Red Sox Losing Streak At 3 after 6-2 Defeat To TB...Triple Play Does Not Help..No DL Time For Papi

Although they won the first game 3-1 behind the incredible pitching of Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox starter Eric Bedard had a 36 pitch first inning IN GAME TWO but still managed to go 6 full. But the Sox bats have been quiet lately and they couldn't make up those four runs. His pitch count is up where he wants it to be but he hasn't put it all together and won a game. On Bedard, here's Sox skipper Terry Francona...

"We didn't help Bedard a lot at times. A couple of runs; it's not always errors. It's maybe extra opportunities, things like that."

And MVP candidate Jacoby Ellsbuy...

"He pitched well. He only gave up three hits. I thought he did a good job mixing up various pitches. He has good stuff. He's locating, getting guys to chase."

And the man himself, Bedard...

"I feel good. My pitch count is back up to normal. I'm just going out there and trying to keep the team in the ballgame."

His ERA is in the lower threes...that's fine and he'll win a few games with that pitching production. Just not yet. There was a bright point for the team from Boston in game two. They pulled off a triple play, their first since 1994. Here is the way the Boston Herald described it and simply click on this post's title to see all the highlights of both games. My thanks go out to the Herald for this...

"With the bases loaded and no outs, Sean Rodriguez ripped a hard grounder to third baseman Jed Lowrie. Lowrie tapped the bag and fired to second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who rifled a throw to first to complete the first Red Sox triple play since Valentin turned the trick against the Mariners 17 years ago."

Want to hear something funny? Sure you do. I remember watching that game 17 years ago. My goodness, how time flies. It's going too fast for me, that's for sure.

Big Papi David Ortiz, who has been one of the MVPs on this team so far, has had a setback with his right heel. But there will be no DL time, not as of yet. Here's our skipper once again...

"We're going to get him out of his spikes for a couple days and get him in a little bit of a walking boot, just to kind of alleviate some of the pressure. We'll keep re-evaluating him every couple days, but we want to get him off that for a little while."

Papi, we can't afford to lose you at this late date of the 2011 season. Please heal. As for the AL East standings, the Yankees won once again so they are one half game ahead of second place Boston. Here are the standings for NY and Boston...

W L Pct GB Home Road East Central West Last 10 Streak
NY Yankees 74 46 .617 ** 40 - 24 34 - 22 24 - 21 18 - 12 19 - 8 6 - 4 W 3
Boston 74 47 .612** 0.5 38 - 23 36 - 24 31 - 14 18 - 15 15 - 10 6 - 4

And this afternoon's starters will be J. Lackey (11-8) vs. D. Price (10-10). Price is one tough cookie but Lackey has been winning a ton of games. Let's hope he keeps it going, although he'll need some run support. He's usually good for giving up 3-5 tallies. The first pitch will occur at 1:35pm EDT. FOR the BOSTON RED SOX, it's a HUGE game and the team needs a win desperately. Here's hoping.

Please click on this post's title for more on the half-successful Tuesday doubleheader. I'll be back around gametime. Count on it. As always, BE WELL and thanks for being here once again. GO SOX.