Angels Beat Sox First Time All Year (8/19/10)

The Sox were bounced from the playoffs in heartbreaking fashion last year by the LA Angels, they responded by winning 9 straight games against them this year. The 10th and final game belonged to the Angels, which also put the Sox even further back in the post-season race as both the Yankees and Rays won.

Through the first 5 innings Josh Beckett (3-3, 6.67 ERA) looked like the ace of old before the wheels fell off. His opponent Ervin Santana (13-8, 3.93) ERA was equally game. The Sox struck first in the 4th inning when David Ortiz hit a solo blast, his 27th of the year, to give the Sox a brief 1-0 advantage.

Through the first 5 innings Josh Beckett allowed just 2 hits, but trouble brewed in the 6th. It started off well with Beckett getting Bobby Abreu to ground out, but then Maicer Izturis doubled and Alberto Callaspo doubled him in to tie the game. Tori Hunter then hit a shot to Beltre who couldn't make the play, which became critical when Hideki Matsui belted his 16th homer of the year putting LA on top 4-1. Beckett escaped with no further damage but the worst was not over yet.

Beckett came back to start the 7th and promptly struck out Jeff Mathis. Then it all went to hell when Peter Bourjos hit a ball to first, then beat it out. Beckett then walked Abreu to end his night when manager Terry Francona replaced him with Manny Delcarmen. The move failed miserably when Izturis walked to load the bases and Callaspo drove in Bourjos with a groundout. Delcarmen then walked Hunter to re-load the bases and then walked Matsui to score Abreu and chase the ineffective pitcher from the game now trailing 6-1. Scott Atchinson came on and Howie Kendrick put the exclamation point by hitting a ball in the hole at short to score Izturis with the 7th run. Atchinson got the final out but the game was effectively over.

The Sox tried to mount a rally when Scutaro singled and Lowell doubled to open the 8th inning. David Ortiz then was hit by pitcher Kevin Jepsen to load the bases with nobody out, but the Sox blew their chance when Victor Martinez popped up to center. Adrian Beltre managed to hit a sac fly that scored Scutaro, but they needed the hits. Now down 7-2. JD Drew struck out to end the rally.

Tim Wakefield pitched 2 innings of mop up duty but Fernando Rodney closed the door in the 9th to win the game for the Angels. The Sox season seems to be slipping away with Dustin Pedroia heading back to the DL joining opening day starters Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Cameron and Kevin Youkilis along with backup catcher Jason Varitek. This marks Beckett's third straight bad start and the Sox can't possibly hold on much longer with their ace continuing to be ineffective.

The Sox host the Toronto Blue Jays tomorrow as Jays killer Jon Lester (13-7, 2.80 ERA) takes the mount opposite Brett Cecil (9-6, 3.96 ERA).