If that wasn't bad enough, Marco Hernandez shoulder popped out of its socket last night so he's now on the Disabled List. That just leaves Josh Rutledge the only healthy 3rd baseman on the team and he's not even a third baseman. Taking the place of Hernandez on the roster will be tonight's starter, Kyle Kendrick. Kendrick pitched very well in Spring Training so until Price can come back, it looks like he will be the 5th starter until further notice.
It was a bad day for Boston sports. The Washington Wizards defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of their second round NBA playoff series and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox. The Sox need a third baseman in a bad way as it turns out. Not only defensively but offensively as well as the Sox once again were stoned cold by a spot starter on short notice. Their spot starter was better than the Sox' spot starter which led to another embarrassing 8-3 defeat at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park.
Kendrick took the mound in the top of the first and Seth Smith immediately beat out an infield single. Adam Jones popped up in shallow center but Manny Machado hit a ground ball to Josh Rutledge who decided to throw it straight up in the air and sing loudly, allowing Smith to each third and Machado second on the error. Kendrick recovered to get Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo to pop up to end the inning with no runs allowed. Good work Kyle. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Dustin Pedroia popped up to shallow right off Carter Wilson and Andrew Benintendi struck out. Mr. Mookie Betts legged out an infield single and Hanley Ramirez singled him to third. Xander Bogaerts blooped a single to right that scored Betts and Xander foolishly tried for second. Bogaerts got in a rundown and Hanley scored easily but Jonathan Schoop never covered first so Bogaerts got back there standing up. It counted as a 2 run single and a lead for the Red Sox. The slumping Mitch Moreland popped up to end the inning with the Sox up 2-0.
Jonathan Schoop led off the top of the second by hitting one up the elevator shaft for out number one. Hyun-Soo Kim grounded to Rutledge who finally made a good throw for the second out. JJ Hardy popped up to a jumping Mookie Betts to end the inning. Josh Rutledge lined a single to start the bottom of the second inning as the injured Brock Holt started screwing with the dugout camera. Jackie Bradley Jr continued his slump by banging into a double play. Christian Vazquez popped up to end the inning.
Caleb Joseph was robbed of a base hit by a lunging Mitch Moreland to begin the top of the third inning. Kendrick's personal demon Smith was 13 for 24 against him and he made it 14 with a single up the middle. Jones caught the defense napping with a bunt single to third but Machado hit one right to Kendrick. Jones was out at second but Machado was safe at first to put runners at the corners. As usual the Sox found a way to screw themselves as Vazquez tried to throw out Machado trying to steal, missing by a mile which allowed Smith to steal home to put the O's on the board. Davis walked but Trumbo grounded out to end the inning with the Os down 2-1. Dustin Pedroia got the run right back by launching a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the third inning. Sadly that would be the last hit allowed by Wilson the rest of the way. Benny The Kid popped up, Mr. Mookie grounded out and Ramirez grounded out as well to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-1.
Unfortunately Kendrick pooped his pants in the top of the fourth inning. Schoop and Kim stroked back to back singles and Hardy walked to load the bases. Joseph flied out but Smith continued his hot streak against Kendrick with a 2 run double to tie the game. Jones looked at strike three but Machado got the last laugh on the Red Sox with a 3 run bomb to left to give the O's a 6-3 lead.
The Sox were completely deflated in the bottom of the fourth inning. Bogaerts grounded out, Moreland flied out and Rutledge lined out to end the inning.
Rookie Ben Taylor got the ball in the top of the fifth inning and pissed himself. Trumbo and Schoop singled and Kim beat out a double play ball. Hardy singled home Trumbo but Joseph struck out. Smith walked as Rutledge had to eat another infield single, scoring Schoop. Machado struck out to end the inning with the O's now ahead 8-3.
The Sox mustered nothing in the bottom of the fifth inning. JBJ popped up, Vazquez lined out and Pedroia grounded out to end the inning.
Brandon Workman, who hadn't pitched since 2014 made his big comeback in the top of the sixth inning. Davis singled and Trumbo walked then Schoop singled Davis home....but wait! JBJ gunned down Davis at home for the first out. Kim flied out and Hardy grounded out to end the inning. Wilson cruised in the bottom of the sixth inning. Benny The Kid failed to bunt his way on, Mr. Mookie flied out but Ramirez singled. Hanley took second on a balk but Bogaerts grounded out to end the inning.
Workman returned for the top of the seventh. Joseph and Smith singled but Jones banged into a double play. Machado flied out to end the inning. Joey Rickard took over in right as Donnie Hart came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh. Moreland grounded out and Rutledge looked at strike three but JBJ singled to chase Hart. Mychal Givens came into pitch and Vazquez beat out an infield single. Pedroia walked to load the bases and suddenly the Sox had a chance.......for about 3 seconds until Benny The Kid flied out to end the inning.
Workman came back for the top of the eighth inning. Davis struck out but Trumbo legged out an infield single. Schoop lined out and Kim struck out to end the inning. Workman had thrown 3 scoreless innings. Welcome back Brandon.
Unfortunately the Sox could do no right in the bottom of the eighth inning against Brad Brach. Mr. Mookie flied out, Ramirez struck out and Bogaerts grounded out to end the inning.
Fernando Abad took the mound in the top of the ninth. Hardy and Joseph grounded out and Rickard struck out to end the inning. O's closer Zach Britton came in to close out the game in the bottom of the ninth. Moreland grounded out but Rutledge singled. JBJ struck out as Josh took second on defensive indifference but Vazquez flied out to end the game. The O's had taken the game 8-3.
Jackass of the Night is Kyle Kendrick. He got blasted in the fourth inning and allowed 6 runs, leading to the Sox demise.
The Good:
Dustin Pedroia was 1 for 3 with a walk and his first home run of the year.
Hanley Ramirez was just 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Josh Rutledge was 2 for 4.
Brandon Workman tossed 3 scoreless innings in his first ML game in 3 years.
Fernando Abad pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Andrew Benintendi was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Mitch Moreland was 0 for 4.
Ben Taylor got lit up for 2 runs in the inning he pitched.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 with a run scored.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.
Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4.
Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
This is absolutely pathetic. The Sox ran into a spot starter and got dominated by him. Its as if they're sleepwalking so far this season and with the way the New York Yankees are playing, they can't afford to do that. It was nice to see Brandon Workman back from the dead even if the rumor is he's going back down to Pawtucket after the game. He hadn't pitched in the big leagues since 2014. The offense continues to be pathetic and it looks like there will be no relief in sight. The loss drops the Sox to 15-13, 3 1/2 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Tomorrow night the Red Sox offense will be dominated by Phil Hughes and the Minnesota Twins while Eduardo Rodriguez tries to keep pace for the Sox at 8:05 PM.
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