The left coast still isn’t treating the Boston Red Sox well as they lost yet another game last night, this time to the Oakland A’s 8-2.
Jon Lester got the start for the Red Sox and really struggled as he had trouble with location and left the ball up in the zone. The A’s hitters took advantage of this and pounded out 10 of their 12 hits and scored 6 of their 8 runs off of him.
Kevin Youkilis continues to rake at the plate as he had yet another multiple hit game including a solo home run. But with Youkilis the only one clicking at the plate and the pitching not really clicking at all, something needs to give.
We see teams go through stretches like this during the season where it seems everything goes wrong. Then we’ll see both things working together as one and a team will run off a stretch of 5 or 6 straight wins. This is what we need the Red Sox to do.
It’s still not time to panic though. There’s still 154 games left in the season and by no means is this team out of it. It’s just a rough patch. They’ll get through it and come back with a vengeance. You definitely don’t want to see the Red Sox fall into a deeper hole and have to spend the early months digging out, especially in the competitive AL East.
As far as the lineup goes, I personally don’t think there’s too much tinkering you can do with it. What the Red Sox really need right now is for Jacoby Ellsbury to get going and get on base. When he does, things happen and that could help the hitters below him with the exception of Youk.
Lester, Sox can’t hold Athletics at bay [Boston Globe]
The low-down on Lowrie and other stuff [Full Count]
Lester bombed in Oakland; Sox now 2-5 for 2009 [Providence Journal]
Jon Lester, Red Sox go quietly [Boston Herald]
It’s Early [Hit and Run With Dan Roche]
Wrist trouble puts Lowrie on DL [Boston Globe]
Dustin Pedroia all good with hometown [Boston Herald]
Could it be 1996 all over again for the Red Sox? [Providence Journal]
Memories all fond for Garciaparra [Boston Globe]
Red Sox hitters believe runs will come [Boston Herald]
Red Sox mourn and remember Mark Fidrych, Harry Kalas [Providence Journal]
Detroit native Smoltz recalls Fidrych [redsox.com]
Sox have fond memories of Kalas [redsox.com]
The outlook has become ‘wait till this year’ [Boston Globe]
Jed Lowrie joins Julio Lugo on disabled list [Boston Herald]
Lowrie goes on DL, and Sox are suddenly short at shortstop [Providence Journal]
Pedroia called out after crossing home [Boston Globe]
Like others, A’s have Sox’ number [Tony Mazz]
And oh by the way, Justin Masterson has joined the blogging ranks as well.
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and Providence Journal websites.
And if you want to see what the enemy papers are saying, head over to the San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News and Contra Costa Times websites.
