Red Sox Beat Cubs 5-1
Monday, May 23, 2011
As interleague play goes, this weekend’s Red Sox-Cubs series at Fenway was somewhat interesting. After all, these two franchises hadn’t met at Fenway Park since 1918. Both play in old ballparks which are considered shrines by most baseball fans, and both teams have passionate fan bases.
However, truth be told, this series would have had a lot more meaning if it were a World Series pre 2004. As Red Sox Nation knows, that is when Boston ended its 86-year championship drought by winning the Fall Classic. For the Cubs, the quest continues.
Chicago has not won the World Series since 1908 which is the longest championship drought of any other major North American professional sports franchise. Like the Red Sox once were, the Cubs now are the “lovable losers.”
So this weekend was more about results for the Red Sox and, once again, the results were good.
It seems as if their weekend sweep of the Yankees in New York may have been just what the doctor ordered because Boston has now won 8 of its last 9. At 25-21, they find themselves just a half game out of first place in the American League East behind the Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays.
Last night Boston beat the Cubs 5-1. Tim Wakefield, a spot starter with both Diasuke Matsuzaka and John Lackey on the shelf, was terrific. Wakefield went 6 2/3 innings allowing just 4 hits and 1 run to Chicago. Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon closed the door on the Cubs who lost 2 of 3 in their visit to Fenway.
Adrian Gonzalez continued his hot hitting going 4-4 at the plate. He is now batting .342 on the season.
Gonzalez isn’t the only hitter producing for Boston as of late. Kevin Youkilis is starting to heat up (1-3, 2 RBI). Even Jarod Saltalamacchia is starting to produce at the plate (1-4, HR).
The Sox now hit the road for a 7-game road trip. The first 3 are in Cleveland against an Indians team that sports the best record in all of baseball (29-15).
Tonight’s opener features Clay Buchholz on the mound for Boston. He will be opposed by former Red Sox pitcher Justin Masterson. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2 at 7:05pm.
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