Orioles - 050 000 011 - 7 10 1 Red Sox - 000 000 000 - 0 4 0The Orioles scored four of their five runs in the second inning after Eduardo Rodriguez (6.2-7-5-1-7, 117) had recorded two outs. The big blow was Tim Beckham's three-run homer.
The Red Sox managed only four singles - two from Mookie Betts and two from Mitch Moreland - and did not get a runner past second base all day.
After Adam Jones doubled to start the second inning, Rodriguez made a smart play on Trey Mancini's comebacker and Jones was tagged out between second and third. Chris Davis walked and Mark Trumbo singled, scoring Mancini. Rodriguez struck out Caleb Joseph and was one out away from getting out of trouble with only one run having scored. But Craig Gentry's single scored Davis and Beckham, after fouling off four straight pitches, homered to left for three more runs.
Brandon Workman allowed a home run to Jonathan Schoop in the eighth and Gentry doubled in Trumbo against Fernando Abad in the ninth.
Boston's frustrations began early. In the first inning, Betts reached second on a single and center fielder Adam Jones's error. Betts was stranded as Andrew Benintendi lined to third and Hanley Ramirez grounded to first.
Kevin Gausman (7.2-4-0-3-5, 117) walked Chris Young and Betts in the third, but Benintendi went down swinging for the third out. Boston had runners at first and second with one out in the fifth, but Eduardo Nunez grounded into a double play. The Red Sox put a man on base with two outs in each of the final three innings, but the subsequent batter ended the inning every time.
The Red Sox have been outscored 36-9 over the past 27 innings, so you should expect the media to start pushing the panic button. As Brooks Sutherland (WEEI) writes that "to suggest a panic is in order ... would simply be foolish", ESPN's Scott Lauber jumps right in: "Maybe these past three games will be merely a speed bump. Or maybe they will be the start of a collapse. Regardless, are you worried yet, Boston?"
AL East: The Yankees beat the Mariners 6-3 and moved to 3.5 GB. (Aaron Judge struck out three times, the 14th time this year he has fanned 3+ times in a game.)
Nunez, 2BRodriguez ("El Gualo") has a 4.01 ERA this season. But Rodriguez has not had a decision in his past five starts (0-0), so we don't know how he did*.
Betts, RF
Benintendi, CF
Ramirez, DH
Devers, 3B
Bogaerts, SS
Moreland, 1B
Young, LF
Vazquez, C
The Red Sox recently went 16-4, but now that they have lost two games and allowed 29 runs in doing so, the Panic Squad is likely preparing to take the stage. However, Boston still has a 4.5-game lead in the AL East with 34 games to go.
While I was away, Jackie Bradley sprained his left thumb. He'll be out for a few weeks, so the Red Sox picked up outfielder Rajai Davis. (I've had a dislike for Davis since his days with the Blue Jays, so I was not pleased to hear about this.)
Hanley Ramirez is not hitting. He's 5-for-31 (.161) in his last eight games, 13-for-63 (.206) in August, and 28-for-131 (.213) since the ASG.
*: Actually, we do! He has a 4.33 ERA in those five starts, throwing only 27 innings. Opposing batters: .234/.299/.374.
AL East: The Yankees are 4.5 GB; SEA/MFY. ... So after two serious brawls and numerous ejections, Dellin Betances can bean an opposing batter in the head with a 98 mph fastball - and not get suspended? ... Also, Gary Sanchez continues the fine Yankees tradition of dispensing sucker-punches - on two different occasions. Brett Gardner got in a few, too (no surprise).
5 comments:
2 tweets from ESPN's Scott Lauber:
"Eduardo Nunez did have an MRI, mostly as a precaution, but was able to hit in batting cage this morning and determined he was ready to play for the Red Sox today against the Orioles."
"In other Red Sox injury news, Dustin Pedroia (knee) will take batting practice on the field, but no date has been pinpointed for his return nor has it been determined if he'll make a rehab assignment. Jackie Bradley Jr. (thumb) is ahead of schedule, having moved to a less restrictive splint and begun strengthening exercises. David Price (elbow) threw from flat ground again out to 120 feet."
Amusing NY Post headline: "Jacoby Ellsbury actually leads the Yankees to a victory"
Please, Alan, please let me be just a little panicky. Those last few games provided the fan with many dark moments, recovery from which will not go smoothly.
Is three games enough to panic about, though? I'm not sure. Maybe it has to be five games or so? It probably depends on where you are in the standings.
Elias:
The Red Sox dropped their third straight decision Saturday, 7–0, to the Orioles at Fenway Park. In its previous two games, Boston lost 13–6 to Cleveland on Thursday and 16–3 to Baltimore on Friday. The only other team in the last 15 years to remain in first place after losing three straight games by at least seven runs was the Tigers in May 2014. The only other time the Red Sox have done this was in September 1978, when they lost the first three games of a four-game home series (known as the "Boston Massacre") to the Yankees by scores of 15–3, 13–2, and 7–0.
(I was 14 when I attended the 7-0 game. It was either my 2nd or 3rd game at Fenway.)
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