When the Red Sox signed John Lackey to a 5 year deal, they were expecting a lot more than this. The man who was supposed to throw strikes, get outs, and pick up wins did anything but today, allowing 5 runs over the first 4 innings. While he cleaned up his act as the game went on, the hole had already been dug.
A depleted Red Sox offense featuring only 4 starters was stymied by Armando Galarraga, making his first appearance of the year in a spot start necessitated by the Tiger's double-header against the Yankees. Galarraga was wild at first, but quickly got on a roll, and only allowed 1 run in 5.2 innings pitched. The Tigers bullpen closed the game out scoreless, if messily, and the Sox lost 5-1.
Coming into the series with 3 presumably winnable matchups, the Red Sox' bullpen blew the 2nd game, and Lackey and the Lineup failed to bring home a win today. Instead of being anywhere from 2-4 games above .500, they are back to dead even, and still well behind in the AL East.
It's put up or shut up time against the Yankees.