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Closing Time: Red Sox head back to Fenway Park with just one win 04.11.12 at 2:53 pm ET
By Rob Bradford

Jon Lester

TORONTO — The Red Sox fell to 1-5 on the season with a 3-1 loss to the Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon, often looking hapless against a dominant Ricky Romero. Jon Lester (0-1) pitched a complete game in the loss for the Sox, who will host Tampa in the home opener on Friday following an off day on Thursday.

Here is what went wrong (and right) in the Red Sox’ loss:

WHAT WENT WRONG

- The offense struggled mightily against Romero, managing just one run on three hits in eight-plus innings. They also failed to show any patience at the plate, drawing zero walks as Romero threw 104 pitches. Romero retired 17 straight batters he faced at one point until walking Jacoby Ellsbury to start the ninth inning.

- After posting a multi-hit game last night Kevin Youkils was hitless in four at-bats and is now batting just .100, with a crucial ninth-inning strikeout. Perhaps more alarmingly, Youkilis has yet to walk this season (hence the matching .100 on-base percentage).

- Though Jon Lester was terrific in a losing effort (more on that later) he was unsuccessful against the No. 9 hitter in the order, as Rajai Davis had one of the two hits against Lester, a third-inning triple that scored Eric Thames. Davis would later score the go-ahead run in the inning. And in the eighth inning, Davis walked (though he should have been picked off), stole second and scored on Yunel Escobar’s single.

- The Sox had a rally going in the ninth inning, with Ellsbury and Pedroia walking to lead off the frame against Romero. Adrian Gonzalez delivered a sacrifice fly to center to move Ellsbury and Pedroia into scoring position, which led to John Farrell pulling Romero for closer Sergio Santos. Youkilis then struck out swinging, completing his 0-for-4 afternoon. David Ortiz grounded out to shortstop to end the game and strand Ellsbury and Pedroia.

WHAT WENT RIGHT

- Lester has been far and away the best starting pitcher on the Sox to date in this young season, matching his strong Opening Day effort with another superb performance on Wednesday. Lester allowed just three hits and three runs in eight innings, walking two and fanning six (Lester threw 116 pitches, he threw 107 on Opening Day). Lester’s ERA on the very young season stands at 2.45.

- The Red Sox scored first in the game for the first time this season, courtesy of a Jacoby Ellsbury single that plated Mike Aviles in the third inning. Ellsbury, however, continues to struggle, batting just .130 on the season.

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  • bronxboy87

    bored watched the game today, i have to say outside of lester this series just looks like 2 sucky teams playing , and i think im right

  • JMG

    Headline should read “Sox Waste Strong Lester Start.. AGAIN”… Bobby, lets pick a lineup and stick with it so maybe these guys can get some momentum.. 4 or 5 different lineups in 6 games already? C’mon..

  • Benny

    I feel for Lester!!!  The kid pitched another solid game, yet gets the loss!!!!  Guy gives up 4 runs in his 1st two starts, and gets nothing for his efforts!!  This team looks lethargic offensively!!  Look at their 6-9 hitters today!!  Mcdonald,Ross,Aviles, and Shoppach!!  UGHHHH!!  Yea, I know they had 2 of the hits today, but that is still an ugly back half of the order!!  Youk, unfortunately  looks like he is on the downswing….The Jays closer hangs a curve, and he stands there and looks at it with men on 2nd and 3rd, with the game on the line!!  Youk needs to be swinging away there!!  I have no worries about Pedey and Gonzo, but what if last year was a fluke, and Ellsbury isn’t really that good, and Papi reverts to his 2010 form…I hate to say it but they are gonna need to score lots of runs this year to win, so I am hoping my concerns are unfounded, or it’s gonna be a very long year folks!!!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_Q54USQJSUOS5YOL3FIOXWLDVQY S B

    Well, Leisure Suit Larry, is it time to panic NOW?

  • WISCO nation

    Would they really be losing anything by bringing up Will Middlebrooks to play 3B? Im not ready to abort Youk yet but dude looks lost at the dish. He watched two tee’d up pitches from Santos in the 9th that vintage Youk drives to the gap…ESPECIALLY with guys on 2nd an 3rd…the worst that can happen is you make contact….oh wait the worst thing that can happen is to K swinging, which happend. 

  • RobDX

    This offense is to blame, what a Shi Storm. Keep Sweeny in from now on please.

  • Wtf

    who let youk go through spring training without seeing he is washed up?

  • JohnnyB22341

    What an embarrassment this team is. Kind of reminds me of the hapless Sox teams of the early 90s… neither here nor there. Hate to say it, but this team will be lucky to win 80 games this season.

  • LT

    One word: injuries. The sox have more bodies and more payroll dollars lost to injuries right now than any other team. Sucks!!!

  • Serbs

    I don’t know… I kind of like our Sox being sh tty again. (Ahhhh, the good ‘ol days!) Let the negativity flow baby.

  • DennyG

    Lester can’t finish a game, again… just like the rest of the babies on the pitching staff.
    What’s fun about this team is the opposite of the first world series winning team.  They were so likable, this team is full of so many, shall I say (odd) personalities that are really hard to warm up to it’s kind of fun to watch them struggle and lose.  This is getting really interesting to watch.  

  • Mail

    Overly critical.  Maybe Romero was throwing strikes which explains why no walks.  Patience, Red Sox Nation, patience.

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