RESULT - LOSS – 3-2
My worries going into the game were all on Alfredo Aceves. How would he handle his first start of the year? He’s been very shaky this year so far and I had absolutely zero confidence in him going into the game. Fortunately, Alfredo wasn’t all that bad, he was by no means great either but he was serviceable and pitched 5 innings of 2 run baseball. Overall, he went 5 innings, gave up 6 hits, 2 runs and walked 3 while striking out 4. He also gave up one home run but worked himself out of some early jams to give the Sox a chance to win the game.
The bullpen which has been stellar in the first week of the season wasn’t able to hold the O’s and gave up the deciding run in the 7th inning. Clayton Mortensen who pitched a perfect 6th inning got the first 2 outs in the 7th but gave up a single to Manny Machado. John Farrell opted to bring in Andrew Miller for the lefty-lefty matchup against Nick Markakis but Miller walked him. This is the 3rd time in 4 appearances this year that Miller has allowed the first batter he’s faced to reach base. Farrell then called on Koji Uehara who’s been lights out in his first 3 relief outings retiring the nine batters he’s faced with no walks or hits. I guess someone forgot to tell Adam Jones that who laced the go ahead and eventual game winning RBI double into the left field corner on the first pitch Uehara threw. The Sox final two pitchers, Tazawa and Alex Wilson who made his major league debut locked down the 8th and 9th but the 3 runs would prove to be all the O’s needed in this one.
That’s because the Red Sox just couldn’t string any hits together. They were able to get 8 hits but it seemed they couldn’t string them together and push some runs across. They had a chance in the 6th inning to blow the game open as Mike Napoli led off the inning with a single, Nava then stroked a one out single to right to put 2 runners on. O’s manager Buck Showalter then brought on the left Brian Matusz who promptly struck out Salty and Stephen Drew to get out of the inning. They had a chance in the bottom of the ninth as well with Drew singling to center but Jim Johnson recovered and recorded the final 2 outs to end the game. Shane Victorino and Mike Napoli both went 2-4 with Napoli and Pedroia both grabbing RBI singles. Salty had another 0 for 4 day with the hat trick in strikeouts as Will Middlebrooks also went 0 for 4. Jackie Bradley Jr. again went 0 for but this time was removed from the game for Jonny Gomes who didn’t fare much better and went 0 for 2 himself striking out in the ninth looking pretty silly against Johnson.
The O’s production came from Manny Machado (3-4 with 2 runs), Adams Jones (2-5 with 2 RBI) and Chris Davis (1-2 with a HR and 2 walks). Machado seems to have figured it out and is out of that early season funk he was in. Chris Davis is just mashing baseballs right now and his home run was his 6th of the year and brought his RBI total to a ridiculous 19 in only 9 games. He’s always been highly touted and I think with his success last year and continued success early this year, he’s finally figured it all out and is going to be a beast for years to come.
The Red Sox drop their first series of the year and have a tough 4 game series with the Tampa Bay Rays (4-5) beginning tonight. The Sox have Doubront, Lester, Buchholz and then Dempster set up against Cobb, Price, Hellickson and Hernandez. Should be a good weekend of baseball in Boston
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP
Mike Napoli. Mike went 2 for 4 driving in a run, his eighth of the year. Let’s hope he starts hitting more frequently as the middle of the order needs to start producing. Help is on the way though as David Ortiz went 2 for 3 with an RBI is his first injury rehab game for Triple A Pawtucket. He’s slated to return on April 19th and the Sox need him in the middle of their order right now.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Salty had another tough game at the plate going 0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts. He left 2 men on base and just one night after being game MVP, he has a terrible game. That’s baseball for you.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Adam Jones RBI double in the 7th off of Koji Uehara that ended up being the game winner. Looked like a splitter that didn’t drop much. Jones ripped it down the line in left plating Machado.
NEXT
Friday, April 12th vs. the 
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