Results tagged ‘ jason varitek ’
Kelly Shoppach in the lineup with Beckett on Sunday afternoon
Kelly Shoppach is once again handling the catching duties for Josh Beckett in the Boston Red Sox Sunday afternoon game against the Chicago White Sox. Shoppach has been getting most starts versus left-handed starting pitchers, but today the Red Sox face a right-handed starter. It has become clear in the first few weeks of the season that Shoppach is Beckett’s personal catcher since the retirement of Jason Varitek, who regularly caught Beckett. Shoppach will bat last in the order.
Varitek and Red Sox ready for next chapter
As reported on Monday, long-time Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek officially announced his retirement. Varitek was introduced by Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner at Jet Blue Park in Fort Myers, Fla. Varitek made the announcement in front of team ownership, the front office and a number of friends, family, coaches and current players.
Varitek thanked friends, family, fans in Red Sox Nation, teammates, coaches and all in the Red Sox organization, which he said he wanted to spend his entire career with and “retire a Red Sox”. Varitek choked up a few times when talking about his teammates. When asked his thoughts on his 2004 on-the-field altercation with NY Yankee Alex Rodriguez, Varitek responded with “I was just being a teammate
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Red Sox Greats Retire and the Red Sox Are Better Off
Boston Red Sox stars Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield are now retired. They were with the team longer than any other player on the current roster. All of us in Red Sox Nation will miss the fan favorites. They accomplished amazing things for Boston, but those feats are gone to history books and DVDs. The aging duo can no longer perform as we remember and therefore it’s good to see them move on.
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All-Star Ellsbury delivers game-winning hit for Red Sox.
By Brian Rabuffetti
Jacoby Ellsbury recorded the first walk-off hit of his career to lift the Boston Red Sox to a win over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday, 3-2. The Red Sox maintained a one game lead over the New York Yankees in the AL East and the Indians dropped to three games behind the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central race.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Jason Varitek singled and was pinch ran for by Jarrod Saltalamcchia, who advanced to second on a bloop single by Josh Reddick. Ellsbury lined the 1-0 pitch into center field. He reached first and turned to watch Saltalamacchia slide in home, before Cleveland catcher Carlos Santana could handle the throw and make a tag.
The winning RBI was Ellbury’s 15th since the All-Star break. Ellsbury, who made his first All-Star Game appearance this year, has lead the team in RBI, home runs and runs scored since returning from the break. His 19 post all-star runs scored tops all of baseball and have moved him into second place on the American League leader list. His six home runs lead all outfielders in the league since the break and moved him up to third place on the Red Sox with 17 homers this year.
Red Sox battery takes charge in win over the Indians
Boston Red Sox ace Josh Beckett held the Cleveland Indians to only one run and six hits and his catcher Jason Varitek homered to lift the Red Sox to a win at Progressive Field, 4-2.
Beckett, who lost his first start of the season in Cleveland and hadn’t won a game there during his career, allowed just a run in the second inning and five hits, striking out six, over six and 2/3 innings to earn his fifth win of the season. Beckett has made five straight starts without allowing more than one run and has not lost since his loss to the Indians on April 5.
Varitek lined a two-run homer, scoring David Ortiz, who went 2-for-4 in the contest, to steak Boston to a 4-1 lead in the seventh inning. Jed Lowrie lofted a sacrifice fly and Adrian Gonzalez belted a run-scoring double in the third inning for the Red Sox, who have won eight of their last 10 games.
Cleveland starter Fausto Carmona gave up four runs and five hits, lasting eight innings, in the loss. Travis Buck had two hits, including a solo home run, and scored both of the runs for the Indians, who dropped to 19-5 at home.
Boston will wrap up the three-game series in Cleveland on Wednesday afternoon. The probable starting pitchers are Jon Lester (6-1, 3.68) for the Red Sox and Mitch Talbot (1-0, 1.46) for the Indians
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