In a 14 game stretch against the dregs of the AL (Kansas City, Oakland, Baltimore, and Cleveland), the Sox went a very unremarkable 8-6. Which isn't bad. But when you're in 3rd place of the best division in baseball, you have to capitalize on these subpar non-divisional opponents. And the Sox failed to do so.
The pitching didn't show up the last two nights. Jon Lester allowed 6 runs in his 6 innings. It snapped a streak of 4 consecutive Quality Starts. Then it was Daniel Bard who blew the Save after the Sox came from behind. Bard has been good this year, sporting a tidy 2.48 ERA. But this was also his 4th Blown Save of the season.
On the bright side, perhaps Pedroia is emerging from his slump. He was 2 for 5 last night with an RBI and a Run. Then again Ortiz has frozen up. He's 1 for his last 23.
This 14 game stretch was an opportunity to nibble at the lead that Tampa Bay and New York have in the East and Wild Card races. Instead, the Sox are only 0.5 games better than where they were when they started this sequence. A 5.5 game deficit reduced to a 5 game gap.
The Sox host the Phillies tonight. Jamie Moyer opposes John Lackey. Yikes.
Photo Credit:
AP Photo
No comments:
Post a Comment