News
Masterson handed loss on home turf
Red Sox falter against Indians, who light up right-hander
By Ian Browne / MLB.com
05/06/09 11:42 PM ET
BOSTON -- The Red Sox returned to Fenway Park on Wednesday night, riding some momentum after pulling out a two-game sweep of the Yankees in the Bronx. As it turned out though, there was no positive carryover effect in a 9-2 loss to the Indians.Playing short-handed -- the Red Sox didn't have Jacoby Ellsbury or Kevin Youkilis -- the bats were handled by Carl Pavano.
"It was just a game where it seemed like our energy was a little bit not where it should be," said Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell. "I didn't think we did our job as good as we should have."
Things weren't much better on the mound, where Justin Masterson faltered in the fifth inning for the second successive outing.
Were the Red Sox flat coming off of a nine-game road trip that included several late-night flights?
"I don't think it helps," said Lowell. "I think I got in at three in the morning four times during this road trip and it's not because I'm painting the town red. I don't think that helps. That's part of the business. Like my high school coach says, when you feel [lousy], you have to will yourself to be great. That's kind of a good motto to follow."
There was very little greatness demonstrated by the Red Sox on this night.
Masterson gave up eight hits and six runs over 6 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out six.
"When he got in trouble, it seemed like it was directly related to command," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "His stuff was good, but when he didn't command, that's when they scored."
And the Red Sox simply couldn't score enough. Boston did jump out first, thanks to a rally in the bottom of the second. Jason Bay led off with a walk against Pavano. Lowell followed with a double to left. Jason Varitek also walked, loading the bases with nobody out.
Jeff Bailey, with a golden opportunity, instead grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. The only good news was that Bay scored to make it 1-0. Jonathan Van Every drilled an RBI single to right, increasing the lead to two runs.
"We had a couple of chances to score and never really did, and never really got much else after that," said Bay.
Back came the Indians in the third. An RBI single by Asdrubal Cabrera cut the Boston lead to a run.
The Red Sox had a chance to increase their lead in the fourth, loading the bases with one out. But Pavano struck out Nick Green and got J.D. Drew on a grounder to emerge unscathed.
"We got a couple [runs] and we had chances to add on and then, like Pavano did in his last outing, he got comfortable," Francona said. "He started using all his pitches. He started taking [something] off some of his pitches, locating his fastball and then we're fighting from behind. He added and subtracted really well and started throwing strikes."
That missed opportunity in the fourth really proved costly when the Indians jumped on Masterson in the fifth. Victor Martinez drilled a two-run double to center to put Cleveland on top for the first time in the game. Van Every tried to make a spectacular catch, but instead banged into the wall as the ball scooted away.
"I felt like I got run over by a truck," Van Every said. "The concrete is a lot harder than I am. I'll be OK. I just got a little twisted up -- got caught in between. Should I catch the ball or play it off the wall?"
Shin-Soo Choo followed with a line single to center, scoring Martinez to make it a 4-2 game.
The Indians broke it open in the seventh. Martinez delivered an RBI single to right, knocking out Masterson. With Hunter Jones on for the Red Sox, Mark DeRosa ripped a two-run shot into the Monster seats, giving Cleveland a 7-2 lead.
It was Masterson's first career loss at Fenway after the righty had run off seven wins in a row at home the past two seasons.
"I'm just really disappointed today that it's a loss," Masterson said. "It's more that than anything. Whatever the record was coming in and having the lone loss now, it was bound to happen sometimes. It's unfortunate this way and I'll have to come out next time and continue to try to pitch well."
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
