Bard Falters In Eighth, Sox Fall (12-17)

Bard had some control
issues last night

Playing the Royals and coming off a commanding win, one would think that the momentum would be in the Red Sox' favor, but they faltered late. The Sox started off pretty well, putting runners on the corners with one out in the second inning. Kelly Shoppach singled softly into center field to score a run and make it 1-0. A walk to Mike Aviles would load the bases and another walk to Dustin Pedroia would score another run to make it 2-0. However, the Royals answered in the bottom half-- putting runners at the corners with one away, much like the Sox had done. Things unraveled for Daniel Bard with Chris Getz batting, however, as he balked twice, allowing a run to score and another runner to move up to third base still with one out. Chris Getz then singled into left to score the runner on third and tie the game at 2-2. After a wild pitch allowing Getz to move into scoring position, Humberto Quintero singled up the middle to make it a 3-2 Royals lead. The Sox tied the game again when Mike Aviles got a little two-out rally going by doubling and Dustin Pedroia kept things going with an RBI single to tie the game at 3-3.

Dustin Pedroia had a pair
of RBIs last night

With one out in the fifth, the Red Sox put runners at first and second, knocking Danny Duffy from the game with a line of 4.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 1 K. Ryan Sweeney proceeded to ground into what appeared to be a double play, but while turning it, Chris Getz made an errant throw, allowing a run to score and give the Sox a 4-3 lead. A pair of walks to start the eighth inning caused Daniel Bard to be removed from the game with a score of 7 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 BB, 1 K. Matt Albers came into the game and effectively blew it by allowing Billy Butler to take an inside two-seamer and crush it over the left field wall to score three runs and give the Royals a 6-4 lead. Albers allowed the next two batters to fly out before being removed in favor of Andrew Miller, who struck out Mike Moustakas to end the inning. The Red Sox couldn't handle Jonathan Broxton in the ninth and the game was over with a score of 6-4-- the Red Sox will go for the series win tonight.


Bright Spots:
Mike Aviles- 1-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 2B
Dustin Pedroia- 1-4, 1 BB, 2 RBI
Adrian Gonzalez- 2-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB
Marlon Byrd- 2-4, 1 R

Dull Spots:
Matt Albers- 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, BS (1)
Darnell McDonald- 0-2, 2 LOB
Ryan Sweeney- 0-2, 1 K, 1 LOB

Player of the Game:
Dustin Pedroia- Pedroia really helped the team tonight, only going 1-4, but walking once and driving in a pair of runs in a solid game for the second baseman.