| 14 April 2009
We're only seven games into the season, but Red Sox Nation has to be a little anxious right now. The Sox dropped two of three to the Rays and Halos to start the season and last night, Jon Lester knocked around by the Oakland Athletics in an 8-2 loss.
It was the second inning that really did Lester in. He left a number of pitches up in the zone and the newly constructed A's took advantage. Jack "the hack" Cust, who seems to either strikeout or homer - nothing else, took Lester deep to tie the score at 1-1... then Cabrera singled in Suzuki, Giambi doubledin in Cabrera and Crosby and Holliday drove in Giambi with a single. Lester gave up five hits in the inning, hit Crosby with a pitch... but also knotched three strikeouts to get out of the inning.
"I don't think I pitched as bad as the linescore says," Lester said. "I feel like I'm executing my pitches and not getting the results I want. Yeah, it was frustrating."
Maybe not... but when the opposing pitcher is making your lineup look foolish with 70 MPH breaking balls and changeups... you have to wonder why the ace of 2008 is getting shellacked. Dallas Braden, the 25-year old ace of the this new A's team, held the Sox to six hits and two runs - one being a first inning homer by Youk and the other coming in the 6th on a David Ortiz RBI single. Braden fanned Youkilis and got a quick pop-out from Drew to end the threat.
"I was able to get ahead of the guys and when I can put the pressure on them early I'm helping myself," Braden said. "Everybody knows they are a patient team. With they get runners in scoring position you have to be careful."
And, as if the offensive slump wasn't bad enough, Lopez and Saito each allowed a run in their inning of work last night. Overall, it was not worth staying up past midnight.
Bottom Line: Youkilis is the only guy hitting right now. He had two of the Red Sox six hits in the game... and Jason Bay and Rocco Baldelli are the only other players hitting above .240.
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