The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Red Sox Recap April 7-13
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| John Lackey had one great start and one horrific outing in the past week and is now 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA on the year (Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports) |
Jan-Christian Sorensen Contributing Writer
Once again, the 2014 Boston Red Sox looked more like the Boston Recidivists of 2012 in the second week of the new season.
After posting a 2-4 record in Week One, the Sox took two of three against Texas at home before dropping three of four to New York at Yankee Stadium to wrap up the first two weeks of MLB action with a 5-8 record and sole possession of the leaky, plaster-cracked tenement in the basement of the American League East Division.
In Week Two, both Boston’s starting and relief pitching ran the gamut from standout to abysmal, while more inconsistent hitting left the Sox on the wrong end of the score sheet once again. In the four Red Sox losses, the offence stranded 26 ducks on the pond and was only 8-for-30 with runners in scoring position.
Here’s a look back at The Good, The Bad and The Ugly from Week Two:
Overall record: 5-8 (series win vs. Texas, Series loss at Yankees), 5th place in AL East
Past week: 3-4
Runs Scored: 27
Runs Allowed: 29
Team BA: .255 (11th in MLB)
Team ERA: 3.76 (16th in MLB)
Top 3 Defenders of the Nation:
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| Both Grady Sizemore (left) and A.J. Pierzynski had good numbers for their new team, despite the Sox going 3-4 during the week (Boston.com photo) |
2. Grady Sizemore: The comeback kid’s story keeps getting better as his health and confidence at the plate and on the field improve — in the past week, Sizemore hit .429 with two doubles, a homer and three RBI.
3. Jon Lester: The Red Sox ace finally collected his first win of the season on April 11 at Yankee Stadium, allowing only two earned runs on six hits while striking out six in 6.2 innings to move to 1-2 on the year with a 2.57 ERA.
Honourable Mention: Former Cardinals closer Edward Mujica, who temporarily redeemed himself in Red Sox Nation — and bailed out his new team when Koji Uehara was yanked with a shoulder strain — on April 11, tossing a 13-pitch, perfect inning to lock down a 4-2 win over the Yankees and earn his first save of the season.
Top 3 Offenders of the Nation:
1. Felix Doubront: Despite a steadier outing on April 13 at Yankee Stadium, Venezuelan lefty Felix Doubront got shelled in a short stretch April 8 at Fenway Park, allowing the Rangers to torch him to the tune of three walks and five earned runs on six hits in just 2.2 innings of work. He's now 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA on the year.2. Burke Badenhop: The new relief acquisition for the Sox provided none after Doubront got the early hook on April 8 against Texas at Fenway Park, allowing another four earned runs on five hits in 2.1 innings out of the bullpen, boosting his ERA to 9.00.
3. John Lackey: Despite a sparkling seven-inning victory at Fenway Park on April 7 to move to 2-0 on the season with a 1.38 ERA, Lackey turned around and, for the first time in his career, gave up four homers in a game — including two to Brian McCann — along with 10 hits and six earned runs in 5.2 innings of work at Yankee Stadium on April 12.
Dishonourable mention: Second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who batted .357 with only one strikeout in his first half-dozen games of 2014 but was .111 with five strikeouts over the past week. Let's chalk it up to the left wrist he tweaked against the Brewers trying to turn a double play at Fenway in the first week of the season and send him a Get Well Soon.
High Point of the Week:
April 11: Jonny Gomes notched his first homer of the year with a solo shot off CC Sabathia in the top of the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium. After David Ortiz and Mike Napoli both singled, Grady Sizemore ripped his second homer of the year to right field to give the Sox a quick 4-1 lead.Low Point of the Week:
April 12: John Lackey gives up four homers in a game — to the New York Yankees, naturally — for the first time in his career.Highlight Line of the Week:
April 7 vs. Texas, John Lackey, SP: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 5 K, 1.38 ERA, W (2-0).Lowlight Line of the Week:
April 12 vs NYY, John Lackey, SP: 5.2 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 4 HR, 3.86 ERA, L (2-1).Injury Updates:
Second baseman Dustin Pedroia is listed as day-to-day and scheduled to be examined in Boston today after suffering a wrist injury on a play at second base during an opening-week game against the Brewers. Latest update is Pedroia has no fracture and will be able to avoid the 15-day DL. High-fiving closer Koji Uehara is being hampered by a sore right shoulder and is also slated to see a doctor today. Third baseman Will Middlebrooks (right calf strain) and outfielder Shane Victorino (right hamstring strain) could be activated off the 15-day Disabled List as soon as this week.On Tap: The Red Sox head to Chicago to play the White Sox (7-6) for three games before returning to Fenway on Friday and welcoming the Baltimore Orioles (5-7) for four games — including what is sure to be an emotional one-year anniversary marking the Boston Marathon Bombing on Patriots Day April 21.
Keep the Faith. Drink the Dirty Water. Connect with me on Twitter: @jan_doh
