GAME 62– 6/8/2013 – at Home vs. the Los Angeles Angels (Game 1)

RESULT – LOSS 9-5

Due to Friday night’s rain, the Sox played a day-night double header at Fenway on Saturday and game one didn’t go so well.  The offense couldn’t capitalize with runners on base and the bullpen imploded.

Felix Doubront was on the hill for the Red Sox and was pretty good getting his fourth straight quality start.  He pitched 6 innings, giving up 6 hits and 3 earned runs while walking 2 and striking out 4.  He only had 97 pitches and I was surprised to see him pulled so early.  My only thought was that John Farrell wanted Franklin Morales to get some work in because he hadn’t pitched since May 30^th but that would prove to be a mistake.

Franklin Morales came on in the 7^th with the game still in reach for the Red Sox down 3-2.  He induced a ground ball out to Shuck to start the inning but quickly gave up a double to Mike Trout.  He was able to get Josh Hamilton with a deep fly ball for the second out but then things quickly fell apart.  They intentionally walked Albert Pujols and Mark Trumbo made them pay with a double down the right field line that plated Trout.  Morales would then walk 3 consecutive batters, 2 with the bases loaded.  After the 3^rd walk, Morales was lifted for Clayton Mortensen who gave up an RBI single to Aybar but then got the final out of the inning with a fly ball from Shuck.  Morales’ final pitching line was ugly, 2/3 of an inning pitched, 2 hits, 4 runs (all earned) and 4 walks.

In the top of the ninth the Angels would get to the Sox bullpen again as Clayton Mortensen gave up 2 straight singles to start the inning.  He would get Iannetta to pop-up for the first out then be lifted for Andrew Miller who walked the first batter he faced to load the bases.  Miller rebounded to get Shuck to ground into a fielder’s choice but then walked Mike Trout to force in a run then an error on Mike Napoli gave the Angels yet another run to make the score 9-2 going into the bottom of the 9^th.

The bullpen was down right terrible in the day game.  They itched 3 innings, gave up 6 his, 6 runs (5 earned) and walked 6 batters while striking out none.  Morales simply couldn’t find the plate and Mortensen and Miller found too many bats.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Red Sox mounted a bit of a rally to come up with 3 runs but overall the Sox just couldn’t capitalize early in the game.

The Red Sox out hit the Angels 14-12 but went 4 for 16 with runners in scoring position.  They left 14 men on base and blew golden opportunities in the first 3 innings.

The Sox had men on 2^nd and 3^rd with 1 out in the bottom of the first inning but David Ortiz struck out swinging and Mike Napoli grounded out to end the inning.  In the bottom of the 2^nd, the Sox had men on 1^st and 2^nd with only 1 out but Jose Iglesias flew out to deep right field and Ellsbury ended the inning with a ground out.  Then in the bottom of the third, the Sox had 2 singles to start the inning but Ortiz and Napoli both struck out and Saltalamacchia popped out to end the inning.  There were three golden opportunities that fell by the wayside because of no timely hitting.

The Sox would break through in the fourth as Mike Carp led off the inning with a homerun and a two-out single by Daniel Nava would drive in Ellsbury for the 2^nd run of the afternoon.  But again the Sox would leave men on 1^st and 3^rd as Ortiz grounded into an inning ending ground out to end the threat of more runs.

In the bottom of the sixth, more troubles as the Sox had men on 1^st and 2^nd with only one out again but Dustin Pedroia grounded into an inning ending double play.

As I stated, they mounted a comeback in the bottom of the ninth but it was too little too late as the Red Sox just couldn’t capitalize in key situations.  It was frustrating to watch and you could tell the players were getting frustrated as well.

Daniel Nava went 3 for 5 with an RBI; Mike Carp was also 3 for 5 with 2 RBI and his 5^th homerun of the year.  Dustin Pedroia had 2 hits and a walk and Jose Iglesias continued his hot hitting doing the same (2 for 4 with a walk).  The only Red Sox starter without a hit on the night was David Ortiz who went 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.  Drew had 2 RBI and Jacoby Ellsbury was on base twice (a walk and a hit) and stole 2 bases (23 on the year now).

It was a frustrating afternoon as the Sox would have to hang around for the night cap to see if things would fare better.  Clay Buchholz would be on the mound in the night cap against C.J. Wilson.  Let’s hope the Sox could capitalize with runners in scoring position.

SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP

Mike Carp.  Carp went 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI.  It seems like whenever he’s in the lineup he produces.  Fenway Park looks like it was tailor made for his abilities.

ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP

Franklin Morales.  Morales simply didn’t have any command over his pitches and walked the ballpark in the day game.  It may be rust as he hadn’t pitched since May 30^th but certainly didn’t do his job and put the game out of reach for the Sox.

PLAY OF THE GAME

The single from Erick Aybar to drive in the 7^th Angels run and 4^th of the inning in the bottom of the 7^th.  It was the icing on the cake for the Angels in a truly horrific inning for the Red Sox.

NEXT

The nightcap vs. the Angels.