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MINUTE MAID PARK |
BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
Lackey strikes out 10 but gets
no offensive support
in Houston
August 5, 2013 ...
The Red Sox swept four games from the Houston Astros at Fenway Park in late April. Three months later, the gap between the two teams is even wider. They lead the Major Leagues in runs scored with 568.
They scored none Monday night. The Sox, who began the evening with the best record in the Majors, started a 10-game road trip being shut out by Houston, the team with the worst record, 2-0 at Minute Maid Park.
Boston starter John Lackey (7-9) pitched six-plus innings, allowed eight hits and both runs. He walked two and struck out 10. The Astros touched Lackey for two singles, sandwiched around a walk that led to a run in the fifth inning. He gave up a double by
L.J. Hoes and a bunt single by Jonathan Villar that set up Houston's other run in the seventh. The Astros scored their second run on a suicide squeeze in the seventh after Lackey had left game. Lackey injured his left ankle in the second inning
fielding a slow bouncer and throwing out the runner.
Boston's lead over Tampa Bay in the American League East was trimmed to one-half game, thanks mostly to the pitching of Houston left-hander Brett Oberholtzer. Oberholtzer, making only his second start, allowed the Red Sox just four hits over seven innings.
The Red Sox lead the majors in runs but are hitting .249 against lefthanders this season, a whopping 35 points lower than righthanders. No Boston runner reached third base until Jonny Gomes doubled to lead off the seventh and advanced to third on a fly out
by Jarrod Saltalamacchia. But Stephen Drew, who was 10 for his last 20, and Brandon Snyder struck out to end the inning. The Red Sox finished the game with only five hits, never two in one inning, and left eight on base. They struck out six times in the last
three innings.
The Red Sox nearly scored in the eighth off the Astros' bullpen, which has been unreliable much of the year. Jacoby Ellsbury walked to lead off the inning and moved to third on a two-out bloop single by David Ortiz. Josh Fields came on to strike out Mike
Napoli, and then struck out all three Red Sox in the ninth to earn his first save of the season.
What made a 2-0 loss so discouraging for the Red Sox. It was how little fight they showed. The 37-74 Astros, a low-budget team preparing for next season, played with far more energy. They stole six bases in eight attempts, successfully bunted for a run, and
left the Sox looking sleepy. Lackey has gone at least six innings and allowed three or fewer earned runs in 14 starts this season. He is 6-4 in those games with four no-decisions. The team is only 8-6 in those games.
Major League Baseball suspended 13 players for the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Detroit's Jhonny Peralta, who was hit with a 50-game ban, hit a walkoff home run to beat the Sox June 20. Nelson Cruz of Texas, another admitted cheater, hit two home runs
and drove in four runs in six games against the Sox. Alex Rodriguez, who is playing while he appeals a 211-game suspension, will have 10 more games this season against the Red Sox.
Rookie righthander Brandon Workman is back on the roster and was available out of the bullpen. He was recalled from Triple A Pawtucket when outfielder Daniel Nava was placed on three-day paternity leave. Nava was in California with his wife Rachel Monday
morning for the birth of their first child, a daughter named Faith. Shane Victorino was named the American League player of the week. He was 12 for 30 with 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 6 RBIs, and 7 runs over seven games
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