Padres starter Ed topwin Jackson (4-5, 5.55 ERA) got the ball for the top of the first and immediately struck out Dustin Pedroia. Brock Holt grounded out to first and Xander Bogaerts lined out to third. Hard luck starter Drew Pomeranz (2-4, 3.97 ERA) took the mound in the bottom of the first. Travis Jankowski caught everyone asleep with a bunt single to lead off. Luis Sardinas lined out to center and Pomeranz picked off Jankowski. Will Myers grounded out to end the inning.
The Sox offense could do little with Jackson in the top of the second. Mr. Mookie Betts whiffed but Hanley Ramirez singled....only to be erased on the Jackie Bradley Jr double play. Pomeranz battled in the bottom of the second. Yangervis Solarte flied out to right and Derek Norris flied out to center. Alex Dickerson walked and Adam Rosales singled, but Oswaldo Arcia looked at strike 3 to end the inning.
Once again the Sox amassed nothing in the top of the third. Yoan Moncada, Bryan Holaday and Pomeranz himself all struck out in short order. Pomeranz struck out Jackson as a small revenge in the bottom of the third. Jankowski once again caught the Sox defense napping with a bunt single but Sardinas flied out. Jankowski swiped second but Pedroia made an impressive snare to rob Myers of a hit to end the inning.
The Sox had one of their only chances in the top of the fourth. Pedroia grounded out but Holt singled and Bogaerts walked. Mr. Mookie flied out and Hanley struck out to end the inning. The Padres finally tagged Pomeranz in the bottom of the fourth. Solarte grounded out and Norris lined out...but Dickerson singled and Rosales cleared the bases with a 2 run homer to put the Padres up 2-0. Arcia grounded out to end the inning but the damage was done.
As it was, the Sox still couldn't hit Jackson in the top of the fifth. JBJ singled but Moncada and Holoday struck out. JBJ took second on a wild pitch but Pomeranz struck out to end the inning. Howcould the Sox have THIS much trouble with Edwin Jackson? Pomeranz recovered in the bottom of the fifth. Somehow he walked Jackson but Jankowski lined out. Sardinas and Myers struck out to end the inning.
Jackson continued to make the Sox look foolish in the top of the sixth. Pedroia and Holt grounded out and Bogaerts whiffed to end the inning in short order. Pomeranz returned for the bottom of the sixth and got Solarte to ground out. Norris struck out but Dickerson doubled to chase Drew. Sox manager John Farrell pulled the plug on Pomeranz early and brought in Heath Hembree. Heath got Rosales to pop up to end the inning. Pomeranz only gave up one mistake to Rosales but was pretty solid, he deserved a better fate.
It wasn't like the Sox were going to hit Jackson in the top of the seventh anyway. Mr. Mookie walked and Hanley singled.....and JBJ grounded into yet another double play. Moncada struck out to earn a hat trick to end the inning. Jackson had struck out 11 in 7 shut out innings, probably the best start of his career.
Robbie Ross Jr came on to pitch the bottom of the seventh. Arcia struck out and Brett Wallace hit for Jackson. Wallace flied out and Jankowski lined out to end the inning.
The Sox briefly came to life with Jackson out of the game. Brad Hand relived Jackson and pinch hitter Chris Young (for Holaday) greeted him with a solo home run to left to cut the lead 2-1. Aaron Hill pinch hit for Ross Jr and doubled to put the tying run at second just like that. Pedroia grounded out but Hill moved to third. Sandy Leon pinch hit for Holt but whiffed. So much for Leon's hot streak. Bogaerts looked at strike 3 and was nearly thrown out of the game for slamming his bat. Joe Kelly took the mound for the bottom of the eighth and was encouraging. Young took over in left and Ryan Hanigan took over at catcher. Sardinas whiffed, Myers grounded out and Solarte struck out to end the inning.
Could the Sox rally one last time in the 9th against closer Brandon Maurer? Mr. Mookie flied out but Hanley singled in the hole at short. JBJ whiffed and David Ortiz pinch hit for Moncada to a chorus of cheers. The cheers turned to "awwwwwww" as Ortiz flied out to end the game. The Padres had won 2-1.
Jackass of the Night is Jackie Bradley Jr. He grounded into a double play twice with two men on and struck out with Hanley on first in the ninth.
The Good:
Brock Holt was 1 for 3. Hanley Ramirez was on fire by going 3 for 4. Chris Young blasted a pinch hit homer in his only at bat. Heath Hembree retired the only man he faced. Robbie Ross Jr pitched a perfect eighth inning. Joe Kelly pitched a perfect ninth inning
The Bad:
Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 4 with a strikeout. Sandy Leon pinch hit for Holt and whiffed. Yoan Moncada earned a hat trick by going 0 for 3 with 3 strikeouts. David Ortiz pinch hit for Yoan and flied out. Bryan Holaday was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts were both 0 for 3 but walked. Drew Pomeranz was 0 for 2 with 2 strikeouts at the plate and he tossed 5 2/3 innings of 2 run ball. The 2 run jack to Rosales was the only mistake he made but it was a big one. Still, with better run support he would have been off the hook.
Honorable Mention:
Ryan Hanigan caught the bottom of the eighth.
Final Thoughts:
What a waste. The Blue Jays lost so the Sox remain 1 game behind them for first place in the AL East. The only positives to come from the game was Kelly looked great in relief and Pomeranz had another solid start. The starting pitching has been amazing since July apart from Henry Owens so if the offense can go on a real tear, they could be the frontrunners in the AL East. The loss dropped them to 76-61. Clay Buchholz (5-10) gets the spot start in place of Steven Wright tomorrow against Paul Clemens.
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