The Red Sox did something
yesterday that they didn’t do at all in their championship run of 2013. Unfortunately it wasn’t a good thing, the Sox
dropped their 3rd game in a row on Sunday as they were swept by the
Milwaukee Brewers. The Sox didn’t lose 3
games in a row at any point last year and unfortunately the bats couldn’t help
out Jon Lester on Sunday afternoon.
Yovani Gallardo, the Brewer
starter, was sharp, as he shut out the Sox for 6 and 2/3 innings en route to a
4-0 win at Fenway Park. He scattered 7
hits and walked none to outduel the big lefty and pull of the first Brewer
sweep at Fenway Park since October of 1993.
It was also the first time the Sox had been swept at home since
September of 2012, the terrible year we’d all like to forget about.
Lester certainly didn’t deserve
to take his second loss of the season. The
left went 7 and 1/3 innings, allowing 4 runs, only 2 earned, on 7 hits,
striking out 6 and walking 1. Some
defensive miscues in the top of the 2nd inning hurt the Sox big
time. Jonathan Lucroy was on 2nd
with no one out. Khris Davis laid down a
bunt that neither Lester nor Jonathan Herrera fielded. Herrera was again playing in place of injured
Will Middlebrooks and he made very little effort on the bunt as Lester
initially charged but backed off when he thought Herrera would be there.
It ended up costing them dearly
as both would score in the next at-bat as Mark Reynolds singled to right where
Daniel Nava would then make an error to allow Davis to score.
Lester would then settle down as
he retired 16 straight into the 7th inning. Khris Davis, who had himself a series,
doubled in the top of the 7th to end the streak and Jeff Bianchi’s
RBI single 3 batters later would plate the Brewers 3rd run.
Jon would come out of the game in
the top of the 8th after issuing a single to Ryan Braun in favor of
Edward Mujica who couldn’t keep the inherited run from scoring. After a stolen base, Braun would be driven in
by Amaris Ramirez for the 4th Milwaukee run. Mujica would settle down and and get the
final 2 outs of the 8th but he did walk one, let up a hit and struck
out one.
Andrew Miller pitched the 9th
and allowed only 1 hit and struck out 1.
Brewer pitching was again a
problem for the Red Sox. They had only 9
hits and were a lowly 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position. They left 9 men on base and didn’t walk at
all.
All starters had a hit in the contest,
with Jackie Bradley Jr. and Daniel Nava getting doubles. Unfortunately the hits were all scattered and
they couldn’t come up with that big one with runners in scoring position.
I know it’s early, but the Sox
are hitting only .254 with a .315 on-base percentage through 6 games. They can’t seem to get hits in bunches
together and were 3 for 19 with runners in scoring position this weekend with
17 runners left stranded on base.
Let’s hop with the Texas Rangers
coming in and it starting to warm up, the Sox bats will also heat up and start
getting some clutch hits.
Big righty, John Lackey will take
the hill tonight, coming off an impressive debut win last week in
Baltimore. He’ll be opposed by Tanner
Scheppers who was roughed up in his first outing of the year to the tune of 7
runs on 8 hits in only 4 innings pitched.
He also walked 3 so hopefully the Sox can get the offense going tonight.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
Jon Lester. A tough luck loss as the big lefty went 7 and
1/3 innings giving up 4 runs, only 2 earned, on 7 hits while striking out 6 and
walking 1.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Daniel Nava. Nava went 1 for 4 but made a bad error in
right that gave the Brewers 2 runs early on.
He’s had only 3 hits in 26 at bats this year and may not be as well
suited as everyone thought in the leadoff spot.
PLAY OF THE GAME
The error by Nava in the top of
the 2nd that gave the Brewers a 2-0 lead.NEXT
Monday, April 7th at home vs. the Texas Rangers.
No comments:
Post a Comment