RESULT – LOSS 5-3
I’ve long said that the worst stadium in baseball belongs to Tampa Bay
Matt Joyce’s towering popup to first base that didn’t make it out of the infield drove in 2 runs and was the deciding hit in a 5-3 loss for the Red Sox. They’ve now lost 3 in a row and 9 of their last 11. It’s another case of just how bad things are going for the Red Sox as of late.
To his credit, Mike Napoli didn’t blame the roof of the Tropicana Dome. Instead, he said he misjudged it and overran the ball. Maybe that’s true but any other field and Nap makes that play. Dustin Pedroia, who’s played on the field a ton of times, took his eye off the ball and said he was unable to find it again.
The misplayed popup wasn’t the only bad luck the Sox had in a Rays’ 5 run fourth inning. Evan Longoria and James Loney both hit singles to lead off the inning. Luke Scott then came up and on a checked swing doubled down the leftfield line driving in a run.
A check-swing double to tie the game, then a 2 run single misplayed, maybe misread by the white roof, to give the Rays the lead. It was only the fourth inning but with the Sox bats ice cold, it spelled doom for the Sox.
I actually thought the Sox may breakout last night. David Ortiz smashed a three-run home run deep to right field in the first inning to get the Sox out in front 3-0 against tough lefty Matt Moore. Unfortunately that would be the only offense the Sox would get the entire night.
John Lackey gave up 9 hits and five runs over 4 and 1/3 innings; he walked 1 and struck out 3, throwing 84 pitches in that span. It wasn’t a great night for Lackey but he also had some pretty bad luck and should have probably escaped the fourth inning with a 3-2 lead.
The bullpen came in and gave up only 2 hits the rest of the game. Clayton Mortensen pitched 1 and 2/3 innings giving up no hits, no runs and only walking 1. Craig Breslow also threw a scoreless inning of relief.
Like many of the Red Sox losses as of late, this was not on the pitching staff.
The offense was 1 for 4 with runners in scoring position and only had 3 hits on the entire night. They struck out 12 times with Mike Napoli and Jonny Gomes both getting the hat trick. Will Middlebrooks went 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts and Shane Victorino went 0 for 4 with 1 strikeout. Jacoby Ellsbury didn’t get a hit but was on base three times with 2 walks and a hit by pitch. David Ortiz had the big 3 run homer and that was essentially it for the Red Sox.
It as more of the same for the Red Sox blundering offense and it doesn’t get any easier tonight with the tough lefty David Price on the mound for the Rays. He pitches against the Sox very well and although he struggled to start the season, he seems to be in a groove as of late. The Sox need to get the bats going in a big way and support Jon Lester tonight.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP
David Ortiz. Ortiz went 1 for 4 but hit a long ball that gave the Sox their only 3 runs on the night.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Jonny Gomes. Gomes went 0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts and is now batting a terrible .182 on the year. He did make a great grab in left but his job is to hit lefties but so far this year he’s batting .171 against them.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Bottom of the fourth when the ball got lost in the dome and a simple third out turned into a 2-run single to give the Rays a 5-3 lead that they would hold onto for the rest of the game.
NEXT
Tonight, May 15th in Tampa Bay
Where's Middlebrooks? I'll admit he is my boy, but this guy has provided zero pop that Sox need. When you have someone like Dustin batting 3rd there is bound to be issues. I understand with Ellsbury and Victorino near the top where else would you bat Dustin, but you need bats in the 2nd half of the order and they are not getting it. The line up needs to be switched and someone needs to step up.
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