Game 116: Rangers make up and defeat Red Sox

by Randy Booth on Aug 16, 2009 1:11 AM EDT in Game Stories

Final - 8.15.2009	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Boston Red Sox	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	2	8	0
Texas Rangers	0	2	0	2	0	0	1	2	X	7	12	0
WP: Derek Holland (6 - 7) SV: Neftali Feliz (1) LP: Brad Penny (7 - 7)

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I guess it can't happen every time.

After the Sox came back to beat the Rangers Friday night, the same failed to happen Saturday as they lost, 7-2.

Brad Penny just wasn't very good in his start. He gave up four runs in 5.2 innings of work. The bullpen didn't back him up well either as Manny Delcarmen gave up a run and Fernando Cabrera gave up two. Ramon Ramirez was scoreless in .2 innings of work.

Offensively, Jason Bay and Victor Martinez hit home runs. That's about it (oh, Jacoby Ellsbury had two hits and walked once. Not too bad).

Alex Gonzalez went 0 for 4 in his debut while Brian Anderson didn't do too much better as he went 1 for 3.

One more thing to mention: the steals were ridiculous. Some Borbon dude stole four and Elvis stole three. That's just ridiculous. I'm not sure if it's Penny or Jason Varitek, but it's a huge problem.

Ugh. A game to not look back on. Sox finish the series Sunday at 2 p.m.

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Comments

Two quick comments.

First, completely agree about the steals. The sad thing it’s not the first time (obviously) and we hold the undesirable distinction of being the team that has given up the most SBs in a game this season:

"The club-record eight stolen bases matched the most in the majors this season. Boston also allowed eight against Tampa Bay on May 3. The Rangers had six steals against the Red Sox on July 22.

Boston has only caught eight of 111 would-be base stealers this season."

Secondly, is anyone else tired of the ever-changing lineup? I live in NE Ohio and the Indians were experimenting with such a lineup, for the most part on purpose. Supposedly they wanted guys who could be productive, yet be able to play different positions on the field and in the batting order. Anyway, we all saw how that worked out for them. No continuity, no chemistry, no groove, no wins. That’s what the Sox seem to be doing now (I realize not specifically on purpose with injuries and suspensions) and it seems to be affecting them.

by AJBlue7 on Aug 16, 2009 1:27 AM EDT reply actions

Who was pitching during the Rays game?

Penny. Tek’s got a bad arm, but having a slow pitcher doesn’t exactly help.

@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation

by bdalebs on Aug 16, 2009 1:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Agree

Even Tek was upset! According to Projo:

When Varitek was approached after Saturday’s game and asked what he thought of Penny’s overall performance, the catcher gave a strange and unusual response.
“I’m not really sure,” he said. “Obviously he wasn’t able to stay efficient with his pitches.”

I hope Wake will be back soon and Tazawa continues to impress so we could DFA this bum.

Heidi: Do you get frustrated with how much teams seem to be running on you this year?
Fat Brad: Not really...I answered that earlier so...

by radiohix on Aug 16, 2009 2:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Exactly

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Aug 16, 2009 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Wrong, A-Gon, sadly.

@bs_uf15bosox9be The Original Gameday; Learn to use SB Nation

by bdalebs on Aug 16, 2009 1:37 AM EDT reply actions

ugly lineup

ok, we could really use Youk’s bat about now.

the 6-9 spots look pretty weak there. Hard to score runs when half the lineup is that weak.

by RickD on Aug 16, 2009 2:50 AM EDT reply actions

Only one more day of suspension for Youk.

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by bdalebs on Aug 16, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Great

The Sox have been making average pitchers look great all year.

by Old Fan on Aug 16, 2009 5:32 AM EDT reply actions

Damn

That one hurts! Andrus on the Sox

"You have those teams you always want to run on. Varitek, he’s not that fast to second base. Penny, he’s pretty slow to home plate. So those are the little things you’re looking for as a runner.
"You get on base, you go and get the other base, because they’re going to give it to you."

Heidi: Do you get frustrated with how much teams seem to be running on you this year?
Fat Brad: Not really...I answered that earlier so...

by radiohix on Aug 16, 2009 7:30 AM EDT reply actions

Jeez

That’s embarrassing! I hope that a declaration like that from a rookie will get them fired up for today’s game.

"Swing and a ground ball, stabbed by Foulke. He has it. He underhands to first. And the Boston Red Sox are the World Champions! For the first time in 86 years, the Red Sox have won baseball's World Championship!"

by bloodysock04 on Aug 16, 2009 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions

If you were to make a list of absolute basic principles that

a championship caliber team must demonstrate consistently, would throwing out base stealers a certain minimum % of the time be one of them?? If so, does this sox team meet that criteria?

I don’t think so, and there are a few other missing criteria as well. But hey, good luck Sox.

by NG on Aug 16, 2009 8:45 AM EDT reply actions

exactly

I’ve been saying this since early May – too many over-the-hill starters like Varitek, Oritz and undependable starters (always injured) like Lowell, Drew and Lowrie.

“The Captain” and “Big Papi” are the worst rally-killers on this team, and have been the last two years, generally-speaking.

Let’s hope Tazawa and Buchholz begin to blossom because with this pitiful lineup filled with Black Holes, we need all the strong starting pitching we can get.

Give Penny the same pink slip we gave Smoltz and PLEASE find a catcher who can throw out somebody under the age of 50.

by ccthemovieman on Aug 16, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions