This may be the straw that breaks
the camels back for Andrew Bailey and his closer role. Bailey blew his 4th save of the
year and cost the Sox a game they simply couldn’t lose. As I stated yesterday the Tigers have 2 of
the best pitchers in the league (Scherzer & Verlander) going Saturday and Sunday
so they needed to win Thursday and Friday’s games. With a 1-run lead and a win in sight, Bailey
blew it yet again and I think it’s time to let Andrew Miller or Koji Uehara
take a shot at the closer position.
Bailey started the bottom of the
ninth with a walk to Victor Martinez then gave up a home run to Jhonny Peralta
on a 1-2 pitch to lose the game. It was
his second consecutive blown save and in his last three appearances he’s been
atrocious. His line in his last 3
outings is 2 innings, 5 hits, 5 earned runs, 2 walks and 3 home runs
allowed. His ERA over that span is 22.50
and opponents are batting .500 against him.
It’s time to make the switch John Farrell! He simply doesn’t have it right now.
John Lackey plays the hard luck
loser as he pitched very well against a very tough Tigers lineup. Lackey went 7 innings giving up 2 runs on 7
hits while walking 1 and striking out 5.
He needed only 98 pitches in his outing and seems to be getting stronger
as the season progresses which bodes well for the Red Sox. It was his 5th quality start in
his last 6 outings and his ERA is down to an impressive 3.03.
Koji Uehara pitched a perfect 8th
inning getting one strikeout and I think he’ll be the first one John Farrell
turns to for the new closer. He has some
experience as he was a closer for Baltimore
Offensively, the Sox couldn’t get
much going against the rookie Jose Alvarez and stingy Tigers bullpen. They had 3 runs on 7 hits but left 9 men on
base and were only 2 for 8 with runners in scoring position.
Big Papi continued his great
season by going 2 for 4 with his 15th homer of the year and an RBI
single to put the Sox up 3-2 late in the game.
He’s up to 54 RBI on the year. Jacoby
Ellsbury went 1 for 4 with an RBI and a walk.
Leading off the game, Ellsbury hit a bomb to right that was tracked down
by Torii Hunter that would have easily been gone in any other ballpark. He seems to be hitting the ball well lately
and hopefully he’ll continue his recent streak.
Shane Victorino was also on base
twice with a double and a walk. He also
stole his 8th base of the year.
Mike Napoli went 1 for 4 and Jose Iglesias went 1 for 3 with a triple
and a walk. Recent call-up Ryan
Lavarnway had a double in the game as well.
Lavarnway is a guy I’d love to see start hitting. The guy rakes in the minors and I would love to
see him get in a groove and stick around for awhile. He has tremendous power and has worked so
hard to become a good catcher; I’m definitely pulling for him.
The Sox look to bounce back after
a tough loss with Jon Lester (6-4, 4.37) on the mound tonight. Lester has been down right terrible as of
late and the Sox need to have him get out of this slump. The Tigers will counter with Doug Fister
(6-4, 3.21) who’s had a really good season so far. He’s been pitching great as of late with 5
straight starts of going at least 7 innings and letting up 3 runs or less. In his last start against Minnesota
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
David Ortiz. Ortiz continues to rake and went 2 for 4 with
2 RBI. He put the Sox on the board with
a solo shot in the 4th then put them ahead in the eighth with a RBI
single. He did all he could to get the
Sox the win.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Andrew Bailey. Bailey did all he could to lose the game for
the Sox and is struggling mightily right now.
Farrell has to demote him and let him build some confidence up in a
set-up role.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Jhonny Peralta’s game-winning
walk-off 2-run homer to win the game in the bottom of the ninth.
NEXT
Tonight, Friday, June 21st in 
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