Miserable May Continues With 12-4 Loss

Remember how consistent the Red Sox were in April and ended the month with MLB’s best record? It appears they’re being just as consistent in May. Only this time they’re going in reverse.

May 7, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster (46) reacts to being relieved during the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Dempster simply didn’t have it today. He would give up six runs (all earned), seven hits (three of them home runs), and one walk while striking out six. On the plus side, he did go at least five innings and continued his high strikeout total.

The “star” for the Sox offense was Mike Napoli, who went three for four with a double and a home run.

As bad as the pitching and hitting were for the Sox for today’s game, an even bigger concern arose in the fourth inning. While trying to prevent Edwin Encarnacion‘s eventual home run off Dempster, Shane Victorino would crash ribs-first into the right field wall. Victorino exited the game and would later pay a visit to the hospital. Hopefully his injury isn’t too serious.

With the loss, the Sox are now 2-8 for their last 10 games. They’ve now dropped three straight series and are 4-8 for the month of May. Many of us figured they wouldn’t continue at the pace they had been going in April. But they need to get back on the right track and end this skid soon. With who they have on schedule for the remainder of the month, it’s not an unreasonable goal for them to at least break even.