Jun 3, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jake Peavy (44) delivers in the second inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
What a difference a day makes. Yesterday David Ortiz hit a game-winning home run. Tonight the bats went dead. The Sox managed just three hits in their 4-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
Jake Peavy started the game by giving up a solo home run to Adam Jones in the first inning. He appeared to settle down for a few innings. That was until the fifth when Nick Markakis hit a two-run HR. Peavy gave up yet another homer in the bottom of the seventh when Ryan Flaherty hit a solo jack. Peavy finished the game with seven innings, eight hits and four earned runs. He got seven strikeouts and only walked one. Peavy now has an ERA of 4.76 and 1-4 record.
Whether Peavy had given up one run or 100, it wouldn’t have mattered since the offense did not score a single run. The Red Sox managed only three hits. Three! Brock Holt (.339), Daniel Nava (.174), and David Ross (.178) were the only owners of hot bats this evening. Holt and Nava also drew walks along with Jonathan Herrera (.241). Coming into the game Baltimore’s pitcher, Bud Norris, had an ERA of 4.41 and 4-5 win-loss record.
Stephen Drew sat out the game with a sore oblique. Mike Napoli, who had homered last night in his first game back from the DL, was 0-for-4 with two Ks. Brock Holt, in a rare moment of human imperfection, was caught stealing.
Tomorrow the Sox take on the O’s again at 7:05 pm. Brandon Workman (0-0 and 3.74 ERA) goes against Chris Tillman (5-2 and 5.20 ERA). Can the Sox bats wake up or will they be silenced again? Sitting at seven games under .500 and 9.5 games out of first place the Sox had better hope for some offense and soon.