Projo Sox Blog

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas -- For the first time since May 13-15, the Boston Red Sox are in the midst of a three-game losing skid.

After losing the final two games to the Blue Jays in Toronto over the weekend, the Sox began their three-game set against the Rangers with a 6-3 loss. Boston has scored only 10 runs in the last four games since the All-Star break.

While John Smoltz suffered the loss Monday night at Rangers Ballpark, dropping his record to 1-3, Texas starter Kevin Millwood improved to 9-7 and won his sixth consecutive decision here. He worked six innings and allowed two runs on six hits.

"We've faced Roy Halladay and Kevin Millwood the last two days," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "It's not a cop out to say those guys shut us down -- those are two very good pitchers -- and those are the types of guys you need to get to early before they settle in."

Boston did gain an early 1-0 lead on David Ortiz's RBI double in the top of the first inning. The big man barely missed a two-run homer as the ball hit off the top of the center-field wall and just out of the reach of Rangers outfielder Marlon Byrd.

Meanwhile, Smoltz retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced and was in total control. He even helped himself with a couple of solid defensive plays.

Boston rewarded his efforts with another run in the top of the fourth inning on Jason Varitek's two-out RBI double for a 2-0 lead. The Sox attempted to push another run across on the shot to deep right field when third-base coach DeMarlo Hale waved Mike Lowell, who was on first base, around third but the hampered base runner was thrown out 9-4-2.

"We're certainly not hitting on all cylinders," said Francona. "Sometimes this game can frustrate you a little bit. We're a couple of feet from having maybe five runs when David's ball hit the wall and Tek's ball doesn't get out. We have to keep fighting because sometimes it's not as easy as you want it to be."

Red Sox captain Jason Varitek, who went 1-for-3 to snap a skid of 11 hitless at-bats, believes the club isn't struggling offensively as much as the box score may indicate.

"This is a game of inches," he said. "The ball I hit goes another foot and there are three runs rather than one and David's goes off the top of the wall. There was some good there. [There's no need] to sit there and panic when today was actually a little bit better of a day."

Trailing 6-2 in the top of the eighth inning, the Sox were able to push one more run across.

With one out, Jacoby Ellsbury singled and then stole second for his 100th career swipe. Kevin Youkilis provided a two-out single to score Ellsbury for the club's final run of the game.

"People don't realize you can't do it all at one time," said the Sox' Jason Bay of the club's lack of explosive offense of late. "For the most part guys understand that. Obviously, it would be nice to get more runs, but right now we're just not doing it. ... Whatever the magic formula is, I'd like to know. It's just one of those things where some guys are scuffling a little bit and trying to get back, and other guys might see that and try to do a little too much. We're a better offense team than this -- no question."

While Boston's brief struggles continue, the Yankees won in dramatic fashion Monday night on a walk-off homer by Hideki Matsui and they're now tied with the Sox for the lead in the A.L. East.

 Tags  Jason Varitek John Smoltz Terry Francona

---