Ten years ago to the day the Boston Red Sox swept a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox. Today the Sox dropped Game 1 of their own doubleheader against the Texas Rangers. The Sox offense did manage 10 hits and 4 walks against Bobby Witt and the Rangers bullpen but could only muster 1 measly run. Matt Young (0-2, 2.95 ERA) was game for 5 innings but allowed 3 rubs. Danny Darwin kept the Sox in it with 4 shutout innings but the Sox bats couldn't generate any offense. The Sox had chances all game but the Rangers took Game 1 by a score of 3-1 at Fenway Park.
The Rangers wasted no time scoring in top of the first inning as John Cangelosi struck out swinging to start. Rafael Palmeiro grounded out to second but Juan Gonzalez hit a home run to the moon to put Texas on top. Ruben Sierra singled in the hole at second but Brian Downing took strike three to end the inning with the Rangers up 1-0.
Gonzalez hits one out
The Sox began their rally killing woes in the bottom of the first as Wade Boggs flied out to left to start. Jody Reed grounded out to third but Mike Greenwell singled to left. Ellis Burks doubled to left but Phil Plantier lined out to left to end the inning.
Young cruised in the top of the second as Dean Palmer grounded out to short to start. Dickie Thon struck out swinging and Ivan Rodriguez grounded out to short to end the inning. Jack Clark popped up to short to start the bottom of the second and Mo Vaughn grounded out to second. Tony Pena flied out to center to end the inning.
The Rangers iced the game in the top of the third as Al Newman struck out swinging to start. Cangelosi grounded out to short but Palmeiro walked. Gonzalez singled to right and Sierra lined a base hit to center. Burks had Sierra at first but Clark muffed the throw to score Palmeiro and the runners moved over on the error. Downing struck out swinging but the ball got away from Pena and Gonzalez scored. Palmer forced Downing at second to end the inning with the Rangers ahead 3-0.
The Sox blew their next rally in the bottom of the third as Luis Rivera singled in the hoke at short to start. Boggs lined out to third and Reed popped up to third but Greenwell was plunked. Burks walked to load the bases but Plantier popped up to second to end the inning.
Thon singled to right to start the top of the fourth but was doubled off first on a bullet to Boggs by Rodriguez. Newman grounded out to third to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the fourth as Clark grounded out to short to start. Vaughn singled to center and Pena doubled him home to cut the lead. Rivera walked and both runners moved over on the grounder to first by Boggs. Reed walked to load the bases but Greenwell grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox down 3-2.
Cangelosi walked to open the top of the fifth and moved to second on the sacrifice bunt by Palmeiro. Gonzalez flied out to left and Sierra popped up to second to end the inning. Burks struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fifth but Plantier singled inside the bag at first. Clark took strike three but Vaughn walked. Pena struck out swinging to end the inning.
Downing walked to start the top of the sixth and Palmer singled to center to chase Young. He lasted just 5 plus innings and allowed 3 runs. Danny Darwin came on in relief and Thon dropped down a bunt but Darwin got Downing at third. Rodriguez grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Jeff Huson pinch hit for Newman to start the top of the seventh and struck out swinging. Kevin Reimer pinch hit for Cangelosi and doubled to right before Palmeiro singled him to third. Reimer made a mad dash for home on a hit and run but the only problem was Gonzalez struck out swinging. Reimer was out at home to end the inning. The Red Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the bottom of the seventh as Burks grounded out to third to start. Plantier grounded out to first and Clark grounded out to third to end the inning.
Darwin got Sierra to ground out to third to start the top of the eighth but Downing was plunked. Palmer took strike three and Thon popped up to short to end the inning. Kenny Rogers came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth with Tom Brunansky pinch hitting for Vaughn to start. Bruno blooped a base hit to right but was foolishly thrown out at second trying to steal. Pena doubled to left and Rivera hit a seeing eye single to left that would have scored Brunansky. Boggs flied out to left and Reed grounded into a force to end the inning.
Darwin returned for the top of the ninth and Rodriguez struck out swinging to start. Huson lined out to center but Reimer doubled to left. Jack Daugherty pinch ran for Reimer and Palmeiro was intentionally walked. Gonzalez popped up to second to end the inning. Good work by Darwin to toss 4 innings of shutdown ball.
Rogers returned for the bottom of the ninth and Greenwell grounded out to first to start. Burks flied out to right and Tim Naehring was set to pinch hit for Plantier. Rangers manager Bobby Valentine countered by bringing in closer Jeff Russell. Sox manager Butch Hobson pulled back Naehring and sent Herm Winningham to pinch hit instead. Naturally Winningham looked at strike three to end the game. The Rangers won Game 1 by a score of 3-1.
Jackass of the Night is Wade Boggs. He was 0 for 5 including leaving the tying runs on in the fourth inning.
The Good:
Mo Vaughn was 1 for 2 with a walk and a run scored.
Tony Pena was 2 for 4 with an rbi.
Luis Rivera was 2 for 3 with a walk.
Danny Darwin tossed 4 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Herm Winningham struck out as a pinch hitter.
Jack Clark was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Jody Reed was just 1 for 4 with walk.
Mike Greenwell was just 1 for 4 but was hit with a pitch.
Ellis Burks was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked.
Phil Plantier was just 1 for 4.
Tom Brunansky singled as a pinch hitter but was thrown out trying to steal.
Matt Young took the loss but allowed just 3 runs in 5 plus innings.
Honorable Mention:
Tim Naehring "pinch hit" for Phil Plantier.
Final Thoughts:
The offensively challenged Sox sure bit the big one today. They actually outhit the Rangers 10-9 but they couldn't cash in on almost any of their chances. They're dead last offensively in the American League despite the pitching actually being good. Young wasn't great today but he didn't suck either. Darwin was damn good in relief and its a shame the Sox couldn't pick him up because he certainly deserved the win. The fact the veterans such as Boggs, Clark and Greenwell haven't been producing and the younger guys like Vaughn and Plantier haven't been hitting well either. There really isn't any way to fix it because their recent draft picks were mostly pitchers and apart from John Valentin, there isn't really any help coming from Pawtucket either. Way to go Sox GM Lou Gorman, although to be honest who thought the entire team would slump in April? The Sox have no time to dwell on the loss as they are back in action in a few minutes against these same Rangers. Joe Hesketh gets the start for Boston against Jeff Robinson of Texas. The game begins at 4:05 PM at Fenway Park.
No comments:
Post a Comment