Monday, September 19, 2011

So How Brutal Has The Last Three Weeks Been?

A split with the lowly Orioles at Fenway today. Another brutal loss in the first game, 6-5, and basically a laugher in the second, 18-9. John Lackey, who hopefully will be released this winter, was determined to give away an 11-5 lead, went just 4 1/3 innings and allowed 8 runs. It was the ninth time this season he has allowed more runs than innings pitched in an outing.

The Sox' Magic Number to clinch a playoff berth is now at 8.

I took a look at the last 21 games since the last time the Red Sox won two in a row, and that was the doubleheader sweep over Oakland. They are 6-15 since then. Here is a breakdown of each game since August 27 ("fell behind early" is within the first three innings):

1. Aug. 30 vs. NY: Fell behind early, never had the lead, lost, 5-2.
2. Aug. 31 vs. NY: Fell behind early, got the lead, lost lead, regained it and won, 9-5.
3. Sept. 1 vs. NY: Fell behind early, grabbed lead, lost lead and lost, 4-2.
4. Sept. 2 vs. Tex: Fell behind early, never scored, lost 10-0.
5. Sept, 3 vs. Tex: Fell behind early, scored 8 runs in the 4th, won 12-7.
6. Sept. 4 vs. Tex: Fell behind early, scored four late inconsequential runs late, lost, 11-4.
7. Sept. 5 at Tor: Lost on a HR in the 11th inning, 1-0.
8. Sept. 6 at Tor: Scored 14 unanswered runs, won, 14-0.
9. Sept. 7 at Tor: Scored 3 runs in the 1st, gave up the lead in the 3rd, got the lead back, lost in the 8th: 11-10.
10. Sept. 8 at Tor: Fell behind early, never had the lead, lost, 7-4.
11. Sept. 9: at TB: Fell behind early, never had the lead, lost 7-2.
12. Sept. 10 at TB: Fell behind early, tied the game in the ninth, lose in the 11th, 6-5.
13. Sept. 11 at TB: Fell behind early, never had the lead, lost, 9-1.
14. Sept. 13 vs. Tor: Early lead, fell behind by the third, got lead back and won, 18-6.
15. Sept. 14 vs. Tor: Fell behind early, got the lead in the third, gave it up in the 8th and lost, 5-4.
16. Sept. 15 vs. TB: Fell behind early, never had the lead, lost, 9-2.
17. Sept. 16 vs. TB: Fell behind early, got the lead in the 4th and won, 4-3.
18. Sept. 17 vs. TB: Fell behind early, never had the lead, lost, 4-3.
19. Sept. 18 vs. TB: Fell behind early, never had the lead, lost, 8-5.
20. Sept. 19 vs. BAL (game 1): Fell behind early, never had the lead, lost, 6-5.
21. Sept. 19 vs. BAL (game 2): Fell behind early, get the lead in the first, and win, 18-9.

The Sox fell behind early in 17 of the 21 games, and lost all but two of those games. They never lead in seven of them. Interesting that of the six Sox wins in this awful stretch, they scored nine or more runs in 5 of the 6.

Now, let's see if the ship is finally righted and they can win two straight for the first time since August 27th on Tuesday night.

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