Monday, July 1, 2013

GAME 83 - 6/29/2013 – at Home vs. the Toronto Blue Jays

RESULT – LOSS 6-2

Missed opportunities and Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista was the difference Saturday in Fenway as the Blue Jays snapped the Sox winning streak at 4 as they fall 6-2.

Jose Bautista was 2 for 4 on the day with 2 homers (he now has 200 on his career) and 3 RBI.  He also stole a base and walked on the afternoon and provided the big 2-run homer late to seal the game for the Jays.

The Sox were 3 for 13 with runners in scoring position and left 8 men on base and constantly missed out all afternoon.  In the bottom of the 6th, Shane Victorino doubled to lead off the inning and Pedroia followed with a single and it looked like the Sox would get on the board.  Victorino was cut down on the plate by Bautista on a perfect throw.  It was a bullet and was a thing of beauty.  Ortiz would follow with a single to really make it hurt that much more.  They were in business again though with runners on first and second with only 1 out.  Napoli and Nava would end up striking out to end the threat.

In the bottom of the 7th, the Sox finally got on the board as Shane Victorino singled in 2 runs to tie the game at 2.  The Sox again had only 1 out with runners on 1st and 2nd but Pedroia flew out to right and Ortiz struck out to end the threat of any more runs.

It would prove costly too as Bautista would hit his 2nd homer of the year in the top half of the 8th.  They would then add 2 more off Craig Breslow in the top of the 9th to seal the game.

Jacoby Ellsbury stayed hot and was 2 for 5 in the leadoff spot.  He’s now up to .296 and climbing more and more everyday.  Shane Victorino was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 4 as well.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia was 2 for 4 and Ortiz and Jose Iglesias each had a hit apiece.  Daniel Nava didn’t have a hit but reached base on an RBI.  Mike Carp pitch hit late in the game was got on base with a walk.

Mike Napoli had a tough game going 0 for 4 with 4 strikeouts and newcomer Jonathan Diaz who’s up because of the injury to Stephen Drew was 0 for 3 as well.  It came down to not getting the big hit in clutch situations last night.

It’s too bad because Felix Doubront had yet another strong performance.  Doubront went 6 and 1/3 innings giving up 2 runs on 5 hits.  He walked 3 and struck out 6.  He’s been pitching great as of late and has lowered his ERA to 4.22.

Alex Wilson pitched 2/3 of an inning allowing no base runners but Junichi Tazawa was roughed up for 2 runs on 3 hits in his one inning of work.  The Jays simply own the right-hander as he’s got a 1-3 record against them this year with a 10.13 ERA in 6 games.  Perhaps the Sox should stay away from Tazawa when Toronto is opposing.

Breslow threw gas on the fire and gave up 2 runs on 2 hits in his lone inning of work to put the game out of reach for the Sox.

They’ll get at it today with the Sox looking to get the series win and their 50th win of the season.  They’ll send Ryan Dempster to the mound against tough veteran lefty Mark Buehrle.  Hopefully the Sox bats will be timelier today in the day game.

SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP
Shane Victorino.  They flying Hawaiian went 2 for 4 and drove in the only 2 runs for the Sox.

ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Mike Napoli.  Nap took the golden sombrero with 4 K’s in the loss.

PLAY OF THE GAME
Jose Bautista’s 2-run homer in the top of the 8th.

NEXT
Today, June 30th, vs. the Toronto Blue Jays.

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