Final Score: Boston Red Sox 3, Baltimore Orioles 6Man, I hate games like this one; games where nothing goes quite right, where the other side offers the bait so many times, then keeps making the plays that kill the almost rallies; games where the umpires don't make the opportune calls or - sometimes - even the right call...games that the Red Sox have been lucky enough to consistently win this year, but ended up on the wrong side of the coin last night.
How did luck hurt the Sox? Let me count the ways:
- Too many men left on base. The Sox pulled five walks and loaded the bases three times, but only scored three runs: two runs on walks and one on a Julio Lugo double in the second. Boston had had plenty of opportunities to put the nails into the coffin, but Orioles starter Brian Burres managed to keep wriggling away at the last second. The Sox ended the night with thirteen men stranded.
- Miguel Tejada's jumping abilities. The last time Boston loaded the bases was in the seventh inning, on a series of walks and a double. Up strides pinch hitter J.D. Drew, coming in on his night off to face old friend "Hanging" Chad Bradford and finally break this stupid game open. Drew smashes a ball towards left center that by all rights should have been a two-run single, until Tejada leaps, catches it and nearly doubles Mike Lowell off second base. As a reprise, Tejada does the exact same thing two innings later, stealing a hit from Kevin Youkilis.
- Bad umpiring. It's always worse when it goes against you, but the Sox do have plenty to complain about with the current umpiring crew: a questionable "he swung" call against Big Papi in the sixth, a bad out call against Wily Mo Pena at first in the third inning and a worse strike three call against Mike Lowell to kill a rally in the first inning involve three-quarters of the umpiring crew that will be officiating the next two games. Not a pleasant thought.
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