Weekly News

Today, the Red Sox concluded yet another miserable week at 1-5 with a loss to the Mariners and a sweep at the hands of the Blue Jays. The Player of the Week is Cody Ross, who batted .300/1/5 this week and is now .281/20/73 in his magnificent first season in Boston. For his first time this year, Aaron Cook has won the Pitcher of the Week despite losing on Wednesday against the Mariners. Cook went six innings, allowing two earned runs, and is now 3-9, 5.19 this season. The Performance of the Week belongs to Ross on his performance Tuesday night. He went 3-4 and drove in a run in that game. Finally, the Game of the Week goes to the only win of the week when they edged the M's 4-3 in a tight game. In the upcoming week, the Red Sox will face the Yankees at home and the Blue Jays in Toronto.

Too Little, Too Late For Sox In Tight Loss (63-76)

Doubront was rocked last night

This game looked like just another blowout initially, but the Red Sox came back to make it even more of a disappointment for the Sox. The Blue Jays got going early when Brett Lawrie doubled to lead off the game. After getting to third on a ground out, he scored on a sac fly for Edwin Encarnacion. After a scoreless second, they got another run in the third on a homer for Encarnacion-- the 38th big fly of his great season. The Jays just kept rolling right along in the fourth inning, starting with a two out walk to Kelly Johnson. They got two runs when rookie Moises Sierra nailed a long ball over the green monster to make it 4-0. The fifth started off the same way as Colby Rasmus tripled to start things. Clayton Mortensen entered the game, but couldn't stop the Jays from scoring on  Yunel Escobar single to make it 5-0.

Pedroia had a home run and 2 RBIs

That was when things sort of began to turn for the Red Sox, as two one out singles netted them runners at the corners. They scored a run when Dustin Pedroia grounded into a force out, but ultimately squandered a rally. The Red Sox kept going in the seventh and a Pedro Ciriaco walk plus a steal of second, would set up an RBI single for Mauro Gomez to make it 5-2. The Red Sox started off the eighth with a shot to left for Dustin Pedroia-- his 13th home run of the year to cut it to 5-3. However, the Jays would get those runs back in the top of the ninth after a leadoff walk to Moises Sierra. Sierra would score when Colby Rasmus homered to make it 7-3. The Red Sox got a couple of those runs back in the bottom of the ninth on a two run homer for Mauro Gomez to cut it to 7-5, but it wasn't enough.

Bright Spots:
Clayton Mortensen- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 K
Chris Carpenter- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K
Rich Hill- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R
Daniel Bard- 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K

Scott Podsednik- 2-5
Dustin Pedroia- 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Mauro Gomez- 2-2, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI



Dull Spots:
Felix Doubront- 4 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 4 K, L (10-8)

Jacoby Ellsbury- 0-4, 2 K, 3 LOB

James Loney- 0-4, 2 LOB

Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 0-4, 1 LOB

Player of the Game:
Mauro Gomez- After coming in to pinch hit, Gomez led the show in going 2-2 with a two run homer and RBI single-- he is now .302/2/11.

Red Sox Can't Cook Up The Key Rally, Lose To M's (63-75)

Cook pitched well

Last night was a disappointing one as the Red Sox got a rare good start out of Aaron Cook, but were not able to cash in. Now, the matchup of Cook (3-8, 5.35) and Kevin Millwood (4-12, 4.38) isn't necessarily what you'd call a pitching matchup. However, it certainly played like one at least for the first few innings. Although there were plenty of base-runners, neither team scored in the first three innings. However, it was in the fourth inning that the Mariners finally broke out. On a single by Eric Thames, a walk for Mike Carp, and a single from Casper Wells-- the Mariners loaded the bases with no outs to start the inning. Cook got a quick out, getting Brendan Ryan to pop out. However, he wasn't so lucky with Dustin Ackley-- who singled up the middle to score two runs and make it 2-0.

Valentine isn't happy right now

After the Mariners scored those runs, there was scoreless fifth inning. However, the Red Sox would get in the board during the sixth inning. Dustin Pedroia benefited from a leadoff walk to start off the inning, but was quickly taken off the basepaths when Jacoby Ellsbury grounded into a forceout. Ellsbury was able to steal second, however, putting himself in scoring position with one out for Cody Ross. Ross laced a line drive to right field that looked like it was going foul. Somehow, though, it stayed fair, bouncing around in the corner enough to score Ellsbury and get Ross to second base with an RBI double. They didn't score again in the inning, and as it turned out, the sixth was Aaron Cook's last inning. The sinker-baller exited the game with a relatively impressive line of 6 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 5 K-- a very un-Cook-like line all things told. However, the Red Sox still managed to lose to game because of a weak offense.

Bright Spots:
Aaron Cook- 6 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 5 K, L (3-9)
Alfredo Aceves- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K
Jacoby Ellsbury- 1-4, 1 R, 1 SB
Cody Ross- 3-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI

Dull Spots:
Scott Podsednik- 0-4, 1 LOB
Ryan Lavarnway- 0-4, 1 K, 6 LOB
Pedro Ciriaco- 0-2, 1 K

Player of the Game:
Cody Ross- Ross has continued his career year by going 3-4 and driving in a run with a double, as he certainly wasn't the problem in this game-- he is now .279/20/73.

Ross, Lavarnway Homer As Sox Break Skid (63-74)

Bailey nailed down his second nave

Finally that miserable losing streak is over as the Red Sox finally edged the Mariners to end a seven game losing skid. Jon Lester (8-11, 5.01) got off to a bit of a rocky start, allowing Dustin Ackley to single to start the ballgame. Ackley stole second and advanced to third on a ground ball to put him there at third with two outs. Jesus Montero came up and drove him in with an RBI single to right to put the Mariners on the board 1-0. Lester held the Mariners scoreless in the second inning but ran into a bunch of trouble when he opened up the third. Franklin Gutierrez came up and crushed a home run over the head of Jacoby Ellsbury to dead center field. He was followed up immediately by Kyle Seager who knocked a no doubter to right field to give the Mariners a 3-0 lead on Seager's 16th homer.

Ross had a three-run homer

Jon Lester settled down from that point and tossed scoreless baseball for his next three innings of work. He would manage to get the win as well, as the Red Sox put together a little rally of their own in the top of the sixth. Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury each singled to right field to put runners at first and second to start off the inning. That was when Cody Ross came up and drove a ball to deep left field, well out of the ballpark to bring in all three runs possible and tie the game up at 3-3. The next two batters got out to leave Ryan Lavarnway (who entered the game batting .174) to fend for himself with two outs. He did just that as he drove one off the scoreboard in the left field on a big home run to give the Red Sox a 4-3 lead. The bullpen came together for a win and Andrew Bailey pitched a good ninth to pick up his second save.

Bright Spots:
Vicente Padilla- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB
Andrew Bailey- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, SV (2)
Dustin Pedroia- 2-4, 1 R, 1 BB
Cody Ross- 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI
James Loney- 2-4, 1 2B
Ryan Lavarnway- 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Jose Iglesias- 1-3, 1 2B

Dull Spots:
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 0-4, 1 K, 2 LOB

Player of the Game:
Cody Ross- Ross was only 1-4 in last night's game but he absolutely had the biggest hit of the night with a three run homer-- he is now .274/20/74.

Red Sox Drop Seventh Straight As Pedroia Hits 1000th (62-74)

Could this be Valentine's last series?

The good news in today's game: Dustin Pedroia got the 1000th hit of his very successful career. The bad news was the same as it's been the past seven games-- the Red Sox fell without giving too much of a fight. The Red Sox scored first when they put together a two out rally in the first inning. A two out double for Dustin Pedroia set up a run when Cody Ross took an outside pitch to right field for a soft line drive single to make it 1-0. Things looked good for the next few innings, but it all took a turn for the worse in the fourth inning. The Mariners started off by putting two runners on base on a single and hit by pitch. They scored a pair of runs when John Jaso and Justin Smoak hit consecutive singles through the right side to make it 2-1. They got one more run on a fly out to center for Eric Thames. Jacoby Ellsbury's throw home got away from Ryan Lavarnway and the run scored. The next run scored on another miscue, this time by Jose Iglesias.

From that point on, neither team scored and the Red Sox just slowly died. Clay Buchholz pitched pretty well after then and exited the game after seven innings-- leaving with a line of 7 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 8 K. He would eventually lose the game and slip to 11-5 with a 4.47 ERA this season. In relief, Rich Hill and Chris Carpenter combined for a scoreless eighth and that was it as the Sox didn't even put up a fight.

Bright Spots:
Dustin Pedroia- 2-3, 1 R, 1 BB
Cody Ros- 1-4, 1 RBI
Ryan Kalish- 2-4

Dull Spots:
Pedro Ciriaco- 0-4, 3 K, 1 LOB
Jacoby Ellsbury- 0-4
Mauro Gomez- 0-3, 2 LOB
Ryan Lavarnway- 0-3
Jose Iglesias- 0-2, 1 K, 2 LOB

Player of the Game:
Dustin Pedroia- Pedroia continues to be a lone bright spot in the Red Sox' lineup as he went 2-3 with a walk and a run today-- he is now .290/12/55.

Series Preview #39: Red Sox (62-73) @ Mariners (65-70)

After back-to-back sweeps at the hands of the Angels and A's, the mutilated Red Sox will roll into Seattle for a three-game series. Today's game will feature Clay Buchholz (11-4, 4.50) and Jason Vargas (13-9, 3.90). I expect a pitching game in this one as both Buchholz and Vargas have good numbers against the opposition, but based on how the Red Sox are swinging the bats-- I'll give the win to the Mariners. Tomorrow night's game will have a matchup of Jon Lester (8-11, 5.01) and Blake Beavan (9-8, 4.95). In the past, the Red Sox have rocked Beavan to the tune of a 6.35 ERA and 0-3 record, and I expect a win tomorrow night (is that too much to ask, baseball gods?). The series finale Wednesday will show Aaron Cook (3-8, 5.35), who pitched a shutout his last time in Seattle, against Kevin Millwood (4-12, 4.38). I don't expect more of the same from Cook as he's been miserable lately. Bold Prediction: Mariners win series 2-1. 

Weekly News

The Red Sox' season just got more depressing with a miserable 1-6 involving three game sweeps by both the Angels and A's after a win against the Royals. However, one bright spot was James Loney, who batted .316/1/2 in his first week in Boston and is now .258/5/37 this season between the Dodgers and Red Sox. The Pitcher of the Week is Clay Buchholz, who didn't even pitch all that well-- allowing four runs in seven innings in a no-decision against the Angels on Tuesday. That's Buchholz's team-leading eighth Pitcher of the Week Award this year and he's now 11-4, 4.50 this season. The Performance of the Week goes to James Loney's 3-4 night on Friday-- he also drove in a run with his fifth home run of the year. Finally, the Game of the Week obviously goes to the only win of the week when the Red Sox beat the Royals 5-1 on Monday. In the upcoming week, the Red Sox will play three games in Seattle before three more at home against the Blue Jays.

A's Get The Better Of Sox Again As Skid Continues (62-73)

The 2012 baseball season is becoming miserable as the Red Sox lost again today to extend their skid to six games. This was a rough game for the Red Sox pretty much from the start as the game began with a tough pitching matchup-- Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-3, 5.10) and Brett Anderson (2-0, 0.64). The A's started off the bottom of the first on a walk by Coco Crisp. Crisp scored almost immediately when Seth Smith drove a high home run to center field to make it 2-0 early. It took them only one inning to get another run when Stephen Drew crushed a hanging sinker to left-center to make it 3-0. They just kept on rolling in the third as well, putting runners at the corners with one out. They'd score a run on a sacrifice fly for Josh Reddick. Later in the inning, they'd score again when Stephen Drew knocked a line drive single to left to make it 5-0.

Ross had an RBI single

The A's just kept pounding Matsuzaka in the fourth, loading the bases with one out. They scored one run when Yoenis Cespedes grounded out to second base to make it 6-0. It took the Red Sox until the sixth, but they eventually got their first run of the game--loading the bases with one out. Cody Ross singled to left, scoring one run before Scott Podsednik was nailed at the plate, making it 6-1. It stayed there for a while, but the Red Sox picked up another run in the ninth after a leadoff double for Dustin Pedroia. Pedroia would eventually score on a sacrifice fly for Mauro Gomez to make it 6-2. However, it wasn't nearly enough to dig into a huge A's lead.



Bright Spots:
Andrew Miller- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Craig Breslow- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
Junichi Tazawa- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K
Mark Melancon- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R
Dustin Pedroia- 3-4, 1 R, 1 2B
Cody Ross- 1-4, 1 RBI

Dull Spots:
Daisuke Matsuzaka- 3.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 4 BB, 4 K, L (1-4)
Ryan Lavarnway- 0-4, 2 K
Mike Aviles- 0-3, 1 K
James Loney- 0-3, 1 K

Player of the Game:
Dustin Pedroia- Pedroia acted as the catalyst today, going 3-4 with a double and scoring a run in a bad game-- he is now .288/12/55

Doubront Shelled, Sox Stymied, Just Another Day (62-72)

Doubront lasted only three innings

The Red Sox are just painful to watch right now; it seems like not only do they not win much, but they just don't win-- yes the stakes are low right now, but it'd be nice to see a win every once in a while. Instead of pointing us in the right direction, Felix Doubront put the Red Sox behind almost immediately. Light-hitting A's leadoff hitter Coco Crisp homered on the fourth pitch of the game. Doubront actually got out of there largely unscathed an prevented a big rally in the second, but he ran into a bunch of trouble in the third. That started with a leadoff single for Coco Crisp, who was promptly thrown out at the plate on a Johnny Gomes double. However, Gomes scored soon after on an RBI single by Yoenis Cespedes. Cespedes stole second and third and scored (along with Chris Carter) on a Brandon Inge double. Inge would score on a single for Derek Norris.

That would be Doubront's last inning as the lefty lasted all of three innings, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks, striking out six. Alfredo Aceves came in next and pitched a strong fourth before having a bit of trouble in the fifth. Cliff Pennington singled with one out in the inning then stole second to put himself in scoring position. He'd score when rookie Derek Norris singled to left to make it 6-1 in the fifth. The Sox got their only bright spot in the sixth, starting with a Ryan Lavarnway single. Lavarnway was quickly erased on a forceout as Pedro Ciriaco took his place. Ciriaco would eventually score on a single for Dustin Pedroia. However, that run would be erased on a solo home run in the seventh for Chris Carter, extending it to 7-1.

Bright Spots:
Alfredo Aceves- 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K

Dull Spots:
Felix Doubront- 3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 6 K, L (10-7)
Daniel Bard- 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 K
Offense- 4-31, 1 R, 1 RBI, 7 K

Player of the Game:
Alfredo Aceves- Despite not pitching all that well, he did eat up three innings out of the bullpen, which is worth something-- he is now 2-9, 4.73.

Ouch.

The Red Sox lost 20-2, I can't bring myself to blog this.