Pitchers v. Hitters

In yesterday’s game, it seemed as if the Red Sox pitchers were against the Red Sox hitters. Beckett started the game by giving up 3 runs in the 1st, but the Sox hit back and scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st. The Sox scored another run in the bottom of the 3rd. Then, Beckett gave up 3 runs in the 5th, but the hitters scored 2 runs in the bottom of the inning. Beckett then gave up 2 runs in the 6th (he was out of the game after this), and Mortensen gave up another run in the 7th. But, the Sox offense came to life, scoring 4 runs in the bottom of the 7th.

The game was tied 9-9 heading into the top of the 9th inning. At this point, Mortensen had thrown almost 50 pitches in relief, but Valentine kept him in. The first batter walked, followed by a single, so runners were on first and third with no outs when Valentine lifted him. Aceves came in and allowed the runner on third to score on a sac fly by Beltre before getting the final two outs. 10-9 heading into the bottom of the 9th inning.

The bottom of the 9th inning started with Gonzalez popping out, and Ross hitting a double. Kalish went in to run for Ross. Middlebrooks and Lavarnway both struck out to end the game.

Throughout the game, it really seemed as if the Sox hitters were trying their best to win the game; they kept scoring runs. The Sox pitchers, on the other hand, kept giving up runs. Yes, Texas has the best offense in the American League, and they’re a tough team. However, the Sox are almost as productively offensively. The season is really turning into pitchers v. hitters.

The Sox had 12 hits in the game, including 3 doubles by Gonzalez, doubles by Ciriaco and Ross, a triple by Crawford, and home runs by Ross and Middlebrooks. Pedroia, Gonzalez, and Ross all had multiple hits. The offense is there, just not the pitching.

However, I think some of the blame has to be put on Valentine for this game. I’m sorry to the Valentine supporters, but there were two big decisions in the 9th inning that should have been done differently. One, Mortensen should have come out after having thrown so many pitches and it being a tied game. Valentine said the only available relievers for the game were Mortensen, Miller, and Aceves. Fine, then Miller or Aceves should have started the 9th. Mortensen is a young player who, while doing great when called up, should have been taken out in the tied game. I would’ve put in Aceves. He’s also able to go more than one inning, if it continued to be a tie game.

Secondly, with a runner on second and two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning, Lavarnway came to the plate. Lavarnway, if memory serves me correctly, only has 1 hit in the Majors and is batting below .100. He was the DH yesterday. Saltalamacchia, who has had a few walk-off hits this season, was on the bench. Don’t you pinch-hit for Lavarnway in this situation? I know I would have.