‘08 Games 25-27: Sox dropped at the Trop
Well, this past weekend in Tampa was certainly an unique one for the Boston Red Sox. Three quality starts and three losses. Ouch! On the back of losing the last 2 at home to the Halos, the Sox have now lost five in a row. They were 15-7 at the start of this stretch, now only 15-12 and are in a three-way tie for first place in the AL East. When you toss 3 quality starts in a series and get swept, you gotta look at the offense and the bullpen for some answers. At great issue this weekend was the lineup, generating only 5 runs in the 3 games. Yikes! Give credit to the Rays starters, who also collected 2 quality starts, for getting the job done. Only Matt Garza of the six starters in the sweep did not get a quality start, falling one inning short of the definition.
My thoughts, lets put this quick trip to Tampa behind us as quickly as possible and look ahead to the chance for redemption next weekend back in the Fens.
| Game 25 | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | PC-ST | ERA |
| TW #49 | 6.0 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 113-70 | 4.06 |
| Game 26 | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | PC-ST | ERA |
| CB #61 | 8.0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 113-76 | 4.08 |
| Game 27 | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | PC-ST | ERA |
| JB #19 | 7.0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 107-70 | 4.10 |
The End Result:
Sox have now dropped 5 in a row, despite 4 straight quality starts. So much for the quality starts equals wins theory. If the offense can get going soon while the pitching is going good, that would help. Hello, lineup? Where are you?
That being said, I like what I saw from Buchholz and Beckett. Definitely this was Buchholz’s best outing this season, eight strong innings, although you’d have to wish he’d get one pitch back, the one that Iwamura deposited into the bleachers. That was the ballgame on Saturday night. Beckett just got outhurled by the Rays’ ace James Shields.
| Red Sox Record: | 15-12 |
| Total Quality Starts: | 14 |
| Record in QS games: | 8-6 |
A Look Ahead:
The Sox return home to face the Blue Jays and the Rays this coming week. Good news that they are at home, as the Sox have already been swept in 2 series against the Jays/Rays on the road. Going in to the homestand, the Sox have a season-long streak of 4 straight quality starts.
