White Sox Slaughter Byrd, Red Sox 12-2

By KC Downey in Featured, Red Sox, Top Story ⋅ September 5, 2009 at 1:25am ⋅ Post a comment

Coming off a surprisingly strong start in a win against the Blue Jays, recently re-signed starter Paul Byrd was looking to continue to his run of good pitching against the White Sox Friday night. After one scoreless inning, things looked good.

In the second inning, former Red Sox 1B/OF Mark Kotsay launched a two-run shot off Byrd to give the White Sox a 2-0 lead, but still, all seemed OK. The Red Sox could recover from a 2-0 deficit, right? Byrd then couldn’t get out of the third inning, and allowed five more earned runs to give him one very ugly final line: 2.1 IP, 10 H, 7 ER. His outing gave him a season ERA of 7.36, despite the fact he had six scoreless innings in his first start.

Junichi Tazawa entered in relief and didn’t fare much better, allowing five more runs in the fourth inning to blow the game even more wide open. He settled down later and got through 3.2 innings after allowing seven hits and five earned runs, but the damage was clearly done as the White Sox finished with a 12-2 win.

The Red Sox scored in the fourth inning on a RBI single from Kevin Youkilis, and added a cheap run in the ninth inning on an RBI double from George Kottaras, which scored new acquisition Joey Gathright.

Sox Stud of the Game

Junichi Tazawa, P: Tazawa, while bad, saved the Sox bullpen. Byrd could only go 2.1 innings, and with the team down 7-0, they needed Tazawa to pitch in a mop-up role. He got the team through six innings, which isn’t bad considering the circumstances.

Sox Dud of the Game

Paul Byrd, SP: At least Byrd didn’t walk anyone, but that means he was pitching meatballs all night. It’s really hard to allow 10 hits in just 2.1 innings, but due to his hitless opening fram, Byrd managed to do that in just 1.1 innings! Not good.

That’s What He Said

“Quite a difference, huh? It is tough,” Byrd said regarding the difference between his first start and Friday’s rough outing.

Game Notes

W: Freddy Garcia (1-2)
L: Paul Byrd (1-1)

Freddy Garcia had his best start of the year for the White Sox. He allowed just one run in six innings pitched.
Mark Kotsay finished 3-4 with a HR and three RBI against his former club.
Tim Wakefield is slated to start Saturday against the White Sox.