Blerg. Blerg, I say. Blerg for a crappy bullpen performance. Blerg for double plays.
That's not to say that Beckett pitched well tonight at all. He didn't. He threw one hundred and twelve pitches but only made it through only six innings. He did only walk one but he only got three strike outs. He gave up four runs on eight hits.
Okajima came out for the seventh inning and did an absolutely terrible job. He made it through only one third of an inning and only struck out the first batter he faced. He then walked a batter, gave up a double, and walked another batter to load the bases. He gave up a single that allowed two runs to score and tied the game.
They pulled him in favor of Delcarmen. Manny Del gave up a sacrifice fly to Millar that allowed the Orioles to take the lead before he got last batter of the inning to strike out swinging. He came back out for the eighth inning and got the first batter to ground out to first but then gave up a hit. Luckily for him, he got a fly out and a strike out to end the inning.
Hansen came out for the ninth inning and really struggled. He gave up a hit to the first batter, then got the next batter to ground into a fielder's choice-except when Cora flipped the ball to Pedroia he didn't aim well and everyone was safe. So with runners on first and third and still no outs, Hansen gave up another single to load the bases. Millar popped out to first for the first out. Then Payton grounded into a fielder's choice and Pedroia tried for the out at home but they couldn't make the play-one run in and the bases still loaded. The next batter singled to center-two more runs in. The misery was finally over when the last batter grounded into a double play.
Although they played some pretty defense early, the game was very sloppy offensively. Ellsbury started the game off with a single, Pedroia followed with a double, and Drew walked to load the bases. Manny then hit into a double play-on which Ellsbury would score. Lowell walked but Youkilis grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
In the second inning, Varitek singled and Coco walked. Then, Cora grounded into a double play and Ellsbury grounded out to end the inning.
In the third inning, Pedroia got a single and moved over to second on a wild pitch, Drew walked, and Manny got a single to load the bases. Lowell reached on a fielder's choice-in which they took the force out at second and Pedroia scored. Then, Youkilis grounded into a fielder's choice-in which they took the force out at second and Drew scored. Varitek struck out to end the inning.
In the fifth inning, Pedroia was hit by a pitch to start things off. Drew, continuing in his new role of big lefty on campus, followed him with a home run to right that gave the Sox the lead. And then Manny hit number 505 to left center. Lowell grounded out and both Youkilis and Varitek struck out to end the inning.
Coco started off the sixth inning with a single. Cora then grounded into another double play and Ellsbury grounded out to end that inning.
In the eighth inning, Lowell walked. Youkilis struck out. And Varitek grounded into yet another double play.
Not a well played game-I seem to recall them having the same issue with double plays the first time down in Camden Yards. There were a couple of good defensive plays, though. Youkilis made a nice grab on a line out to end the second inning. Coco made a leaping catch at the wall to end the fourth inning. Varitek had a very accurate throw to catch Markakis stealing in the fifth. And they managed to turn a double play in the sixth. I guess there's always tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment