Beaten By The Other Sox

The Red Sox had a devil of a time with Mark Buehrle last night, and couldn't get a man to third against him in 7+ innings. It was a bit surprising, as the Sox have owned Buehrle over the last few years. He was 0-4 with an ERA of over 7.00 in his last four starts against the Red Sox, and he got absolutely hammered in Kansas City in his last outing, giving up 14 hits in 4+ innings.

So naturally the Red Sox looked feeble against him as Chicago won, 5-3.

Dustin Pedroia hit a three-run homer against Octavio Dotel in the eighth to get the Red Sox on the board, but Manny Delcarmen gave any momentum back in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to Carlos Quentin. Jon Lester pitched 7 innings and gave up four earned runs. It was his first loss since May and ended his seven-game winning streak.

Tampa Bay won so the Red Sox fell to 3 1/2 games back in the AL East.

Before the game it was announced that Brian Giles refused a trade to the Red Sox from the Padres. Giles was claimed off waivers, but had the right to refuse a trade to nine teams, and the Red Sox were one of them. It was curious that Giles, whose career has really suffered playing in a pitchers park like Petco Park, would decline a trade from the Padres, who are hopelessly out of it in the NL West. It would put him in the middle of a pennant race. It would mean he would sit on the bench as a reserve player, but he would also get a $2 million relocation fee for the trade as well.

But Giles is from the San Diego area, and doesn't want to leave his family, which is understandable. He likes his situation in San Diego very much, but the Padres don't. The Padres would love to have gotten out from under his $9 million contract, which also has an option for the same amount next season. You don't get opportunities to revive your career like this every day. Giles seems to be the polar opposite of Ken Griffey, who left the Reds for a postseason shot to help the White Sox as a part-time player.