Red Sox can’t muster enough to get past Yankees
Dustin Pedroia was good, but the Yankee bats were better Friday night in New York. A three-run homer from Pedroia off Yankees starter Phil Hughes in the third contributed to the four Boston runs scored that inning, but one stellar at bat was no match for the five home runs the Yankees brought to the plate in the 6-4 Boston loss.
Four of those home runs came at the expense of Franklin Morales, with Nick Swisher, Curtis Granderson, and Derek Jeter all taking advantage. When Clayton Mortenson took to the mound, not much changed as Swisher again nailed one on a 3-0 count for his second homer of the night.
While the offense was rolling for the Yankees, the Sox could only muster three singles following Pedroia’s home run, leaving them with no answer to the five New York home runs, the second time the Yankees have had as many homers against the Sox this season. Pedroia almost tied it up, but flew one out to the deepest part of the field where Granderson was able to make the catch.
The Red Sox are left 13 1/2 games behind the first-place Yankees in the American League East. Boston isn’t in last place, but with 42 games left to play their postseason chances certainly don’t look good.
Bright spots:
Pedroia is not on a 12-game hitting streak, and he did come very close to clinching the game-tying run in the eighth inning. If nothing else, the second baseman is producing on the field regardless of the drama off the field.
Downers:
The Red Sox continue to slump without David Ortiz on the field. The slugger has now been out on the disabled list with an Achilles strain for a full month (he went out Jul. 17). According to ESPN Boston, the team is now 12-18 without him, and the starters have gone 7-15 in the 30 games since his absence.
Before Ortiz was sidelined, the Sox went 46-44, and starters had a 12-9 record in the 30 games before the injury. Ortiz has returned to hitting, but is not yet running again in his attempt to prep for a return the Sox clearly desperately need.
Looking ahead:
The Sox return to Yankee Stadium Saturday night with Jon Lester (6-10) on the mound against the Yankees and starter David Phelps (3-3). The last time Lester started in New York, he regained much of his confidence. However, the lefty is still 6-10 with a 5.20 ERA. Phelps is filling in for CC Sabathia, who is on the disabled list with a sore left elbow.
Rivals Felix Doubront and Mark Teixeira won’t be facing off this weekend, as Doubront is being held out of the lineup and Teixeira is dealing with wrist inflammation.
