Buchholz ran into trouble right away as Nick Markakis led off the game with a double off the monster. Nick moved to third on the Jason Castro ground out but Adonis Garcia popped up. Freddie Freeman walked but AJ Pierzynski flied out to Mookie Betts to end the inning. Mr. Mookie led off the game with a full count strikeout by Braves starter Jhoulys Chacin. Last night's hero Dustin Pedroia picked up where he left off with a double down the right field line. Xander Bogaerts worked a walk and David Ortiz hit one into the shift to force Bogaerts at second....or did he? Umpire Joe West called Bogaerts SAFE when Aybar's foot came off the bag but Bogaerts had no idea. Bogaerts asked West if he was safe but West was looking at clouds. Bogaerts got off the bag and Erick Aybar tagged him out. John Farrell came out to ask for an explanation and he was told simply that West screwed up. Thanks a lot Joe.
Hanley Ramirez said "to hell with this" and singled home Pedroia to give the Sox a 1-0 lead. Travis Shaw popped up to end the inning.
The Braves took command in the top of the second. Jeff Francoer grounded out to Pedroia who made a nice stab to begin the top of the second inning. Jace Peterson walked and Aybar caught the Sox asleep with a bunt single to third. Mallex pounded a ground rule double to tie the game. Markakis then stroked a single to center to score both runners to give the Braves a 3-1 lead. Castro grounded out to advance Markakis. Garcia grounded out to end the inning but the hapless Braves beat up Buchholz to take the lead.
Could the Sox rally in the bottom of the second? NO! Chris Young got the start in left because he somehow had good success against Chacin, but not here as he popped up on a full count. Jackie Bradley Jr singled and took second on a hilarious scene. Pierzynski allowed a passed ball then fell down throwing to second base as JBJ made it safely. A groundout by Christian Vazquez moved JBJ to third but Mr.Mookie whiffed to end the inning.
Somehow Buchholz made it through the top of the third inning. Freeman struck out, Pierzynski flied out and Francoeur flied out to end the inning. Chacin remained tough in the bottom of the third. Pedroia grounded out but Bogaerts doubled. Ortiz struck out but Ramirez lashed a wall ball double to cut the lead 3-2. In any other ballpark the ball was gone but the monster ate it. Shaw fouled a bunch of pitches off but ultimately grounded out. Chacin was already up to 65 pitches and the Sox were within a run at 3-2.
Buchholz promptly puked on himself in the top of the fourth. Peterson walked and Buchholz buzzed Aybar inside. Erick beat out a double play ball and Ramirez flashed the leather by robbing Smith of a hit, advancing Aybar to second. Markakis singled home Aybar to give the Braves the 2 run lead back. Castro popped up to end the inning but Buchholz had given up 4 runs in 4 innings to the worst team in baseball. Pierzynski had another Baseball Bloopers moment as he failed to catch a pop up from Young. Chris didn't make him pay by flying out. JBJ also flied out and Vazquez grounded out to end the inning.
Clay continued to give up hits in the top of the fifth. Garcia popped up but Freeman singled. Pierzynski flied out and Francoeur struck out to end the inning. The Sox continued to muster nothing against Chacin. Mr. Mookie grounded out and Pedroia lined out. Somehow Bogaerts walked but Ortiz struck out to end the inning.
Buchholz failed to escape the sixth as he walked Peterson for the third time to open the frame. Aybar grounded out but Peterson moved to second. Smith singled home Peterson to make it 5-2. Smith beat Vazquez on a steal of second...until the replay showed otherwise and he was called out. Markakis grounded out to end the inning but the damage was done. Buchholz gave up 5 runs to literally the worst offense in baseball. Ramirez tried to start a rally with his 3rd base hit of the game. That was it for Chacin as Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez brought in lefty Eric O'Flaherty. Say what you will, but Chacin tossed 5 1/3 innings and gave up 2 runs to a team that had zero trouble scoring runs for the past week. With Chris Young already in the game, nobody was left to pinch hit for Shaw. Maybe someone should have as Shaw banged into a double play. Ironically Young was next up and he doubled....but JBJ struck out to end the inning. The Braves were 9 outs away from beating the Red Sox.
Somehow Buchholz came out for the seventh inning. Castro grounded out but Garcia singled to chase Buchholz. Facing the worst offensive team in the majors, Buchholz allowed 5 runs on 8 hits and walked Peterson 3 times. Absolutely bawful.
"I just got beat up by the worst team in baseball"
Tommy Layne came in and provided zero relief as Freeman singled and Pierzsynski moved both runners with a ground out. Francoeur was intentionally walked to loaded the bases but Layne struck out Peterson to end the inning. Old pal Alexi Ogando relieved O'Flaherty in the bottom of the seventh. Vazquez tried to start a rally with a single. Mr.Mookie walked but Pedroia flied out, advancing Vazquez with a single. Mr. Mookie took second on a passed ball by the incompetent Pierzynski to put pressure on Ogando.....which Bogaerts let off the hook with a strikeout. Hunter Cervenka was brought in to face David Ortiz.
Koji Uehara warmed up in the bottom of the seventh but Layne returned for the top of the eighth. Aybar grounded out but Smith doubled. Foolishly Smith tried to swipe third but was gunned down by bazooka armed Vazquez. Its a good thing because Markakis singled for Atlanta's 11th hit of the ballgame. That was it for Layne as Sox manager John Farrell pulled him for Heath Hembree. Castro grounded out to end the inning. Jim Johnson came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth. Ramirez grounded out, Shaw struck out and Brock Holt pinch hit for Young. Holt grounded out to end the inning.
Holt stayed in the game in left as Hembree returned for the ninth. Garcia flied out but Freeman singled for Atlanta's 12th hit of the game. Freeman was erased on the force by Pierzynski and he was pinch ran for by Drew Stubbs. Francoeur grounded out to end the inning. Trey Flowers came in to catch the bottom of the ninth as Arodys Vizcaino came in to close the game. JBJ whiffed and Jeff Rutledge pinch hit for Vazquez. Rutledge whiffed but Mr. Mookie prolonged the game with a single. Betts took second on defense indifference and scored on the Pedroia single. Bogaerts grounded out to end the game. The Sox had lost 5-3.
Jackass of the Night is easy. Clay Buchholz faced the worst offensive team in the majors and allowed 5 runs in 6 1/3 innings on 8 hits and 4 walks, 3 to Peterson. He fell to 0-3 on the season and is a liability now.
The Good:
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 5 with an rbi and a run scored. Xander Bogaerts was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a run scored. Hanley Ramirez was 3 for 4 with 2 rbi's. Chris Young was 1 for 3. Christian Vazquez was 1 for 3 and 2 for 2 throwing runners out. Tommy Layne tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Heath Hembree tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
David Ortiz was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts. Travis Shaw was 0 for 4 with a strikeout. Brock Holt pinch hit for Young and grounded out. Jeff Rutledge pinch hit for Vazquez and struck out.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 with a walk and a run scored. Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
The Sox wasted an opportunity to gain ground on the idle New York Yankees by losing this one. Buchholz has completely evaporated after starting 2013 with a 10-1 record. It may be time to cut their losses with Eduardo Rodriguez on his way. Not that Eduardo will win 20 games or anything, but at least he doesn't piss his pants when the team needs it. The Yankees are in town next and the Sox can help their cause by winning at least 2 of the games. Aroldis Chapman will be back soon so the Sox need to take advantage of his absence right here and now. Henry Owens goes tomorrow against Masahiro Tanaka at 7:05 PM.
No comments:
Post a Comment