Jon Lester’s recent struggles
continued Sunday as the Sox dropped the last game of the series 6-3 to the
Baltimore Orioles. The O’s are now just
1 and ½ games out of first and are proving that last year was no fluke.
Lester lost for the first time in
10 career starts at Camden Yards. It was
yet another shaky outing as he allowed 5 runs on 9 hits in only 5 innings of
work. He didn’t allow a walk and struck
out 8 but left a lot of pitches over the middle of the plate and the O’s
hitters made him pay. Jon hasn’t won a
game since May 15th and the Sox desperately need him to get his
groove back.
Pedro Beato, fresh up from
Triple-A Pawtucket pitched a perfect 6th inning striking out 1. Junichi Tazawa wasn’t sharp and allowed 1 run
on 3 hits in the 1/3 of an inning he worked.
Andrew Miller finished the final inning and 2/3 giving up only 2 hits
and 0 runs. He struck out 2 and continues
to be impressive out of the bullpen.
It was a dismal offensive day again for the Sox with all 3 runs coming on a Will Middlebrooks 3-run homer in the 7th. It was Middlebrooks’ only hit on the day and he’s still batting below the
Jacoby Ellsbury went 2 for 4 and
Shane Victorino, Mike Carp and Jarrod Saltalamacchia all had one hit. Carp and Salty each had a walk as well.
The Sox didn’t strike out all
that much, only twice on the afternoon but couldn’t find a lot of green out
there either.
To add insult to injury, Mike
Carp left the game in the 7th after his right hamstring tightened up
on him while legging out a double. The
Sox are optimistic that he’ll be ready for Tuesday with an off day on Monday to
rest. Let’s hope he’s not out as Napoli is already out and no word on his return date yet.
On Tuesday the Sox will return
home for a day-night double header against the Rays. Felix Doubront (4-3, 4.91) will start the
first game and was roughed up his last outing against the Rays. Alfredo Aceves (3-1, 5.58) will have the
night cap and stifled the Rays last week.
Hopefully a return home will get the Sox bats in motion.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
Will Middlebrooks. Though he only had 1 hit on the afternoon, it
supplied all the Sox runs with his 3-run homer being the only offense on the
day.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Jon Lester. Another bad outing and the Sox have to be
wondering what the heck is wrong with Lester.
PLAY OF THE GAME
J.J. Hardy’s RBI single in the
bottom of the 7th to put the O’s back up by 3. The Sox had cut the game to 2 runs in the top
half of the inning but Tazawa gave it right back. It was a back-breaker.
NEXT
Tuesday the 18th vs.
the Rays at home.
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