Bard’s Control Issues Sink Sox In 5-1 Loss

From beginning to end, there wasn’t a whole lot to like about this game if you’re a Red Sox fan. They didn’t hit well and were staked to an early deficit after a miserable outing by Daniel Bard. Bard’s control was never there– as he walked the first two batters of the game. Jose Bautista worked a full count and eight pitch at bat before turning on a Daniel Bard fastball and sending it into the bleachers for a three run homer. Bard finally got out of the first after 28 pitches, but the Blue Jays got right back at it in the second– loading the bases with two outs on two walks and a hit by pitch. The Blue Jays took two more runs after a walk and hit by pitch with the bases loaded gave the Jays a 5-0 lead.

Bobby Valentine proceeded to do what any sane manager would do and pulled Bard from the game after just 1.2 innings. He put Franklin Morales into the game, a former starter with Colorado. If there was one good thing to take away from today’s game, it was Franklin Morales’ performance. Morales would throw 4.1 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out four. He was consistently ahead of Blue Jays’ hitters and they looked helpless on his breaking ball– which he could throw at any time. After his 4.1 innings, Scott Atchison and Rich Hill each threw a scoreless inning.

Blue Jays’ rookie Drew Hutchison really shut down the Red Sox today. He allowed just a run on a Kelly Shoppach home run in seven innings of work, striking out five and allowing five hits. The only real offensive bright spots were Shoppach– who went 1-2 with that homer and a hit by pitch– and Mike Aviles, who went 2-4 with a pair of singles. It’s a rarity for the Red Sox offense not to back their pitchers so I’d hope to see their offense back again next week. Hopefully, the Red Sox can just forget about this game as– believe me, it was not fun to watch.