Boston Can Only Watch M's Celebrate
After a promising game on Saturday night (the Red Sox won 5-3) the good feeling didn’t carry over today in Seattle. The score was tied 2-2 in the 9th inning, Mariners at bat, when The Boston shortstop, Nick Green, threw an easy ground ball way over the head of the 1st baseman. With runners on 1st and 2nd, a Mariner whose name I don’t care enough to remember hit a game-winning RBI single to win it and take 2 of 3 from the Red Sox. Road trip: 2-4. Not good.
courtesy: Cleveland Plain Dealer
I have never liked Javier Lopez. If we are being honest as fans, we want the ball-club to do well, of course, but we are not always enamored with every player. When Varitek is at bat or catching, I feel he is in total control of the game. I have complete confidence in him. Most of the lineup is the same, give or take. Yet Lopez inspires no confidence. He has that deer-in-headlights look of a fifth-grader crapping himself over having to read an oral report before the entire class.
He was so wild on Friday’s win over NY, that in the top of the 9th inning he loaded the bases and then somehow got Robinson Cano to bounce into a 4-1-3 double play then pop up Molina to end the inning. He made ‘Tek look like a goalie in the process, having to leap and lunge to catch balls 7 feet out of the strike zone. He is a train wreck and he always looks guilty and nervous simultaneously.
Well, tonight didn’t improve my opinion of him at all. The tense, crisp games of Sunday (4-1 win) and Monday (3-1 win) gave way to tonight’s outing. It was 7-7 after 3 innings, and 8-8 after the 7th. The pitching was evenly pathetic, like the score. Still tied 8-all in the bottom of the 9th, the Indians had a man on 2nd and two outs. A sharp ground ball by Asdrubal Cabrera between first and second was snared by Youkilis, who lobbed it to Lopez. Lopez bobbled the easy play for Boston’s 3rd error of the evening. The play plated Mark DeRosa and handed Cleveland a 9-8 win. It was like a Mets’ loss.
Boston played like dogs tonight and didn’t deserve to win. Three errors in a game is beyond unacceptable. The giving up of 7 runs in the first 3 innings by Brad Penny is beyond unacceptable. Having to look at Lopez’ mug another day…..you get the idea.
The 11-game win streak was great. Now swallow this egg you’ve laid and get back to business, Boston.