Red Sox offense wastes Beckett’s effort as Rays sweep
at (Boston Red Sox, MLB, Sports, baseball)
Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Carl Crawford, David Ortiz, Edwin Jackson, Evan Longoria, James Shields, Jason Bartlett, Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell, MLB, Tampa Rays
Josh Beckett set a new career high with 13 strikeouts over seven 4 hit innings, but the Red Sox offense was, once again, abysmal as the Tampa Rays swept them with a 3-0 win. James Shields threw a complete game 2 hitter, striking out 7 while allowing 2 walks. Two errors by Boston in the third inning allowed Jason Bartlett to score, giving Tampa the only support they would need for Shields. Evan Longoria chipped in a solo homer and Carl Crawford hit a rbi double to round out the scoring for the Rays.
Boston has scored one run in their last 18 innings of play, striking out 14 times during that span. After the Sox couldn’t give Clay Buchholz anything during his superb outing in the second game of the series, they followed it up with an equally awful performance. Going into the season the Sox weren’t thinking it would be the hitting that would be the concern, as their line-up is filled with some very talented hitters, but it has. Even though their offense is stagnant, they are getting some brilliant pitching, especially from highly coveted Buchholz. Even with the absence of Mike Lowell and David Ortiz, they should be able to manufacture runs with the combination of power and speed. Nonetheless they’ll presumably get it together and win 90+ games and the division.
The Rays, meanwhile, are doing very well pitching wise but are in the same boat as the Red Sox as far as the hitting goes. Edwin Jackson, who pitched in the second game of the three game set, was very good, and Shields was even better, baffling Boston’s hitter while throwing only 99 pitches, 2/3 for strikes. This win ties Tampa for first in the AL East with Baltimore and the aforementioned Red Sox and extends their winning streak to 6 games.
The Sox had stretches like this in past years, where they would go stretches without scoring whatsoever, then pouring it on. Right now, in the midst of a 5 game losing streak, thing aren’t looking good, but as the defending world champs, they are expected, and will, turn it around. Mike Lowell is on the verge of returning, and David Ortiz, though his average isn’t great (below the mendoza-line) he is driving in runs by the boatload.
