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Andrew Miller didn’t waste words. This was not what he had been expecting. And certainly not what he was hoping for. After two strong outings, during which he gave up just one run over 11 2/3 combined innings in Kansas City and Texas, his outing against the Rangers Friday night at Fenway Park was, in his words, a “pretty poor performance.”
Miller, making his first start since Aug. 25, lasted just 1 1/3 innings, giving up six runs on five hits and four walks, with one strikeout and a balk. He walked the first two batters, Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus, on 10 total pitches, giving up a four-pitch walk to Andrus. After a three-run homer to Kinsler in the second, he departed, leaving the bases loaded for Michael Bowden.
He faced 13 batters, throwing 52 pitches (26 strikes). Miller’s record fell to 6-2, while his ERA jumped to 5.27. He threw 30 pitches in the first inning, just 16 for strikes.
“We fell behind some guys and we couldn’t really zone in,” said catcher Jason Varitek. “Not to make excuses but it’s been a while since he’s been on the mound. They didn’t really give him much room and once that happened they stepped on the gas pedal pretty good.”
CSNNE - Millers 'poor performance' dooms Red Sox
It wasn't that long ago that I was praising Mr. Miller. In fact, I believe I called his 6 shutout innings in Texas last week 'masterful'. It's true. And really, overall, he hadn't been pitching that bad (although he's yet to see what the 7th inning looks like from the mound). On the backs of his two starts against KC and Texas, everyone was talking about how Miller was staking his claim to remain in the rotation.
No one was expecting Andrew Miller to suddenly transform into Sandy Koufax, but the guy was pitching well. Well enough that this Texas game is a huge letdown. 1.1 IP, 5 hits, 6 runs, with 4 walks. Yikes. The only bright spot on the night was that poor Timmy Wakefield came in and pitched four scoreless innings to put this game to bed.
But Miller set the tone for the game early. Mainly, this one isn't winnable. Outside of a pair of singles, the Sox offense was nonexistent. Not a great night of baseball. Unless you're Rangers starter Derek Holland's mom. Then, it was a fantastic night of baseball.
[Image: by Elsa/Getty Images]
On Page 2, we're really good at selling out Fenway.
That every seat is taken for every game has come to be expected. But it’s not something manager Terry Francona takes for granted.
“I actually think it’s really cool, maybe more cool than most people,’’ Francona said before the Sox were beaten by the Rangers, 10-0. “I’ve been in places where there’s been apathy and there’s nothing worse than that.’’
The Phillies averaged a little fewer than 20,000 fans per game at cavernous Veterans Stadium in 2000, Francona’s final season there as manager. He knows what it’s like to look up from the dugout and see more empty seats than full ones.
“You come here on a Sunday day game after a Saturday night game, the place is always full,’’ Francona said. “I think that is one of the really truly special things about being here. I hope the streak goes on for a while; it’s really cool.
“It’s nice to play in front of people who care so much.’’Globe - Celebrating the 700 club
I understand that a "sellout" isn't always a sellout, but Sox fans deserve a ton of credit for this.
Sure, some nights you pay a few hundred bucks to watch Andrew Miller stink it up on the mound, but on most nights you get to watch the best players in the entire game do something exciting.
The streak is a testament to the ownership charging a lot of money, but putting that money back into the franchise -- both the on-the-field product, and in making Fenway a somewhat enjoyable place to watch some baseball.
Rest of the links:
Globe - Managing to keep it in order | Sox can’t control Rangers | CSNNE - Game Story: SEPTEMBER 2: RANGERS 10, RED SOX 0 | Herald - [This is where links from the Herald would go if their editors woke up before 9am on Saturdays] | NESN - Andrew Miller's Inability to Make Adjustments Put Red Sox in Deep Hole They Couldn't Climb Out Of | Rough Start to Friday's Red Sox Game Not Going to Be Enough to Ruin Labor Day Weekend | WEEI - Red Sox left to wonder about Rangers southpaws in playoffs | Hangover III: Rangers shell tired Sox
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