Sox Can’t Come Back From Early Deficit To Phils

Last night was an all around tough game for the Red Sox– they came so close multiple times but were eventually set down. One bad inning pretty much cost the Sox the game as the Phillies took an early 4-0 advantage in the first. They got in position to do this on, you guessed it, Daniel Bard‘s control issues, as Bard loaded the bases on three walks with just one out. Bard just didn’t seem to be able to locate his pitches; he couldn’t throw the fastball for a strike and he kept hanging his slider to the Phillies’ hitters.

To the Red Sox’ credit, they didn’t give up after that first inning. Daniel Bard settled down for the most part and was able to put up pretty solid numbers for the rest of the game. Plus the Red Sox’ offense started chipping into the Phillies’ lead almost right after it happened. They scored one in the third on a blast down the third baseline by Mike Aviles and one in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Daniel Nava. The Phillies would get an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth– which would turn out to be Daniel Bard’s last inning.

It wasn’t Bard’s best start, but if you were to take out the first inning, he was fairly effective. In the four innings after the first, he allowed just one run and hit on the Hunter Pence homer. He walked two and struck out three, so if he can mimic those numbers (minus the first), Bard should be alright. The Red Sox resumed their eating away at the Phillies’ lead in the sixth when Cody Ross hit a moonshot down the third baseline, and in the eighth when Adrian Gonzalez crushed a curve almost into the upper deck. After several innings of work, the Red Sox had cut the lead to 5-4 in the Phillies’ favor.

The Phillies were able to tack on an insurance run in the eighth, however, when Freddy Galvis of all people hit a home run just over the left field wall to make it 6-4 heading into the ninth. Old friend Jonathan Papelbon, who signed with the Phillies on a 4 year/$50 million contract this winter, came into the game and was his old self. Kelly Shoppach singled to lead off the inning, but Daniel Nava and Marlon Byrd each grounded out– putting him at third with two away. Up came Nick Punto, who struck out on three pitches to end the game. It was a good game, but just out of the Red Sox’ reach right from the get go.