By Maureen Mullen
CSNNE.comFollow @maureenamullen
BOSTONAdrian Gonzalez went 0-for-2 with two walks and two strikeouts in Saturdays loss to the Rays. In the first three games of the four-game series, he is 0-for-8 with three walks, an RBI, and four strikeouts. In the last eight games, going back to Sept. 9 in Tampa Bay, Gonzalez is 4-for-24 (.167) with two home runs, five RBI, seven walks, and six strikeouts.
During the broadcast of Saturdays game it was reported that Gonzalez is feeling fatigue in his right shoulder, on which he had surgery last November after injuring the shoulder in May 2010 playing with the Padres diving for a foul ball in Houston.
Gonzalezs response:
Im not talking about that, he said.
Asked how he feels, he replied:
Fine. Its the end of the year.
Boston Red Sox
But, his production against the Rays this season has been well below his overall performance. He's batting just .140 (8-for-57) in 17 games against the Rays, his second-lowest mark against any American League team this year, better than only his .130 (3-for-23) in six games against the Tigers. Against the Rays, he has scored just four runs, with five RBI, two home runs, 14 walks, and 12 strikeouts. He is just two for his last 41 against the Rays.
His first strikeout Saturday, swinging at a slider, ended the first inning. His second strikeout, swinging at a 97-mph fastball from Rays heralded rookie left-hander Matt Moore, opened the eighth inning.
Personally, Im swinging at pitches I shouldnt be swinging at, Gonzalez said. Im not mechanically right and chasing pitches down. I couldve walked every at-bat the series so far. Just trying to be too aggressive and trying to make things happen instead of just taking walks.
If I was mechanically right, Id be walking every at-bat.
Gonzalez faced Moore twice. He walked in the sixth, before his eighth-inning strikeout.
Hes got a good fastball, Gonzalez said. Hes got good stuff. Hes young. Theres a lot of young kids in the league now that throw hard from the left side with good off-speed pitches. Hes not anything different than a lot of the guys that we face throughout the year.
Saw some pitches for future reference. But today he struck me out.
The Sox had just seven hits in the game. Gonzalez is hopeful tomorrows starter for the Rays, left-hander David Price, will give the Sox better offerings.
Were going after pitches out of the zone, Gonzalez said. We could've walked 20 times a game if we wanted to. Were being overaggressive. Imtalking about more personally than as a team, but I think tomorrow its different because its Price and hes more aggressive in the strike zone.
Maureen Mullen is on Twitter at http:twitter.commaureenamullen.