In a major coup, the Yankees grab American League stolen bases leader Jacoby Ellsbury 

In a major coup, the Yankees grab American League stolen bases leader Jacoby Ellsbury 

In a major coup, the Yankees grab American League stolen bases leader Jacoby Ellsbury from their rivals the Red Sox, signing him to a seven-year deal worth $153 million. The Sox lose another starter from last year’s Championship team, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who moves to the Marlins for $21 million over three years, but replace him with veteran backstop A.J. Pierzynski, plucked from the Rangers on a one-year deal. The other big signing is reliever Joe Nathan, who moves to the Tigers on a two-year contract.

The Red Sox crush the Tigers, 20 – 4, in a battle of first-place teams as DH David Ortiz collects the 2,000th hit of his career. The Sox tie a team record with 8 homers at home, with Big Papi hitting two of the long balls. Will Middlebrooks hits a grand slam in the Sox’s 8-run 6th inning and Daniel Nava adds a two-run shot, while Jacoby Ellsbury, Stephen Drew, Mike Napoli and Ryan Lavarnway account for the other long balls.

The Red Sox crush the Tigers, 20 – 4, in a battle of first-place teams as DH David Ortiz collects the 2,000th hit of his career. The Sox tie a team record with 8 homers at home, with Big Papi hitting two of the long balls. Will Middlebrooks hits a grand slam in the Sox’s 8-run 6th inning and Daniel Nava adds a two-run shot, while Jacoby Ellsbury, Stephen Drew, Mike Napoli and Ryan Lavarnway account for the other long balls.

Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury become first red sox teammates to have 20./20 seasons

Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury become first red sox teammates to have 20./20 seasons

September 13, 2011 At Fenway Park the Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 18-6. Dustin Pedroia hits 2 home runs his 19th and 20th and joins Jacoby Ellsbury as the first 20/20 tandem in team history.  Pedroia will finish with 21 Homeruns and 26 steals, Ellsbury will have a historic season hitting 32 home…

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Texas Rangers ties record for most thefts in a game

On the day the struggling Boston Red Sox have to place two starting outfielders – Jacoby Ellsbury and Mike Cameron – on the disabled list, they eke out a dramatic 7 – 6 win over the Texas Rangers. Entering the game with a 4-9 record, they fall behind 5 – 1 and 6 – 2 while the Rangers run wild, stealing 9 bases against the duo of Tim Wakefield and Victor Martinez. the Rangers swipe nine bases, including a club-record of five in one inning, to establish a franchise mark. The number of stolen bases allowed by the Boston backstops ties the 1913 mark for the most ever yielded by the team in one game. They then mount a comeback when Darnell McDonald, called up earlier in the day from AAA Pawtucket, hits a two-run game-tying pinch homer in the 8th, then ends the game with a run-scoring single off the Green Monster in the bottom of the 9th.

Daisuke Matsuzaka becomes the first Japanese starting pitcher in World Series history

In the first Fall Classic game ever played in Colorado, Daisuke Matsuzaka becomes the first Japanese starting pitcher in World Series history, allowing two runs on three hits in 5.1 innings, to get the win against the Rockies in the 10-5 Red Sox Game 3 victory. After paying $51.1 million for the rights to negotiate with the right-hander, Boston obtained ‘Dice-K’ from the Seibu Lions, signing the World Baseball Classic MVP to a 6-year deal worth $52 million.