PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS?

With players on this team who have names like Penny, Bay, and Green; the plays on word truly are endless.

The Red Sox celebrated their 500th consecutive home sellout with a nice 6-1 defeat over the Florida Marlins. Brad Penny went 5 innings for the win, and Dustin Pedroia had 3 hits and 3 RBI.

Penny's start was one of the most fortunate outings I've seen a Red Sox starter have. Allowing 3 hits and 4 walks in 5 innings is almost Matsuzakan. And a pair of hard hit shots belted Hanley Ramirez and Jorge Cantu in the 5th luckily found Red Sox gloves.

I'm honestly not too impressed with Penny, and think he'll be the odd man out when it comes time to decide on 5 starters.

How cool was it that the Sox got their 500th sellout in a row on the 49th anniversary of Ted Williams' 500th homerun?

The Man of the Game:
Dustin Pedroia - 3 for 5, double, 3 RBI

The Sox go for the sweep Thursday night. Jon Lester faces Ricky Nolasco, who is 2-6 with a 7.62 ERA.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Elise Amendola

WHAT A "HOLD" REALLY IS

I'm just watching the Red Sox game, and they're talking about Holds, which are statistics for middle-relief pitchers. But Don Orsillo got the definition wrong. Holds are rewarded to relief pitchers who enter a game in a save situation, record at least one out, all without surrendering the lead.

So if it's a 4-1 game in the 7th, and Hideki Okajima gets 2 outs, keeping it a 4-1 game, he'll get a Hold.

So it's a Save, just without finishing the game.

SOX GO FISHING

Is Tim Wakefield an All-Star? He certainly helped his case in that argument last night with win #9 of the season. It wasn't Ace-like - 6 innings, 2 earned runs, 6 hits, 4 strikeouts - but he's gotten the job done this season. He's probably been the most consistent pitcher in the Red Sox' rotation, and I for one would like to see his efforts rewarded with an All-Star selection.

David Ortiz had another great night. He pulled a shot over the bullpen in the 4th. Later in the same inning he hit a 2 run single. He's got 4 homeruns and 10 RBI in June and we're only halfway through the month. He had 1 HR and 18 RBI in April and May combined.

Brad Penny faces Andrew Miller tonight. It will be the 500th straight sellout at Fenway Park, which is quite an achievement by the fans of Boston, as well as a testament to the quality of the on-field product we've seen here the past few seasons.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
AP Photo/Elise Amendola