Once again the Boston Red Sox invented a new way to lose. The offense was supposed to be a strength this year but its been a liability lately. Justin Masterson (2-1, 5.18 ERA) was rocked for 4 runs in just 4 1/3 innings. Meanwhile Alex Colome of the Tampa Bay Rays held the Sox to two runs in 5 innings. The Sox did manage to get a Mookie Betts home run late in the game, but the lack of clutch hitting sealed their fate. Pablo Sandoval failed to drive Dustin Pedroia in to tie the game and with the tying run on, both Pedroia and new Sox addition Luis Jimenez failed to drive it in. It all added up to a 5-3 victory by the Rays over the Sox at Fenway Park.
Masterson got the ball in the top of the first inning and Kevin Kiermaier walked to start. Kiermaier was thrown out at second trying to steal when his foot came off the bag. Logan Forsythe was hit with a pitch but James Loney grounded into a double play to end the inning. Colome got the ball in the bottom of the first as Mr. Mookie Betts lined out to left to start. Dustin Pedroia grounded back to the mound and Ortiz grounded into the shift...but Forsythe threw the ball away for an error. Mike Napoli grounded out to third to end the inning.
Evan Longoria grounded out to third to start the top of the second inning but David DeJesus ripped a base hit to center. Joey Butler grounded into a double play to end the inning. Pablo Sandoval grounded out to short to start the bottom of the second and Allen Craig struck out swinging. Brock "The Hitman" Holt grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
The Rays struck first in the top of the third as Asdrubal Cabrera lined out to center to start. Brandon Guyer doubled to left and Rene Rivera struck out swinging. Kiermaier walked and Forsythe got a base hit in the hole at short to score Guyer. Pedroia absolutely robbed Loney of a base hit to end the inning with the Rays up 1-0.
The Sox responded in the bottom of the third as Xander Bogaerts doubled to the centerfield wall to start. Blake Swihart doubled almost to the same spot for his first career rbi when Bogaerts scored to tie the game. Mr. Mookie grounded out to short to move Swihart to third and Pedroia scored Blake with a sac fly to center. Ortiz grounded out to short to end the inning with the Sox up 2-1.
The lead lasted about eight seconds when Longoria hit a home run all the way to Barcelona to tie the game in the top of the fourth. DeJesus doubled to center then moved to third on the Butler grounder to short. Cabrera popped up to second but Guyer walked. Rivera walked to load the bases and Sox pitching coach Juan Nieves strutted and danced to the mound to tell Masterson that the Wells Investigation was on-going. Kiermaier lined out to center to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.
Napoli struck out swinging to start the bottom of the fourth before Sandoval lined a base hit to left. A wild pitch moved Sandoval to second and Craig grounded out to short to move Pablo to third. With a chance to break the tie...Holt struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Rays knocked out Masterson in the top of the fifth as Forsythe popped up to Pedroia to start. Loney singled past the diving Pedroia and took second on a wild pitch. Longoria and DeJesus both walked to load the bases with Edward Mujica warming. Farrell left Masterson in one batter too late as Butler blooped a single to right to score both Loney and Longoria. That was it for Masterson who allowed 4 runs off 7 hits and SIX walks in just 4 1/3 innings. Mujica came in and struck out Cabrera swinging to put the fire out. Guyer grounded out to third to end the inning but it was 4-2 Rays.
The Sox failed to respond in the bottom of the fifth as Bogaerts popped up to third in foul territory to start. Swihart struck out swinging and Mr. Mookie lined out to a running Kiermaier to end the inning.
The Rays threatened in the top of the sixth as Rivera doubled to the centerfield wall to start. Kiermaier looked to have beat out a bunt down the third base line but Sox manager John Farrell challenged that Kiermaier was out. Sure enough, the umpires overturned the call and Kevin was out. Forsythe grounded back to Mujica who threw out Rivera at home for the second out. That was it for Mujica as Tommy Layne was brought in to face Loney. Loney flied out to center to end the inning. Pedroia ripped a base hit to right to start the bottom of the sixth to chase Colome from the game. Xavier Cedeno came in to face Ortiz and David grounded out to short to move Dustin to second. Steve Geltz came in to pitch to Napoli and Mike grounded out to short to move Pedroia to third. Sandoval lined out to center to end the inning.
Longoria walked to start the top of the seventh and Junichi Tazawa was summoned to face pinch hitter Steven Souza Jr. Souza walked but Craig made a great catch to rob Butler of a base hit. Cabrera drilled Guyer in the on-deck circle with a foul ball before popping up to second. Guyer forced Souza at second to end the inning. The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the seventh as Craig walked to start. Holt damn near killed Brandon Workman with a liner into the dugout before forcing Craig at second. Bogaerts lined out to right but Holt made it to second after a throwing error on the bases. Swihart struck out swinging to end the inning.
Robbie Ross Jr came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Rivera popped up to short to start. Kiermaier struck out swinging and Forsythe flied out to center to end the inning. Kevin Jepsen came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Mr. Mookie launched a home run off some girl in the Monster Seats to cut the lead. Pedroia grounded out to short but Ortiz drew a walk. Napoli dropped a base hit to left and Luis Jimenez pinch ran for Ortiz. Sandoval walked to load the bases and Daniel Nava pinch hit for Craig. Nava forced Jimenez at home and
Alexi Ogando got tagged in the top of the ninth as Loney grounded out to short to start. Longoria hit a home run all the way to Pluto to increase the lead and Souza walked to make the fans groan. Butler forced Souza at second and Cabrera grounded out to second to end the inning with the Rays up 5-3.
Longoria ices it
Brad Boxberger came in to close out the bottom of the ninth but Bogaerts singled in the hole at second to begin. A wild pitch moved Xander to second but Swihart hit one up the elevator shaft. Mr. Mookie walked to put the tying run on but Pedroia struck out swinging. Jimenez was retired on a squibber in front of the plate to end the game. The Rays had won it 5-3.
Sox lose
Brock The Jackass
Jackass of The Night is Brock Holt. He was 0 for 4 with a strikeout including making the rally killing final out in the eighth.
The Good:
Pablo Sandoval was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Edward Mujica tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Tommy Layne got the final out of the sixth inning.
Junichi Tazawa pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Robbie Ross Jr pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
The Bad:
Luis Jimenez was 0 for 1 at the plate.
Daniel Nava was 0 for 1 at the plate.
Justin Masterson took the loss by allowing 4 runs in 4 1/3 innings getting tagged for 7 hits and 6 walks.
Alexi Ogando allowed a run in the ninth inning.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 but walked and the one hit was a home run.
Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in a run.
David Ortiz was 0 for 3 but walked.
Mike Napoli was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Allen Craig was 0 for 2 with a strikeout but walked.
Blake Swihart was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but drove in a run and scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
The starting pitching has been wretched all season but the offense has been just as bad. Shane Victorino and Christian Vazquez being out sucks but losing Hanley Ramirez isn't good either. Mike Napoli is hitting just .167 and Mookie Betts just .234 despite the home run. There's still plenty of time to turn it around but if the offense doesn't improve, they're going to be in last place when all is said and done. Masterson got rocked again and his velocity is way down from the last time he was on the Red Sox in 2008. If he can't get his velocity back, he's not going to do very well. The bullpen besides Ogando did well but they can't be tossing 4-5 innings a night or else they're going to burn out. The Orient Express can only put out so many fires, they're going to need some help from the rotation. All in all it was a bad loss but it was only one game. The loss dropped the Sox to 13-15, 4 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox look to bounce back Friday night in Toronto with a set against the Blue Jays. Wade Miley (1-3) takes the hill against Aaron Sanchez of Toronto. The game begins Friday night at 7:05 PM at the Skydome.
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