Three In Bal’mur

Game 22 at Baltimore (4/26/11):

The Sox wound up their nine-game road trip with three games at Camden Yards with the O’s. Clay Buchholz (1-2, 5.31) got the start against one of the O’s bright young guns, Zach Britton (3-1, 3.16). In a bit of a surprise, Varitek started behind the plate. Whether this was an indictment of Saltalamacchia or whether it was a case of Buchholz needing a veteran presence behind the plate is anyone’s guess. Britton had no trouble with the top of the order in the first, recording all three outs on grounders. In the bottom of the first, Markakis (who bats something like .875 against Boston pitching) singled, but Buchholz was able to retire the next two batters. Buchholz ran into trouble in the second as Scott singled leading off and went to third on Mark Reynolds’ double to left. Wieters then reached on an infield single (the ball bounced off of the first base bag) and Scott came across with the game’s first run. Buchholz then came back to strike out Andino and Roberts to quash that threat. With one out in the third, Derrick Lee and Vlady Guerrero both reached on base hits. Scott then walked to load the bases. Adam Jones followed with a sacrifice fly to right to make it 2-0, O’s. The Sox pushed across a run in the fourth when Pedroia singled leading off, advanced to third and scored on Youkilis’ sacrifice fly to center. The Sox loaded the bases in the fifth as Varitek singled, Ellsbury doubled and Pedroia walked but Gonzalez ended up grounding out to second. In the bottom of the fifth, Lee and Guerrero hit back-to-back singles. With one out, Jones hit a sacrifice fly to center and Lee came in to make it 3-1, O’s. Britton was finished after six and turned things over to Jim Johnson. In the bottom of the seventh, Guerrero singled, Scott doubled and Jones received a free pass. Reynolds then hit a sacrifice fly to center bringing in Guerrero with the O’s fourth run. At that point Buchholz was relieved by Okajima, who was able to retire Weiters on a ground out. Buchholz line was not particularly pretty on this night (6.2IP, 12H, 4ER, 2BB, 5K). After a successful run of starting pitching, it was inevitable that one of the starters would fall back to earth. Kevin Gregg entered in the ninth to close things out and knocked down the Sox batters 1-2-3 to end it. An uninspiring way to open a series, if ever there was.

Game 23 at Baltimore (4/27/11):

After last night’s dismal loss, it was time for the Sox to get back on the horse the following night. Josh Beckett (2-1, 1.93) got the call against the ever-tough Jeremy Guthrie (1-3, 3.12). Ellsbury singled to lead off the game. With two outs, Gonzalez doubled to right but both runners rotted on the vine when Ortiz popped out to short. Luke After the Sox left two more runners aboard in the top of the fourth, Scott hit a two run homer to right in the bottom half to put the O’s ahead. Adam Jones followed with a solo shot to left and the O’s were up 3-0. The inability of this team to execute with RISP has been extremely frustrating to bear. In the fifth, Ellsbury was left to fester at second base before Pedroia lined out. The O’s scored again in the fifth as Wieters singled leading off, went to second on a wild pitch and eventually scored on Brian Roberts’ sacrifice fly to right. Jeremy Accardo relieved Guthrie in the seventh and retired the side in order. Beckett was also through after six and the manager handed the ball to Wakefield, who recorded three quick outs. In the eighth, Ellsbury singled leading off and Pedroia walked. At that point, Clay Rapado relieved Accardo. Gonzalez drove in Ellsbury with a base hit to left. After Koji Uehara relieved Rapado, Youkilis hit a three-run homer to left to tie up the game 4-4! Bard relieved Wake in the bottom of the eighth, and Markakis and Lee both singled and advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. Vladdy Guerrero then singled, Markakis was out at home trying to score on a wild pitch but Lee scored the go-ahead run. Kevin Gregg came on for the second straight night to close things out and retired the side in order, and that was that. If the Sox had executed with RISP earlier in the game rather than waiting for one big hit to tie the score, perhaps they would no have lost—again.

Game 24 at Baltimore (4/28/11):

After some threatening pre-game showers, the skies cleared in time to start the game on time. Jon Lester (2-1, 2.59) looked to reverse the slide and get out of town with a victory against Brad Bergesen (0-3, 5.40). Finishing up the trip at 6-3 would be much sweeter than getting swept and coming home 5-4. Scutaro started at short instead of Lowrie, who has cooled off at the plate of late. Ellsbury doubled to the left-center gap to lead off the ballgame and scored on Gonzalez’ double to left; what a sweet swing this guy has. Youkilis followed with a walk but Ortiz grounded into a 3-6-3 twin killing and the chance to add more runs went by the boards. Lester walked Brian Roberts to open the bottom of the first and Markakis (who simply kills Red Sox pitching) singled. Roberts then stole third (Lester’s first 10 pitches have been wildly off target). Lee then singled and Roberts came in with the tying run. Lester then struck out Vladdy Guerrero and was helped out by Adam Jones’ double play grounder to escape further trouble. Ellsbury singled with one out in the third and then Mark Reynolds made a great barehanded grab and throw of Pedroia’s weak infield grounder. Gonzalez followed with a base hit up the middle and Ellsbury came across with the go-ahead run. With two outs in the fourth, Lester walked Jones and Wieters but was able to get Reynolds on a 6-4 force to end that threat. Pedroia singled leading off the sixth and moved to third on Gonzalez’ opposite field double. But Youkilis and Ortiz struck out and Saltalamacchia flied out to deep center. So once more, the Sox squandered a great chance to add some insurance runs. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Guerrero homered to left to tie the score. That’s why following this team this year has been so infuriating! After Jim Johnson relieved Bergesen, Crawford doubled leading off and scored the go-ahead run on Pedroia’s base hit up the middle with two outs. In the eighth, Youkilis walked leading off. After a pitching change, Ortiz singled and Cameron walked to load the bases. Saltalamacchia followed with a base hit up the middle, scoring Youkilis. With two outs, Ellsbury singled in Ortiz and Cameron, as the Sox were able to keep the line moving. Lester was finished after eight and ended up having another great outing (8IP, 4H, 2ER, 3BB, 5K). Papelbon came on for the ninth and knocked down the side in order. So, the Sox wound up a very successful road trip and head home for an 11-game homestand.