Friday Links

Photo by Kelly O’Connor of sittingstill.smugmug.com

The Red Sox began their first west coast trip of the season on Thursday, as the they opened up a 4 game series with the Oakland Athletics. Jake Peavy toed the rubber for Boston and was opposed by one of the best left-handers in the game, Scott Kazmir. The A’s offense got to Peavy relatively early, tallying single runs in the second, third, and fourth innings. Peavy ended up lasting 6.1 innings and allowed just 3 earned runs on 5 hits, while striking out 4 and walking 3. Meanwhile, the Red Sox only offense against Kazmir came on a Dustin Pedroia two-run homer to left field in the sixth inning. With a runner on first in the 9th inning, Boston brought the tying run to the plate in the form of A.J. Pierzynski. The Red Sox catcher drove the first pitch he saw to deep right-center field, but Pierzykski’s drive died on the warning track for the final out of the game.

• The Red Sox series against the Athletics is a perfect time for this team to prove that they’re worth caring about this season. Boston, as you know, has played mediocre baseball all season long and have firmly entrenched themselves in 4th place in the AL East. Therefore a series win against one of the best teams in baseball could go a long way to reviving the season. (Time to find out exactly what we should expect from the Red Sox)

• Edward Mujica’s Red Sox career didn’t exactly get off on the right foot. In his first 10 appearances, he Boston newcomer allowed 10 runs and opponents were hitting over .340 against him. However, as the season has progressed, so to has Mujica. (Edward Mujica isn’t as bad as we think he is)

• Clay Buchholz pitched his second rehab outing in triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday. Unlike his first start with the Paw Sox, Thursday afternoon’s was a lot more encouraging for the right-hander. In 6 scoreless innings, Buchholz allowed just 2 hits while striking out 5 batters and walking just 2. Buchholz will rejoin the team in Oakland, but before he’s activated the Red Sox will need to clear a roster spot for him. (Buchholz to rejoin the big club)

• Jake Peavy hasn’t exactly been at the top of his game so far this season, but the 33 year old’s performance against the Oakland A’s was more than enough to keep the Red Sox in the game. More often than not this season, Peavy has given Boston a chance to win, tossing 9 quality starts in 15 tries. However, the righty admitted that he still needs to improve. (Trusty veteran Jake Peavy throws another quality start, but the Red Sox needed better)

• In theory, signing John Lackey to a new deal is a great idea. Not only would it keep him in Boston for perhaps the rest of his career, but it would also honor the good work he’s done over the past year or so. However, Ben Cherington seems fully prepared to let the veteran righty enter his contract year and pitch for the league minimum salary that his contract warrants. (Cherington digs in on Lackey deal: “The contract is the contract”)

• Tweet of the day: West coast trips suck