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HEATHER ABBOTT THROWS OUT
THE FIRST PITCH |
BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
Despite a late rally, the
Red Sox fall to the Blue Jays in the ninth inning
May 11, 2013 ...
Junichi Tazawa came out of the Fenway Park bullpen with the game 2-2 tied in the ninth inning. The powerful right-hander threw a few mid-90s fastballs that Blue Jays first baseman Adam Lind couldn't get a handle on. Then, Tazawa threw a
slider, missed his spot, and left it on a tee for Lind to crush over the center-field wall.
The home run was the difference on Saturday, as struggling 34-year-old righty Mark Buehrle bounced back from three straight starts in which he allowed at least five runs and limited the Red Sox to one run over seven-plus innings, as the Blue Jays claimed the 3-2 win.
Tazawa had struck out 19 batters in 15 1/3 innings with a 3.31 ERA, and the team continues to show faith in him.
The Red Sox absorbed their seventh loss in nine games. It would be hard to blame Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz for this one. Against the free-swinging Blue Jays offense, which lives and dies by the home run ball, he pounded the strike zone and was frequently
rewarded with quick outs. He needed 10 pitches or fewer in three of his eight innings, while throwing 101 total pitches. Buchholz allowed just a pair of runs.
Following two straight impressive starts by Buchholz and Jon Lester, the Red Sox rotation has continued to impress, though there's still a question mark at the back end with Felix Doubront, who has mysteriously lost a few ticks off his fastball.
The main culprit in Boston's sudden streak of poor play has actually been the offense. For the seventh time in 10 days, the Red Sox were held to three runs or fewer. The Red Sox went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position, leaving eight men on base -- none bigger
than Will Middlebrooks, who was stranded at second in the bottom of the ninth after smacking a leadoff double. Over the last 10 games, the Red Sox are hitting .179 (15-for-84) with runners in scoring position. They've left 77 men on base. They were hot for 28 games. Cold
streaks happen, too.
Marathon bombing victim Heather Abbott of Newport, R.I., threw out the ceremonial first pitch. |
