Last Night's Game Was Interesting

The Red Sox lost last night to the Rays 2-1, ending their win streak at 5 games. They had 7 hits; Saltalamacchia and Aviles each had two with a double a piece. Nava had the only RBI. When I discuss who did get hits, I have to add who didn’t have hits: Sweeney (leading off), Ortiz, Gonzalez, and Middlebrooks.

Middlebrooks is struggling at the moment, so maybe all the praise he was getting before (including from myself) was a bit premature. He’s currently 6 of his last 32 (.188) with 12 strikeouts. May just be he’s trying too hard, but it could also be he was called up too early. I guess that’s what happens when you’re trying to find bright spots in an otherwise abysmal season.

I’m still not convinced that Buchholz is at 100%; he just doesn’t look comfortable on the mound. Yes, this performance was a great improvement from some of his earlier appearances, especially since he managed to give up only 2 runs in 5 innings. But that’s just it; he only went 5 innings. He never looked comfortable on the mound either, and then you have to factor in the balk.

In the second inning, there were runners on first and third with two outs and Jose Molina at the plate. Molina is hitting .197, by the way. Instead of concentrating on striking out Molina (or getting him to pop out or ground out), Buchholz seemed more concerned with the runners. He bucked his knee trying to make a pickoff attempt and was charged a balk. A run scored. Buchholz also hit a batter (Luke Scott, who “hates” Boston, so not sure if it was “intentional” or not), which also contributes to runners on base.

After his last start, I was convinced that the haircut helped Buchholz; but now, I’m not so sure. Valentine has said that Matsuzaka isn’t ready to pitch in the Majors, so Buchholz needs to step it up. There’s not really anyone left to relieve him as a starter right now. Probably the most interesting and scariest moment of the game happened in the bottom of the eighth inning. Franklin Morales hit Ray’s second baseman Will Rhymes on what appeared to be the elbow. When Rhymes got to first base, he passed out and was coaxed to the ground by the Rays’ first base coach. Rhymes eventually got up and was transmitted off the field by a golf cart. X-rays came back negative, and his passing out was contributed to an “adrenaline rush.”

Just one last tidbit for today. Adrian Gonzalez has guaranteed a home run in tonight’s game. Here’s hoping for that and a win!