The buzzword after the game was "poise," used to describe Felix Doubront's debut. Terry Francona said there is no roster move to be made right now, but there is a chance Doubront will take his first major league win back to Pawtucket on Thursday, given that Daisuke Matsuzaka does not have any setbacks in the next few days.
Doubront said he was happy with the outing, which came in front of his family. We will have more on him in a separate story.
As for the rest of the team, J.D. Drew is hurting. Francona said Drew heard a pop in his right hamstring when catching a Manny Ramirez liner in the third. Drew will get an MRI in the morning and Francona said he is hopeful that his right fielder will just need a few days of rest. Otherwise the outfield's injury list continues to grow.
It is a quick turnaround for a late afternoon game Saturday, when Tim Wakefield goes up against Vicente Padilla. First pitch is 4:10 p.m., and we will give you all the pregame, in-game and postgame news and notes right here.
Final, Red Sox 10-6: Daniel Bard gets Manny Ramirez looking to strand a pair of runners and finish the Red Sox' fourth straight win.
Boston is 6-1 on the homestand and 8-2 in interleague play, continuing to crawl toward first place in the American League East.
Felix Doubront gets the win in his major league debut, giving up three earned runs in five-plus.
Seven different players had at least one RBI for Boston.
Ramirez was 1-for-5 with a run scored and two strikeouts in his return to the city he called home for nearly eight years.
We'll head down to get the Manny reaction, the Doubront analysis and an update on J.D. Drew. Back in a few.
10:21 p.m.: Manny Ramirez is lurking as the potential tying run as the Dodgers are putting some hits together here in the ninth. Daniel Bard has taken over for Dustin Richardson, who gave up a solo homer and two singles.
End 8th, Red Sox 10-5: The Sox go quietly in the eighth, mercifully bringing us a tad closer to an end to this crazy day. Dustin Richardson will try to get the last three outs for the Sox.
Mid 8th, Red Sox 10-5: We will have a separate look at Felix Doubront's day a little later on, but Scott Atchison deserves plenty of attention for what he has done in this one.
Atchison struck out a career-high five in three perfect innings. Throw in what he did as an emergency starter when Daisuke Matsuzaka was hurt six days ago (three innings, two runs) and Atchison's had a pretty valuable week.
End 7th, Red Sox 10-5: The strategy pays off for Joe Torre as David Ortiz pops to center to strand a pair of runners in the seventh. Scott Atchison is on to start the eighth but Dustin Richardson is warming and may be brought on to face lefty James Loney, the second man due up.
9:51 p.m.: With runners at the corners, two outs and David Ortiz coming up, Dodgers manager Joe Torre has brought in former Baltimore closer George Sherrill.
Mid 7th, Red Sox 10-5: Perhaps sensing that they won't get too many more shots at him, the boo-birds come out for Manny Ramirez in his fourth at bat of the night. And oh how they loved it when Ramirez looked at a called third strike from Scott Atchison.
Manny is 1-for-4 with a run scored in his return.
End 6th, Red Sox 10-5: Scott Atchison has emerged for his second inning of work for the Sox. He will face the 2-4 hitters in the Dodgers' lineup, including the fourth plate appearance of the night for Manny Ramirez.
Mid 6th, Red Sox 10-5: Scott Atchison was kept with the club when Felix Doubront was recalled to make the start Friday, and he cleans up Doubront's mess very nicely in the sixth.
Atchison entered with two on and on outs and two runs already in, the Dodgers threatening to make this a game again. The righty struck out the first two he faced and then got Matt Kemp to ground into a force.
9:20 p.m.: Felix Doubront gets some love from his teammates and the fans at Fenway when he is removed in the sixth. Doubront was very good with the exception of a series of batters in the third, and the first four batters here in the sixth.
After sitting on the bench for a very long time while the Sox scored seven times, Doubront allowed the first four to reach and two runs are already in when Scott Atchison comes on in relief.
End 5th, Red Sox 10-3: Single, walk, double, single, home run, double, single, hit batter. Those are the results of the first eight hitters in the bottom of the fifth.
Add in an RBI groundout by Marco Scutaro and a sacrifice fly by Dustin Pedroia and it adds up to seven runs, tying the Red Sox' largest inning of the season.
In case you are wondering, as I was, the team record for the most to reach base consecutively is 12, accomplished against Detroit on June 23, 1952.
9:01 p.m.: Take some time to put the kids to bed and grab another — the fifth inning will still be going on when you get back. Ramon Troncoso fails to retire any of the five men he faced and Travis Schlichting is brought on to face Marco Scutaro with the bases loaded an no outs.
8:55 p.m.: Adrian Beltre should put a patent on the down-to-one-knee home run swing. His two-run shot moments ago has opened this one up in the fifth and the Sox are still batting.
8:48 p.m.: An RBI double by Kevin Youkilis snaps a 3-3 tie and ends the night for Carlos Monasterios. In comes Ramon Troncoso out of the Dodgers' pen.
Mid 5th, 3-3: Now that we've settled in a bit and have removed ourselves from the Manny Ramirez watch, people are starting to take notice of what Felix Doubront is doing. Aside from an awful five minutes or so in the third inning, he has been very good.
Doubront, who has allowed just one earned run and three hits, gets his second strikeout to end the top of the fifth, and it was a huge one. Facing Andre Ethier, who entered the at bat hitting .335 with 12 homers and 43 RBIs and had runners on first and second in front of him, Doubront blows one by him.
A "Virginia Miller, Will You Marry Me?" posting on the big screen was just lustily booed.
End 4th, 3-3: So now the Sox have Daniel Nava in left, Mike Cameron in center and Darnell McDonald in right. They have had nine different starting outfielders this year. With a day game after a night game Saturday, we may see Cameron sit and get Nava, Bill Hall and McDonald in the OF.
Makes all that Cameron-Jacoby Ellsbury debating in the spring seem a bit fruitless.
8:20 p.m.: J.D. Drew's premature departure was due to a right hamstring strain, according to Red Sox officials.
Mid 4th, 3-3: Felix Doubront really needed an easy inning, and he gets it. Red Sox manager Terry Francona said before the game that Doubront is not on any particular pitch count or anything.
"I don't think that will enter into it," Francona said.
End 3rd, 3-3: As expected, J.D. Drew is taken out of the game for whatever happened to him in the top half of the inning. We will get the update on him as soon as possible.
Drew's replacement, Darnell McDonald, gets one of two singles for the Red Sox in the third, helping them load the bases with two outs. Jason Varitek's pop to right ends the threat.
Mid 3rd, 3-3: As easy as the first two innings were for Felix Doubront, the third was just as difficult. In addition to a host of hard-hit balls, there was the sight of Doubront sliding into the dugout to chase down an errant ball, Mike Cameron dropping a liner that would've been the third out and J.D. Drew coming up lame after making an inning-ending shoestring catch.
It all started when Ronnie Belliard doubled off Doubront and then came all the way around when Doubront couldn't handle Kevin Youkilis's toss to the pitcher covering first, causing the mad dash and slide by the young lefty.
A bunt, triple and groundout brought in the next two runs to tie it before Cameron dropped Andre Ethier's smash and Drew hauled in one by Manny Ramirez. Drew appeared to jam his knee or foot on the play. We'll see if he goes back out there.
End 2nd, Red Sox 3-0: Jason Varitek and infield singles do not come together too often, but the burly backstop legs one out in the second. Alas, he is left at first after two flies to left and a force at second.
Mid 2nd, Red Sox 3-0: Six up, six down for Felix Doubront. He gets Manny Ramirez to line out to center, Casey Blake on a grounder to short and James Loney on a pop to Adrian Beltre in foul territory.
7:31 p.m.: It was equal parts disdain and adoration when Manny Ramirez stepped to the plate here. Everyone was standing. Manny lines out to center on the first pitch he sees from Felix Doubront.
End 1st, Red Sox 3-0: "He looks like the old David." Those were the words of Terry Francona after David Ortiz ripped a two-run homer in Thursday's win over Arizona. The same line could be applied for this one after Ortiz hits another two-run bomb in almost the exact same spot, some 420 feet to center.
The blast gives Ortiz 274 home runs in his Red Sox career, tying )who else?) Manny Ramirez for fifth on the all-time list.
Ramirez will hit in just a few moments for the first time at Fenway in nearly two years.
7:26 p.m.: That's a minute of your life you will never get back. There was no doubt J.D. Drew had homered and I continue to be amazed that umps can't learn about that ledge out there. 3-0 Red Sox already.
7:25 p.m.: David Ortiz's two-run bomb needed no replay review. J.D. Drew's solo shot does and we are awaiting word after it was called a double for some reason.
End 1st, Red Sox 2-0: Mid 1st, 0-0: I told you to not lose sight of what Felix Doubront can do in this one. He throws eight pitches in a 1-2-3 first, setting down leadoff man Matt Kemp for his first major league strikeout.
Manny Ramirez will lead off the second.
7:12 p.m.: As Manny Ramirez steps to the on-deck circle the boos overwhelm the cheers, but then lose their steam and a good deal of applause is heard.
6:54 p.m.: Joe Torre said earlier Friday that Manny Ramirez will likely DH in all three games this weekend, leaving those who were hoping to heckle him in left field out of luck.
Torre does not want to have to make a defensive replacement in the late innings at a position where he would lose one of his best hitters. Makes sense, but we won't be able to see any zany bathroom breaks out there.
Back in a bit for the first pitch.
6:23 p.m.: There is a temptation to just watch No. 99 for the Dodgers, but there are plenty of other matters to get you updated on, including the situation with the many injured Red Sox players.
First of all, Boof Bonser is the victim of the roster shuffle that brings Felix Doubront up from Triple-A Pawtucket to make the start Friday. Bonser, who was signed this offseason as somewhat of a reclamation project about a year removed from major shoulder surgery, will be designated for assignment.
Terry Francona said that the club was not displeased with Bonser, who made two relief appearances since being brought up over a week ago, but he just didn't fit in with the team's current structure. By keeping Dustin Richardson the club has two lefties out of the bullpen and doesn't have to go to Hideki Okajima each time it needs a southpaw. And by keeping Scott Atchison the Sox have more flexibility with a guy who can pitch consecutive days.
"Boof's gonna pitch in the big leagues. I believe that," Francona said.
Daisuke Matsuzaka came out of his bullpen session just fine and is still scheduled to throw three simulated innings Saturday. Francona indicated that Matsuzaka should be OK to return and start Thursday in Colorado.
"As long as everything goes OK [with the simulated game], I don't see any reason why it won't [be Thursday]," Francona added on Dice-K.
As for Josh Beckett, Friday was a light day but he is expected to do some more long toss Saturday and perhaps finish with 10 pitches off the mound. Francona called that a "really good sign."
"He's feeling pretty good about himself," he said of Beckett.
There is no specific news on the rib issues for outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Jeremy Hermida. The team spoke with Ellsbury within the last day or so and he remains on track to be re-evaluated after a two-week period at the Athletes' Performance Insititute in Arizona.
Hermida is "feeling better" but has yet to resume baseball activities. Francona indicated the club wanted to get him through a full week of progress (he was placed on the DL last Friday) before taking that next step.
Finally, Francona offered up his thoughts on Manny Ramirez, but didn't take the bait when asked about the return of his former left fielder.
"I hope he makes outs. Our day is set up to beat the Dodgers," Francona said. "I'm not the guy at the turnstile or welcoming people into town, I'd just like to get him out."
Ramirez entered the field for team stretching around 5:00 p.m. and had his every move watched. He was seen embracing David Ortiz and Mike Cameron and several staffers and coaches with the Sox. The fans that were in were screaming his name and went a bit nutty when he stepped in the batting cage several minutes later.
More updates in a bit.
5:47 p.m.: Every time Manny Ramirez cycles back in the batting cage there is a huge roar of appreciation and when he hits one out it gets even louder. The cheers will overwhelm the jeers.
5:35 p.m.: OK, we've been tracking Manny around the park a bit and listening to both Terry Francona and Joe Torre talk about the return of former Red Sox slugger, who entered the field to a media horde and very quickly went up to hug David Ortiz. We will have plenty on that in the next hour. For now, here are the lineups:
Red Sox
Marco Scutaro, SS
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
J.D. Drew, RF
Adrian Beltre, 3B
Jason Varitek, C
Mike Cameron, CF
Daniel Nava, LF
Dodgers
Matt Kemp, CF
Russell Martin, C
Andre Ethier, Rf
Manny Ramirez, DH
Casey Blake, 3B
James Loney, 1B
Ronnie Belliard, 2B
Reed Johnson, LF
Jamey Carroll, SS
3:12 p.m.: There's only one show in town now, and on the bill Friday is a doozy. Sunshine, warmth and Manny Ramirez back at Fenway Park. Summer can start.
We are settling into an abuzz Fenway, which was swarming with media as well as tour buses filled with LA fans, sporting both Dodgers and Lakers gear. Should make for some interesting interactions in the stands.
Yours truly may be more excited for Felix Doubront's major league debut than any of the other stuff, which also includes Joe Torre's first visit to Fenway since he left the Yankees.
In the few times I've seen Doubront, I've had a hard time taking my eyes off him. Not that his stuff is overwhelming, but it is very good and he just has the makeup that should yield success at this level. Don't let all the Manny hoopla distract you from watching a potential piece of the puzzle going forward.
We should have the lineups in a moment, so stick around.
8 a.m.: The Manny Ramirez circus comes to town Friday at Fenway Park as the former Red Sox slugger returns to Boston for the first time since he was traded away two years ago.
Ramirez and his Dodgers will be squaring off with the Red Sox for the first time since 2004, and will get to face a 22-year-old lefty making his first major league start.
Felix Doubront will be called up from Triple-A Pawtucket before the game.
First pitch is 7:10 p.m., and we will have all the Manny-related news.
