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Red Sox drop 2 of 3 to LA Angels, head to Tampa Bay
ProBaseball-fans.com Boston Red Sox Correspondent Dan Warner brings us his latest update on the defending World Series Champion Boston Red Sox.
The Red Sox finished up a seven game home stand this Thursday, as they suffered their second loss in a row at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Sox finished a respectable 5-2 at Fenway over the stretch, however they struggled against the Angels in what turned out to be quite the strange series.
Game one of the three game series belonged to Boston. Sox ace Josh Beckett was scratched from his start with a stiff neck, so manager Terry Francona decided to hand the ball off to Red Sox emergency starter David Pauley to get the start against Jered Weaver. He went 4 1/3 innings allowing five runs on seven hits. The late inning heroics continued for Boston as Dustin Pedroia an RBI double in the eighth inning to give the Sox the 7-6 league. Mike Timlin (2-1) came in for one out in the eighth inning to pick up the win. Jonathan Papelbon (8) came on in the ninth to seal up the win for Boston. Darren Oliver (1-1) was given the loss for the Angels. Of note was the impressive performance of Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who knocked two four-baggers out of the park for Boston.
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Game two continued the series of strange events. Boston starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka was scratched with a case of the flu, so fellow starter Jon Lester got the go ahead on three days rest. Lester went five innings allowing four runs on nine hits. Craig Hansen (0-1) gave up the game winning home run in the sixth inning as Casey Kotchman hit a solo blast, snapping the Sox six game winning streak. Jon Garland (3-2) allowed four runs in six innings to earn the win for LA.
Game three was much of the same as Sox prospect Justin Masterson was called-up from Double-A Portland to get the start. He pitched well in his major league debut, but his efforts were spoiled by the bullpen. Masterson allowed one run on two hits in six innings. Manny Delcarmen (0-1) picked-up the loss for the Red Sox as Joe Saunders (4-0) continued his unbeaten ways for the Angels.
The Red Sox next head to Tampa Bay for a three game weekend series. Tim Wakefield, Clay Buchholz, and Josh Beckett are slated for the starts this weekend, although it will be interesting to see if Beckett will be back on track for the start or not. Matt Garza, Edwin Jackson, and James Shields are scheduled to start for the Rays, respectively. Boston will look to snap their two game losing streak.
By Dan Warner
ProBaseball-fans.com Red Sox Correspondent
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