Frustrating loss for (Red) Sox in series opener

As I sit here watching the Futures at Fenway game on NESN, it’s nice to see the minor leaguers get a taste of the big leagues – especially after our own big leaguers lost 5-3 last night.

It was one of those losses where you really couldn’t do much.  I think we were all mad that we couldn’t come back, especially after Pedroia got that three-run homer in the 8^th.  But at the same time, there was only one or two situations when the Red Sox really could have done more.  One of those was in the 5^th when we had runners on first and second, but still, neither of them made it to third base.  As a matter of fact, most of their situations last night where they had runners on second were when there were already two outs.  This also happened in the 3^rd and 9^th inning.  Life is going to be a hell of a lot easier for the Red Sox if they can start their rallies with less than two outs. 

That being said, this was very hard to do with Mark Buehrle on the mound.  I dunno what happened to this guy in Kansas City, but it sure wasn’t happening in Chicago.  He made the game go by very fast towards the beginning with all those 1-2-3 innings, and he knew just what he was doing when facing Big Papi.  Those curveballs away from a lefty were absolutely brutal and there was nothing Ortiz could do.  I was not happy at all when the game ended last night, but you gotta give all the credit in the world to Buehrle (7.0 + IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K). 

Lester, on the other hand, was not so dominating.  But let’s be honest, he really wasn’t that bad last night.  Sure, he had a rough 3^rd inning, where 3 of his 5 earned runs were given up.  But if he had some more run support, he can easily have walked away with a win (again, you can’t blame the Red Sox for not hitting well against Buehrle).  And that run in the 7^th was very frustrating, as Cabrera was smart and waited for Pedroia to make a throw to second before running home. 

I think the most frustrating moment of the night came in the 8^th inning when Carlos Quentin hit a solo shot, giving the White Sox an extra insurance run.  And then the fireworks started – no really, there were actual fireworks.  If I was Manny Delcarmen right there, I’d be even more frustrated with those annoying fireworks.  I can understand fireworks for a walkoff or something like that, but I dunno that bothered me. 

Good news is we get to do it again tonight.  Dice-K will take the mound to try to start a new winning streak for the Sox…the Red Sox, that is.

Keep the faith

Post game notes:

-Manny Delcarmen: Quentin’s home run off Delcarmen in the 8^th ended a streak for the Boston bullpen of over 16 scoreless innings.  It was his fourth home run given up on the season, bringing his ERA up to 4.07.