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Closing Time: Red Sox ship keeps sinking in Game 1 loss to O’s 09.19.11 at 3:56 pm ET
By Alex Speier

David Ortiz and the Sox were fuming after a fifth-inning call went against Boston. (AP)

A stretch of terrible play for a team like the Red Sox cannot happen in a vacuum. How does a team a team that was on pace for 99 wins suddenly enter a vortex that results in a 3-12 stretch? Poor play has to intersect with bad luck.

That proved the case on Monday. Starter Kyle Weiland (pitching on three days’ rest) started well quickly fizzled, allowing six runs and three homers in 4 2/3 innings. His efforts were undermined by his own defense, most notably left fielder Darnell McDonald, who was only starting because Carl Crawford was a late pregame scratch due to a stiff neck. McDonald botched back-to-back fly balls (one ruled an error, one a single) after being pressed late into duty for the game due to a stiff neck for Carl Crawford.

And though the Sox offense tried to push its way back into the game, its efforts to do so were undermined when a David Ortiz liner down the right field line — which appeared to hit the wall just in fair territory for what would have been a run-scoring extra-base hit — was ruled foul by first base ump Mike Estabrook.

The mixture of bad luck and poor performances proved too much, continuing a month-long them. The Red Sox dropped their third straight game, this one to the last-place Orioles by a 6-5 count, and will enter the second half of today’s day-night doubleheader clinging to a 1 1/2 game lead in the wild card race against the idle Rays.

WHAT WENT WRONG FOR THE RED SOX

–Kyle Weiland continued to show interesting flashes in his first trip through an opposing lineup before getting shelled as the game proceeded. He struck out four batters (setting a new career high that he would later extend to five) through two perfect innings, but then allowed five hits, three homers and six runs (five earned) over the next 2 2/3 innings.

In fairness, Weiland was pitching on just three days’ rest after having pitched just three innings (61 pitches) in his previous outing. However, the right-hander is now 0-3 with a 7.99 ERA in his brief major league career, and he’s averaging barely four innings per outing in his five starts. He has, in fact, pitched five or more innings just once. In short, at a time when the Sox have been desperate for quality starts, Weiland has appeared unready to answer the bell.

–The Red Sox found a number of rallies short-circuited by double-play balls. The team hit into three of them, just the seventh time this year that they’d grounded into as many as three double plays. While Adrian Gonzalez was an unsurprising author of one (he now has an AL-leading 26, most by a Sox since Jim Rice hit into 35 in 1985), Dustin Pedroia and especially Jacoby Ellsbury (who entered the day as the third toughest man to double-up in the AL, having hit into six in 612 at-bats) were less likely culprits.

–The call by Estabrook may have changed the face of the game. Ortiz hit a hooking liner towards the Pesky Pole in the bottom of the fifth, with the ball curving off the fence just below the landmark line of demarcation between fair and foul. The hit — which replays suggested hit just fair off the fence — would have scored Dustin Pedroia from third and given the Sox a runner in scoring position with two outs. Instead, after it was ruled foul, Ortiz flied out to deep center, and so the Sox lost a run that could have changed the complexion of the game.

WHAT WENT RIGHT FOR THE RED SOX

–Felix Doubront submitted an impressive relief outing, retiring all four batters he faced — three on grounders, one on a strikeout. That, however, was merely the second most impressive relief outing.

Alfredo Aceves followed with a scoreless seventh and then, with runners on second and third and no outs, got a shallow fly to right from Chris Davis, struck out Robert Andino and then punched out Nolan Reimold to work his way out of the jam. The right-hander returned to the hill with a scoreless ninth, marking his MLB-high 12th relief outing of three or more innings. He also has seven scoreless relief outings of at least three innings, also tops in the majors.

–Marco Scutaro went 3-for-3 with a double, two singles and a walk, continuing a tremendous September that has seen him post a .407 average and 1.024 OPS.

–Jarrod Saltalamacchia had an RBI triple. Of his 82 hits this year, 42 (51 percent) have been for extra bases. Saltalamacchia is the only Sox regular who has more extra-base hits than singles.

–Darnell McDonald helped to atone for his difficult day in left field by crushing a homer to left against O’s starter Jeremy Guthrie and later adding a single. The homer was McDonald’s first of the year against a right-handed pitcher (he’s hit five against lefties).

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  • jordan

    God damn it. This team needs to grow some fucking balls and learn how to win.

  • YouScrewedBoston

    Red Sox get Screwed out of Crucial Run by Joe Torre Yankee Umpire

    That’s what the headline should really read. Because it’s exactly what happened to David Ortiz on a fair ball in the bottom of the 5th inning.

    YOU SCREWED BOSTON! YOU SCREWED BOSTON!

    I challenge any and all Red Sox fans attending tonight’s game, tomorrow’s game, and Wednesday’s game to LET THESE JOE TORRE YANKEE UMPIRES HEAR IT LIKE IT REALLY IS:

    YOU SCREWED BOSTON! YOU SCREWED BOSTON!

    And should the Sox miss the playoffs by 1 game or even have to play the Rays in a 1 game Playoff, LET THESE JOE TORRE YANKEE UMPIRES HEAR IT ALL OF 2012!

    YOU SCREWED BOSTON! YOU SCREWED BOSTON!

    Who knows, maybe you’ll even light a fire under these sleepwalking Red Sox and get a rally going.

    YOU SCREWED BOSTON! YOU SCREWED BOSTON!

  • tom

    The 2011 is ending the way it started. This team is too damaged right now to make the post season. Accept it now so it mwon’t hurt when the Rays over take them.

  • YankeeFever

    Don’t blame the umps for this historic collapse. The team everyone predicted would win the World Series without question and would challenge the ’27 Yanks as the best ever suddenly can’t win games because a foul ball fell 2 inches to the right?

    I just wish you guys would put it together so the Yanks can send you packing in October… looks like we’ll have to settle for beating the Rays instead.

  • Marcus

    You have to pin this loss on Francona for leaving Weiland in way too long. The hook should have been on him after the back-to-back HRs. Instead he promptl comes out for the top of the inning and proceeds to give up another bomb. That is completely and totally inexcusable given the circumstances. We could have gone with Dubront or even Tazawa for an inning to bridge to Aceves. Please don’t pitch this kid again for the remainder of the season. Start Aceves for 3 innings, Dubront, anyone else but Weiland.

  • tom

    There is no urgencey to produce early in the game. The first two batters reach in the bottom of the first, followed by a strikeout and a double play. Inning over. They are always playing from behind. Every game they trail by at least two runs.

  • DevilsAdvocate

    FranCOMA cost us the game when he didn’t get himself ejected arguing the call on Ortiz in the bottom of the 5th. Who knows, maybe the Sox get fired up and find a way to rally without him calling the shots from the bench. Everyone wins.

  • mike

    So the Sox lost because Francona didnt get ejected? Okey dokey.
    There is no urgency to produce early in games? Are you there? How do you possibly know that? Do you think they WANT to lose? I promise you they dont.

    Just understand they are just waaaay to banged up to produce the way we want them to.

  • Canuk

    This team has no, call it what you will, spark, heart, drive. It all starts with pitching and they are getting none. The starters are terrible and they trot out a rookie on three days rest to try to stop the bleeding. They look beaten before the game starts. This team couldn’t come back and beat anybody. Grow a set and play with a few aches and pains or is it easier to ride the pines and watch…

  • SoxFanForsyth

    Why are all of the writers afraid to flat out call it a missed call? The ball was fair, and replay proved it. It didn’t “appear to be fair after replay”. It was a fair ball and an absolute blown call. Call it like it is.

  • Soxmajik

    Why not start Aceves, who can probably hold them below six runs in five innings. Then, we can hold on for dear life with our mediocre mid relievers. When you start Weiland, Lackey, Wakefield, or Miller, you know you’re more than likely going to give up five runs or more. Its really too late to be bailed out, especially with our slumping and tired players. We can only pile on the bad pitchers. you won’t see them in the playoffs. All the bad pitchers are on our team :) . Just kidding! Anyway, our lineup will not score all runs we need if we get behind. In the playoffs, you can count on Beckett, Lester, Aceves, and maybe Bedard. You’ll have at least three people who can keep the score low. There is no more reason to start Wake. He gives up a run an inning. Plus, there are lots of unaccounted for unearned runs that just happen because he’s a knuckleballer. Weiland showed he can come in for middle relief. Once they see him, its over. Miller is just wild. He’s either got it or he doesn’t. Maddon would give him a look and a quick hook. Lackey? He should go home and take care of his wife.

  • MomOfGoldens

    Of course Red Sox fans are frustrated. Even our good pitchers have not been winning, ie Lester. Lackey has been a huge disappointment and Eric Bedard is injured. It is too bad because I think he could have helped the team. What a mess!!! They cannot buy a win. What is the problem? Something is wrong inside the clubhouse? They are really banged up? One of their best players, Youk, has had an off year and has an injury? Carl Crawford has been useless? The remaining everyday players are exhausted? Who knows!!! If Francona knew how to fix it, he would! I am not giving up hope yet, but if they lose the second game against a pretty bad team, I don’t think I want to suffer though the playoffs and watch them get hammered.

  • Robert

    To the Yankee fan. Sorry. You won’t get a chance to kick Boston out of the playoffs. Texas will do that if the Sox are still playing.

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