Zito Shuts Down Sox in Game 2 (10/2/03)

So much for the number one offense in baseball. The Boston Red Sox are in deep trouble after falling down two games to none to the Oakland A's on the back of a 5 run second inning and lights out pitching from ace Barry Zito. The offense which set major league records for runs, total bases and extra base hits along with a team record for home runs were held to just 6 hits and one measly run as the A's put a stranglehold on the series. When it was over the A's had won it 5-1 at Oakland Coliseum to put the Sox on the brink of winter.

                                        Cartman can't stand bad presents or bad baseball

Zito got the ball in the top of the first and Johnny Damon grounded out to third to start. Nomar Garciaparra popped up to short and last night's hero Todd Walker grounded out to second on a 3-2 count to end the inning. Wakefield took the hill in the bottom of the first and Mark Ellis watched strike three go by to start. Eurbiel Durazo singled to center but Eric Chavez whiffed. Miguel Tejada grounded into a force to end the inning.

Manny Ramirez led off the top of the second inning with a walk but David Ortiz looked at strike three on the outside corner. Kevin Millar flied out to left and Bill Mueller flied out to right to end the inning. The A's exploded on Wakefield in the bottom of the second although Scott Hatteberg grounded out to first to start. Jose Guillen walked and advanced to second on a passed ball before Ramon Hernandez singled to right to score him to put the A's on top. Jermaine Dye got hit with a pitch and Eric Byrnes cleared the bases with a double over the head of Ramirez. Ellis walked and both runners moved into scoring position on the groundout by Durazo. Walker then turned into a bumbling buffoon when he booted a routine grounder by Chavez then threw wide of first to allow both runners to score on the error. Tejeda lined to center but Wakefield was down 5-0 and had thrown over 50 pitches, game over.

                                             Byrnes ends it early

The Sox fought back in the top of the third inning although Kapler hit a 400 foot out to center to begin. Doug Mirabelli doubled down the left field line and the A's caught a break when Damon hit a ground rule double to dead center. Mirabelli scored but Damon remained at second base. Nomar walked and Walker grounded out to first, moving both runners into scoring position. Had Damon been on third, he would have scored. With two men in scoring position....Ramirez flied out to a running Guillen in left to end the inning. The Sox could only muster 1 run and was down 5-1.

                                             Mirabelli scores to make it 5-1

Wakefield settled down in the bottom of the third by getting Hatteberg to fly out to right to start. Guillen walked and made the balsy move to tag up and go to second on the fly out by Hernandez to center. Dye grounded out to short to end the inning.

Zito made the Sox swing at air in the top of the fourth inning. Ortiz whiffed before both Millar and Mueller watched strike three go by to end the inning. The A's threatened in the bottom of the fourth when Byrnes singled and Ellis was hit with a pitch, but Wakefield got a huge out when he whiffed Durazo. Chavez flied out to right and Tejada grounded out to short to end the inning.

The strikeout streak continued in the top of the fifth when Kapler and Mirabelli both struck out to start. Damon and Nomar responded with singles but Walker hit a comebacker to end the inning. Wakefield whiffed Hatteberg to begin the bottom of the fifth before Guillen popped up to second. Hernandez hit one up the elevator shaft to end the inning.

Terrance Long replaced Guillen in the top of the sixth and Manny led off with a base hit. Ortiz flied out to left, Millar whiffed and Mueller popped up to left to end the inning. Wakefield came back for one last inning in the bottom of the sixth and finished with a flurry. Dye, Byrnes and Ellis all struck out swinging in short order. If it wasnt for the Walker error Wakefield would have fared a lot better. He left the game after allowing 5 runs on just 4 hits.

                                                        Wake went as far as he could

Zito returned for the top of the seventh and Kapler whiffed to start. Mirabelli also whiffed and Damon grounded out to second to end the inning. Zito ent 7 innings, allowed just 1 run and struck out 9. He was unhittable after the second inning. Alan Embree took over for Wakefield in the bottom of the seventh and Durazo grounded out to short to begin. Chavez flied out to center and Tejeda grounded out to short to end the inning.

Chad Bradford replaced Zito in the top of the eighth inning but the Sox were done. Nomar grounded out to short, Walker grounded out to first and Manny watched strike three go by to end the inning. Scott Williamson got the ball in the bottom of the eighth and immediately ran into trouble. Hatteberg singled to left-center and Long singled past Nomar. Williamson got a big out when Damon ran down a Hernandez line drive. Both runners advanced on the groundout by Dye but Williamson got Byrnes swinging on a 3-2 slider to end the inning.

Keith Foulke took the mound in the top of the ninth because A's manager Ken Macha didn't want to take any chances. Ortiz flied out to left and Millar hit a comebacker to the mound to start. Mueller slapped a single to left and Jason Varitek pinch hit for Kapler. Mueller took second on defensive indifference but Varitek popped up to short to end the game. The A's had won it 5-1 and took a 2-0 lead in the ALDS.

Jackass of the Night is Tim Wakefield. That five run 2nd inning killed the Sox even though they weren't touching Barry Zito. He allowed 5 runs (3 earned) on 4 hits in just 6 innings.

                                       Tim Wakefield is the unfortunate Jackass


The Good:

Johnny Damon was 2 for 4 with an rbi.

Nomar Garciaparra was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Manny Ramirez was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Doug Mirabelli was 1 for 3 with a run scored.

Alan Embree pitched a scoreless 7th inning.

Scott Williamson pitched a scoreless 8th inning.



The Bad:

Todd Walker would have been a good choice for Jackass himself by going 0 for 4 with that huge error that allowed 2 runs to score.

David Ortiz was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Kevin Millar was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Gabe Kapler was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.

Jason Varitek was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.



The Ugly:

Bill Mueller was just 1 for 4.




Final Thoughts:

Well this sucks. After a wild ride to the playoffs for the first time in four years, its all about to come to a crashing halt. The Sox are down 2 games to none and in order to win the series, they are going to have to beat Tim Hudson and Zito in succession. That's even if they beat Ted Lilly on Saturday which is no guarantee at this point. It also sucks that the record setting offense has been absolutely useless apart from Todd Walker this series. Still, if the Sox are going to have to rally, they're going to have to make a stand Saturday night at Fenway Park with Derek Lowe on the mound against Lilly. If Lowe sucks, this wild ride will come to an end.