Lackey Lit Up (AGAIN) in Loss to Blue Jays

By KC Downey in Featured, Red Sox, Top Story ⋅ July 5, 2011 at 1:52am ⋅ Post a comment

John Lackey (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Two things remained a constant on Monday. Americans across Boston and the country celebrated the Fourth of July. John Lackey had yet another horrendous outing on the mound.

On Monday, he reached a new low: his fewest innings pitched in a start as a member of the Red Sox. Lackey lasted just 2.1 innings and allowed seven runs on nine hits. It seems that even Lackey (5-8, 7.47 ERA this year) is running out of excuses for his inexcusable play on the mound. While he said his velocity was “good,” his location was off.

“I would have fixed it if I had known” what was causing the struggles, Lackey said. “Some soft ones fell in on good pitches and made some bad pitches that got hit hard. It kind of all added up to that.”

Lackey has now given up 20 earned runs in 15 innings against the Blue Jays (12.00 ERA) this year. At Fenway, he’s even worse: 3-4 with a 9.17 ERA.

Despite falling into a huge hole early (Sox were down 7-0 through 3 innings), the Red Sox battled back, scoring four runs in the fifth off start Brandon Morrow, and another three in the eighth off Jason Frasor to make things interesting.

Most of the Sox offense came from two, two-run triples (Jacoby Ellsbury in the fifth and Jarrod Saltalamacchia in the eighth). But, it was not enough in a 9-7 loss.

Sox Stud of the Game: Jacoby Ellsbury

Jacoby Ellsbury led the offense with a 4-5 effort and a run scored, 2 RBI, and a stolen base.

Sox Dud of the Game: John Lackey

He sucks.

Game Notes:

W: Brandon Morrow (5-4)
L: John Lackey (5-8)
SV: Frank Francisco (10)

Adrian Gonzalez finished 1-5 with his 75th RBI.
Kevin Youkilis left the game after getting hit in the upper back. Yamaico Navarro went 1-3 in his place at third.
David Ortiz ended his hitless streak, going 1-3 with a double.