The Red Sox bring the drama to
Fenway Park on Patriot’s Day but they can’t overcome a huge deficit to get the
win. With the runner only 90 feet away,
they can’t do what they did on Sunday night and complete a big comeback. They fall to the O’s 7-6 and split the 4-game
set.
Down by only 2 runs in the bottom
of the ninth with the bases loaded and one out, the dangerous Mike Napoli
stepped to the plate. If you remember
correctly, last year, Mike Napoli was the walk-off hero on Patriot’s Day and he
looked like he could do it again on Monday.
Unfortunately, Napoli tapped a 3-1 pitch to second base to plate one but
also record the second out of the inning.
Mike Carp was up next with the
tying run only 90 feet away and the winning run on 2nd base. Tommy Hunter, the O’s closer was able to get
Mike Carp on a slow grounder to first to end the game and the threat.
It was an impressive comeback
seeing as they were down 6-0 early as Clay Buchholz was terrible and has now
struggled in 2 of his 4 starts this season.
Buchholz lasted only 2 and 1/3
innings and gave up 6 runs on 7 hits while walking one and striking out 1. His velocity is way down and though no one is
saying he’s hurt, something is up. He’s
not touching the low to mid 90’s as we’re accustomed to and instead hovering in
the 87-89 range. Yesterday, he left a
lot over the plate and the Oriole hitters made him pay.
It all fell apart for Clay in the
top of the 3rd when the first 5 Orioles singled, knocking in 3
runs. Then a groundout by Adam Jones plated
the 4th run but Steve Clevenger doubled in another and Schoop
singled in Clevenger to make it 6-0.
Buchholz was pulled in favor of Burke Badenop.
The bullpen was really good
yesterday and allowed the Sox bats to make a game out of what looked like a
sure blow-out. Burke Badenbop pitched
outstanding in his 3 and 2/3 innings, giving up just 1 hit and 2 walks while
striking out 1. Craig Breslow went 2
innings and gave up 1 run on 2 hits with a walk and Andrew Miller pitched a
perfect 9th inning.
For what it’s worth the bullpen
did it’s job by keeping Baltimore within striking distance until the bats could
come around or at least try to come around.
If it weren’t for Clay’s terrible
performance we’d be talking about the awful clutch hitting again for the Red
Sox. They were just 2 for 10 with
runners in scoring position and left 8 men on base. The top of the order seemed to get on base
but the middle of the order couldn’t get them in.
Brock Holt continues to shine in
his return to the Majors. Hitting
lead-off Monday, he went 2 for 4 with a run scored, RBI and sacrifice fly. Dustin Pedroia continued his recent surge by
going 2 for 3 with an RBI, 2 walks and 2 doubles. He nearly tied up the game on his own in the
ninth inning with a wall scrapper to left that nearly left the ballpark.
David Ortiz was 1 for 3 but
walked twice. Daniel Nava went 2 for 4,
David Ross was 1 for 3 with 2 runs scored, an RBI and his 1st homer
of the year. Jackie Bradley Jr. went 1
for 4 with a run scored, double and RBI.
Mike Napoli went 1 for 5 with 2 RBI with his 4th homer of the
season.
Xander Bogaerts went 1 for 3 with
a run scored and a walk but was caught stealing in a huge blown opportunity in
the 8th inning. After Napoli
homered to make it 7-5 to start the inning, Bogaerts singled with one out and
Nava followed with another single to put runners on 1st and 2nd
with only 1 out. Jonathan Herrera was
sent up to pinch hit for David Ross and with the count 3-2, both runners took
off in what looked like an attempted double-steal. Only Bogaerts stopped and Herrera struck
out. This left Bogey out in no man’s
land and he couldn’t go back to 2nd because Nava was standing
there. It looked like Bogaerts missed a
sign and with that a big blown opportunity.
The Sox now stand at 9-11 after
20 games with the Yankees coming in for a 3-game series. Despite the below .500 record, they’re only
2.5 games out and I feel like the bats may be coming around. They’ll be test against the Yanks, as it sets
up nicely for them with their best 3 pitchers taking the hill for the series.
Tonight, we’ll get our first look
at Masahiro Tanaka (2-0, 2.05), who has been as advertised so far this young
season. His last outing was probably his
most impressive with him striking out 10 and allowing only 1 hit.
Jon Lester (2-2, 2.17) will take
the hill for Boston and he’s been very impressive as well this young
season. It should be a great pitching
duel tonight and I expect a low scoring game.
Hopefully the bats will start heating up this series when the Yanks are
in town.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
Dustin Pedroia. Pedey went 2 for 3 with 2 doubles, an RBI and
also walked twice. Since missing a couple
games with a bum wrist, he’s come back on fire.
I guess the MRI that showed no structural damage and the short of cortisone
is all he needed to feel confident at the plate.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Jonny Gomes. Gomes was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts at the
plate and left a ton of guys on base. He
did make a sweet diving catch in left to save some runs.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Ryan Flaherty’s RBI single in the
top of the 8th that put the O’s up 7-4. The extra run that late, ended up being the
difference in the game.
NEXT
Tuesday, April 22nd at Home vs. the New York Yankees.
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