Red Sox Survive Late Rally, Take Game 2 from Orioles

by Ben Buchanan on Apr 24, 2010 10:35 PM EDT in Game Stories

This one was way too close.

John Lackey got the start, and struggled through 7 innings, allowing 3 runs on 2 walks and 10 hits, including a home run. It was an unimpressive outing from Lackey, who threw 111 pitches and left with the Sox trailing 1-3.

After being shut down for 6 innings aside from a Jason Varitek solo shot in the 5th, the Red Sox offense came to life in the 7th inning. Marco Scutaro provided a loud 3-run home run to put the Red Sox on top 4-3, and Kevin Youkilis padded the lead with a 3-run shot of his own.

Going to the 9th, it looked like this would be an easy victory for the Red Sox. But Ramon Ramirez and Jonathan Papelbon wouldn't have it. Ramirez gave up a solo shot to Adam Jones and a double to Nick Markakis before being pulled for Papelbon, who proceeded to give up 3 straight singles, putting the go-ahead run at first. Much like last year, though, Paps clamped down at the last minute, and struck out the last two batters to finish the Orioles off.

Game Notes:

With only 3 strikeouts, John Lackey has not been missing the bats as much as he'd want. That's only 11 Ks in 23 innings.
After going through a prolonged slump batting 3rd, Pedroia went 2-for-4 with a double in his return to the 2-hole.
The Orioles outhit the Red Sox 17-9
Credit the Orioles with 0 stolen bases. Can you believe it?
More suspect defense, as Scutaro took a ball off the heel of his glove, and Hermida managed to look very Manny-like trying to play a ball of the Monster.
The Sox have, believe it or not, won 4 out of 5.
The Sox had only 4 starters in the lineup tonight, with Beltre, Ortiz, Cameron, Ellsbury, and Drew all out.

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Comments

Lesson?

Pedroia bats second.

I missed this game cuz I was watching hockey, but gaddammit, this defense.

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

I have a five-tool player in my pants.

ACTUALLY, advanced metrics show that that wasn't "premature".

@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard

by Bloggy on Apr 24, 2010 10:44 PM EDT reply actions

Dustin Pedroia and the 2-spot were made for each other.

And why was he hitting 3rd anyways?

Fenway: "An alternate and better universe, disguised as a ballpark." --Thomas Boswell

by lone1c on Apr 25, 2010 2:11 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Shufflin' Drew

So he can get more at bats in the 2-spot to hopefully jump-start him.

Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.

I have a five-tool player in my pants.

ACTUALLY, advanced metrics show that that wasn't "premature".

@#$%ing Twit: @blogtard

by Bloggy on Apr 25, 2010 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Could be wrong...

but it looks like 13 errors on the year so far. What’s sad is that that number actually seems kind of low to me.

by AJBlue7 on Apr 25, 2010 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

not a good thing

by Mick Lowe on Apr 26, 2010 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions

he may have 'struggled' but at least Lackey left with us still in the game

3 runs in 6 innings is fine, even if it took 111 pitches. That’s at least a starter doing his job.

The offense finally generated some runs.

But then the bullpen implodes.

One of these days, (he said, hopefully) we are going to see all three working correctly in the same game.

by mmmmm on Apr 24, 2010 10:54 PM EDT reply actions

by Gopse1 on Apr 24, 2010 11:00 PM EDT reply actions

No, the question is when will the many, MANY Red Sox players who are underperforming

will just get back to their norms.

We don’t need Youk, Drew, Ortiz, VMart, et al to have stellar, career-best years. We just need them to have career AVG years. Hell, just being close to their averages would be a huge boost.

Ditto with Lester, Beckett, Lackey, ….

by mmmmm on Apr 24, 2010 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions