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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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BOSTON STRONG - July 26, 2013 ... After holding sole possession of first place for 60 straight days, the Red Sox were knocked from that perch on Friday night at Camden Yards, rendered punchless by Chris Tillman in a 6-0 loss to the Orioles. More concerning for Boston than the move to second place is that the offense has been overpowered three times in the last four games, albeit to three pretty top-notch starting pitchers in Matt Moore, David Price and Tillman. In this one, Tillman allowed two hits over seven innings, walking three and striking out eight. John Lackey, who has been dominant in most of his starts the last couple of months, wasn't as sharp in this one. Over 6 1/3 innings, he gave up nine hits and five runs, walking one and striking out two. It was Lackey's lowest strikeout total since June 10. He gave up three home runs, two of them opposite-field jobs by Adam Jones. It turns out that the Red Sox had their best chance in the first inning, when they loaded the bases with two outs. Pedroia came through with a single to left. David Ortiz and Mike Napoli drew walks. But Daniel Nava struck out swinging, ending that threat. Lackey got into some trouble right out of the gate. Nick Markakis jump-started the Orioles in the first with a two-out single to left. Jones followed with a two-run homer to right. Nate McLouth opened the third by belting one to center that was just out of the reach of Jacoby Ellsbury for a triple. Manny Machado followed with an RBI single up the middle, and the Orioles had a 3-0 lead. The Red Sox came up with a big play on defense in the fourth. On a single to right by Brian Roberts, Victorino came up throwing and nailed J.J. Hardy at the plate. However, Victorino's play didn't create momentum for the offense. The Boston bats continued to be overpowered by Tillman. Through the first six innings, Tillman allowed just two hits, a single by Pedroia in the first and a double by Ellsbury in the fifth. Jones belted his second homer of the night in the fifth and Machado blasted one over the wall in left in the seventh to make it 5-0. Hardy added a solo shot off Jose De La Torre in the eighth for the game's final run. While the Rays are the team that vaulted a half-game ahead of the Red Sox in the American League East, the Orioles are also a concern. The O's are in third place, three games behind Boston. In eight head-to-head meetings with Baltimore this season, the Red Sox are 2-6. Seven games into a 10-game stretch against all AL East competitors, the Red Sox are 3-4. Over the past month, third baseman Jose Iglesias has predictably cooled off at the plate. Since coming off the disabled list July 20, shortstop Stephen Drew has struggled to find a rhythm, with just one hit in 15 at-bats, finishing 0 for 3 in Friday night's 6-0 loss to the Orioles. Franklin Morales and Alex Wilson are set to begin rehab stints with Triple A Pawtucket next week. After throwing a bullpen session, Wilson, who was placed on the disabled list July 9 with a sprained right thumb, will throw an inning on Monday. Morales, who has been on the disabled list twice this season, will throw an inning Tuesday. Clay Buchholz continued with his throwing program Friday with the hopes of gradually reaching an intensity level that will allow him to soon pitch off a mound. |
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