The Red Sox dropped their 10th game on the season on Saturday with a 9-3 loss to the Nationals. The loss brings the Red Sox 2nd half record to 0-2.
Grant Craddolph took the mound for his first start of the year. He had his A game working early on as he held the Nationals scoreless in the first inning. As usual, the Red Sox defense played well behind him. In the first inning, Lawrence Gilliam handled a pop fly to second for the first out. After a single, an HBP and an error by Lawrence at 2nd, the bases were loaded. Grant beared down and got the next batter to ground out to the pitcher. Grant easily fielded the grounder and threw the runner out with a shot to Charles Heard on first. Grant struck the next batter out to end the inning.
The Red Sox bats came to life in the bottom of the first as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead. The first 4 batters recorded hits. Gary Smith got things started with a double to left center field. After advancing to 3rd on a passed ball, Gary scored on an RBI single to left field by Jonathan Phelps. Jonathan moved to second on a wild pitch and was brought home on an RBI single by Grant Craddolph. It was an awesome display of hitting for the Red Sox. At the end of one, the score was Red Sox 2, Nationals 0.
Grant continued to stymie the Nationals in the second inning. After allowing a lead off double to Nathan Moore to start the inning. Grant buckled down and got the next 3 batters. Out one was recorded on a come backer to the mound 1-3 (Grant to Charles). Grant struck out the next batter to record his second K for the day. Grant closed the side by snagging a hard hit line drive back to the mound. Web Gem material.
The Red Sox were held scoreless in the bottom of the second. Lawrence Gilliam lead off the inning with a pop fly infield single but was left stranded. At the end of two, the scored remained 2-0 Red Sox.
The Nationals struck for 2 runs in the 3rd on 2 hits and a walk. Grant recorded out 1 by fielding a ground ball to the mound and gunning the lead runner with a throw to Gary covering second. He recorded his 3rd strike out of the game to record out 2. Charles handled a pop fly to third to record out 3.
The Sox went quietly in the bottom of the 3rd. Grant walked with one out but was caught stealing 2nd.
After pitching the max number of innings in a game (3), Grant was relieved by Lawrence in the top of the 4th. Grant went 3 strong innings, allowing 2 runs, 4 hits, 1 walk and 1 HBP. He struck out 3.
The Nationals got 1 run in the top of the 4th to take a 3-2 lead. After striking out the first batter, Lawrence allowed a double Nationals RF, Quincy. Quincy would score on a wild pitch and a passed ball. Lawrence struck out the next batter to record out 2. Charles fielded a tricky ground ball between 1st and 2nd to record out 3.
The Red Sox answered back in the bottom of the 4th. After the first 2 batters struck out. Blake White walked to get things started. Lawrence followed with a walk to get runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs. Norey Smith stepped to the plate and delivered a clutch 2 out RBI base hit to score Blake and move Lawrence to 3rd. Rick Powell followed with a walk to load the bases for team batting leader Jonathan. Jonathan was robbed of a base hit up the middle by a great play by Nationals short stop, Chase. At the end of 4, the score was tied 3-3.
The Nationals scored 3 in the top of 5th as the Red Sox caught a severe case of "T-Ball-itis". The Red Sox have not found a cure for this dreaded disorder as it has reared its ugly head in many close games this season. After getting the first batter on a 1-3 putout from Lawrence to David Cooper on 1st, Lawrence surrendered a double to Nationals hard hitting catcher, Reuben. Rick fielded a hard hit ball to 3rd and held the runner at second. And then.... "T-Ball-itis". A series of bad throws and bad decisions allowed both runners to score. Disgruntled, Lawrence walked the next batter. Out 2 was recorded on Lawrence's 3rd K of the day. And then .... a relapse of "T-Ball-itis". Another sequence of over throws allowed the 3rd run of the inning to cross the plate. After another walk, David recorded out 3 on 1st with an unassisted put out.
The Nationals brought in their fire balling closer Chase in the top of the 5th. He made quick work of the Red Sox, retiring the side in order with 2 strike outs. He was aided by the third Red Sox batter of the day being called out for throwing a bat after making contact with the ball. At the end of 5, the score was 6-3 Nationals.
Charles and Derrick Marshall handled the pitching duties for the Red Sox in the 6th. On 3 walks and 3 hits, the Nationals struck for 3 runs. Derrick had a nice throw to 2nd on a steal attempt to record out 1. He would later record 2 strike outs to close out the inning.
The Red Sox displayed a "never say die" attitude in the bottom of the 6th. David hit a hard grounder to the whole between SS and 3rd and was robbed of a base hit by a great play by the National short stop, Kyle. After the next batter stuck out, Lawrence stepped to the plate and delivered a 2 out single up the middle but was left stranded on first.
The guys played a good game despite their recurring ailment. The first 4 innings of the game were the best that the guys have played all year. When you consider the fact that we gave the Nationals 3 outs on thrown bat errors, and 3 runs on "T-Ball moments", the game was much closer than the final score suggests.
Special thanks to Gary's parents for the tasty wings and to Grant's parents for the cake.
The game summary is attached and can be found here.
The season to date stats are attached and can be found here .
As always, an archive of these updates can be found on the blog.
Grant Craddolph took the mound for his first start of the year. He had his A game working early on as he held the Nationals scoreless in the first inning. As usual, the Red Sox defense played well behind him. In the first inning, Lawrence Gilliam handled a pop fly to second for the first out. After a single, an HBP and an error by Lawrence at 2nd, the bases were loaded. Grant beared down and got the next batter to ground out to the pitcher. Grant easily fielded the grounder and threw the runner out with a shot to Charles Heard on first. Grant struck the next batter out to end the inning.
The Red Sox bats came to life in the bottom of the first as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead. The first 4 batters recorded hits. Gary Smith got things started with a double to left center field. After advancing to 3rd on a passed ball, Gary scored on an RBI single to left field by Jonathan Phelps. Jonathan moved to second on a wild pitch and was brought home on an RBI single by Grant Craddolph. It was an awesome display of hitting for the Red Sox. At the end of one, the score was Red Sox 2, Nationals 0.
Grant continued to stymie the Nationals in the second inning. After allowing a lead off double to Nathan Moore to start the inning. Grant buckled down and got the next 3 batters. Out one was recorded on a come backer to the mound 1-3 (Grant to Charles). Grant struck out the next batter to record his second K for the day. Grant closed the side by snagging a hard hit line drive back to the mound. Web Gem material.
The Red Sox were held scoreless in the bottom of the second. Lawrence Gilliam lead off the inning with a pop fly infield single but was left stranded. At the end of two, the scored remained 2-0 Red Sox.
The Nationals struck for 2 runs in the 3rd on 2 hits and a walk. Grant recorded out 1 by fielding a ground ball to the mound and gunning the lead runner with a throw to Gary covering second. He recorded his 3rd strike out of the game to record out 2. Charles handled a pop fly to third to record out 3.
The Sox went quietly in the bottom of the 3rd. Grant walked with one out but was caught stealing 2nd.
After pitching the max number of innings in a game (3), Grant was relieved by Lawrence in the top of the 4th. Grant went 3 strong innings, allowing 2 runs, 4 hits, 1 walk and 1 HBP. He struck out 3.
The Nationals got 1 run in the top of the 4th to take a 3-2 lead. After striking out the first batter, Lawrence allowed a double Nationals RF, Quincy. Quincy would score on a wild pitch and a passed ball. Lawrence struck out the next batter to record out 2. Charles fielded a tricky ground ball between 1st and 2nd to record out 3.
The Red Sox answered back in the bottom of the 4th. After the first 2 batters struck out. Blake White walked to get things started. Lawrence followed with a walk to get runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs. Norey Smith stepped to the plate and delivered a clutch 2 out RBI base hit to score Blake and move Lawrence to 3rd. Rick Powell followed with a walk to load the bases for team batting leader Jonathan. Jonathan was robbed of a base hit up the middle by a great play by Nationals short stop, Chase. At the end of 4, the score was tied 3-3.
The Nationals scored 3 in the top of 5th as the Red Sox caught a severe case of "T-Ball-itis". The Red Sox have not found a cure for this dreaded disorder as it has reared its ugly head in many close games this season. After getting the first batter on a 1-3 putout from Lawrence to David Cooper on 1st, Lawrence surrendered a double to Nationals hard hitting catcher, Reuben. Rick fielded a hard hit ball to 3rd and held the runner at second. And then.... "T-Ball-itis". A series of bad throws and bad decisions allowed both runners to score. Disgruntled, Lawrence walked the next batter. Out 2 was recorded on Lawrence's 3rd K of the day. And then .... a relapse of "T-Ball-itis". Another sequence of over throws allowed the 3rd run of the inning to cross the plate. After another walk, David recorded out 3 on 1st with an unassisted put out.
The Nationals brought in their fire balling closer Chase in the top of the 5th. He made quick work of the Red Sox, retiring the side in order with 2 strike outs. He was aided by the third Red Sox batter of the day being called out for throwing a bat after making contact with the ball. At the end of 5, the score was 6-3 Nationals.
Charles and Derrick Marshall handled the pitching duties for the Red Sox in the 6th. On 3 walks and 3 hits, the Nationals struck for 3 runs. Derrick had a nice throw to 2nd on a steal attempt to record out 1. He would later record 2 strike outs to close out the inning.
The Red Sox displayed a "never say die" attitude in the bottom of the 6th. David hit a hard grounder to the whole between SS and 3rd and was robbed of a base hit by a great play by the National short stop, Kyle. After the next batter stuck out, Lawrence stepped to the plate and delivered a 2 out single up the middle but was left stranded on first.
The guys played a good game despite their recurring ailment. The first 4 innings of the game were the best that the guys have played all year. When you consider the fact that we gave the Nationals 3 outs on thrown bat errors, and 3 runs on "T-Ball moments", the game was much closer than the final score suggests.
Special thanks to Gary's parents for the tasty wings and to Grant's parents for the cake.
The game summary is attached and can be found here.
The season to date stats are attached and can be found here .
As always, an archive of these updates can be found on the blog.
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