Depleted Lineup, Defensive Miscues in Tampa Bay Send Red Sox Reeling Into Off Day
A better bounce here or there, or perhaps a call that went a different way, and either game could've been Boston's for the taking. Heck, they had a four-run lead in the opener of the set, so we know that one stung.
Despite a late rally by the Sox in Wednesday's finale, there was much less uncertainty. The Rays, who have soared past Boston in the standings with seven wins in eight games, utilized a blend of great starting pitching and an opportunistic offense against a sloppy Boston ball club that needs Thursday's off day like a baby needs a bottle.
Sure, the 6-4 final may not reflect such a disparity, but within the setback was an ugly effort from a unit that is undoubtedly showing the effects of having a disabled list chock-full of stars.
Facing David Price, who would pick up his 12th win of the season, the Sox' latest makeshift lineup saw almost nothing but fastballs (62 of Price's first 63 pitches were heaters) and could not cope. They managed just two runs and struck out 10 times in 7 2/3 innings against the lefty.
"I don't blame him," Boston manager Terry Francona said of Price's plan of attack, perhaps cognizant of the fact that his team never was able to catch up.
With such effectiveness, Price didn't need much help. But Boston managed to provide it.
Tim Wakefield issued six walks. His defense committed two errors and had a third changed to an infield hit on a questionable reversal. Throw in three wild pitches, a passed ball and a miscue by hobbled first baseman Kevin Youkilis that led to the Rays' final run of the night and you have a recipe for disaster.
The fourth and fifth innings might have been a microcosm of the misery. Price needed a total of nine pitches (all fastballs, of course) to set down David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis and Adrian Beltre in order in the top of the fourth. Ortiz and Beltre both struck out on three pitches.
Evan Longoria led off the bottom of the inning with an absolute bomb off the D-ring catwalk at Tropicana Field, a solo shot that started the scoring. Two walks and a wild pitch put runners at second and third with one out for the Rays, prompting the Sox to bring the infield in.
Wakefield nearly got what he needed when he induced a ground ball to shortstop Marco Scutaro, but Scutaro did not have a play at home and then had to rush his throw to first. It sailed high and forced Youkilis to leap off his gimpy right ankle.
A run scored, Youkilis limped around in obvious pain and the Sox trailed 2-0.
It would only get worse.
Consecutive walks to start the Rays' half of the fifth put Wakefield in some more trouble. A long fly to right allowed the slow-footed Kelly Shoppach to advance to third and another wild pitch allowed the slow-footed Kelly Shoppach to score.
Carlos Pena's RBI single one batter later made it 4-0 before we saw one of those moments that truly showed how shorthanded the Red Sox are.
Wakefield again did his job by getting a tailor-made double play ball to short. Bill Hall, making his 20th start at second base since 2005, tried to barehand the delivery from Scutaro and dropped it. It was error No. 2 and it gave the Rays the run which proved to be the decisive one.
"There were a lot of walks and we didn't finish some plays," Francona said.
The Sox have lost four in a row for the first time in nearly two months, are 2 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay in the American League East and play 23 of their next 34 games on the road, several of which will come before their stable of stars begins to return from various injuries.
In addition, Francona's bunch is now 7-12 against the Rays and the New York Yankees, the two teams it is chasing in the division.
If you're looking for a silver lining it is this: Boston is 5-1 vs. this weekend's opponent, Toronto, and four of the next seven days are without a game, a stretch that should allow some of the walking wounded to heal.
If and when they do, there may be some work to do.
