The worst part was the Sox were beat by a rookie making a jump from AA in his first major league start. Jayson Aquino got the ball in the top of the first and Xander Bogaerts grounded out. Jackie Bradley Jr managed a single but both Mookie Betts and Hanley Ramirez popped up to end the inning. At first Steven Wright did well in the bottom of the first. Craig Gentry grounded out and Adam Jones flied out before Manny Machado singled. Mark Trumbo flied out to end the inning.
Aquino wasn't challenged much in the top of the second either. Mitch Moreland grounded out but Chris Young walked. Sandy Leon flied out and Pablo Sandoval struck out to end the inning. Wright almost had a clean inning in the bottom of the second as well. Chris Davis and Trey Mancini grounded out but Jonathan Schoop singled. JJ Hardy grounded out to end the inning.
The Sox struck first and for the only time in the top of the third inning. Marco Hernandez grounded out but Bogaerts singled. JBJ then crushed a 2 run bomb onto Eutawh Street to give the Sox a 2-0 lead. Mr. Mookie popped up and Ramirez grounded out to end the inning.
Shockingly Wright held the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Caleb Joseph singled but was erased on the Gentry force. Jones and Machado grounded out to end the inning.
The Sox failed to rattle Aquino in the top of the fourth inning. Moreland flied out as Young singled and stole second base. Unfortunately he remained there as Leon grounded out and Sandoval popped up to end the inning. The O's roared back in the bottom of the fourth inning. Trumbo lined out but Davis doubled. Wright's personal tormentor Mancini blasted a 2 run bomb to tie the game. Schoop followed up with a solo homer of his own to give the O's the lead. Hardy lined out but Joseph doubled. Gentry and Jones stroked back to back singles to score Joseph and chase Wright. He had thrown 3 1/3 shutout innings but then allowed 2 home runs, 2 doubles and 2 singles....think he needs to work on his mechanics.
Heath Hembree got the call to replace Wright and allowed Jones to steal second, but blew away Machado to end the inning.
Once again the Sox couldn't get a clutch hit against Aquino in the top of the fifth. Hernandez singled but Bogaerts flied out. JBJ walked to bring the tying run to the plate but Mr. Mookie popped up and Ramirez whiffed to end the inning. Hembree returned for the bottom of the fifth and Trumbo walked to begin. Hembree struck out both Davis and Mancini before Schoop grounded out to end the inning.
The Sox threatened again in the top of the sixth but did nothing. Moreland walked but was erased on the Young fielder's choice. A wild pitch moved Young to second but Leon popped up. Sandoval reached on an infield single to put the tying run on but Hernandez grounded out to end the inning. A Double A pitcher shut down the Sox, bawful. Hembree returned for the bottom of the sixth inning and Hardy singled. Joseph popped up, Gentry struck out and Jones popped up to end the inning.
Mychal Givens took over for Aquino and shot down the Sox in the top of the seventh. Bogaerts grounded out, JBJ whiffed and Mr. Mookie grounded out to end the inning. Hembree came back for the bottom of the seventh inning and got Machado to pop up. Trumbo whiffed and Davis grounded out t end the inning. A hell of an effort by Hembree to keep the Sox in the game.
The Sox were done for the night and Givens cruised in the top of the eighth inning. Ramirez lined out, Moreland popped up and Young looked at strike three to end the inning. Robbie Ross Jr came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning. Mancini flied out but Schoop was plunked unintentionally. Hardy banged into a double play to end the inning.
Donnie Hart got the ball in the top of the ninth to close out the game. Leon lined out and Steve Selsky pinch hit for Sandoval only to look at strike three. Hernandez was plunked and micro-managing Buck Showalter pulled Hart for lefty Darren O'Day to pitch to Bogaerts. Bogaerts flied out to end the game. The O's had held on to win 4-2.
Jackass of the Night is Steven Wright. Once again he got rocked and if his shoulder isn't healed, he needs to shut it down because he's nothing but batting practice right now.
The Good:
Jackie Bradley Jr was 2 for 3 with a walk including the 2 run home run.
Chris Young was 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base.
Pablo Sandoval was 1 for 3.
Marco Hernandez was 1 for 3.
Heath Hembree was outstanding, tossing 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief while striking out 5.
Robbie Ross Jr pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
The Bad:
Mookie Betts was 0 for 4.
Hanley Ramirez was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Sandy Leon was 0 for 4.
Steve Selsky struck out in his only plate appearance.
The Ugly:
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 5 but scored run.
Mitch Moreland was 0 for 3 but walked.
Final Thoughts:
This is not good. Pedroia is hurt, Ramirez has two bad shoulders, David Price is missing more time, Tyler Thornburg and Carson Smith are still out.....and that's not even talking about the slumps by Leon, Sandoval and Betts......or the average pitching by Wright, Drew Pomeranz, Rick Porcello and Eduardo Rodriguez. They suck right now but the good news is its only April. Somebody could get hot, a pitcher could go on a roll, guys come back healthy, you never know. If they can stay afloat until they get some bullpen help, they should climb back into it. As for now, this is getting ugly. Tomorrow afternoon Eduardo Rodriguez gets the start opposite Kevin Gausmann to avoid the sweep at 1:30 PM.
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