Another lead in the game, another lead blown.
Daisuke Matsuzaka filled up the base paths in the top of the sixth all by himself walking leadoff hitter Tadahito Iguchi, then Jim Thome, and then Paul Konerko consecutively with no outs that eventually lead to the two-run inning in the rain delayed loss to the Chicago White Sox (43-51).
A.J. Pierzynski singled home Iguchi and Thome giving the ChiSox a 3-2 lead. Matsuzaka was relieved by Manny Delcarmen and he finished out the inning striking out Jermaine Dye, Josh Fields to ground into a force out at home, and Juan Uribe to fly out to the shortstop, but Pierzyski’s second and third RBI on the night demoralized the Boston Red Sox who had a chance to take a game against the Yankees who lost to the Blue Jays earlier in the day.
Pierzynski was 3-4 on the day with three RBI’s as Pierzynski singled home Thome in the top of the first inning to pick up his first RBI of the game.
What has also plagued Boston in these close games is the inability to hit in the clutch and this time it was Kevin Youkilis who failed as he stranded Dustin Pedroia at third base in bottom of the seventh by striking out to end the inning.
Konerko added some insurance in the next frame hitting a solo-homerun off of Hideki Okajima to lead off the eighth inning.
Boston (56-39) out hit Chicago 11-6 but did not get the “one that mattered” when it counted leaving 14 runners on base and leaving three runners on base in scoring position with two outs.
Javier Vazquez earned his seventh win of the season going 6 1/3 innings, on nine hits, two runs, two walks, and five strikeouts. White Sox closer, Bobby Jenks, finished off the bottom of the ninth inning with an easy 1-3 inning earning his 26th save of the season.
The wildness came back to hurt Matsuzaka as he allowed six base runners free passes getting his seventh loss of the season only pitching 5 innings, two hits, three runs, and six strikeouts. Three out of the six batters Matsuzaka walked ended up scoring in the game. Thome’s walk in the first and sixth inning and also Iguchi in the sixth inning.
It is not that the White Sox hit Matsuzaka around the park, but they hit runners in when they needed to in key situations. Boston needs to take some notes.
