Tuesday, July 16, 2013

GAME 96 – 7/13/2013 – in Oakland vs. the Athletics

RESULT – LOSS 3-0

Jon Lester wasn’t too bad but the Sox offense was terrible as they drop the 2nd game of the series in Oakland 3-0.

Lester went 6 and 1/3 innings allowing 3 runs on 6 hits while striking out 4 and walking 3.  He wasn’t good and he wasn’t bad, he kind of was blah.  That’s what it has been for Jon this first half.  I’m hoping with the rest he gets during the All-Star break, he’ll come back strong as ever and be the Lester we know of old.

It wouldn’t have mattered much because the Sox couldn’t get anything going against A’s starter A.J. Griffin.  They managed only 7 hits on the night and were a pitiful 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position, leaving 8 men on base.

Shane Victorino went 2 for 4, Mike Napoli went 2 for 4 and David Ortiz, Daniel Nava and Brock Holt each had a hit.  The Sox had only 1 extra base hit on the night (Napoli’s double).  Victorino stole his 11th base of the year but he was stranded there.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia walked once but the Sox just could not string any base hits together.  They put baserunners on in each of the first 6 innings but couldn’t move them around the bases.

Junichi Tazawa pitching the final 1 and 2/3 innings and allowed only 2 hits and no runs while striking out 2.  Tazawa has been up and down as of late so it was good to see him have a positive outing.

There isn’t much else to say about this game.  The Sox didn’t hit and Lester was so-so again.  They’ll go for the series win today against Bartolo Colon who’s been lights out this year.  The Sox will counter with Brandon Workman who get’s his first Major League start.

SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP
Mike Napoli.  Nap went 2 for 4 with the only extra base hit on the night (a double).

ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Jon Lester.  With Griffin pitching so well, Lester needed to be perfect and he wasn’t yet again.  He let up a homer on an 0-2 count for the 3rd time this year.  He needs to get better at putting hitters away and he’s struggled mightily this year doing that.

PLAY OF THE GAME
Norris’ solo homer in the bottom of the 5th inning.  It would be the only run the A’s would need.

NEXT
Sunday, July 14th vs. the Oakland Athletics.

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