It is time to take Ortiz out of the 3rd spot in the lineup. Ortiz went 0-7 and left 12 people on base. Whatever is causing it (steroids, bad wrist, bad knee, weight), it really doesn't matter. What does matter is the fact that he can't get the job done anymore, and at minimum he needs to be put down lower in the lineup. Overall the Sox didn't play bad yesterday, but when Ortiz and Tek combine to leave 19 men on base it is tough to win a game.
Penny had an OK outing going 6 1/3 allowing 4 runs on 7 hits with 4 Ks. The bullpen once again was amazing. Ramon Ramirez has been a stud. He pitched another 2 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball which lowering his ERA to .45, and with Ellsbury playing well that Coco trade looks better and better. Okajima and Papelbon also pitched a scoreless inning each as the Sox charged into extra innings after trying the game at 4 on a Pedroia RBI single.
The good times wouldn't last though. In the bottom of the 12th when Jeff Mathis hit the game winning RBI single off Manny Delcarmen. You can't blame the bullpen for this loss. They gave the Sox every opportunity to win and the Sox just could not knock in runs. Ortiz struck out 3 times, and once again a decision on him needs to be made. In my eyes they should put him on the DL with some kind of injury, and then let him do a rehab stint for a while....
The good news is once again Toronto lost, so the Sox are still only a game back in the AL East.
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