soxscloop

When Paul Byrd is on, he changes speeds and paints corners, using his curve, change, slider and (don’t laugh) fastball, to induce ground balls and lazy flies. Today he was not on. Byrd was hit hard by the Jays, going 5+  and giving up 5 runs on 10 hits. Rookie Travis Snider was the highlight of the Jays offense with a homer and 5 rbi. Byrds opponent, AJ Burnett, was pitching on three days rest but seemed to have little trouble with the short notice. He went 6 shutout innings and baffled the Red Sox with 96 mph heat and a hammer of a curve ball. The result was an 8-1 loss which saw many of the Sox regulars leave early to rest up for the nightcap of the double header.

The Yankkes were no help as they dropped the first game of their double header to the Rays, leaving the Sox 3 games back. It won’t get any easier either. The night game will see the return of Bartolo Colon, who hasn’t pitched since June and may show some rust, against Jesse Litch who has pitched well against the Sox. The Sunday Game will be the iron horse Roy Halladay against the best hope for Boston; Jon Lester.

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