Royals Snap Streak, Take Game 1 (4/21/13)

All good things must come to an end and the Boston Red Sox 7 game win streak was snapped at the hands of the Kansas City Royals in Game 1 of the day/night double-header at Fenway Park, 4-2. The Sox certainly missed the presence of Shane Victorino who was out with back spasms.

Ryan Dempster got the ball and immediately ran into trouble. Alex Gordon flied out to left but Alex Escobar smashed a home run into the monster seats to give the Royals a quick lead. Billy Butler struck out but Hosmer legged out an infield single, then stole second. Lorenzo Cain grounded out to end the inning with Kansas City up 1-0. Ervin Santana had a reputation of taking a while to get going and he proved that in the bottom of the first inning when the Sox rallied. Jacoby Ellsbury popped up but Daniel Nava and Dustin Pedroia stroked back to back singles. David Ortiz lined one for a base hit that scored Nava and moved Pedroia to third. Mike Napoli grounded out but Pedroia scored to give the Sox a 2-1 lead. Jarrod Saltalamacchia lined out to end the inning but the Sox clawed back.

                                                    Ortiz ties it up

Dempster settled down in the top of the second inning. Mike Moustakas grounded out as both Jeff Francoeur and Salvador Perez struck out to end the inning. Will Middlebrooks legged out an infield single to open the bottom of the second. Stephen Drew struck out and Jonny Gomes popped up but Ellsbury singled. Nava whiffed to end the inning.

Dempster made quick work of the Royals in the top of the third inning. Chris Getz lined out but Gordon walked. Escobar banged into a double play to end the inning. Santana found his groove in the bottom of the third. Pedroia lined out, Ortiz grounded out and Napoli whiffed to end the inning.

The Royals took control in the top of the fourth inning. Butler singled off the Monster and Hosmer also singled. Cain doubled home Butler to tie the game. Dempster recovered to strike out Moustakas and Francoeur but Perez singled home both runners to give the Royals a 4-2 lead. Getz popped up but the damage was done.

                                              Even Bluto can't believe Dempster melted down

Could the Sox answer in the bottom of the fourth? NO! Saltalamacchia flied out, Middlebrooks struck out and Drew popped up to end the inning.

Dempster recovered to have a good fifth inning. Gordon struck out, Escobar grounded out and Butler flied out to end the inning. Santana continued to dominate in the bottom of the fifth inning. Gomes grounded out, Ellsbury flied out and Nava grounded out to end the inning.

Dempster returned for the top of the sixth and got Hosmer to fly out, but Cain walked. Moustakas walked but Francoeur struck out. Perez flied out to end the inning. The Sox tried to rally in the bottom of the sixth. Pedroia popped up but Ortiz doubled. Napoli moved Ortiz to third with a fly out but Saltalamacchia whiffed to end the inning.

Dempster returned for the top of the seventh and cruised. Getz grounded out, Gordon struck out and Escobar popped up to end the inning. Dempster battled and pitched well apart from the mistake to Perez to battle through seven.

                                                      Made just one mistake but pitched well

The Sox mustered nothing against Santana in the bottom of the seventh inning. Middlebrooks flied out before Drew and Gomes struck out to end the inning.

Clayton "Vigo" Mortensen came in to pitch the top of the eighth inning. He got Butler to ground out before striking out both Hosmer and Cain. Good effort from Vigo. The Sox then blew a golden chance in the bottom of the eighth against old friend Bruce Chen. Ellsbury grounded out but Nava singled. Pedroia flied out but Ortiz singled. Pedro Ciriaco pinch-ran for Ortiz as Aaron Crow replaced Chen. Napoli walked to load the bases but Saltalamacchia grounded out to end the inning. Thanks a lot Jarrod.

                                                          Exactly Billy

Rookie Alex Wilson took the mound in the top of the ninth. Moustakas and Francoeur singled and Perez BARELY beat out a triple play. Getz flied out to end the inning. What a feather in the cap it would have been if Wilson had gotten a triple play. The Sox went quietly in the bottom of the ninth against closer Greg Holland. Middlebrooks and Drew whiffed and Gomes flied out to end the game. The Royals had won it 4-2.

Jackass of the Night is Jarrod Saltalamacchia. He was 0 for 4 including failing with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 8th.

                                                       Salty is the Jackass today


The Good:

Daniel Nava was 2 for 4 with a run scored. David Ortiz was 3 for 4 with an rbi before being lifted. Will Middlebrooks was 1 for 3. Clayton Mortensen pitched a scoreless 8th inning. Alex Wilson pitched a scoreless ninth.



The Bad:

Stephen Drew was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts. Jonny Gomes was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.



The Ugly:

Jacoby Ellsbury was just 1 for 4. Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 4 but scored a run. Mike Napoli was 0 for 3 but walked and drove in a run. Ryan Dempster took the loss but pitched 7 innings to save the bullpen for game 2. He allowed 4 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks while striking out 8.



Honorable Mention:

Pedro Ciriaco pinch ran for David Ortiz in the bottom of the eighth.



Final Thoughts:

It was nice while it lasted but the win streak had to end sometime. Its a shame it ended this way but it was good to see Dempster pitch 7 to save the bullpen for Game 2. They couldn't generate any offense against Santana or Holland but that's Ervin's reputation. The Sox come back later tonight for the finale with "The Chosen One" Allen Webster taking the ball.