GAME 46 – 5/21/2013 – in Chicago vs. the White Sox

RESULT – LOSS 3-1

In baseball, sometimes you just run into good pitching and last night the Chicago White Sox starter, Jose Quintana, through a gem.  He had a no-no going into the 7^th inning that was eventually broken up and then the pen finished the Red sox off.

Jose Quintana had a no-hitter going in the 7^th when David Ortiz broke it up.  It was followed by 2 more singles and Quintana was finally lifted from the game.  He went 6 and 1/3 gave up only those 3 hits, no runs, 2 walks and 5 strikeouts.  He pounded the strike zone throwing 73 strikes in 107 pitches.  His method was to throw strikes and get after hitters early.  The Red Sox were continually in bad counts and couldn’t figure the young lefty out.

 
The good news is that Felix Doubront was equally as good.  Doubront finally looked like a Major League pitcher last night.  He kept his pitch count down (85 pitches in 6 innings) and had great command of his secondary pitches.  His curveball was downright nasty last night.  The only mistake he made was on a 5^th inning 2-run homerun to Jeff Keppinger.  The bomb from Keppinger again came with 2 outs.  The White Sox continue to kill the Red Sox with 2 out RBI in this series.

His final line was 6 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts.  I was surprised they took him out after 6 innings but I think that was a confidence booster.  Take him out when he’s doing well and build off of it in his next start.

The good outing didn’t matter much because the Sox offense and bullpen couldn’t get it done last night.  The Sox had plenty of opportunities to tie the game or even take the lead but failed in every attempt.

In the fifth after getting 3 straight singles to load the bases, Jose Quintana exited the game with only 1 out.  Jesse Crain came on and struck out Will Middlebrooks and Stephen Drew to get out of the jam.

The next inning, the Sox put runners on 2^nd and 3^rd with only 1 out and Dustin Pedroia reached on an error by shortstop Alexei Ramirez to cut the lead to 2-1.  With only one out and runners at the corners up stepped Big Papi with a chance to at least tie the game.  He grounded the first pitch he saw to first baseman Paul Konerko who started the 3-6-3 double-play to get out of the inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, Alex Wilson let up a RBI double to Alex Rios that put the score to 3-1 and essentially ended the night for the Sox.  The double again came with 2 outs and so far every White Sox run has come with 2 outs in the series.  The Sox pitchers continue to let 2-out rallies kill them.

It was all about White Sox pitching on the night and it held the Red Sox to only 4 hits, none of them being extra bases.  The Red Sox struck out 8 times on the night and were 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position.  Johnny Gomes was particularly bad going 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.  Mike Napoli went 1 for 4 but struck out 2 times and Will Middlebrooks took a 0 for 4 with a strikeout.  The bottom of the order for the Sox, 7-9 hitters, went a combined 0-9 with 3 strikeouts and was only on base once (Salty walked once).

The Sox will try to avoid the sweep tonight as Clay Buchholz (6-0, 1.69 ERA) takes the mound looking for his 7^th win.  Clay did extremely well in a no-decision last outing going 8 innings giving up only 2 runs and striking out 4.

The Red Sox get lucky as they’ll avoid Chris Sale who is being pushed back a day and will face Hector Santiago (1-2, 2.78 ERA).  He’s pitched in 11 games but has made only 4 starts on the year.  His last start on 5/18 he only went 3 and 1/3 innings giving up 4 hits and 3 runs walking 4 batters.  He’s young and sometimes erratic.  The Red Sox will need to be patient and let him throw strikes.

SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP

Felix Doubront.  Doubront took the loss in the game but looked a lot better this outing than his previous 3.  He was efficient and had his secondary pitches looking downright nasty.  It was nice to see his pitch count only in the 80’s through 6 innings as his last 3 outings he’s been in the 100’s in the 5^th.  If he can continue to throw strikes and keep his pitch count down there’s hope for this season.

ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP

Really the whole offense should go here but if I have to single one player out I’m going to go with Jonny Gomes.  Gomes went 0 for 3 with 3 strikeouts and is not hitting for the Sox this year as his batting average is down to .183.  He was brought in to specifically hit against left-hand pitchers this year and he hasn’t been all that good against lefties, hitting at .178.  Gomes is a career .279 hitter against lefties but can’t seem to get it going this year for the Red Sox.

PLAY OF THE GAME

The double-play hit into by David Ortiz in the top of the 8^th with the tying run on 3^rd and go ahead run on 1^st.  In that situation you want Big Papi to take a pitch or two but he went after the first pitch and drove it into the ground for an easy 3-6-3 double-play.  It was a back-breaker for the Red Sox as the White Sox would add another run in the bottom half of the inning and put the game out of reach.

NEXT

Tonight, May 22nd in Chicago vs. the White Sox.