If Ever A Team Needed A Break....
Last night continued the trend of New York scoring multiple runs in the top of the 1st inning - this time 2 runs against Red Sox starter Jon Lester - as the Yankees rolled to a 7-3 win at Fenway Park. The lone offensive bright spots for Boston yesterday were 3 hits by Pedro Ciriaco and 2 hits by Nick Punto. Meanwhile, Lester didn't get through the 5th inning getting charged with 5 runs (4 earned) on 9 hits and 2 walks.
A team already ravaged with injuries got a real scare in the top of the 5th inning when centerfielder Ryan Sweeney (pictured), who had just rejoined the team a few days ago from the disabled list, slammed face-first into the base of the padded bullpen wall in the triangle attempting to make catch a fly ball off the bat of Alex Rodriguez.
As baseball breaks for the All Star game in Kansas City, the Red Sox find themselves at 43-43 and tied for last place in the American League Eastern Division with the Blue Jays. To put it bluntly, they are an absolute mess. For most of the weekend series with the Yankees, the lineup looked more like Pawtucket than Boston. Dustin Pedroia and Will Middlebrooks are hurt, Jacoby Ellsbury is still a few days away, Carl Crawford said he needs Tommy John surgery, and heaven only knows when Andrew Bailey will throw a Major League pitch in 2012. The manager makes some VERY curious decisions. I mean Nick Punto batting 2nd...against the Yankees? Really, Bobby?
And the starting pitchers - knowing full well that their offense needed them to man up - allowed the Yankees to put a crooked number up in the 1st inning of all 4 weekend games.
Yet as depressing as all that sounds, they're somehow still just 3 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for the 2nd wildcard playoff spot with 76 games to play. The All Star break couldn't come at a better time for your 4th place Boston Red Sox. The March to October resumes this Friday night in Tampa.
