This Is What We, In America, Call A 'Bad Game' (88-69)

Yesterday, the Red Sox played a terrible game, losing miserably to the Yankees and losing ground in the wild card chase. It started in the 2nd for the Yankees when they loaded the bases with 1 out. Jesus Montero hit a soft drive to left that would score one. Two more would score when Russell Martin hit a long line drive into left to score two more and make it 3-0. Then Derek Jeter came up and crushed a homer to right center to cap a 6-run 2nd inning and make the score 6-0. In the 3rd, a 2-run double by Jesus Montero would make it 8-0, as you can tell, a very lovely game for the Red Sox. In the 6th, Jesus Montero homered to left to make it an even more reciprocal score of 9-0. An RBI double by Carl Crawford in the 7th would dramatically close the gap in the game at 9-1.
      Jon Lester was really bad, simply put, allowing 8 runs in 2 2/3 innings to raise his ERA from 3.15 to 3.49. Scott Atchison was great, allowing no runs in 2 1/3 innings. Junichi Tazawa was ok, allowing a run in 1 2/3 innings. Trever Miller pitched a scoreless 1/3 of an inning, and Michael Bowden was lights out for an inning. Jacoby Ellsbury had a decent game, going 2-4. Carl Crawford went 1-4 with an RBI. Dustin Pedroia went 2-4. Conor Jackson was 1-2 with a run scored off of the bench, replacing Josh Reddick. There will be a double-header today, and pitching in the day game will be Tim Wakefield (7-7/5.08/89) going up against A.J. Burnett (10-11/5.28/167).

Bright Spots:
Scott Atchison- 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief
Michael Bowden- a scoreless inning
Jacoby Ellsbury- 2-4
Carl Crawford- 1-4 with an RBI
Dustin Pedroia- 2-4
Conor Jackson- 1-2 with a run scored off the bench

Dull Spots:
Jon Lester- 8 runs in 2 2/3 innings, a great start by any measure
David Ortiz- 0-4 with 5 LOB
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 0-3 with a strikeout and 2 LOB

Well, we only lead the wild card by 1.5 games and it is only the Rays' ineptitude keeping us there.