Red Sox embarrass themselves in 11-3 rout

After four full days of no Red Sox baseball, I was anxious for last night's series opener between Boston and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - especially anxious because I had to wait three additional hours for the 10 p.m. ET start. I should have waited another day. In one of their most embarrassing performances in the last few years, the Red Sox were routed by the Angels, 11-3.

There is little good to write about the way Boston played on Friday night. For the second straight time since returning from Triple-A Pawtucket, Clay Buchholz was awful. The right-hander coughed up eight runs (four earned), eight hits and two walks in 4.2 innings. The bullpen continued to struggle as David Aardsma allowed both of his inherited runners to score and Javier Lopez surrendered three runs and four hits in two-thirds of an inning. Two blunders in the field - one by Alex Cora, the other by Manny Ramirez - contributed to the loss, too.

Though the Angels reached Buchholz for three runs and four hits in the first inning, the Red Sox tied the score against Angels starter John Lackey after a two-run home run by Kevin Youkilis in the second and a solo shot from Ramirez in the fourth. The tie was short-lived; however, since Garret Anderson led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run off Buchholz.

The bottom of the fifth inning is when the game turned ugly for Boston. Buchholz retired Chone Figgins and then allowed a single to Casey Kotchman and walked Maicer Izturis. Vladimir Guerrero hit a sharp grounder up the middle that caromed off Buchholz's foot to Youkilis for a ground out that advanced the runners to second and third. With Dustin Pedroia's defensive alignment, the grounder could have been an inning-ending double play if it did not hit Buchholz. Moments later, Torii Hunter hit what appeared to be an inning-ending grounder, but Cora bobbled the ball and his throw to first was late, permitting a run to score. Anderson followed with an RBI single, which chased Buchholz in favor Aardsma.

The bullpen has offered little relief all season. Last night was no different. Aardsma walked Juan Rivera to load the bases and then surrendered a two-run single to Howie Kendrick. Jeff Mathis flied out to end the rally, but the Angels had grabbed an 8-3 lead.

The lowlight of the game happened in the bottom of the sixth. Lopez served up a leadoff double to Figgins. After Kotchman grounded out, Izturis hit a blooper into shallow left field that a sliding Ramirez unsuccessfully tried to snag. He rolled over and landed on top of the ball. By the time he retrieved it, Izturis was racing to third. Ramirez stood and watched without uncorking a throw. When he finally threw the ball back to the infield, Izturis was on third with a 220-foot triple while Ramirez laughed and smiled. Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein, who attended the game, was not amused. In fact, repeated camera shots of him indicated that he was seething. Not good news for Ramirez, whose chances of having his option renewed are dwindling by the day.

The Angels plated two more run before the rally was extinguished by Mike Timlin, making the score 11-3.

This was an unacceptable performance by a team that turned a five-game deficit in the American League East into a half-game lead over a week's time before the All-Star break. The Red Sox are back in second place, a half-game behind the Tampa Bay Rays, which edged Toronto, 2-1.

A few thoughts and observations:

• Can the Red Sox find a shortstop who can field a routine grounder and make an accurate throw to first base? Julio Lugo has trouble with both issues. Alex Cora botched a routine grounder in the fifth that would have prevented the Angels from scoring a run in that frame. Instead, they plated four. Give Jed Lowrie a chance. If he doesn't deliver this week, then acquire a shortstop via trade. Cora is adequate, but he has little range. Next season, the Red Sox would improve by installing Lowrie as the starting shortstop, or acquiring another shortstop, letting Cora walk away and using Lowrie as a super utility guy who can play all four infield positions.
• Theo Epstein's mind must have been racing as each inning passed last night. Buchholz looks like he belongs at Pawtucket, and Bartolo Colon appears to be the ideal No. 5 starter (when he recovers from his oblique injury). The bullpen remains a mess. And I believe Epstein is literally counting the days until he can announce to the world that Manny will no longer be Manny in Boston. I think that Ramirez will have a solid second half, and he will help the Sox play deep into October, but I will not be surprised if Boston does not pick up his 2009 option.
• David Ortiz blasted a three-run home run last night for Pawtucket. He has two dingers in two games for the Paw Sox. Big Papi is expected to be activated from the disabled list in time for next weekend's series against the Yankees at Fenway Park. Brandon Moss is the likely candidate to take a ride on the Pawtucket shuttle.
• Epstein will probably acquire a reliever by the July 31 trading deadline, but the Red Sox will have more help on September 1 when rosters are expanded. Most teams in a pennant race do not use minor league call-ups, but since Boston's farm system is so deep and talented, the Red Sox will benefit from the additional players. Moss, catcher Dusty Brown, infielder/outfielder Joe Thurston, first baseman/outfielder/DH Chris Carter or Jeff Bailey (one, not both), right-handed reliever Chris Smith and perhaps right-handed starting pitcher Michael Bowden are candidates to join the Red Sox in September. The expanded roster will also allow Jed Lowrie to remain with Boston when Julio Lugo returns from the disabled list, but take your time, Julio, take your time!
• Speaking of shortstops, Boston signed first rounder Casey Kelly and second rounder Derrik Gibson. Both are draft picks out of high school, and both will begin their professional baseball careers with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox. Kelly, who has Major League potential as a shortstop and a pitcher, will begin his career at shortstop while Gibson will be moved to another position. The Red Sox also recently promoted Argenis Diaz to Double-A Portland. The 21-year-old Diaz would be one of the best defensive shortstops in Major League Baseball right now, but he needs more seasoning at the plate.