I hate West Coast games. I was sound asleep before the first pitch was even tossed.
Apparently, I missed one hell of a pitchers’ duel. One that the Red Sox unfortunately ended up losing. Bummer. And here I thought this West Coast swing was going to be a breeze… I need to stop thinking this way. It only gets me into trouble.
Franklin Morales, in his third official start for the Red Sox, proved once again he might kinda like this role. He pitched seven innings of shut out ball, scattering just three hits and striking out seven. Pretty good, right? I thought so.
Turns out Seattle’s pitcher, Felix Hernandez, was out to one-up Morales last night. Hernandez pitched a complete game shut-out, holding the normally pretty good Red Sox offense to just five hits. He struck out 13 — including multiple Ks of some of Boston’s best. It was a tough night, I’m almost glad I missed it.
The lone run of the game came in the bottom of the ninth. Scott Atchison, who is usually lights out, had a shaky outing. He gave up a one out double to Casper Wells and then intentionally walked Justin Smoak. With runners on first and second, John Jaso singled to right field. With Cody Ross charging the ball, Wells rounded third in attempt to score. Ross threw a perfect one-hopper to Jarod Saltalamacchia who had plenty of time to get Wells. If he had hung on the the ball that is. Salty talked about the play after the game.
“It was a good throw, low, on line,” Saltalamacchia said. “I was just trying to stay low with it. As the ball was coming closer, I tried to block the plate, to make sure he doesn’t get it. And I think as I was doing it, I was swiping in, and I think it just rattled around in my glove.”
Tough drop for Salty. Tough luck for Morales. Tough loss for the Sox.
Click here for the tough to see box score, courtesy of the Red Sox. The two teams are back at it tonight. Another late game. Maybe if I play my cards right, I can fall asleep on the couch and wake about just about the time the game starts. Aaron Cook gets the start tonight.
