Looks like the magic of the 2013 season wore off in a hurry for the 2014 Boston Red Sox. The Sox have now lost eight of their first fourteen games including three out of four to the New York Yankees. Ian Nova stymied the Red Sox allowing just 2 runs while pitching into the eighth inning. Felix Doubront (1-2, 6.75) was game but surrendered three runs in 6 2/3 innings. The Sox jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a Jonathan Herrera rbi single but Carlos Beltran hit a two run shot off Doubront in the bottom of the third. The Yankees made it 3-1 but Mike Napoli homered in the sixth to cut the lead to one. The Sox loaded the bases in the top of the eighth but couldn't deliver the knockout punch. The Yankees beat the Sox 3-2 at Yankee Stadium.
Nova got the ball in the top of the first inning and Grady Sizemore grounded out to short to start. Xander Bogaerts ripped a base hit to left but David Ortiz struck out swinging. Mike Napoli also struck out swinging to end the inning. Doubront got the ball in the bottom of the first and Brett Gardner led off to lining out to a running Daniel Nava to start. Carlos Beltran lined a base hit to left and Jacoby Ellsbury doubled down the right field line. Alfonso Soriano lined a ball to center and Beltran trotted home....but Ellsbury was thrown out at third by Bradley to end the inning before the runner scored.
The Sox struck first in the top of the second as Daniel Nava grounded out to second to start. AJ Pierzynski struck out swinging but Ryan Roberts lined a base hit to left. Jackie Bradley Jr lined a ball off Nova into shallow right for a base hit to move Roberts to third. Jonathan Herrera lined a base hit to center to score Roberts to put the Sox on top. Sizemore dumped a base hit to left but JBJ was thrown out at home to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
Brian McCann led off the bottom of the second and Yangervis Solarte grounded out to third. Kelly Johnson walked and took second on a wild pitch but Francisco Cervelli flied out to center to end the inning.
The Sox beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the third as Bogaerts grounded out to short to start. Ortiz grounded out to third and Napoli grounded out to short to end the inning. The Yankees struck back in the bottom of the third as Anna grounded out to first to start. Gardner singled to right and Beltran hit a home run all the way to Nepal to put the Yankees up for good. Ellsbury grounded out to first and Soriano grounded out to third to end the inning with the Yankees ahead 2-1.
Nava hit a rocket to Ellsbury to start the top of the fourth before Pierzynski grounded out to second. Roberts lined a base hit to left and JBJ lined out to left to end the inning. The Yankees got another run in the bottom of the fourth as McCann walked to start. Solarte walked and Sox pitching coach Juan Nieves ran to the mound to tell Doubront what happened in the latest episode of Supernatural. Johnson forced Solarte at second and it looked like Cervelli banged into a double play to end the inning. Yankees manager Joe Girardi challenged that Cervelli was safe at first and former Yankees manager Joe Torre DEMANDED the call be changed. Sure enough, the call was overturned as Cervelli was safe and McCann scored to increase the lead. Sox manager John Farrell ran out of the dugout and shouted at the umpires causing him to be ejected. Apparently Cervelli was hurt on the play and Ichiro Suzuki pinch ran for him. Anna flied out to center to end the inning with the Yankees up 3-1.
"I've had it up to here with you divotheads!" - Farrell
Herrera lined out to short to start the top of the fifth but Sizemore singled to center. Bogaerts flied out to center and Ortiz flied out to the right field warning track to end the inning. Gardner singled to center to begin the bottom of the fifth and moved to second on a fly ball to deep center by Beltran. Ellsbury flied out to right and Soriano struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox struck back in the top of the sixth as Napoli smashed his third home run of the season to cut the lead. Nava flied out to center, Pierzynski grounded out to short and Roberts also grounded out to short to end the inning.
McCann doubled to center to start the bottom of the sixth before moving to third on a grounder to short by Solarte. Johnson struck out swinging and Ichiro grounded out to second to end the inning.
JBJ took strike three to start the top of the seventh before Herrera grounded out to third. Sizemore flied out to the centerfield warning track to end the inning. Anna flied out to center to start the bottom of the seventh before Gardner lined out to a running Nava. Beltran doubled to left and that was it for Doubront. Felix fought well, going 6 2/3 innings while allowing 3 runs off 7 hits and 3 walks. Chris Capuano came in to get Ellsbury to ground out to second to end the inning.
Doubront deserved better
Bogaerts flied out to right to start the top of the eighth and that was it for Nova. Matt Thornton came in to face Ortiz and Ichiro made a great jumping catch to rob Big Papi of extra bases. David Phelps was brought in to face Napoli and Gardner missed catching a "double" by Napoli. Nava walked and Pierzynski was hit with a pitch to load the bases. Acting Sox manager Torey Lovullo had Mike Carp pinch hit for Roberts but Mike struck out swinging to end the inning. Huge chance blown by the Sox there. Soriano flied out to center to start the bottom of the eighth and McCann lined out to center. Solarte singled to center and Johnson grounded out to second to end the inning.
Shawn Kelley came in to close out the top of the ninth and JBJ struck out swinging to start. Herrera took strike three and Gardner made yet another diving catch on Sizemore to end the game. The Yankees played a flawless defensive game to win 3-2.
Jackass of The Night is a tough one but I'll go with David Ortiz. He was 0 for 4 with a strikeout in a one run game. One hit or home run might have been the difference.
The Good:
Grady Sizemore was 2 for 5.
Mike Napoli was 2 for 4 with a home run.
Ryan Roberts was 2 for 3 with a run scored.
Chris Capuano tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Mike Carp struck out swinging as a pinch hitter.
The Ugly:
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4.
Daniel Nava was 0 for 3 but walked.
AJ Pierzynski was 0 for 3 with a strikeout but was hit with a pitch.
Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Jonathan Herrera was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in a run.
Felix Doubront took the loss but pitched relatively well, tossing 6 2/3 innings while allowing 3 runs.
Final Thoughts:
The Sox had their chances but couldn't get it done when it counted. Its unfair to put too much blame on Carp because its very hard to come off the bench ice cold in the later innings and expect to produce. Still, the Yankees defense made a ton of great plays to rob the Sox of extra hits. Doubront pitched relatively well too so you just have to tip your cap to the Yankees for playing a great all around game. The Yankees took three of four and the Sox are in a bit of trouble moving forward. Usually the Sox come out like a house of fire against the Yankees in April but this time it was the other way around. There's still a series at Fenway coming up but still, this was no fluke. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox look to rebound in a three game set in Chicago against the White Sox. Jake Peavy goes for the Sox against Erik Johnson of Chicago on Tuesday night at 8:10 PM at Commiskey Park.
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