Derek Jeter led off the game with a pop up that Pedroia lost in the sun allowing Derek to reach first to start. Curtis Granderson flied out to right and Jeter moved to second on the wild pitch over the head of Jeter by Buchholz. Sure enough A-Rod's single to left brought home Jeter after the two mistakes. Robinson Cano flied out to deep center as A-Rod tagged and advanced to second. Mark Teixeira grounded out to first to end the inning but the Sox now trailed for their 13th consecutive game 1-0.
Mike Aviles led off the bottom of the first against Ivan Nova with a pop up to Cano. Ryan Sweeney then took three straight pitches for a strikeout. Pedroia made up for his error with a two out single to center. Adrian Gonzalez flied out to Granderson at the edge of the Monster to end the inning.
Nick Swisher led off the second with a wind blown homer into the Monster seats to start. Raul Ibanez grounded out to second and then Eric Chavez homered into the bullpen as well. Russell Martin grounded out to third but Derek Jeter got on with a single off the glove of Kevin Youkilis. Granderson singled Jeter over to third with a hit to right but A-Rod forced Granderson to end the inning with the score now 3-0 Yankees.
The Sox attempted to rally in the bottom of the second as David Ortiz hit a ball off the top of the center field wall that was called a double. Sox manager Bobby Valentine argued it was a home run and after replay, Ortiz second home run of the year to cut the deficit. Youkilis doubled down the right field line and advanced to third on the ground out to first by Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Cody Ross then struck out swinging to kill the rally as Jason Repko continued his torrid streak with a ground out to third to end the inning. The Sox did manager to cut the lead 3-1.
Cano singled off the glove of Buchholz to begin the top of the third but Teixeira popped up to center. Nick Swisher worked an eight pitch walk but Buchholz escaped trouble when Ibanez banged into a double play to end the inning. Aviles grounded out to sort to begin the bottom of the third but Ryan Sweeney doubled to left. Once again the Sox could do nothing as Pedroia flied out to center and Gonzalez looked at strike three to end the inning.
Chavez tagged Buchholz again for his second home run of the day to dead center to begin the the top of the fourth. Repko then made the catch of the year, robbing Martin of a sure double. Granderson grounded out to and Jeter struck out to end the inning but the Yankees led 4-1.
Nova cruised in the bottom of the fourth as Ortiz grounded out to Teixeira to start. Youkilis grounded out to short and Saltalamacchia continued his 2 for 26 slump by striking out swinging to end the inning.
A-Rod crushed a homer over the Monster to begin the top of the fifth inning but Cano grounded out to second. Teixeira grounded out to first and Swisher lined out to short to end the inning with the Yankees up 5-1.
A-Rod crushed a homer over the Monster to begin the top of the fifth inning but Cano grounded out to second. Teixeira grounded out to first and Swisher lined out to short to end the inning with the Yankees up 5-1.
Cody Ross led off the top of the fifth with a double off the centerfield wall but Cano robbed Repko of a hit with a diving catch. Aviles then drove home Ross when Swisher lost the ball in the sun allowing Aviles to reach second. Sweeney lined out to left and Pedroia flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox down 5-2
The Yankees struck again in the top of the sixth although Ibanez popped up to center to start. Pedroia did not lose a pop up by Chavez this time, retiring him for the second out. Martin then hit another bomb off Buchholz for the fifth homer of the day for the Yankees. Jeter struck out to end the inning with the Yankees now leading 6-2.
Gonzalez struck out swinging to start the bottom of the sixth but Ortiz singled to right. Youkilis got hit on the elbow but Saltalamacchia continued his season long slump by hitting into a double play to end the inning.
Buchholz returned briefly in the top of the seventh but walked Granderson to end his day. He allowed 6 runs off 5 home runs in 6 plus innings, yuck! Scott Atchison came in and struck out A-Rod swinging, but Granderson took second on a wild pitch. Cano grounded back to the mound and Teixeira grounded out to second to end the inning.
Cory Wade came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Ross grounded out to third begin. Nate Spears pinch hit for Repko and looked at strike three but Aviles somehow singled up the middle but Sweeney grounded out to second to end the inning.
Swisher led off the top of the eighth with a double down the line to chase Atchinson. Justin Thomas was brought in who allowed Ibanez to single Swisher to third but recovered to strike out Chavez looking. Valentine pulled Thomas for the returning Junichi Tazawa who missed 2011 with Tommy John surgery. The Sox then caught a break when Ibanez was caught in a run down with Swisher asleep at third for out number two. Martin grounded out to short to end the inning.
David Robertson replaced Wade for the bottom of the eighth inning and struck out Pedroia swinging. Gonzalez somehow singled to left but Ortiz lined out to center. Youk whiffed to end the inning.
Tazawa returned for the top of the ninth and got Jeter to ground back to the mound to start. Granderson lined out to Pedroia and A-Rod flied out to center to end the inning. Cody Eppley replaced Robertson for the bottom of the ninth and Saltalamacchia somehow singled to right. Quick hook Yankees manager Joe Girardi pulled Eppley for invincible closer Mariano Rivera. Rivera punched out Ross swinging as Nick Punto pinch hit for Nate Spears. Punto struck out swinging and Aviles grounded out to second to end the game. The Yankees had won it 6-2.
Jackass of the Night is Clay Buchholz. He allowed 5 home runs and 6 total runs to put the Sox in a hole they couldn't climb out of.
The Good:
Mike Aviles was 2 for 5 with an rbi.
David Ortiz was 2 for 4 with a home run.
Kevin Youkilis was 1 for 3.
Scott Atchison pitched a full scoreless inning.
Justin Thomas got the first out of the eighth inning.
Junichi Tazawa tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Bad:
Jason Repko was 0 for 2.
Nate Spears struck out as a pinch hitter.
Nick Punto struck out as a pinch hitter
The Ugly:
Ryan Sweeney was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout and an error.
Adrian Gonzalez was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Cody Ross was just 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
It seems typical that on the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park this year's team looks borderline lifeless. Its been a perfect storm as Buchholz got shelled just like Jon Lester the other night against Texas and the offense has been dormant. The problem is without Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury, the likes of Jason Repko and Nate Spears have to play....and they aren't good. Saltalamacchia is about an automatic out as you can get right now and Youkilis is only recently coming out of it. Without Crawford and Ellsbury at the top of the lineup, the Sox don't have the table setters that Gonzalez, Youkilis and Ortiz should be driving in. That doesn't help the pitching though and the rotation has picked up where they left off in 2011 getting shelled more often than dominating. Its only April so the Sox have plenty of time to wake up but playing from behind in all thirteen games this season isn't a recipe for success. The Sox have now dropped 4 in a row and 9 of their last 13 overall. The Sox look to stem the tide tomorrow when Felix Doubront pitches for the Sox tomorrow to try and right the ship. He goes up against Freddy Garcia of the Yankees at 4:05 PM at Fenway Park.
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