News
Penny rolled by Yankees
Veteran hurler surrenders eight runs in just four-plus frames
By Ian Browne / MLB.com
08/22/09 1:04 AM ET
BOSTON -- Payback is what the Red Sox were hoping for. Instead, they got a flashback.Two weeks after being swept in a four-game series at Yankee Stadium, the Red Sox renewed acquaintances with their rivals, only to take a sound 20-11 beating in the Friday night opener of a three-game series.
Liners found gaps. Soaring drives banged into walls, if not over them. Crisp grounders continually found their way onto big patches of outfield green.
The opening chapter felt similar to New York's 13-6 win in Game 1 of the previous series. This time around, the Red Sox hope to respond to the blowout with wins.
"I think that it's plain and simple, we got our [butts] kicked pretty good," said Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell. "Those are easier to forget than the ones you lose 2-1. We didn't have a chance today, so we move on and we'll see if things play out a little differently tomorrow."
By the time the Red Sox got into a groove offensively, the deficit was too much to overcome. The 31 runs between the two teams was the highest total in a Red Sox-Yankees game, surpassing the previous high of 29 from a 15-14 New York win on July 29, 1903.
As far as Friday night was concerned, the tone was set early by Brad Penny, and it wasn't the kind the Sox were looking for. The Yankees belted the big righty around for 10 hits and eight runs over four-plus innings.
Over Penny's past five starts, he is 0-4 with a 9.11 ERA. With Tim Wakefield potentially ready to come off the disabled list on Wednesday, there's at least a chance Penny won't make his next scheduled turn in the rotation.
"I think we're always probably evaluating," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "I'd rather not do that tonight, and it's 10 minutes after the game. There's obviously some things we need to talk about."
Penny (7-8, 5.61 ERA) not only expressed optimism that he would get more starts, but feels he will thrive if given that chance.
"I feel good," said Penny. "I'm healthy. I'll turn it around. It's not my call. I go out there and pitch the best I can every time out. The last two games before this, I threw the ball pretty well. I just had a rough one tonight."
He wasn't alone.
Prospect Michael Bowden, promoted from Triple-A Pawtucket before the game, was hit every bit as hard, giving up eight hits and seven runs over two innings. Bowden was optioned right back to Pawtucket after the game.
The Red Sox will make a corresponding roster move to replace Bowden before Saturday's game.
"It's definitely disappointing," said Bowden. "They wanted me to go out there and eat some innings, and that's what I was here to do. I wasn't able to do that and that's very disappointing. I feel like I let the team down and the bullpen down, but it happened, and hopefully it won't happen again next time."
Hoping to gain some measure of revenge after what occurred in the Bronx from Aug. 6-9, the Red Sox instead had a night they'd like to forget, as their deficit in the American League East swelled to 7 1/2 games. The Red Sox lead the Rangers by one game in the Wild Card standings.
After taking their first eight games against the Yankees this season, the Red Sox have lost the past five.
"I can tell you one thing: That's not the team we played two months ago," said Red Sox slugger David Ortiz. "We've got to keep that in mind. They have a lot of good players. They've found a way to put themselves together. We've been watching that for years."
"It's baseball," said Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. "That's why you can't punch it all into a computer and figure out who's going to win. You could try, but I bet you wouldn't figure this out."
The Yankees went for the knockout in the top of the fifth, roping Penny and Bowden around for a six-spot, increasing their lead to 12-1.
The Sox were already down, 6-0, by the time they stepped to the plate for the bottom of the second.
Veteran left-hander Andy Pettitte wasn't going to yield a lead like that, though he was hardly at his best, giving up seven hits and seven runs (five earned) over five-plus innings.
"It's very frustrating," said Lowell. "I don't really care who's on the mound for the other team. When you get down by a large margin, you're in a total uphill climb, so it really doesn't make it easy for us. You know, we didn't give up, not even until the last out of the game."
But Boston's pitching staff had no answer for the middle of New York's batting order. Mark Teixeira had three hits, three runs and three RBIs. Alex Rodriguez went 4-for-4. Hideki Matsui belted two homers and had seven RBIs.
By the sixth inning, Francona was dipping into his bench and trying to ensure a somewhat rested team for Saturday afternoon.
Left fielder Jason Bay was replaced by Nick Green, an infielder by trade. Casey Kotchman, the backup first baseman, substituted for Kevin Youkilis. Rocco Baldelli replaced J.D. Drew in right field. Catcher Jason Varitek, who was relegated to reserve status the past four games because of neck spasms, came on for Victor Martinez in the seventh.
"You don't want that game to happen against anybody," said Green. "You just try to rebound from it and forget about it. It's like we never played that game, because it's not one we want to remember."
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
