I’m pretty sure this isn’t how the Boston Red Sox expected this four-game series to go with the Minnesota Twins. I know it’s not what I expected.
Skipper Bobby Valentine said the goal for the rest of the season was to win each series for the rest of the year. But after last night’s 6-5 loss to the Twins that won’t be happening in this series. The best the Red Sox can hope for now is to split this series with the lowly Twins.
After a loss, Felix Doubront has been solid for the Red Sox this season. Unfortunately though he let his emotions get the best of him when the strike zone calls from home plate umpire Mark Wegner didn’t go his way. And it ultimately cost him a 5-1 lead the offense had given him. Doubront will learn as he gets more experience not to let his emotions get the best of him.
For the offense, it was a night of wasted chances.
They left 10 runners on base as a team and were just 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position. On a night where they had 14 hits and with the Twins committing three errors, that’s unacceptable.
The one time they were able to take advantage of a Twins error came in the 3rd inning when Justin Morneau dropped a foul ball off the bat of Carl Crawford. Ulitmately, Crawford made Morneau pay as he blasted a three-run homer off of Brian Duensing to give the Red Sox a 5-1 lead. But that would be the last time the Red Sox would cross the plate.
Look, all the talent in the world isn’t going to win you a championship. You think it would but when that talent doesn’t come all together at once, that’s not going to happen.
We can make all the excuses we want for this team. The players can do the same. In the end though, this team is probably not as good as we think or even they think they are.
They are just mediocre. And that’s evidenced by their 53-54 record.
We’ll be back later with today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. So for now, let’s take at look at the overnight links from the media by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
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Red Sox blow a four-run lead in loss to Twins [boston globe]
Beckett to miss start; Morales to go Sunday [boston globe]
Sox can’t hold lead, fall in 10th [boston herald]
As usual, Sox have us at a loss [boston herald]
Conditioned for failure [boston herald]
Josh Beckett to sit one out [boston herald]
Curt Schilling still brings the heat [boston herald]
Francona downplays clubhouse get-together [rob bradford – weei.com]
The Red Sox have found themselves with an uneasy reality [rob bradford – weei.com]
Salty absent from park due to ear infection [rob bradford – weei.com]
Frustration builds as Sox fall in extras, 6-5 [csn new england]
Questionable defensive play costs Sox [csn new england]
Ross: “We’re treading water” [csn new england]
Frustration gets better of Doubront [csn new england]
Sox offense fails to shift gears late in game [csn new england]
Merloni: Varitek could make good manager [csn new england]
Merloni: Don’t see ‘respect’ among Red Sox [csn new england]
Bobby V dismisses recent flaps [espn boston]
Tito: Didn’t think visit was big deal [espn boston]
Ex-tailback Bobby V. talked to Silas Redd’s family [espn boston]
Rapid reaction: Twins 6, Red Sox 5 [espn boston]
For John Henry, the next step in this dreary Sox saga must be getting obvious [espn boston]
Curt Schilling on D&C: ‘I’m taking a swing at [‘Nice inning, kid’] comment’ [full count]
Closing Time: Red Sox fail to capitalize on chances, lose to Twins 6-5 in 10 innings [full count]
Cody Ross on Darin Mastroianni’s 10th inning double: ‘I feel like I should have caught it’ [full count]
Daisuke Matsuzaka Looks Good in Bullpen Session, Will Increase Pitch Count in Next Rehab Start [nesn.com]
Red Sox Trend of Missed Opportunities Further Proof Team Needs More Than Elite Talent to Succeed [nesn.com]
Red Sox Cough Up Momentum, Sum Up ‘Story of the Season’ With Another Disappointment [nesn.com]
Jarrod Saltalamacchia Was Unavailable to Pinch Hit for Red Sox Because of ‘Big Ear Infection’ [nesn.com]
Salty misses game with ear infection [redsox.com]
Schilling among Red Sox Hall of Fame inductees [redsox.com]
Papi unlikely to play this weekend; Aviles returns [redsox.com]
Bailey’s second rehab outing goes smoothly [redsox.com]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy news, be sure to head over to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press websites. You can also check out our Bloguin brother, Twins Target.
Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.
photo credit: getty images
