Braves Pound Dice-K, Win 8-2

By KC Downey in Featured, Red Sox, Top Story ⋅ June 20, 2009 at 10:31am ⋅ Post a comment

The Atlanta Braves were in town to face the Red Sox, and the pitcher struggling the most, Daisuke Matsuzaka, was on the mound. It was hard not to think of former Braves pitcher John Smoltz. After another shaky Dice-K outing, it would appear the Red Sox have a temporary answer to their starting pitching logjam.

Dice-K allowed a home run to Nate McLouth on his first pitch of the game, and that kind of set the tone for the rest of his miserable start. He gave up six runs on eight hits and four walks in 4+ innings in an 8-2 loss. He’s now 1-5 on the year with a 2.20 WHIP and an 8.23 ERA.

Sox Stud of the Game

Jason Bay, LF: He was the only player to finish with a hit for the Sox, and he went 2-3 with a HR, a double, and a walk. Otherwise, Atlanta starter Kenshin Kawakami completely shut down the Sox the rest of the way.

Sox Dud of the Game

Sox Offense (minus Bay): Jason Bay finished 2-3 with a walk and a strikeout, but the rest of the lineup went 0-27 with two walks and 10 srikeouts. That’s just not going to get it done.

That’s What He Said

“If I keep going like this, I have no right to be a part of this rotation,” Matsuzaka said.

Game Notes

W: Kenshin Kawakami (4-6)
L: Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-5)

Garret Anderson (yes, he’s still playing) finished 3-3 with four RBI.
John Smoltz will not start in this series, rather debuting early next week against the Nationals.
David Ortiz finished 0-4 with three strikeouts.