RESULT – LOSS 15-8
As I write this entry, I think Minnesota
Unfortunately it came at the expense of our highly touted prospect Allen Webster who simply had no command of any of his pitches last night. I hope to never see a start like that out of Webster again and one hopes that it will not damage his psyche. Webster was optioned back to Triple-A Pawtucket after the game, which came as no surprise because he was just spot starting for the struggling Felix Doubront.
Allen Webster went only 1 and 2/3 innings giving up 6 hits, 8 runs (all earned); he walked 3 and struck out 2. He also let up 2 home runs on the night. Webster, who pitched pretty well in his debut back on April 21st just never seemed to get comfortable in this one. It was ugly right from the start as with one out, he walked Joe Mauer and Josh Willingham. Then Justin Morneau hit an RBI double, Trevor Plouffe followed with a sacrifice fly and it looked for a moment that he may minimize the damage. Nope! Ryan Doumit drilled a two-run homer and put the Sox down 4-0 before they even stepped up to the plate.
The Sox battled back in the first though as Shane Victorino and Dustin Pedroia both singled and Mike Napoli walked to load the bases. Jonny Gomes promptly cleared them with a monster shot over the Green Monster for his fourth career grand slam. Jarrod Saltalamacchia then doubled off the Monster and Stephen Drew hit an RBI single to give the lead back to Webster going into the 2nd inning.
However, Webster couldn’t hold the lead even for one batter as the first batter he faced, Pedro Florimon lead off with a home run to right. The Twins would add 2 more runs before Webster was removed for Felix Doubront who would fare no better in the inning. Felix walked the first batter then gave up 3 straight hits to plate 4 more runs and put the Sox back in a hole they wouldn’t recover from at 11-5.
With a depleted bullpen, the Sox had no choice but to keep Felix Doubront in the game on mop-up duties. He pitched 5 and 1/3 innings and gave up 12 hits and 6 runs (all earned), while walking 2 and striking out 4. The only reliever to not give up any runs was lefty Andrew Miller who came on in the eighth and struck out the side. Junichi Tazawa finished the game and gave up 2 hits and a run in the ninth. Not a pretty night for Sox pitching.
Offensively the Sox pounded out 12 hits and 8 runs which on any other night would be great. Dustin Pedroia went 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored. Mike Napoli went 2 for 3 with a walk; Gomes had that grand slam and a sacrifice fly to put him at 5 RBI on the night. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Stephen Drew and Shane Victorino went 2 for 4. Victorino added his 2nd home run of the season and Drew knocked in a run. Big Papi David Ortiz took a 0 for 5 and ended his hit streak at 27 games. Ortiz came up in some key spots but couldn’t get any timely hits as he left 6 men on base.
Altogether the Sox left 7 men on base and were 3 for 9 with runners in scoring position. The Twins were 9 for 18 with runners in scoring position as 2 players had 4 hits on the night (Doumit & Arcia), 2 players had 3 hits on the night (Mauer & Plouffe) and every starter except Josh Willingham had at least 1 hit. Willingham walked so every starter reached base for the Twins last night. Justin Morneau, Trever Plouffe and Pedro Florimon all knocked in 3 runs apiece. They simply put on a hitting clinic at Fenway Park
The Red Sox have now lost 5 of their last 6 games and find themselves tied for 1st place in the American League East with the Baltimore Orioles who have been hot lately. The Sox will go for the series split tonight with John Lackey on the mound. Lackey is 1-2 with a 3.52 ERA so far this year. He’s looked pretty good the last 2 outings and the Sox will need him to be good tonight to salvage the series. He’ll be opposed by Kevin Correia who is 3-2 on the year with a 2.83 ERA. He’s been really good for the Twins so far but was roughed up in his last outing against the Cleveland Indians. Let’s hope the Sox can get to him early and Lackey can cruise and give the bullpen some rest.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP
Jonny Gomes. Gomes only went 1 for 4 on the night but he got the Red Sox back into the game in the first inning with his fourth grand slam of his career. He finished the night with 5 RBI and provided a spark that I thought would give them some momentum going forward. Unfortunately it didn’t last long as Webster had a terrible second inning.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
David Ortiz. Ortiz went 0 for 5 and continually came up with runners in scoring position and couldn’t get a key hit. His hit streak ends at 27 and it couldn’t come at a worst time.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Top of the 2nd inning, Pedro Florimon doubles to deep centerfield plating 2 more runs to extend the Twins lead to 11-5 and deflate the Sox as they climbed back into the game in the bottom of the 1st. You could almost see the wind come out of the sails of the players and crowd.
NEXT
Today, May 9h at Fenway vs. the Twins..
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