Sox beat Orioles, Bruins trade Kessel

The Red Sox beat the Orioles again. That's 14-2 in 2009. Clay Buchholz pitched well enough to keep the Orioles AAAA lineup in check. He threw for six innings and allowed just one run. Jacoby Ellsbury, Casey Kotchman and Jason Bay (home run) each drove in one run. Bay left the game early with flu-like symptoms, and should be available today.

Aside from some curious struggles from Josh Beckett, the Red Sox starting rotation is righting itself. The Sox are 7-0 in the last seven Buchholz starts. Buchholz was 2-0 in September with a 1.80 ERA before last night's start. Daisuke Matsuzaka exceeded Bostonist's expectations on Tuesday. Jon Lester has allowed just two runs in his last three games, or a span of 21 innings. The club is also 6-0 in Lester's last six starts. Beckett hasn't really been bad, either. After a successful side session, Tim Wakefield is slated to pitch Monday.

Overall, the Sox are rolling lately with a playoff spot there for the taking. The Sox are on streaks of 8-1 and 14-5.

The Red Sox carry themselves with a sense of camaraderie. They're not just a group of co-workers. They like each other. Or, the Nation likes to think they do. Anyway, when rookies are dressed in drag, it's supposed to be an extension of the team's geniality. It seems harmless to the players which means Bostonist has no problem with this type of hazing. But, we didn't need that image of Michael Bowden. Watching him pitch is bad enough.

The Angels blanked Texas, 2-0. The magic number is now 10.

To nobody's surprise, Adalius Thomas was asked to donate $5,000 to the NFL after his vigorous tackle of quarterback Trent Edwards during Monday's 25-24 win over the Buffalo Bills. When asked about the fine, Thomas said "It is what it is." Naturally. Jerod Mayo is officially out of Sunday's game in New Jersey. No surprise. Speaking of the expected, Tom Brady is back on the injury report as "probable."

Bruins fans may have heard that Phil Kessel was finally traded to Toronto for three draft picks last night. This ends months of speculation about Kessel's contract and the future course of his career in the NHL. Boston gets a first- and second-round pick in 2010 and a first-rounder in 2011 in exchange for the team's top goal scorer from last season. Now, months of speculation can begin - are you there Kevin Paul Dupont? - to evaluate if Peter Chiarelli got enough for Kessel. Hey, Milan Lucic, step your game up.

Former Celtics guard Delonte West was arrested on Thursday in Maryland. He was speeding on his motorcycle an was carrying two handguns and a shotgun in a guitar case. West is innocent until proven guilty.

Filed in Sports and tagged Adalius Thomas, Clay Buchholz, Delonte West, Jason Bay, Phil Kessel, Sports Redux, Tim Wakefield

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