RUSTY RED SOX FALL FLAT IN GAME ONE LOSS TO HARWICH
There is a difference of opinions when it comes to off days, especially in the playoffs. Some say after a grueling few games, it is beneficial for a team to take a day or two to rest and recollect. Others believe that if a team is playing hot, like the Red Sox were after their best-of-three series with the Firebirds ended in two games, that the next game could not come soon enough.
With the YD vs. Orleans series ending early and the Harwich vs. Brewster series going to three games, the Red Sox were bound to have an off day. Yet with a couple of rainy days at the beginning of the week, what began as a single day of rest quickly turned into three as the Red Sox waited in anticipation to meet their next foe and continue rolling. Unfortunately, it became aware that it was the latter of the two perspectives that got the best of the Sox when the bats cooled off on Tuesday night against Harwich. The YD Red Sox (2-1) dropped their first game of the playoffs and the first of this series 6-0 against the Harwich Mariners (3-1).
Few things went YD’s way in their game against Harwich. The Red Sox racked up only seven hits in yesterday’s match up compared with eleven and sixteen hits in each of the two games against Orleans. Errors continued to haunt the Sox defense, leading to runs in each of the first two innings. The Red Sox have committed five errors in their three playoff games, driving the collective minds of YD Nation crazy at the sight of a ground ball.
The pitching from surprise starter Alex Gonzalez was sub par at best as he lasted only 1 2/3 innings allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits. Joe Rogers put in a solid 4 1/3 innings of long relief giving up only three hits and one run in his stint. It was a wonder why Coach Pickler elected to slate Gonzalez as the starter in game one of the series against Harwich, especially with the arms of Brian Johnson and Jack Armstrong on the bench.
While Gonzalez boasts a respectable 3.08 ERA on the season, many of his starts have been shaky, which was evident by his short outing yesterday. Johnson and Armstrong have proven themselves in a collegiate environment at their respective schools, Florida and Vanderbilt. Now trailing in the series 1-0, we hope to see the two on the mound in the next couple games.
Nick Routt and his 7.91 ERA took the mound for Harwich while Red Sox batters trembled with anticipation. The last time Routt started against YD was on July 24 in which he lasted four innings allowing three runs (two earned) yet took the loss in a 5-4 Red Sox victory. Routt came back with a vengeance Tuesday, throwing seven innings of shut out baseball and scattering six hits.
Mariners pitching stranded nine Red Sox base runners on the evening, eleven if not for inning ending double plays. Everything the Sox had been doing well in the series against Orleans that allowed them to win games, in particular stringing together hits with runners in scoring position, disappeared in yesterday’s match up.
Harwich created the majority of their offense in the first two innings of the game. Three leadoff singles to begin the first, perpetuated by a fielding error at third by Matt Reynolds, scored two runs for Harwich. An error by Chris Taylor at shortstop to begin the second followed by three two-out hits, including a deep triple to center field by Mariners left fielder Darnell Sweeney, put three more runs on the board for Harwich extending their early lead to 5-0.
The Mariners were handed another run in the sixth inning when a single by Mike Garza and a couple wild pitches allowed him to round the bases with ease.
The Red Sox look to put yesterday’s loss behind them when they take on the Mariners on Wednesday at Red Wilson Field. First pitch is at 4 PM.
--Ben Stepansky
