The sweep is on and it’s not a
good thing. The Tigers take game 3 of
the series 6-2 as the Red Sox drop their fourth straight game. It is the longest streak since they dropped 8
straight to end the terrible 2012 season.
They never lost more than 3 in a row last year on their championship
run.
Offense was again the issue
Sunday night as they managed only 2 runs on 6 hits with 3 walks. Xander Bogaerts stayed hot as he went 2 for 4
with an RBI. Pedroia, Victorino,
Sizemore and Jackie Bradley Jr. had the other hits as Victorino and Brock Holt
each stole a base. David Ortiz walked
twice and Napoli once. They were 1 for 5
with runners in scoring position and left 7 men on base.
Will Middlebrooks was placed on
the DL Saturday and Brock Holt is up in his place but the Sox really need to do
something with the left side of their infield.
Bogaerts has certainly been holding his own but they have gotten zero
production out of 3rd base this year and I’m starting to think
Middlebrooks will never be the answer.
He hasn’t shown he can hit big league pitching for an extended period of
time and he continually gets hurt. I
think it’s time the Sox explore options in the left side of the infield because
Bogaerts has experience at both 3rd and short, a shortstop could be
in the mix.
While their at it, a corner
outfielder would be a nice addition as well as Sizemore, Bradley Jr. and Gomes
are struggling mightily this year. I don’t
know how many options there are but the Sox have a plethora of young arms that
they have the goods to hopefully score some talent in a trade or two. I think it’s time to do that or this team
will be out of it at the All-Star Break.
Jake Peavy wasn’t very good
either on Sunday night as he went 6 innings and allowed 5 runs on 11 hits. He struck out 2, walked no one and gave up a
homer to Victor Martinez.
Junichi Tazawa went 1 inning and
allowed 1 run on a solo homer by Torii Hunter.
Andrew Miller bounced back from 2 walk-offs by going 1 inning allowing 1
hit, 1 walk and striking out 2. Burke
Badenhop went 2/3 of an inning giving up 2 hits but Craig Breslow was able to
get out of the inning unscathed after a walk and a strikeout.
It was a terrible series and the Sox
to me have hit rock bottom. They are now
20-23 and need to get some momentum going for a tough series coming up against
the Blue Jays staring Tuesday. A day off
on Monday will help get the bad taste out of everyone’s mouth that was this
series.
Some low-lights of the series and
of the last month:
Mike Napoli is 9 for 51 with 0
homers in the month of May
A.J. Pierzynski is 2 for 25 over
a seven game span.
Grady Sizemore was 1 for 12 in
the series.
Jackie Bradley Jr. is 1 for 13 with
6 strikeouts over his last 4 games.
The Sox were outscored 13-3 in
the series and outhit 32-16.
They are 10-14 at home this year.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
Xander Bogaerts. Bogaerts again was the only Sox hitter that
fared well on the night. He went 2 for 4
and drove in one of the 2 Red Sox runs.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Mike Napoli. Napoli walked once but also struck out twice
and was 0 for 3 on the night.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Victor Martinez’s 2-run homer in
the top of the 3rd to put the Tigers up 3-1. The Sox wouldn’t get much closer.
NEXT
Monday, May 20th at
home vs. the Toronto Blue Jays.
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