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ELVIS ANDRUS |
BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
Lackey is solid, but
Uehara can't hold the lead
June 5, 2013 ...
Koji Uehara came out of the bullpen in the top of the seventh inning with two on and one out and the game tied. Elvis Andrus walloped Uehara's first pitch to the wall for a two-run double that proved to be the difference, as the Red Sox suffered a 3-2
loss to the Rangers at Fenway Park.
On the plus side for the Red Sox, John Lackey turned in his fourth solid start in a row, giving up five hits and a run over six innings. Though his record is 3-5, Lackey's 2.79 ERA is a far better indicator of how he has pitched in his first season back
after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He was left with a no decision on a night the Boston bats were tamed, both by starter Alexi Ogando and the Rangers' bullpen.
Lackey held the Rangers off the board over the first three innings, allowing just one hit. In the fourth, Adrian Beltre took a big swing, hammering a two-out solo shot into the bleachers in center to make it a 1-0 game. Lackey was done after 108 pitches. An
11-pitch at-bat against Mitch Moreland in the third inning helped rob him of an extra inning, a circumstance made more painful by umpire Rob Drake missing a pitch that should have been a called third strike in the eyes of the Red Sox. It proved damaging to
the Red Sox. With Lackey done, Craig Breslow (1-2) started the seventh inning by allowing a double down the right-field line by Moreland. Then in came Koji.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox couldn't get anything accomplished against Ogando in the early to mid innings. Drew led off the third by hitting one toward the gap in left-center. David Murphy did a nice job cutting it off and fired to second to nail Drew.
By the time Dustin Pedroia stepped to the plate with two outs in the sixth, Boston had just two hits against Ogando. But the third one was a big one, as Pedroia drove one over the Green Monster to tie the game at 1. The momentum was short-lived when Lackey
gave way to the bullpen in the seventh. Mitch Moreland greeted Craig Breslow with a double down the line in right. With one out, Craig Gentry drew a walk. That was all for Breslow. Uehara, who has been so reliable for the Red Sox this season, gave up that
first-pitch double to Andrus, and Boston was down, 3-1.
Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks is technically on a minor league rehabilitation assignment with Triple A Pawtucket. But he has more to worry about than simply getting healthy. Over 46 games, Middlebrooks had struck out 54 times and had seven walks.
By opening the door to an extended rehab period, the Red Sox can ride the hot streak of Jose Iglesias. After going 1 for 3 in Wednesday's loss to Texas, Iglesias is 17 of 41 (.415) with five extra-base hits and six RBIs since replacing Middlebrooks at third base.
Shane Victorino will join Middlebrooks in Pawtucket on Thursday for a rehab assignment expected to last at least three games.
Jacoby Ellsbury was originally in the lineup last Friday, the first day of the series against the Yankees. Then he was taken out because of a strained left groin. Five games and six days later, Ellsbury has yet to return to the lineup. Jackie Bradley Jr. was
back in center field against the Rangers.
NESN analyst Jerry Remy has not called a game since May 26 and is not expected to return until next week, at the earliest. Remy said last week he was out because of allergies. |
