Felix Doubront struggled mightily against the Toronto Blue Jays and despite collecting 12 hits, the offense was unable to capitalize on any of their promising opportunities.
There were few, if any, bright spots for Doubront in this outing, simply put, he was just bad. Okay, sure, he got through the first and second unscathed, despite allowing a baserunner in each frame, but the real damage was on its way. With two out and Melky Cabrera on second base, Doubront served one up to Edwin Encarnacion. Encarnacion was all over the pitch and crushed it high and deep over The Monster. Doubront only lasted four innings (he did pitch to two batters in the fifth), and he gave up only five hits, but every last one of them was for extra bases and he walked three men as well.
Doubront is now headed for an MRI on his throwing shoulder for what is being called ‘shoulder fatigue.’ Whether this is a real injury, or a convenient way to make a change in the rotation is not for me to say. However, this much is clear: a change needs to happen sooner rather than later.
While J.A. Happ was on his game right out of the gate, Boston’s lack of scoring probably has more to do with bad luck than anything. The Red Sox threatened in the fourth, loading the bases with only one out. Their hopes were dashed, however, when Xander Bogaerts hit a rocket directly at third baseman, Brett Lawrie, who touched the bag and threw out the lumbering David Ortiz at home.
Boston would plate two runs in each of the next two innings courtesy of three doubles in the fifth and a Jonny Gomes home run in the sixth. After that though, Boston seemingly could not find the plate. The first two batters reached in both the eighth and ninth for Boston, but the Sox were unable to capitalise on either opportunity thanks to an ill-advised sacrifice bunt and a double play which concluded the game.
With the loss, the Red Sox now fall to 20-24 on the season, a new low in 2014. The Sox just signed Stephen Drew, so while the offense may begin to heat up, a change may be coming in the rotation.