GAME 139 – 9/2/2013 – at Home vs. the Detroit Tigers

RESULT – LOSS 3-0

Same old thing for John Lackey.  Pitch great, but get nothing from the Sox bats and take the Loss.  If I were Lackey, I would sue the Sox for the lack of run support he’s gotten this year.  He pitches great but the Sox can’t put any runs on the board and they fall to the Tigers 3-0 in the opener of the series.

John Lackey went 7 and 1/3 innings giving up just 3 runs on 7 hits while walking 1 and striking out 5.  He was outstanding yet again against one of the toughest lineups in the American League.  His lack of run support hasn’t gotten to him publically but you can bet it irks him.

In Lackey’s last 11 starts, the Sox have scored just 19 runs, or 1.73 a game.  During that stretch he’s 2-7 and he’s been pitching really well in that span.

Matt Thornton pitched the final 1 and 2/3 of the game allowing only 1 hit and striking out 1 but the story of the day was the lack of offense.

The Sox managed only 6 hits all day and were 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position and left 8 men on base.  They hit into 3 double plays, 2 by Dustin Pedroia himself, and struck out 7 times in the loss.

Daniel Nava went 3 for 3 with a walk and 2 doubles.  He has 25 on the year now and is batting a cool .300 on the year.  The only other three hitters that could get something going were Dustin Pedroia, Shane Victorino and Will Middlebrooks; they all had a hit apiece.  Mike Napoli was on base twice with 2 walks and Jacoby Ellsbury also reached with a walk.

Another case of not hitting and it doesn’t get much better from here as the Tigers will send Max Scherzer (19-1, 2.90) to the mound tonight.  He’s probably the front runner for the American League Cy Young Award and the best pitcher on the Tigers this year.

The Sox will counter with Jon Lester (12-8, 3.99) who’s coming off a decent outing that he was hit hard in but didn’t give up many runs.  He’ll have to be almost perfect tonight and the bats will have to put some things together.

SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP

Daniel Nava.  Nava was the only one who brought the offense with him on Monday.  He went 3 for 3 and was on base again with a walk.

ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP

Jarrod Saltalamacchia.  Salty went 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Andy Dirks RBI triple in the top of the 7^th.  They would add 2 more runs but they really wouldn’t need it.

NEXT

Tuesday, September 3rd, at home vs. the Detroit Tigers.