Tuesday, September 3, 2013

GAME 135– 8/28/2013 – at Home vs. the Baltimore Orioles

RESULT – LOSS 3-2

The Red Sox just couldn’t get that big hit in this one.  After proving time and again to get that hit, it eluded them last night.  After completing their 30th come-from behind win the night before, the Sox also did it again on Thursday.

With no outs and Jacoby Ellsbury on 1st in the 9th inning, Ellsbury stole 2nd to put the tying run in scoring position.  Unfortunately Shane Victorino, Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz just couldn’t come through.

Always within a reach, the Sox were just one hit short.  Pedroia and Ortiz combined to go 0 for 8 and the Ortiz is at 22 at bats without a hit as the O’s top the Sox 3-2 in the series finale.

The offense was terrible on Thursday night going 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position and stranding 5 men on base.  They struck out 11 times on the night as a team with everyone striking out at least once except for Jacoby Ellsbury.

Ellsbury went 2 for 4 and stole his 50th base of the season.  Shane Victorino stayed ridiculously hot going 2 for 4 with a homer, his 12th of the year.  Daniel Nava went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and Stephen Drew went 1 for 3 with an RBI.

Jonny Gomes and Jarrod Saltalamacchia also combined to go 0 for 8 with 3 strikeouts out of the 6 and 7 spots.  Will Middlebrooks was hitless in 3 at bats.

Jon Lester wasn’t as sharp as his previous outings as he seemed a bit wild.  He went 6 innings giving up 3 runs on 5 hits while walking 3 and striking out just 4.  His command was off as he left balls over the middle of the plate a lot surrendering towering fly balls and screaming line drives.  Luckily he kept the ball in the ball park but he was certainly hit harder than in his past outings.

The bullpen did a great job keeping the O’s offense at bay and giving the Sox a chance at the comeback.  Matt Thornton went 1 inning of no run ball and Brandon Workman went 1 and 2/3 innings of no run ball though he did surrender 3 walks in the outing.  Craig Breslow retired the only hitter he faced in the 9th.

They came up just a run short but still get the series win.  They have the Chicago White Sox coming in for the weekend and hopefully they can beat up on them a bit.  The White Sox are not having a good year and the Sox could really pad their AL East lead.

Starting for the Sox on Friday night will be Ryan Dempster.  It will be his first start from the suspension he served for plunking A-Rod.  He’ll be opposed by Hector Santiago.

SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP
Shane Victorino.  The Flying Hawaiian continued his hot streak going 2 for 4 with a homer.

ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
David Ortiz.  Ortiz is now hitless in 22 at bats and he went 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts in this contest.  The Sox need Ortiz to start hitting again.

PLAY OF THE GAME
Chris Davis’ RBI double in the 5th inning to put the O’s up 3-2.

NEXT
Friday, August 30th, at home vs. the Chicago White Sox.

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