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June 14, 2007
BOSTON -- Suddenly, it has all gone wrong for the Red Sox.
For the past 10 days or so, they couldnt hit. But now, over the last two nights, they havent been able to pitch, either.
Like Curt Schilling the night before, Josh Beckett let the game get away from him in the early innings. Beckett, who hadnt lost a start before last night, was bashed for a season-high 10 hits and six runs as the Sox suffered their third loss in the last four tries, 7-1 to the Colorado Rockies.
Bostons loss, coupled with the Yankees ninth-straight win earlier in the day, narrowed the Sox lead in the A.L. East to 7 ½ games.
Beckett was bidding to become the first Red Sox pitcher to begin a season 10-0 since Ike Delock in 1958. Instead, he found himself trailing before his teammates got a turn at bat.
Two innings later, Beckett loaded the bases with a single to Kaz Matsui, a double to Matt Holliday and a walk to Todd Helton, then promptly unloaded them with a grand slam into the Monster Seats from Garrett Atkins.
``(Expletive) pitch, sighed Beckett. ``No other word for it."
The lead grew to 5-0 when Matt Holliday smacked a solo homer in the fourth. It was the third homer in the last two nights by Rockies hitters.
``We made some mistakes at the wrong time," agreed catcher Jason Varitek. ``The big one was the Atkins home run. We stay away from that and were in that ball game."
Instead, the early deficit proved too much for the suddenly slumping offense to overcome.
Entering last night, Beckett had received the strongest run support 7.3 runs per nine innings -- of the Red Sox five regular starters this season. But the teams offensive drought continued unabated. Another lineup combination this one featuring J.D. Drew as the teams fourth leadoff hitter in the last four games couldnt generate much punch.
In the three-game series with Colorado, the Sox scored a total of five runs. Over the last 9 games, the Sox have scored more than two runs in a game exactly twice. Since leaving for the West Coast on June 3, the Sox have averaged slightly better than three runs per game.
Subtract their 10-run outburst against Arizona a week ago in the series opener at Chase Field, and that number dips to 2.5 runs per contest.
``Were not scoring in bunches, but we will, asserted Terry Francona. ``You always get tested over 162 games. Well keep at it; its about the only thing we can do. Well keep going and get ourselves through it.
``Its not good, man," said David Ortiz. ``We havent been hitting for (anything), so hopefully, we'll get better."
The Sox were a woeful 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position last night and stranded 14 baserunners.
The night might have turned around for the Sox with some better luck in the second.
With the bases loaded and just one out, Drew hit a rocket up the middle. But rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, shifted behind the second base bag, extended himself and snared the knee-high line drive, freezing the baserunners.
``Were looking at a 2-1 lead and being in the middle of a big rally (if the ball gets past the infield)," lamented Francona. ``Then they turn around in the top of the next inning and hit the grand slam. Thats a big swing right there, obviously a pivotal point in the game.
Beckett blamed poor command within the strike zone for his ineffectiveness and first loss of the season.
``It was a fun run, he said of his 9-0 start.
The Sox had some early-inning opportunities against Colorado lefty Jeff Francis, but couldnt collect a hit when it counted.
Boston stranded two in the first, left the bases loaded in the second and stranded two more in the fourth.
``I wouldnt necessarily call it a slump when were hitting balls at people at different times," said Varitek.. ``If that ball goes through for J.D., we have ourselves a different ball game. Things always have to match up. You have to pitch well when you swing the bats."
And for the time being, the Sox are doing neither.
SEAN McADAM
Posted by Thom Cahir 
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