Orioles 10, Red Sox 3

 

When I talked about the Red Sox' lack of home runs yesterday and suggested they needed more, I meant offensive home runs. Homers hit by Red Sox players. The team must have misunderstood my request, because in Baltimore yesterday, they gave up seven home runs to the Orioles, three to the first five batters in the first inning. Cora didn't even pull starting pitcher Brayan Bello until the fourth but after he gave up two more homers and the score was 8-1, Baltimore.

Boston remains dead last in the AL East, and last in MLB in slugging percentage and home runs (offensive), I'm stating to think this Red Sox team isn't championship caliber. They're 9-17 on the season and have caught up with Kansas City to tie for the worst record in the American League. The only reason they're not the worst in MLB is because the Phillies are 0-10 in their last ten, while the Sox have gone a mere 3-7.

Today is Crochet Day. Remember when that used to be something to look forward to, something to be excited about? This season, Garrett has fallen to a 2-3 start and a 7.88 ERA, but even if the Sox don't turn their season around, you gotta believe Crochet will turn his. He has a career 1.64 ERA against the Orioles, and is 1-1 in three career starts. He's only given up two home runs and made 28 strikeouts against the Birds in 22 innings. He'll be facing lefty Trevor Rogers, who's off to a 2-2 start and 4.08 ERA. Rogers has a 1-2 record versus the Sox and a career 2.13 ERA. 

But pitching almost doesn't matter. The Red Sox batters need to wake up and start scoring some runs. Bello's performance yesterday aside, it doesn't matter how good your starting pitching is if you don't give them any runs with which to work.