The Red Sox fail to sweep as they
lose a tight finale at Fenway Park to the A’s in 10 innings. Again, it came down to capitalizing on
chances and the Sox could not take advantage of them. It was the 7th time the Sox
dropped the game that would have put them back at .500. They also have yet to win 3 games in a row in
2014 and have been under .500 since April 5th.
Jackie Bradley Jr. had a tough
day as he had 2 opportunities to allow the Sox a chance to win or tie the game
and he failed to execute a bunt on both occasions.
In the 7th, with the
game tied at 2, JBJ came up with runners on 2nd and 3rd
with only 1 out. John Farrell called for
Bradley to lay down the safety squeeze but JBJ would bunt the ball directly
back to A’s reliever Fernando Abad who was able to keep the runners at bay and
throw out Jackie by a mile.
After the A’s took a 1-run lead
in the top of the 10th, Will Middlebrooks opened the bottom half of
the inning with a single and was able to advance to 2nd on an error
by Coco Crisp. JBJ was up yet again in a
situation that called for a bunt. He
fouled the first off then took a strike while trying to drop down the 2nd
pitch. JBJ then would hit a grounder to
first and a great play by A’s first baseman Darin Barton who threw Middlebrooks
out at 3rd kept the 1-run lead that that A’s would hold onto win by.
JBJ would end the game going 0
for 4 and he also grounded into a two double-plays on the afternoon. Just a rough all around day for him.
It wasn’t only him that had a
tough day at the dish though, as the Sox managed only 2 runs on 9 hits and were
1 for 7 with runners in scoring position.
They also left 5 men on base but couldn’t really get anything going most
of the afternoon.
Pedroia went 1 for 5 and Mike
Carp went 2 for 4 with a run scored.
A.J. Pierzynski went 2 for 4 with a run scored, an RBI and a homer. It was the first homer at Fenway Park for
Pierzynski in 172 plate appearances there.
Xander Bogaerts went 1 for 3 with
a walk and Grady Sizemore went 2 for 2 with an RBI double. Middlebrooks went 1 for 3 with a walk.
John Lackey put in yet another
quality start without the benefit of some offensive power. He went 6 innings and allowed only 2 runs on
5 hits while striking out 4 and walking 3.
He wasn’t as dominate as he’s been in the past but he pitched well
enough for the win but the Sox bats thought it was 2013 and didn’t put up any
runs for him.
Andrew Miller went 1 inning and
struck out 2 of the 3 batters he faced.
Junichi Tazawa did the same in his one inning of work. Koji Uehara worked around a walk and a hit
while keeping a run off the board, striking out 1.
Chris Capuano struggled again in
his 2nd consecutive outing as he allowed 1 run on 1 hit while
walking 2 in his 2/3 innings of relief.
Burke Badenhop would allow 1 hit in his 1/3 of an inning worked.
It’s frustrating that the Sox can’t
seem to get back to .500 but they are still only 2 games back in the AL East
leading Yankees and 1.5 games back of the 2nd place O’s. The whole division is separated by only 2.5
games.
The Sox will have an off-day on
Monday then the Cincinnati Reds will come into Fenway for a quick 2-game set.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
A.J. Pierzynski. Pierzynski went 2 for 4 with a game –tying homer
in the 7th off A’s starter Sonny Gray who seemed to dominate the
rest of the Red Sox hitters.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Jackie Bradley Jr. As I mentioned above, it was a terrible
afternoon for the young centerfielder.
PLAY OF THE GAME
The bottom of the 10th
defensive gem by Darin Barton of the A’s to cut down Will Middlebrooks and the
tying run at 3rd base with no-outs.
The next batter (Pedroia) would hit into a double play to end the game.
NEXT
Tuesday, May 6th at home vs. the Cincinnati
Reds.
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