lowrie, can catch fire in his starts and earn the spot away from Lugo and Cora. Brady took Bledsoe’s job when he got hurt and I think we all like how that worked out, so don’t give me the “you shouldn’t lose your job because your hurt” bullshit.

After the loss Friday the Sox bounced back behind great pitching Saturday and Sunday by Wakefield and Daisuke Matsuzaka (10-1, 2.65 ERA and not an All-Star?) respectively. The bats were alive and well on Saturday in a 12-1 drubbing. And sure Papelbon made us a little nervous in the 9th on Sunday, but the Sox got the win 2-1.

So where does this weekend’s two of three from the O’s leave the Sox? Right where you’d expect them to be, in first place. Sure it’s a half game lead over the surprising Rays and 6 ahead of New York, but this division is decent this year. Even the last place O’s are only 3 games below .500.

Finally there was much rejoicing in Lowell when Da Guy got the news that Ortiz is scheduled to return on 7/25. How great is that? I surmise that it is incredibly great, not for our fantasy league, but for the solidification of the Red Sox lineup.

Back tomorrow with my first half recap. Enjoy the Home Run Derby, anything is better than the WNBA.