A Night Of Sloppy Play Leads To Loss To Jays (48-46)

Beckett allowed five runs

Last night's game was just an all around disappointment for the Red Sox and their fans alike. Things started out bad, as Colby Rasmus knocked a one out triple in the very first inning. On the next play, Edwin Encarnacion hit a slow dribbler to Will Middlebrooks at third base. Middlebrooks did the smart thing and went home, seeing that he had a chance, the throw was good and Kelly Shoppach blocked the plate well enough that Rasmus was out. But he was called safe on a brutally wrong call by the home plate umpire. One thing led to another and back-to-back singles by Adam Lind and J.P. Arencibia ensured that the Jays scored one more in the inning as they left the first with a 2-0 lead. They started the second just how they ended the first, putting runners at the corners with two outs for Colby Rasmus. Rasmus hit a line drive into left-center, scoring both runs and giving the Blue Jays a 4-0 lead in just the second inning.

The offense couldn't handle Laffey

After a couple of strong innings by Beckett, the bloodbath continued in the fifth inning. Edwin Encarnacion reached first on an infield single, but a throwing error by Will Middlebrooks put him in scoring position with one away. He would score when Adam Lind singled on a sinking line drive to center field to make it 5-0. Beckett would eventually be taken out of the ballgame with a line of 6 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 K. Andrew Miller came in and tossed a scoreless frame then Mark Melancon did the same-- but Melancon ran into some trouble in his second inning of work. Back-to-back doubles by Yan Gomes and Travis Snider netted the Jays another run to make it 6-0. The Red Sox took one of their own on a forceout in the ninth, but it wasn't nearly enough as they fell 6-1.

Bright Spots:
Andrew Miller- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K
Will Middlebrooks- 2-4, 1 R
Kelly Shoppach- 2-3
Mike Aviles- 1-4, 1 RBI

Dull Spots:
Josh Beckett- 6 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, L (5-8)
Adrian Gonzalez- 0-4, 1 K, 2 LOB
Pedro Ciriaco- 0-3, 1 K, 4 LOB

Player of the Game:
Will Middlebrooks- On a different night, Middlebrooks may have scored a couple of runs but a 2-4, one run game is pretty good any day-- he is now .291/11/42 this season.