:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/2642970/GYI0064602526.jpg)
All of us that decided to stick around for the Red Sox rained delayed thirteen inning loss last night hoped that in a mear ten hours, that the Angels would be tired and the Red Sox would clinch the series 3-1. However it was in fact the Red Sox who were tired, and they certainly showed it.
Before we touch on the offense, let me say just one thing. John Lackey was horrible.
After coming off a loss against Seattle when he surrendered just two earned runs, he looked like the pitcher he looked like early in the season against the Texas Rangers. While he was able to dominate his former team a few weeks ago, when he pitched eight shutout innings--he was knocked out cold in round two.
After cruising through the first two innings of work, Lackey ran into trouble in the third inning. Lackey immediately led off the frame with a hit batsman (Peter Bourjos) and single moments later to Erick Aybar. Howie Kendrick plated the speedy Bourjos on an RBI goundout. Lackey was able to get two outs in the inning, but surrendered a two-RBI double by Alberto Callaspo that plated Aybar and Torii Hunter, whom Lackey walked. 3-0 Angels.
Then in the fourth inning, Lackey already had two outs in the inning when Bourjos and Aybar got to him again by connecting on a pair two-out singles. Kendrick played the role of run producer as he plated Bourjos on yes you guessed it, a single. Bobby Abreu kept the inning going with another single that scored Aybar from third. Hunter joined the singles club (not that singles club) and plated Kendrick. 5-0 Angels.
Lackey wasn't done in the fifth inning when he allowed a leadoff to recent Red Sox killer Vernon Wells. Mark Trumbo connected on his second home run of the series when he took Lackey deep. Terry Francona had seen enough from the former Angel pitcher, as he went to the mound to take the baseball from him. Lackey's line: 4 IP, 10 H, 8 ER. One word: Horrorawful
Despite Big John's departure, the Angels weren't done. Enter new comer Scott Atchison, who was promoted to the big leagues just today after a great AAA stint. Atchison however did not get off on the right foot as he gave up a one out double to Bourjos and then gave up an RBI single to Aybar. 9-0 Angels.
Atchison gave up a pair of singles to Bourjos and catcher Jeff Mathis to begin the sixth. Both eventually scored on an Abreu two-RBI double. 11-0 Angels.
The Red Sox pitching, led by John Lackey could not get that final out in time in the third and fourth innings before trouble occured. Something that Lackey has struggled in his time in a Red Sox uniform, and certainly not encouraging signs for games to come.
Now to the offense, they sucked too.
The Angels sent Joel Pinero to the hill, who made just his second start of the season. Besides the lone season Pinero was with the Red Sox, he has struggled against Boston; coming in with a 3-6 career record with an ERA just south of six. Today, an improved Joel Pinero faced the Red Sox.
On just a few hours of rest, the Red Sox batting lineup was put to a challenge against Pinero. For the exception of David Ortiz, who was a perfect 3 for 3 with a walk, the Sox lineup was held in check. While the Sox did get seven hits, there were no runs allowed by Angels pitching.
Kevin Youkilis and Adrian Gonzalez (who switched spots in the lineup) were a combined 0 for 8. In his return to the lineup, J.D. Drew went 0 for 2 with a pair of walks. The bottom four in the lineup were a combined 2 for 11 on the day.
Besides a double by Jed Lowrie in the early frames, the Sox failed to connect on any extra-base hits. So we can't really get on them for leaving runners in scoring position.
Pinero was able to keep the lagging Red Sox in check, going five and two thirds innings, surrendering just three hits and fanning two. The relief duo of Rich Thompson and Francisco Rodriguez kept the Sox scoreless after Pinero departed. Final score: 11-0, a shutout.
Things can only get better here, we've got slumping Twins coming to town.