Jon Lester entered Wednesday night’s start a perfect 12-0 against the Baltimore Orioles, so it looked like the Red Sox would be able to end their three-game losing streak and keep pace with the Yankees and Rays in an increasingly impossible push to the playoffs. But suddenly, Lester gave up a 1-0 lead by allowing four first inning runs, and after two innings the Red Sox were down 5-2.

Without Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, and Jacoby Ellsbury, the Red Sox lineup was dead in the water. Listening to the game on WEEI on the way home from work, I was thinking of clever ways to write the Red Sox season obituary. I was ready to dub this game the official nail in the coffin, with the Rays and Yankees both winning in their games (both teams did eventually win one-run decisions).

Much to my pleasant surprise, the Red Sox offense showed sudden life, pounding in six runs in the seventh inning to take a 9-5 lead. Marco Scutaro homered to tie the game at 5-5, Victor Martinez knocked in J.D. Drew with an RBI double to give the Sox the lead, and Adrian Beltre blasted a three-run shot to put the game out of reach. The Red Sox allowed a run in the eighth, but beat Baltimore 9-6 to end their losing streak. Continue reading Red Sox Six-Run Inning Helps Lester Beat Orioles »

Marco Scutaro’s throw sailed into right field. Boston’s playoff hopes may have sailed away with it. Scutaro’s two-base error on a throw to second base in the third inning allowed the winning run to come home in the Baltimore Orioles’ 5-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Tuesday night at Camden Yards, the Orioles struck first. In the first inning, Nick Markakis hit a one-out double off Red Sox starter Josh Beckett, who came into the game 4-3 with a 6.50 ERA. In his previous start, Beckett pitched 6.1 innings against the Seattle Mariners, allowing three earned runs while striking out seven in a 5-3 win. Two batters after Markakis’s double, Luke Scott singled to right, driving him home. Beckett escaped further damage in the first inning and then enjoyed a 1-2-3 second.
Continue reading Scutaro Error Proves Costly as Red Sox Fall to Orioles »

It’s amazing how quickly things turn around. A week ago, the Red Sox made a bold move in claiming Johnny Damon off waivers in an effort to add outfield help as the Sox pushed toward the playoffs. Johnny Damon said “Screw You” to Theo Epstein in not so many words, and the Red Sox arrived in Tampa as they have at every ballpark all season: shorthanded. After the Red Sox won Game 1, they were just 4.5 games back, and many started thinking a playoff run was possible.

Then, the Red Sox blew two consecutive games, fell seven games back in the division, and realized a playoff spot may not be that realistic.

With the waiver trade deadline looming, the Red Sox parted ways with one of their good soldiers in the bullpen, Manny Delcarmen, sending him to the Rockies for a minor league pitcher. Continue reading Red Sox Trade Manny Delcarmen to Rockies, Waive White Flag »