Despite two runs given up in a solid start by Daisuke Matsuzaka (7-4) the Boston Red Sox (37-20) hit into five double-plays and were shutout by the Oakland Athletics 2-0 giving the Sox their first three consecutive loss string on the season and fifth loss in six games.
Matsuzaka went 7 innings, on two earned runs, two walks, eight strikeouts, and one homerun giving the Red Sox a solid outing that was needed considering last night’s extra inning game.
Treated like Tim Wakefield on this night, Matsuzaka got no run support throughout his seven innings and only saw the Sox lineup give the Athletics two scares in the top of the first and sixth innings.
With the bases loaded and two outs Mike Lowell flied out to left field leaving the sacks loaded in an inning where the Sox had Lenny Dinardo (2-2) at his wildest. After this inning it was all Dinardo and all twin-killings until the sixth where Dinardo got out of another bases loaded jam getting Kevin Youkilis to ground into the fourth double-play of the game.
Coco Crisp grounded out into the first of five double-plays in the bottom of the second inning.
The Red Sox posted no threat to Dinardo in the bottom of the third going 1-2-3 and the fourth was much of the same on a Lowell double-play ball to end the inning.
Eric Chavez launched an 0-2 high and outside fastball off of Matsuzaka for a solo-homerun leading off the bottom frame putting the score at 1-0.
Dinardo grounded Crisp into his second twin-killing in the top of the fifth continuing to stymie the Red Sox lineup.
Matsuzaka looked sharp throughout his whole outing but gave up an RBI double to Nick Swisher in bottom of the fifth that made the score 2-0 and that is where it would stay.
Alan Embree picked up his fifth save of the season in the Athletics win.
Youkilis grounded out into the fourth double-play in the top of the sixth with the bases loaded. This was the only other chance the Sox had a definite chance to score in the game.
David Ortiz popped up into the fifth two-out special in the top of the eighth where in which Dustin Pedroia was doubled-off at first base.
Dinardo grounded out the Red Sox into four out of five of the double-plays (Jay Marshall, fifth) and got the win on the night going 6 innings, on two hits, no earned runs, six walks, and zero strikeouts.
The Major League record for most double-plays in a single game is seven by San Francisco in 1969. The Boston Red Sox have hit into two six double-play games in 1966 and 1990.
Pedroia did not extend his hitting streak as he had a sacrifice to the pitcher, a walk, and a groundout to second base and was hit by a pitch in his last AB.
