Red Sox (2-4) @ A's (2-4)

Looking to get back on track tonight - both teams - and it's probably going to be tough for the A's against the Sox, especially with Braden pitching. I do not like this match-up at all. Maybe Braden will impress me, but all signs point to no.

Lester (0-1) vs. Braden (0-1) - First Pitch: 10:08

10:01 - Went with the NESN broadcast tonight, no HD from the CSN camp, so it looks like I'll have to sit through Orsillo and chain smokin Remdog's call here. HD Game Count: 5/6
10:07 - Interesting lineup tonight with a lefty on the mound: Crosby gets his first start of the year at 2B, Nomar at 3B, Davis in CF, Buck sits again...
10:08 - Baldelli reminds me of a cross between Gabe Kapler & Big Bird. He's kind of a weird looking chap. K's on 3 pitches to start the game.
10:09 - Pedroia with a slow start to the season, I'm sure that'll turn around real fast in this series. Phew, long fly to CF.
10:11 - Ortiz into the deep shift to Crosby in short RF. Nice 1-2-3 start for Braden.
10:16 - Giambi with the ever increasing ratty looking Grisly Adams beard says 'I fart in the general direction of your shift', single to LF - 2 outs. He must be giddy now that he can sport something other than a stache.
10:19 - After Holliday singles, Nomar lines one to short. End of 1: 0-0-0 | 0-2-0
10:22 - Not sure what it is, but Youkilis really rubs me the wrong way. The way he holds his bat before the pitch just adds to it. Oh, nice, as soon as I type that he goes yard. What'd I say, this isn't going to end well for Braden. And Drew now singles to LF. Great. 0-1
10:28 - 4-3 DP ends Boston's 2nd.
10:31 - Yardwork! Cust goes deep to CF and now has both of Oakland's 2 HR's on the year. A's are putting some good wood to Lester so far... 1-1 -- And Suzuki now lines one to CF.
10:36 - Crosby HBP, and Davis does a great job getting both runners over.......... or not. >|
10:39 - Sweeney >|, OCab bloops one out of the reach of Ped & Drew, 2 out RBI, whatever works! 2-1
10:41 - Hoowah! Giambi doubles to LF just out of the reach of a diving Bay. 4-1
10:45 - DING - Holliday singles to RF, Giambi rumbles in from 2nd just ahead of the throw, Matt advances to 2nd. 5-1
10:48 - Nomar K's to end the 2nd, Lester strikes out the side, but A's score 4 2-out run's in-between. Now we'll see if Braden can throw strikes and hold the lead. End of 2: 1-2-0 | 5-7-0
10:54 - Just informed that Nick Swisher PITCHED!! in tonights Yankees game - and also hit a HR. HAHAHA just looked up his pitching line: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 R / ER. Awesome. He K'd Kapler, got Pena to pop out and Burrell to fly out. Still love the Swish, good dude and apparently the Yankees best pitcher to start the year.
10:55 - Nice 1-2-3 shut down inning for Braden.
11:03 - Lester follows suit. End of 3: 1-2-0 | 5-7-0
11:10 - F9, F7, Youkilis doubles off Giambi's glove, but Drew follows that with a grounder Giambi handles this time.
11:18 - Sweeney picked off first, OCab singles on next pitch, 2 outs.
11:20 - Wow, OCab now picked off - both times they left too early for 2nd and Lester makes em pay. End of 4: 1-3-0 | 5-9-0
11:27 - Braden actually looking very solid. Another 1-2-3 inning.
11:33 - Nomah goes big fly versus the former mates. 6-1
11:36 - Cust almost follows with his own, just short. End of 5: 1-3-0 | 6-10-0
11:42 - Braden inexplicably tries to field a groundball with his barehand that could have possibly been an inning ending DP, instead, they get nobody. 2 on, 1 out, Ortiz up.
11:46 - Ortiz singles to CF, Baldelli scores. 6-2
11:50 - Youkilis K's, Drew F8. Could've been much worse...
11:56 - 4-3, P6, 5-3. End of 6: 2-5-0 | 6-10-0
12:00 - Bay singles to CF, Braden removed. Wuertz in.
12:07 - Wuertz has looked really solid so far this year. 5-4 FC, F8, K.
12:18 - Lester out, Lopez in. 2 outs, Giambi HBP. Lopez out, Saito in.
12:20 - Holliday doubles to RF - Drew misses the diving catch - Giambi scores from 1st, and another 2 out RBI for the A's. 7-2
12:22 - Nomar K's against former LA teammate. End of 7: 2-5-0 | 7-11-0
12:31 - Wuertz out, Casilla in. 1-2-3.
12:38 - Cust BB, Suzuki doubles - 2nd n 3rd, 0 outs. A's looking to add some more as Crosby is looking for first hit of the year at the plate.
12:40 - Sac9 - Cust scores, Suzuki to 3rd - 1 out. 8-2
12:44 - K, K. End of 8: 2-6-0 | 8-12-0
12:47 - Casilla out, Ziegler in to get some work. Ellis in, Giambi out, Crosby moves to 1B for first time in career, and promptly gets tested. P1.
12:51 - Game ovah. Big win.

W: Braden (1-1) | L: Lester (0-2)

Red Sox: 2 | 6 | 0
A's: 8 | 12 | 0

Time of Game: 2:43

The bats awoke from a bit of a slumber just in time for a big win, ending a 3 game slide. Braden pitched much better than I anticipated he would, which was a big surprise and great lift for the team. Great work out of the bullpen as well, as they don't allow a hit in 3 innings. Hopefully the Red Sox offense continues to struggle the next 2 days, because they're bound to break out at some point... See ya tomorrow night, same time.