It’s becoming a broken record at
this point but the biggest trouble area for the Boston Red Sox this year is
hitting with runners in scoring position.
It’s like the team is allergic to hitting with runners on. With no one on, the Sox seem to be just fine
hitting the ball, as soon as you put runners on, especially in scoring position;
the bats go somewhere to hide.
On Wednesday night, the Sox
dropped game 2 of the 3 game set to the Blue Jays by the score of 6-4. Another trouble spot has surfaced as well,
allowing the opposition to score first.
This one falls on the starting pitching as they have allowed opponents
to score first in 24 games and they’ve won just 5 of those games. When a team can not hit with runners on,
allowing your opponent to score first just adds fuel to the fire of this mess
of a season.
Clay Buchholz was the starter
yesterday that allowed the Blue Jays to get out to a quick 4-0 lead. Buchholz has been absolutely miserable this
season as he falls to 2-4 on the season while sporting a terrible 6.32
ERA. He went only 4 and 2/3 innings
allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on 9 hits while striking out 2, walking 2 and
allowing 2 homers (both to Edwin Encarnacion who is simply on fire right now
with 11 homers this month). Clay needed
90 pitches to get through his short outing as only 53 were strikes.
Both he and John Farrell continue
to say there are not physical issues with his arm and back. Last night it seemed like he was trying to
nibble too much and was inconsistent all night in the strike zone. It seemed like he was behind in the account
to pretty much every batter and even when he retired the Jays, the outs were
hit extremely hard. Grady Sizemore had
his work cut out for him yesterday and he routinely had to chase down hard hit
balls to deep centerfield. This is not
the same Clay Buchholz and if the Red Sox hope to turn their season around,
they need the real Buchholz to show up pretty soon.
Chris Capuano came on after Clay
and pitched 2 innings allowing 1 run on 2 hits while walking 2 and striking out
no one. Andrew Miller went 1 and 1/3
innings allowing just one walk and striking out 2. Koji Uehara pitched the last inning striking
out 2 of the 3 batters he faced. Since
Koji hadn’t pitched in awhile since the Sox have lost 6 straight ball games and
have had no save opportunities.
Offensively the Sox left 11 men
on base and were just 2 for 6 with runners in scoring position. They matched the Jays in hits with 11 but
failed to capitalize with runners on base.
It’s the same old story every single game and until they can start
getting some clutch hitting, this team will continue to slide.
Xander Bogaerts continues to
swing a hot bat as he went 3 for 4 with a run scored, an RBI and 2
doubles. He has his average up to .283;
his on base percentage up to .381 and his OPS is at .782. He’s been the lone rookie that has actually
performed above expectations. It seems
that his power stroke is finally coming around as he has 13 extra base hits now
on the season with a bunch coming as of late.
A.J. Pierzynski went 3 for 5 in
the loss and Mike Carp went 2 for 3 with a run scored, an RBI, a walk and 2
doubles. As I’ve said in the past, I’d
like to see Carp get some more at bats as his swing seems perfect for Fenway
Park.
Shane Victorino only went 1 for 5
but his lone hit was his first homer of the year. Brock Holt went 1 for 3 with an RBI and a
walk. Dustin Pedroia went 1 for 5 and
Grady Sizemore walked once out of the lead-off spot. He also stole his 3rd base of the
year.
There was zero production out of
the 3 and 4 hole as David Ortiz and Jonny Gomes both went 0 for 5 and Gomes
struck out 3 times.
With their sixth straight loss
this team is in a bit of a tailspin and a win is desperately needed. This is their longest losing streak since the
end of the 2012 season when they lost 8 straight to end the year.
They’ll send their stopper to the
mound tonight as Jon Lester (4-5, 2.67) will take the hill. Lester pitched exceptionally well last time out
against the Tigers but still took the loss as the offense couldn’t score any
runs. He went only 5 innings due to a
rain delay but struck out 7 and allowed only 1 run on 4 hits.
He’ll be opposed by Mark Buehrle
(7-1, 2.11) who looks to finish off the sweep for the Jays. Buehrle is enjoying a great season so far and
was excellent in last start against the Texas Rangers as he allowed only 2 runs
over 6 and 2/3 innings. He works fast
and pounds the strike zone so hopefully the Sox will be able to get to him for
some runs today.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
Xander Bogaerts. The X-man went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and an
RBI. He’s heating up at the right time
and I’m thinking we’re seeing him blossom right before our eyes.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Jonny Gomes. That’s baseball. A day after being Game MVP, you turn around
and you’re the least valuable player the next day. Gomes went 0 for 5 with 3 strikeouts on the
night.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Anthony Gose’s RBI single in the
top of the 7th which was the nail in the coffin for the Sox as it
extended the Jays lead to 6-1.
NEXT
Thursday, May 22nd at home vs. the Toronto Blue Jays.
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