It sure looked like Dustin
Pedroia’s left foot touched home plate in the bottom of the 7th of
Game 1 of Thursday’s day-night double-header at Fenway Park. Unfortunately, the first-base umpire, Toby
Basner didn’t see it and called him out.
A review of the play turned up the same result and the call remained…
OUT!
The Sox would end up falling to
the Rays by the count of 2-1 and the run was pivotal but clearly you can not
blame the game on one bad call. Nope,
you have to blame it on the one thing that has hindered the Sox this
season. Their horrendous offensive
output.
Tampa Bay did everything they
could to help jump start the Red Sox. They
issued 7 free passes and made an error in the field, but still the managed only
1 run on 6 hits. With runners in scoring
position, the Sox were a dreadful 1 for 8 and they stranded 11 men on base.
It started off so well too, as
Dustin Pedroia started off the game with a 10 pitch at bat for a walk. After a wild pitch moved him into scoring position,
Victorino and David Ortiz both struck out but Mike Napoli walked to keep the
inning alive. Jonny Gomes then singled
in Pedroia to give the Sox a quick 1-0 lead.
After a Bogaerts walk to load the bases, the Sox were unable to
capitalize as Will Middlebrooks flew out to end the inning. A huge missed opportunity.
The Sox would not register
another hit until the bottom of the sixth when Will Middlebrooks singled with 2
outs. That was followed with an A.J.
Pierzynski single to put runners on 1st and 2nd with 2
outs but Jackie Bradley Jr. would ground-out to end the threat.
In the bottom of the 7th,
the Sox had another golden opportunity to score but that’s when Pedroia was
thrown “out” at home on a David Ortiz double.
They would get close again in the bottom of the ninth as Pedroia singled
with one out and moved to 2nd on a bunt groundout by Shane
Victorino. With Ortiz up to the plate
and the tying run on 2nd, the crowd was energized for another Big
Papi clutch moment. It wouldn’t come,
Ortiz grounded out weakly to the pitcher to end the game and yet another putrid
offensive showing.
Dustin Pedroia went 2 for 4 with
a run scored and a walk. David Ortiz
went 1 for 4 with a double and a walk, Gomes went 1 for 4 with an RBI and Will
Middlebrooks went 1 for 4. A.J.
Pierzynski went 1 for 2 after he came on for David Ross who went 0 for 2 with 2
strikeouts.
Mike Napoli reached base twice
with 2 walks as did Xander Bogaerts.
Victorino was also on base with a walk.
It just doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Even fully healthy, the Sox are not getting
any clutch hits or stringing anything together to put runs on the board. Everyone is saying it’s because Jacoby
Ellsbury is not at the top of the lineup but I just don’t see it. They aren’t stringing anything together at
this point and it’s getting very frustrating to watch.
Speaking of frustrating, Jake
Peavy must be terribly frustrated with the offense right now. Though he wasn’t at his absolute best, he was
pretty damn good yesterday as he went 6 and 1/3 innings giving up just 2 runs
on 3 hits while striking out 4 and walking 5.
The 5 walks hurt the most, especially in the 4th when he
walked 3 straight batters, the last which forced in the leading run to give the
Rays a 2-1 lead. His pitches had almost
too much movement on them and give the Rays credit for not expanding the strike
zone and taking what Peavy gave them.
Chris Capuano went 2/3 of an
inning with one strikeout and continues his excellent start. It’s almost to the point of that the Sox are
wasting him in the bullpen when Game 2 starter Felix Doubront seems to be
struggling.
Burke Badenhop threw a perfect
inning striking out 2 of the 3 batters he faced and Andrew Miller went 1 inning
giving up 1 hit and striking out 1.
It was a game of missed
opportunities on the offensive side and yet another one run loss. It was the sixth time this season the Sox
loss a game that would get them back to .500.
At least there was another game at 7 with Felix Doubront facing off
against Chris Archer.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
Dustin Pedroia. Pedey was on base 3 times out of the lead-off
spot and seems to be very capable in that position. Though he was “thrown out” at the plate, you
can’t deny he was the best player on the field for Game 1.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Jackie Bradley Jr. JBJ went 0 for 4 with a strikeout. Consistency is a big issue with JBJ. He can’t seem to put a string of good games
together.
PLAY OF THE GAME
The bottom of the 7th
play with Pedroia called out on a very questionable play at home plate. It would have been the tying run but the out
call allowed the Rays to hold on to their 1-run lead and get the win.
NEXT
Thursday, May 1st at home vs. the Tampa Bay
Rays.
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