August 4, 2008
Meche, Bullpen combine to shutout Sox
Kansas City 2, Boston 0
The Red Sox woes continued in Kansas City last night, as Josh Beckett's strong performance (7 IP, 7 Hs, 2 Rs, 3 K's) was wasted as Gil Meche and the Royals' bullpen combined to hold the Sox scoreless on seven hits.
Kansas City starter Gil Meche delivers a pitch in the first inning against Boston.
Mark Grudzielanek gave Meche all the support he would need in the bottom of the third, when he singled home former Oriole Freddie Bynm from second for the early one run lead. Meche made it hold up, scattering seven hits over seven innings while striking out five and walking just one.
"Our bats are asleep, and it's a bad time for it," DH David Ortiz said afterwards. "Give them credit for playing well, but we lost this game, they didn't win it."
Ron Mahay (1/3 IP), Brad Salmon (2/3 IP) and Joakim Soria (1 IP) combined to throw the final two innings, keeping the Sox off the bases.
The Sox did threaten in the eighth with Meche starting to labor. Dustin Pedroia led off the inning with a double to right and pinch hitter Andruw Jones moved him to third with an infield single to short. With the go ahead runners coming to the plate, Kansas City manager Trey Hillman turned to his bullpen. Coco Crisp and Rafael Furcal both popped out to the second baseman before David Ortiz struck out looking to end the threat.
The loss, the Sox's third straight and seventh in their last ten games, moved New York to just one game behind Boston in the American League East.
W: Meche (7-10) L: Beckett (11-5) SV: Soria (27)
Player of the Game: Gil Meche (7 IP, 6 Hs, BB, 5 K's, 95 PI)
Around the League:
...Detroit RF Magglio Ordonez and Atlanta 1B Mark Teixeira were named Players of the Week....Colorado LF Matt Holliday went 5-5 against the Washington Nationals, with 1 2B, 2 RBIs and 2 Runs Scored.