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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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BOSTON STRONG - May 29, 2013 ... For the second straight night, the Red Sox came up short in a tight one against the Phillies, this time taking a 4-3 loss at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia. The Phillies got all four of their runs on solo homers, three of which weren't exactly launched. By the time the Red Sox batted in the ninth, they hoped to take advantage of the cozy dimensions. The ideal spot was when David Ortiz stepped to the plate, representing the tying run with one out against former teammate Jonathan Papelbon. For eight innings, Ortiz had sat on the bench because there is no designated hitter in the National League. With one swing, however, he could have made a lasting impact on the night. Ortiz got just under a four-seamer from Papelbon and flew out to shallow right. However, the Red Sox, who have had a flair for the dramatic in their last at-bat this season, stayed at it. Jonny Gomes punched in a single to right and Stephen Drew, who started the rally with a one-out walk, moved to second. Jacoby Ellsbury blooped one down the line in left, out of the reach of a diving Dominic Brown for a double. Drew roared home and Gomes was held at third. Daniel Nava represented Boston's last hope, but he swung at the first pitch and grounded to first, ending the game. Before the game came down to Papelbon, the Red Sox weren't able to generate much against Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick, who earned the win, allowing four hits and two runs over six innings. And for the second straight night, a Boston starting pitcher took a tough-luck loss. John Lackey turned in his third straight quality start, giving up six hits and three runs over six innings. The right-hander walked three and struck out five, throwing 98 pitches. Brown ripped a solo shot off Lackey in the fourth. Erik Kratz made it back-to-back homers, depositing one over the wall in center to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead. Kendrick kept it there until the sixth, when Nava launched a solo shot to right to slim the deficit to a run. Boston had a chance in the seventh when Jose Iglesias walked and Gomes was hit by a pitch. But the Phillies had Nava shifted perfectly. What looked like a single up the middle instead turned into an inning-ending groundout to second baseman Kevin Frandsen, who raced to the bag and barely got there in time to force Gomes. The Phils tacked on an insurance run in the eighth when Brown ripped a shot to right against Koji Uehara. When Clay Buchholz had a start pushed back a few days because of a sore AC joint in his shoulder, the Red Sox said it was just a minor injury. Now Buchholz will miss a full turn in the rotation, his start against the Yankees having been canceled. The righthander still felt some discomfort when throwing in the bullpen. Buchholz is 7-0 with a 1.73 ERA in 10 starts. Buchholz claimed the pain developed when he fell asleep holding his daughter. Dustin Pedroia tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb on Opening Day when he dived headfirst into first base in the ninth inning against the Yankees. But he has started every game since. Pedroia decided against surgery or a stint on the disabled list and kept on playing. The Red Sox, who had been carrying an extra reliever, optioned righthander Alex Wilson to Triple A Pawtucket and called up outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. Shane Victorino, out since May 21 with left hamstring and back injuries, could start a minor league rehabilitation assignment this weekend. Victorino, who played for the Phillies from 2005-12, was shown on the scoreboard in the middle of the fourth inning and came out of the dugout to tip his cap to the fans. He received a loud ovation. |
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