When you bang out 11 hits, you
shouldn’t be involved in a pitchers’ duel.
But that’s what happened on Thursday night at the Rogers Centre as
missed opportunities with men on base proved costly again as the Sox fall to
the Jays 2-1 and loss the series.
The Boston bats were just 2 for
11 with runners in scoring position and they left 12 men on base. It was a frustrating 4-6 road trip and the
Sox have lost 4 of their last 5 and the main component of all the losses has
been the inability to hit with runners in scoring position. It has been a problem all year but last year
was just bad.
Dustin Pedroia went 3 for 5 on
the night and Daniel Nava went 3 for 4 with a run scored and 2 doubles. Ryan Lavarnway stayed hot and had 2 hits in
the loss. Will Middlebrooks, Jonny Gomes
and Stephen Drew all had a hit as well.
Jacoby Ellsbury didn’t record a hit but did drive in a run in the loss.
That was the extent of the offense
though as they just couldn’t put hits together.
Their best scoring opportunity came in the 6th, when the Sox
had lead off with 2 singles by Drew and Lavarnway and runners were at the
corners with no outs. Buehrle buckled
down however and struck out Nava and Middlebrooks, then got Ellsbury to ground
out to third to end the threat. Can’t
have 2 strikeouts there. Need at the
very least a fly ball to plate a run.
Jake Peavy was brilliant through
6 innings but it all fell apart for him in the bottom of the 7th as
he allowed 3 hits and 2 runs and was taken out of the game. Still if you allow only 2 runs on the game,
you’d expect to get the win.
Peavy went 6 innings, giving up
just 2 runs on 5 hits while striking out 4 and walking no one. Craig Breslow pitched out of the jam in the 7th
getting all 3 hitters he faced out while striking out 1. Junichi Tazawa and Rubby De La Rosa pitched
the 8th and didn’t allow a run.
It’s a tough loss to take before
heading home to face the Yankees who seem to be heating up offensively. Maybe some home cooking is just what the
offense needs.
The Sox will send Felix Doubront
(8-5, 3.66) to the mound tonight and he’s been very good against the Yankees
this year. In 2 starts vs. the Yanks he
has 2 wins and has gone 12.1 innings giving up just 2 earned runs while
striking out 11 and walking 6. Hopefully
he’ll have his Yankee killer mode on again.
He’ll be opposed by the veteran
Andy Pettitte (7-9, 4.62). Pettitte has
been bad in his last couple of starts but has a really good track record
against the Sox.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
Daniel Nava. Nava went 3 for 4 and had 2 doubles in the
loss. He’s still hitting, even though he
seems to be playing less.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Shane Victorino. The Flying Hawiaan again was bad at the dish
going 0 for 5 with a strikeout.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Mark DeRosa’s sacrifice fly in
the bottom of the 7th with proved to be the game winner.
NEXT
Friday, August 16th at home vs.
the New York Yankees.
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