Beaten like a drum

(April 14)

Short Take:  Was there anything positive in this game?   

Let's get the highlights out of the way first.  This is going to be ugly and we wouldn't want anything upbeat to spoil the mood.  The Sox were beaten like a drum by the Minnesota Twins Saturday night in the Hump Dome, and there isn't any way to sugar-coat what was an abysmal performance.  The final score was 9-4, and the only surprising thing is that the Sox ever managed to have the lead.  

The first inning was the highlight.  Frank Thomas stroked what seems like his millionth first-inning homerun with Jose Valentin aboard.  Carlos Lee doubled home Magglio Ordonez and the Sox took the field with a three run lead.  That's it, Sox Fans.  It was all down hill from here.

Staff ace David Wells got touched for two runs in the bottom-half of the frame, allowed three more runs in the next three innings.  He left the game after seven innings having allowed five runs, seven hits (two of them dingers) and the Sox down 5-3.  What's scary Sox Fans, is he may have been the best pitcher we had today.

Kelly Wunsch came on in relief and was shelled for four runs on three hits with a walk.  Bob Howry came in to get the last two outs for Wunsch but not before allowing two double and four inherited runners to score.

What, is he taking lessons from Bill Simas?

Of course Sox bats were in a deep slumber.  Leadoff man Ray Durham had one inconsequential double for his only successful effort to reach base.  Royce Clayton was finally relegated to the #9 slot and had another 0-fer performance.  His batting average is now .129.  The Sox got eleven hits off Minnesota pitching and scored only three earned runs.  Pathetic.

It only lasted 2 hours and 47 minutes.  Thank heaven for small favors.