O's starter Jason Johnson was almost unhittable in the game. Trot Nixon led the game off by flying out to left field. Jose Offerman stroked a single but Carl Everett whiffed. Manny Ramirez singled to center but Troy O'Leary grounded out to second to end the inning. Castillo got the ball to begin the bottom of the first and Brady Anderson struck out swinging. Mike Bordick doubled to left but Delino Deshields and David Segui both whiffed to end the inning.
Johnson joined the strikeout parade in the top of the second by whiffing Jason Varitek and Shea Hillenbrand to start. Brian Daubach grounded out to short to end the inning. Jeff Conine walked to lead off the bottom of the second but was erased on the Melvin Mora double play. Cal Riplen Jr hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning.
The Sox had a chance to score in the top of the third but failed. Mike Lansing led off with a double to center and moved to third on a Nixon ground out. Unfortunately Offerman whiffed and Everett popped up to short to end the inning. Castillo remained tough in the bottom of the third. Brook Fordyce lined out to right but Jerry Hairston Jr walked. Hairston was then gunned down at second by Varitek trying to steal. Anderson flied out to center to end the inning.
Ramirez opened the top of the fourth with a fly out to center. O'Leary struck out swinging but Varitek singled to left. Hillenbrand popped up to short to end the inning. Bordick led off the bottom of the fourth by grounding out to short. DeShields popped up to first and Segui lined out to right to end the inning.
Johnson continued to be red hot in the top of the fifth inning. Daubach lined out to left, Lansing flied out to right and Nixon grounded out to third to end the inning. The O's struck first in the bottom of the fifth. Conine grounded out to third but Mora doubled to left and Ripken Jr singled him home to give the O's the lead. Ripken was then caught napping too far off first when Nixon caught a flyball by Fordyce and doubled Cal off at first to end the inning with the O's up 1-0
The Sox tied the game in the top of the sixth. Offerman and Everett hit back to back singles and Offerman moved to third on the fly out by Ramirez. O'Leary then grounded one to first and Segui ate it, allowing Offerman to score. O'Leary was credited it with a fielder's choice but they now had runners on first and second. Varitek beat out a double play ball to keep the inning alive, but Hillenbrand left the go ahead run at third with a pop up to short to end the inning. The game was tied 1-1.
Castillo returned for the bottom of the sixth and allowed a single to Hairston. A wild pitch moved him to second and he advanced to third on the ground out by Anderson. Sox manager Jimy Williams had seen enough and lifted Frank after 82 pitches. Good debut by Castillo to hold the O's to just 1 run in nearly 6 innings of work. "El Guapo" Rich Garces was brought in and he promptly hit Bordick. The Sox caught a break when Hairston was in such a hurry, he forgot to tag up on the fly out by DeShields. After he crossed the plate, Garces tossed the ball to third on the appeal and YERRRRR OUT! Garces had gotten out of it and the game was still tied.
The Sox failed to capitalize on the mistake by Baltimore in the top of the seventh. Daubach walked and advanced to second on the ground out by Lansing. A wild pitch moved Daubach to third but Nixon popped up to short. Offerman lined out to second to end the inning, another opportunity wasted by the Sox. Garces returned for the bottom of the seventh and Segui grounded back to him to start. Conine flied out to right and Mora flied out to center to end the inning.
Johnson returned for the top of the eighth and got Everett to ground out to second to start. Ramirez lined out to right and O'Leary struck out swinging to end the inning. Rod Beck took over for Garces in the bottom of the eighth. Ripken popped up to third but Fordyce singled...only to be erased on the Hairston double play to end the inning.
Jason Johnson returned for the top of the ninth and Varitek flied out to right but Hillenbrand singled to center. That was it for Johnson as lefty Buddy Groom was brought in. Jimy Williams countered by pinch hitting Daubach with Dante Bichette. Bichette whiffed but Hillenbrand advanced to second on the passed ball. With the go-ahead run at second....Lansing popped up to second to end the inning. Sox closer Derek Lowe was brought in to pitch the bottom of the ninth with Offerman moving from second to first, Lansing moving from short to second and Craig Grebeck came in to play short. Anderson immediately doubled to left and Bordick advanced him to third with a ground out. Lowe was ordered to intentionally walk both DeShields and Segui to load the bases. The sinkerballer did get a ground ball from Conine to force Anderson out at home....but he walked Mora to end the game. The Sox lost their second game out of three by a 2-1 walkoff by the Orioles.
Jackass of the Night is an easy one. Derek Lowe blew his second game in four days allowing the winning run to score on a walk. At least make them put it in play Derek!
Derek Lowe: Jackass
The Good:
Jose Offerman was 2 for 4 and scored the Sox' only run.
Johnson returned for the top of the eighth and got Everett to ground out to second to start. Ramirez lined out to right and O'Leary struck out swinging to end the inning. Rod Beck took over for Garces in the bottom of the eighth. Ripken popped up to third but Fordyce singled...only to be erased on the Hairston double play to end the inning.
Jason Johnson returned for the top of the ninth and Varitek flied out to right but Hillenbrand singled to center. That was it for Johnson as lefty Buddy Groom was brought in. Jimy Williams countered by pinch hitting Daubach with Dante Bichette. Bichette whiffed but Hillenbrand advanced to second on the passed ball. With the go-ahead run at second....Lansing popped up to second to end the inning. Sox closer Derek Lowe was brought in to pitch the bottom of the ninth with Offerman moving from second to first, Lansing moving from short to second and Craig Grebeck came in to play short. Anderson immediately doubled to left and Bordick advanced him to third with a ground out. Lowe was ordered to intentionally walk both DeShields and Segui to load the bases. The sinkerballer did get a ground ball from Conine to force Anderson out at home....but he walked Mora to end the game. The Sox lost their second game out of three by a 2-1 walkoff by the Orioles.
Jackass of the Night is an easy one. Derek Lowe blew his second game in four days allowing the winning run to score on a walk. At least make them put it in play Derek!
The Good:
Jose Offerman was 2 for 4 and scored the Sox' only run.
Frank Castillo got the quick hook but was pitching well, going 5 1/3 innings allowing just the 1 run while striking out 3.
Rich Garces pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Rod Beck pitched a scoreless eighth.
The Bad:
Trot Nixon was 0 for 4.
Trot Nixon was 0 for 4.
Dante Bichette struck out against Buddy Groom in the ninth.
The Ugly:
Carl Everett was just 1 for 4.
Carl Everett was just 1 for 4.
Manny Ramirez was just 1 for 4.
Troy O'Leary was 0 for 4 but his sac fly tied the game.
Jason Varitek was just 1 for 4.
Shea Hillenbrand was just 1 for 4.
Brian Daubach was 0 for 2 with a walk.
Mike Lansing was just 1 for 4.
Honorable Mention:
Craig Grebeck played short in the bottom of the 9th.
Craig Grebeck played short in the bottom of the 9th.
Final Thoughts:
Another tough loss to the O's. I know Nomar Garciaparra being out hurts, but this was supposed to be an improved offense from last year and for the first three games, they haven't done anything. It took a NO HITTER from Nomo to keep from being swept. Both Pedro Martinez and Castillo only allowed 1 run apiece giving a grand total of 21 1/3 innings and 2 runs allowed. Beck and Garces have been solid in their two appearances....Lowe on the other hand, not so much. Hopefully its just April jitters because there is a long way to go. Manny Ramire will hit, its just a question of when. Tomorrow the Sox play their home opener against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Tomo Ohka takes the mound in his season debut against Ryan Rupe of the Rays. The game begins at 1:05 PM at Fenway Park.
Another tough loss to the O's. I know Nomar Garciaparra being out hurts, but this was supposed to be an improved offense from last year and for the first three games, they haven't done anything. It took a NO HITTER from Nomo to keep from being swept. Both Pedro Martinez and Castillo only allowed 1 run apiece giving a grand total of 21 1/3 innings and 2 runs allowed. Beck and Garces have been solid in their two appearances....Lowe on the other hand, not so much. Hopefully its just April jitters because there is a long way to go. Manny Ramire will hit, its just a question of when. Tomorrow the Sox play their home opener against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Tomo Ohka takes the mound in his season debut against Ryan Rupe of the Rays. The game begins at 1:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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