Men left on - 2
The Angels struck first in the top of the second as Howie Kendrick led off with a single to left and advanced to second on the grounder to first by Alberto Callaspo. Chris Ianetta grounded out to third but Erick Aybar singled home Kendrick and took second on the throw. J.B. Shuck struck out looking to end the inning but the Angels were on the board up 1-0.
More incompetence followed in the bottom of the second as Jarrod Saltalamacchia walked but Mike Carp flied out to center. Stephen "PU" Drew walked and Jose Iglesias flied out to right to moved Saltalamacchia to third. With two runners on.....Ellsbury grounded out to second to end the inning.
Men left on - 4
The Angels tacked it on in the top of the third. Trout doubled to left and Hamilton walked before both advanced on a double steal. All Albert Pujols had to do was hit a fly ball and he did, scoring Trout and sending Hamilton to third with a sac fly to center. Trumbo grounded out to short to score Hamilton but Kendrick lined out to center to end the inning with the Angels up 3-0.
The Angels tacked it on in the top of the third. Trout doubled to left and Hamilton walked before both advanced on a double steal. All Albert Pujols had to do was hit a fly ball and he did, scoring Trout and sending Hamilton to third with a sac fly to center. Trumbo grounded out to short to score Hamilton but Kendrick lined out to center to end the inning with the Angels up 3-0.
Could the Sox counter in the bottom of the third? It seemed that way when Nava and Pedroia hit back to back singles....but then both Ortiz swung at air and Napoli watched strike three go by. Saltalamacchia popped up to third to end the inning.
Men left on - 6
Doubront finally settled down in the top of the fourth as Callaspo flied out to right to start. Iannetta struck out swinging and Aybar lined out to third to end the inning. The Sox finally rallied in the bottom of the fourth as Carp whalloped a 434 foot bomb to right field, his 5th of the year, to cut the lead. Drew and Iglesias both popped up to short but Ellsbury walked. Ellsbury stole second then Nava then hit a shallow fly ball that Hamilton booted, allowing Ellsbury to score and Nava to reach second. Hanson uncorked a wild pitch to move Nava to third and Pedroia worked a walk. Once again with two men on Ortiz.....grounded out to second to end the inning. Yes, they cut the lead 3-2 but left 2 more men on base.
Doubront finally settled down in the top of the fourth as Callaspo flied out to right to start. Iannetta struck out swinging and Aybar lined out to third to end the inning. The Sox finally rallied in the bottom of the fourth as Carp whalloped a 434 foot bomb to right field, his 5th of the year, to cut the lead. Drew and Iglesias both popped up to short but Ellsbury walked. Ellsbury stole second then Nava then hit a shallow fly ball that Hamilton booted, allowing Ellsbury to score and Nava to reach second. Hanson uncorked a wild pitch to move Nava to third and Pedroia worked a walk. Once again with two men on Ortiz.....grounded out to second to end the inning. Yes, they cut the lead 3-2 but left 2 more men on base.
Doubront got in trouble in the top of the fifth as Shuck walked to start. Trout and Hamilton both struck out swinging but Pujols singled to left to move Shuck to third. Trumbo grounded out to second to end the inning. Hanson got Napoli to fly out to center to start the bottom of the fifth before Saltalamacchia grounded out to first. Carp singled to right but Drew struck out swinging to end the inning. Hanson put himself in position to win the game.
Doubront returned for the top of the sixth and Kendrick grounded out to second to start. Callapso doubled to left but Iannetta flied out to right. Aybar grounded out to first to end the inning. Doubront did well, tossing 6 solid innings and allowing 3 runs. The Sox just couldn't generate enough offense for him.
Michael Kohn came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and Iglesias walked to start. Ellsbury forced Jose at second but Nava ripped a base hit to right. With a chance to tie the game....Pedroia banged into a double play to end the inning.
Men left on - 10
Now came Sox manager John Farrell's critical decision. Doubront hadn't gone seven innings all year but was under 100 pitches. Farrell thought he had done enough and brought in lefty Franklin Morales to replace Felix. Shuck grounded out to first to start but Trout doubled to left. Hamilton flied out to center and Morales was just one out away from a scoreless inning. It never happened as Pujols was intentionally walked and Trumbo made Morales pay by doubling home Trout. Kendrick walked to load the bases and Callaspo walked to score Pujols. Iannetta walked to score Trumbo and chase Morales. Clayton "Vigo" Mortensen came in and Aybar beat out an infield single to second to score Kendrick. Shuck flied out to center to end the inning with the Angels now ahead 7-2. The parade of boos rained down as they should have.
Morales faces 8 batters, gives up 2 hits, 4 walks and 4 runs
Now down 7-2 the Sox needed a rally big time against Scott Downs in the bottom of the seventh. Ortiz flied out to left, Napoli lined out to center and Saltalamacchia struck out swinging to end the inning. So much for that.
The Angels, meanwhile, had no trouble getting clutch hits and plays in the top of the ninth. Kendrick and Callaspo hit back to back singles but Ianetta popped up to third. Farrell bounded out of the dugout and brought in Andrew Miller to get the last two outs without allowing a run...he failed. Aybar walked to load the bases but Shuck hit the next ball to Napoli who tossed it to Salty for the force at home. Trout then walked to bring the 8th run in and Pedroia booted a ground ball by Hamilton allowing the 9th run to score. Pujols grounded into a force to end the inning but now the game was out of reach with the Sox down 9-2.
Nice going Miller
Jackass of the Night is an easy one. Franklin Morales was brought in for relief and ended up giving up 4 earned runs to put the game out of reach.
Jackass of the Night
Now came Sox manager John Farrell's critical decision. Doubront hadn't gone seven innings all year but was under 100 pitches. Farrell thought he had done enough and brought in lefty Franklin Morales to replace Felix. Shuck grounded out to first to start but Trout doubled to left. Hamilton flied out to center and Morales was just one out away from a scoreless inning. It never happened as Pujols was intentionally walked and Trumbo made Morales pay by doubling home Trout. Kendrick walked to load the bases and Callaspo walked to score Pujols. Iannetta walked to score Trumbo and chase Morales. Clayton "Vigo" Mortensen came in and Aybar beat out an infield single to second to score Kendrick. Shuck flied out to center to end the inning with the Angels now ahead 7-2. The parade of boos rained down as they should have.
Now down 7-2 the Sox needed a rally big time against Scott Downs in the bottom of the seventh. Ortiz flied out to left, Napoli lined out to center and Saltalamacchia struck out swinging to end the inning. So much for that.
Trout led off the top of the eighth with a single to right and moved to second on the grounder to second by Hamilton. Trout moved to third on a grounder to short by Pujols but Trumbo popped up to short left to end the inning. Garrett Richards took the mound in the bottom of the eighth and Carp grounded back to the mound to start. Drew took strike three but Iglesias singled to right. Ellsbury reached on catcher's interference but Nava grounded out to second to end the inning. That's 12 left on base.
The Angels, meanwhile, had no trouble getting clutch hits and plays in the top of the ninth. Kendrick and Callaspo hit back to back singles but Ianetta popped up to third. Farrell bounded out of the dugout and brought in Andrew Miller to get the last two outs without allowing a run...he failed. Aybar walked to load the bases but Shuck hit the next ball to Napoli who tossed it to Salty for the force at home. Trout then walked to bring the 8th run in and Pedroia booted a ground ball by Hamilton allowing the 9th run to score. Pujols grounded into a force to end the inning but now the game was out of reach with the Sox down 9-2.
The Sox rallied too little too late in the bottom of the ninth as Pedroia grounded back to the mound to start. Ortiz grounded out to first but Napoli singled to left. Saltalamacchia singled to center and Carp singled home Napoli to cut the lead. Drew doubled home both runners and Iglesias reached on an infield single to third to chase Richards. With the tying run in the on-deck circle, Ernesto Frieri struck out Ellsbury to end the game. Total men left on base: 14
Jackass of the Night is an easy one. Franklin Morales was brought in for relief and ended up giving up 4 earned runs to put the game out of reach.
The Good:
Daniel Nava was 3 for 5 with an rbi.
Daniel Nava was 3 for 5 with an rbi.
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 4 with a walk.
Mike Carp was 3 for 5 with 2 rbi's and 2 runs scored.
Jose Iglesias was 2 for 4 with a walk.
The Bad:
Other bumbing bawfulness included David Ortiz going 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.
Other bumbing bawfulness included David Ortiz going 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts.
Clayton Mortensen gave up 2 runs in just 1 2/3 innings pitched.
The Ugly:
Jacoby Ellsbury was just 1 for 4 but walked, scored a run and swiped 2 bags.
Jacoby Ellsbury was just 1 for 4 but walked, scored a run and swiped 2 bags.
Mike Napoli was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.
Jarrod Saltlamacchia was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored a run.
Stephen Drew was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but drove in two runs.
Felix Doubront went 6 innings and gave up 3 runs to take the loss. He's now 4-3 with a 4.84 record on the year.
Andrew Miller walked in a run but didn't allow any runners he put on to score in 2/3 of an inning.
Final Thoughts:
Woweeee that was bad pitching. Yes the Sox left 14 men on base but had the bullpen not allowed 6 runs they may have won the game. What also sucks was this was Game 1 of the double-header meaning if Clay Buchholz stinks in Game 2, they're already down 3 relievers with only the Orient Express and Andrew Bailey to use. Say goodbye to Jackie Bradley Jr as well, Shane Victorino is going to be activated before Game 2 later tonight. At least this time Jackie made some contributions before being demoted. Either by injury or incompetence we may see Jackie again soon. As for the game, the Sox drop to 37-25, 1 game in front of the New York Yankees, who were victorious against the Seattle Mariners, for first place in the AL East.. The Sox look to salvage the day by sending undefeated Clay Buchholz (8-0) out against ace C.J. Wilson in about 2 hours at Fenway Park.
Woweeee that was bad pitching. Yes the Sox left 14 men on base but had the bullpen not allowed 6 runs they may have won the game. What also sucks was this was Game 1 of the double-header meaning if Clay Buchholz stinks in Game 2, they're already down 3 relievers with only the Orient Express and Andrew Bailey to use. Say goodbye to Jackie Bradley Jr as well, Shane Victorino is going to be activated before Game 2 later tonight. At least this time Jackie made some contributions before being demoted. Either by injury or incompetence we may see Jackie again soon. As for the game, the Sox drop to 37-25, 1 game in front of the New York Yankees, who were victorious against the Seattle Mariners, for first place in the AL East.. The Sox look to salvage the day by sending undefeated Clay Buchholz (8-0) out against ace C.J. Wilson in about 2 hours at Fenway Park.
