Early Evening Red Sox Delight – 3/22

Despite the fact that both Boston Red Sox teams who played today had 28 hits and scored 17 runs, they lost both games.

The split-squad who traveled to Jupiter to take on the St. Louis Cardinals fell 13-8 while the one that stayed behind in Ft. Myers fell to the Tampa Bay Rays 11-9.

Michael Bowden made the start against the Cardinals and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits with a strikeout. Fabio Castro followed with two innings of three-hit relief with three strikeouts. Fernando Cabrera was roughed for two runs on three hits and a walk with a strikeout in 2/3 of an inning while Ramon A. Ramirez gave up four runs on four hits and three walks 1 2/3 innings. T.J. Large was also victimized for three runs on four hits in 2/3 of an inning.

The Red Sox defense didn’t help them out as they had four errors, including two by Bill Hall at shortstop. Since Hall’s been a little shaky at short and today’s two errors won’t help, the Red Sox will now probably have to find someone who can back up at short. Jed Lowrie’s not an option right now since he’s still recovering from mono.

The Red Sox had 10 of their 13 hits against old friend Brad Penny. Tug Hulett led the offensive charge with two hits and three RBIs. Jeremy Hermida added two hits and an RBI while Peter Hissey also had two hits. Josh Reddick, Oscar Tejada and Dusty Brown had the other RBIs.

In Ft. Myers, Red Sox pitchers allowed seven home runs to the Rays. Boof Bonser allowed two, Scott Atchison gave up one, Junichi Tazawa allowed three and Joe Nelson gave up one.

Bonser wasn’t at his best as he allowed five runs on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts in two innings. The only hit and run Atchison allowed was on the home run in his two innings. Tazawa gave up four runs on four hits (three of those were the HRs) while Brian Shouse was perfect in his inning. Joe Nelson’s only hit and run that he allowed were on the home run in his inning and he also had two strikeouts. Jorge Sosa gave up a hit and had two strikeouts in two innings.

Ray Chang had two hits, including a 3-run homer to lead the Red Sox. Mike Cameron had two hits as did Matt Sheely and Mark Wagner who also had an RBI each. Derrik Gibson also had a hit and two RBIs while Christopher McGuiness added a hit and an RBI. Dustin Pedroia was hitless in two at-bats but had an RBI on a sac fly.

Instead of having John Lackey pitch against their AL East rivals, he pitched in an intrasquad game at the Player Development Complex down the street. Against the minor leaguers, he allowed a run on three hits with six strikeouts.

The Red Sox will play a night game on Tuesday night when they make the short trip across town to take on the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium at 7:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast on WEEI 850 AM.

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Lackey stretches out in Minors game [Brownie Points] Rough day for Bonser [Clubhouse Insider]

How Mauer’s signing affects Red Sox and Martinez [CSN New England]

Red Sox notes: Bonser takes a step back [CSN New England]

Victor applauds Mauer deal [ESPN Boston]

10 (not-so) Quick Hits: Long day in F-L-A [ESPN Boston]

Lackey throws five [Extra Bases]

Injury for Bonser? [Extra Bases]

NESN picks up tomorrow’s game [Extra Bases]

The catcher who (sort of) got away from the Red Sox [Full Count]

Lackey hones his game for AL East [Full Count]

Postgame(s) Notes: Rays 11, Sox 9; Cards 13, Sox 8 [Full Count]