San Frustration by Jared Carrabis
Sox may have suffered a loss in more than just the standings


Frustration is defined as "a feeling of dissatisfaction, resulting from unfulfilled needs or unresolved problems."

The "feeling of dissatisfaction" on Friday night would have to be the 2-for-10 performance with runners in scoring position, or maybe it was the thirteen men left on base? If you voted for the three innings that the Red Sox left the bases loaded and did not score, including the ninth inning, then that's also an acceptable response.

Things were looking optimistic in the top of the first, when Kevin Youkilis worked an eight-pitch at bat, and mashed a 92 MPH fastball for a three-run bomb.

For lefty Giants' starter Jonathan Sanchez, the homer should have come as no surprise. Youkilis entered the night hitting .429 against left-handed pitching. After taking Sanchez deep, Youkilis had homered seven times in 50 at bats against southpaws.

In the very next inning, Tim Wakefield's three-run lead was wiped clean. With one out in the second, four singles and a walk had pushed a run across, while loading the bases for the pitcher, Sanchez.

Hoping to squeeze home a run, Sanchez pushed a bunt to the right side of the infield. Wakefield came off the mound, could not make a play at the plate, rushed his throw to first and air-mailed it over the head of Youkilis.

Sanchez was credited with an RBI single, as Rowand scored on the throwing error by Wakefield.

A scary moment took place in the top of the third when Dustin Pedroia came to bat to start the inning. Ahead in the count 3-1, Pedroia hacked at a fastball and fouled the ball of his foot. Being the tough player he is, Pedroia finished the at bat, working a walk, but would leave the game with an apparent foot injury.

Adding insult to injury, in the bottom half of the same inning, Juan Uribe smoked a solo home run to deep left field, giving the Giants a 4-3 lead.

Wakefield would regain form and hold the Giants to just the four runs, while logging seven innings. Of the four runs, only three were earned, but the unearned run was his own fault. The veteran knuckleballer scattered eleven hits, while walking two and striking out three on 100 pitches.

With the score still 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth, the Giants would tack on another run via the sacrifice fly.

Trailing by two in the ninth inning, the Red Sox made things interesting. With closer Brian Wilson on the mound, Boston didn't do themselves any favors by recording the first two outs in consecutive at bats to start the inning.

Refusing to go quietly, Youkilis drove a 1-0 fastball out to one of the deepest parts of the ballpark for a three-base hit. Not known for his speed, it was Youkilis' fourth triple of the season.

With Victor Martinez batting from the left side of the plate, and the defense shifted to the right side of the infield, Martinez shot a base hit into left field, scoring Youkilis from third.

Behind in the count 0-2, Adrian Beltre got a Wilson fastball at 97 MPH by the chin. Beltre responded by hammering the next pitch into left field to put the tying run in scoring position.

After a coaching visit to the mound, Bill Hall worked a seven-pitch walk to load the bases for Darnell McDonald. McDonald, who was 1-for-4 entering his at bat in the ninth, fouled off three pitches, before grounding out harmlessly to shortstop, ending the game and leaving the bases loaded.



Final score: Red Sox 4, Giants 5
WP: Jonathan Sanchez (6-5)
LP: Tim Wakefield (2-6)
SV: Brian Wilson (21)

Game notes: Dustin Pedroia, who had been hitting .500 (26-for-52) with 4 HR and 13 RBI over his last 13 games, left the clubhouse with his left foot in a walking boot, while walking on crutches. His X-rays after the game did not show a break, but Terry Francona told the media that, "the kid’s sore as hell." Pedroia is scheduled to have tests done on his foot at 1pm ET on Saturday. The Red Sox will be forced to call up an infielder before Saturday’s 7:10 start time (4:10pm PT). On a positive note, after going 1-for-5 on Friday, Adrian Beltre is hitting .345 in the month of June, with 6 HR and 17 RBI in 22 games.

Tweet of the Night: @IanMBrowne: Pedroia's plans over-night? "Just ice, elevate and pray."

-Jared Carrabis

To order Jared's debut book, One Fan's Story: If This Hat Could Talk, click HERE!





Published on June 26, 2010

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