Red Sox Can't Hold On, Swept By White Sox (30-26)

Today, the Red Sox completed a tough series in a sweep, losing 7-4 to complete the sweep. They took an early lead in the 2nd inning, as with runners on first and second, Jed Lowrie smacked a ball that bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double. In the same inning, both Lowrie and Carl Crawford came home on a single by Jarrod Saltalamacchia, making it 3-0 Red Sox early. It stayed like that until the 4th, when Alexei Ramirez scored on a double by Brent Lillibridge. In the 5th, Ramon Castro came in from 3rd to score on a groundout by Alexei Ramirez to cut it to 3-2. Later in the same inning, Juan Pierre raced home on a double by Carlos Quentin to tie the game at 3-3. In the 6th, the White Sox took a lead as Brent Lillibridge homered over the monster to make it 4-3 White Sox. However, the Red Sox got it right back as David Ortiz continued his hot streak with another homer to make it 4-4. The White Sox took another lead in the 7th, as Alexei Ramirez came in on a single by Paul Konerko to make it 5-4. In the 9th, it was Paul Konerko knocking in Ramirez again, as Konerko delivered a massive home run over the green monster to make it 7-4.

Tim Wakefield (top right) was OK, allowing 4 runs in 6 innings, as he is now 2-1/4.40/20. Matt Albers allowed

a run in a third of an inning, and Rich Hill could not record an out before leaving the game with an elbow injury. Daniel Bard, with 1 2/3 innings, and Jonathan Papelbon, two runs in 1 inning, closed it off. Dustin Pedroia went 2-4, raising his average up to .245, as he has been on an off year so far. David Ortiz had a very nice game, going 2-4 with 2 runs and a solo home run, as he is now a very good .313/13/28. Jarrod Saltalamacchia (left) only went 1-4, but he did have that very clutch 2-run single, his 16th and 17th runs batted in of the season. After an off day tomorrow, the A's will come to town on Friday and Clay Buchholz (4-3/3.41/44) and Josh Outman (1-0/2.08/4) will battle.

Bright Spots:

Daniel Bard- 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief

Dustin Pedroia- 2-4

David Ortiz- 2-4 with 2 runs and an RBI on the solo home run

Jed Lowrie- 1-4 with an RBI and a run scored

Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 1-4 with a 2-run single

Dull Spots:

Jonathan Papelbon- 2 runs in an inning of relief

Kevin Youkilis- 0-4 with 3 runners left on base

Josh Reddick- 0-4 with a strikeout and 2 runners left on base

This was a depressing series, need I say anything else?