Doubront Sharp But Two-Out Hits Again Doom Red Sox In 3-1 Loss

The Red Sox finally got a well pitched game from the talented but beleaguered Felix Doubront in the middle game of their three game series with the White Sox.  The only problem was the Chisox were throwing Jose Quintana, a lefty the Red Sox were unable to solve last July at Fenway and, more importantly, tonight.

The result was a very matter-of-fact 3-1 win for Chicago as the Red Sox could get very little going offensively.

Jeff Keppinger gave the White Sox all the runs they would need as he broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning with a two out, two-run homer off Doubront as the Chisox again victimized Red Sox pitching with two outs in an inning, a pattern carried over from game one of the series.  Alex Rios added an RBI double for insurance in the eighth with, naturally, two outs.

May 21, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Felix Doubront (22) throws a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Quintana had a no-hitter through six before the Red Sox loaded the bases with one out in the seventh on three straight singles by David Ortiz, Mike Napoli and Daniel Nava to finally get Quintana out of the game.

But Jesse Crain struck out both Will Middlebrooks and Stephen Drew with the bases loaded to end the threat.

The Red Sox got another threat going in the eighth as Jarrod Saltalamacchia walked, Jacoby Ellsbury singled and, with one out, moved up on a wild pitch.  After Dustin Pedroia reached on an error by shortstop Alexi Ramirez that scored Salty it looked like a big inning was being set up for Boston.  But Ortiz killed the rally with a first pitch swinging double play ball and that was that.

But despite the result, the big takeaway from this game was that Doubront pitched as well as we’ve seen him pitch this season. He was much more economical with his pitches, something John Farrell and Juan Nieves have been calling for all season.

Doubront went six innings and threw 85 pitches in a pretty clean performance.  In addition to the home run he allowed five hits total with two walks and two strikeouts.  Dominating stuff? No.  But definitely something to build on as perhaps Doubront feels the heat of the soon to be returning Franklin Morales.  Amazing what the possibility of losing your spot in the rotation can do for your performance.

The Red Sox catch a break as they wrap up the series and the road trip tomorrow night at 8:10 as Clay Buchholz opposes Hector Santiago as Boston tries to salvage the final game of the series.

Santiago is filling in for scheduled starter and Chisox ace Chris Sale who was scratched with mild shoulder tendinitis.