Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Doubleheader Sports Chowdah Update- Rask Shines in Game 3; Double Trouble- Ortiz, Doubront Stand Out Seperately in Sweep of Fenway Doubleheader

Harry How/Getty Images
STANLEY CUP FINALS- With the series heading to Boston for Game 3, the Bruins looked to build on some of the momentum they picked up from their overtime win in Chicago on Saturday night- despite the lackluster first period in which they were outshot 19-4.

Even before the puck dropped for Game 3 on Monday, the Bruins got an unexpected assist in the form of Chicago head coach Joel Quinnville scratching forward Marian Hossa from the lineup.

All the scoring for this one took place in the second period, and- fortunately- it was all Boston. Fresh from scoring the overtime game winning goal in Game 2, Danny Paille got the Bruins on the board just over two minutes into the second frame.

Then, with 5:55 remaining in the period, the Bruins got their second power play goal of the series thanks to Patrice Bergeron, with Jarg and Chara getting the assists. Time had just expired on a 5 on 3 man advantage for the Bruins [interestingly, the Bruin's penalty kill unit successfully killed a 5 on 3 penalty for 1:17 against Chicago for Game 1- NANESB!]. While the Blackhawks managed to pressure Rask and the Boston D much more effectively (including a shorthanded opportunity), Rask turned aside 10 shots on goal in the 3rd period, including this one from Andrew Shaw from point blank range on a Blackhawks power play in the 3rd. Boston goes on to win by a final of 2-0 and takes a 2-1 series lead against Chicago. Tukka Rask turned aside all 28 shots faced while Chicago's Corey Crawford stopped 33 of 35 faced on Monday night. The Bruins will look to take a commanding 3 game lead over Chicago tomorrow night. Game 4 will get underway from Boston on Wednesday night at 8:00 ET and will be televised on NBC and CBC.

AP Photo/Elise Amendola
RED SOX- With Baltimore taking three out of four games from Boston over the weekend series at Camden Yard, the Red Sox returned to Fenway on Tuesday for another divisional matchup on Tuesday- a day/night doubleheader against the Rays. Game one was the makeup date for the April 18th game that was rained out at Fenway. In a bit of irony, Tuesday's makeup game was delayed for nearly 3 hours by.....wait for it........rain.

In Game 1, Dustin Pedroia got the Red Sox on the board in the 1st inning with a sac fly. Big Papi got it done for Boston in Game 1 with singles, including a 2-RBI single to make it 3-1 Boston in the bottom of the 3rd. Ortiz then drove home Victorino with an RBI single in the bottom of the 5th to make it 4-1 before the skies really opened up.

When play resumed nearly three hours later, Junichi Tazawa came on in relief of starter Alfredo Aceves and retired the side. In the bottom of the 6th, Jacoby Ellsbury had a 2-out triple and came home on a Victornio triple to make it 5-1 Red Sox- that would end up being the final for Game 1.
While Game 2 starter Felix Doubront has a winning record, his high ERA was cause for some concern amongst Red Sox faithful. Daniel Nava got the scoring started pretty early for Boston with a solo homer that landed in the Red Sox bullpen in the bottom of the 2nd. Doubront, as it turned out, pitched a gem for Game 2, going 8 complete innings- his longest outing of the season- while giving up three hits and walking six batters. Unfortunately, Doubront would not get a decision as Andrew Bailey would come out of the bullpen and give up a solo homer to Rays LF Kelly Johnson to tie the contest up at 1-1. Johnson was he first batter Bailey faced in the 9th, but he would get the next two batters out before walking Ben Zobrist and getting Evan Longoria to ground into a fielder's choice. With the game tied at 1-1, the Rays sent Joel Peralta out to try and get the game into extras. That wasn't meant to be as after walking Nava to open up the inning, he had to face former Ray Johnny Gomes, setting up this.

The Red Sox win it by a 3-1 final thanks to Gomes' walkoff two run blast in the bottom of the 9th. The win gives the Red Sox the sweep of the doubleheader and gives them some breathing room against the O's, who handily beat Detroit on Tuesday.

Wednesday's game will have the Rays' Jeremy Hellickson [4-3; 5.67 ERA] go up against Ryan Dempster [4-7; 4.21 ERA]. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 ET and the game will be televised on NESN.

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