Red Sox Rally Falls Short In Final Game Before Deadline

by Ben Buchanan on Jul 31, 2010 11:58 AM EDT in Game Stories

What needs to be said at this point? New Tiger Jhonny Peralta homered twice off a Jon Lester who looked a lot more like the guy who finished the game in Seattle than the one who started it. Lester gave up a career-high 11 hits, taking the loss with four earned runs in six innings.

Still, the Sox might not have lost this one were it not again for the season-ruining bullpen. Looking to conserve arms for more "winnable" games with the Sox down three runs heading to the eighth, Terry Francona turned to Tim Wakefield in relief. Wake, as has been the story all year, did not deliver, allowing two earned to give the Tigers a five-run difference they would end up needing all of.

Through the ninth inning, Marco Scutaro's solo shot had been the sum total of the Red Sox' offense. As has been common in this scoring slump the Sox find themselves in, they had numerous opportunities, but came up short of scoring every time. That changed in the ninth, however, as the Sox took a wild Jose Valverde to task. Three walks left the bases loaded with one out and David Ortiz at the plate. Ortiz did not waste this opportunity, turning on a pitch that stayed middle-in, and lining it just barely into the stands in right field. The Sox would even get the tying run into scoring position, but ultimately Mike Cameron struck out looking to seal the deal.

With the Rays coming back to take out the Yankees in the first game of their series, the Red Sox are now a daunting 6.5 games out of a playoff spot in what is increasingly becoming a two-team division again.

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That might have done it for the season

You simply need to look at the players in the field and see why we are probably not going to the post season….Lowerie?….Patterson?….Hermida?….Hall?….MacDonald?….Cameron?….Are you serious? Add an offense that lives and dies by the long ball and a bull pen that would do better playing slow pitch softball and look at what we have. And Pedroia and Ellsbury coming back won’t really do much to improve our chances.

And Lester is still showing his Achilles heel: he still needs to be able to make big pitches when he needs to and he’s still not doing it.

Anyway. I’m just rambling on because I’m pissed off at what has come to be a wasted season. I hope everyone is having a great weekend and Go Sox.

by 75bandwagon on Jul 31, 2010 1:54 PM EDT reply actions

Lowrie* and McDonald*

Where have you been? The Sox are still winning games with bench warmers and guys that probably would not have stepped on the field this year. What’s wrong with Lowrie? He just went through a season of illness and he’s finally back. You can’t get rid of Bill Hall right now because who’s going to back up for 2nd base and SS when Lowrie/Scutaro can’t be there? Hermida probably would’ve been turned to trade bait but that didn’t work out because he sucks so much and that he had sore ribs the whole season by Beltre’s killer knee. Mike Cameron has been going through injuries. McDonald has finally made it to his longest season ever after being in the minors for so long. The Sox could’ve probably used him to trade but he isn’t considered a prospect anymore and is getting older. Patterson, oh god, yes let’s trade him but who would really take such a ~~great~~ player.

Yes, the Sox do need some Bullpen help because obviously they only have like 3 trusty arms and they can’t pitch everyday. They do have Robert Manuel whom I guess Theo/Francona don’t think he’s ready. Same with Bowden. I don’t think they need to hurry to call Kalish up either.

Getting Pedroia and Ellsbury back would be a huge plus, I have no idea why you think they cannot improve their chances. Both are .300 + hitters and Ellsbury can get pitchers nervous when he’s on base. Hopefully he pulls himself together again and make it to the MLB roster soon.

by n0va on Jul 31, 2010 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions