Lackey Lacking As The Rays Wade Closer (85-59)

Last night was a depressing game, not only did it extend our losing streak to 3 games, but also it just... wasn't good. The Rays took an early lead in the 2nd inning, when Ben Zobrist and Casey Kotchman were on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs. John Jaso took a low pitch and drove over the wall in right-center to make it 3-0. After Lackey got the first hitters out on 4 pitches, the 3rd inning got kind of out of hand as Evan Longoria singled and Ben Zobrist walked. After that, Johnny Damon legged out a ground ball where Adrian Gonzalez made a fantastic diving play at first base, but John Lackey's fat ass couldn't get to first in time, and it was an RBI single. After that, Matt Joyce singled to center to score another run and make it 5-0. In the 6th, the Red Sox had a "rally" where they put runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs. Jacoby Ellsbury bounced a ball to 2nd base and was able to leg out the infield hit for an RBI. The next batter, Marco Scutaro crushed a ball high to left field, in Fenway it'd be off the monster, but here it was a sacrifice fly to make it 5-2. In the 6th, the Rays scored on back-to-back doubles to lead off the inning by John Jaso and Reid Brignac. Brignac would score on an Evan Longoria double later in the inning to make it 7-2.
       John Lackey was bad, very bad, allowing 5 runs in 3 innings, and putting his season stats up here makes me sick so I won't. But I will tell you this, he's 12-12. Tim Lincecum is 12-12, Tim Freaking Lincecum. In relief, Scott Atchison wasn't much better, but he did eat some innings, allowing 2 runs in 2 2/3 innings. Felix Doubront (1 1/3 scoreless) and Franklin Morales ( 1 scoreless) were both pretty good though. Jacoby Ellsbury went 1-4 with an RBI. Josh Reddick had the only decent night out of a Sox player, going 2-3 and scoring a run. Jarrod Saltalamacchia was also ok, going 1-3 with a run and that hit was a double. Tonight, the Sox will look to even the series with Kyle Weiland (0-1/6.75/4) up against Jeremy Hellickson (12-10/2.90/107).

Bright Spots:
Felix Doubront- 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief
Franklin Morales- a scoreless inning of relief
Jacoby Ellsbury- 1-4 with an RBI
Josh Reddick- 2-3 with a run scored
Jarrod Saltalamachia- 1-3 with a run scored and a double

Dull Spots:
John Lackey- 5 runs in 3 innings, exceedingly bad
Scott Atchison- 2 runs in 2 2/3 innings
Adrian Gonzalez- 0-4 with a strikeout
David Ortiz- 0-4 with 2 strikeouts
Jed Lowrie- 0-3 with 2 strikeouts

This wasn't a fun one to watch, it just was not fun.