By DannyPicard
CSNNE.com
BOSTON --@font-facefont-family: "Times New Roman";p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormalmargin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; a:link, span.MsoHyperlinkcolor: blue; text-decoration: underline; a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowedcolor: purple; text-decoration: underline; table.MsoNormalTablefont-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; div.Section1page: Section1;The Red Sox offense fought back to score six runs in thefinal two innings on Tuesday night against the Chicago White Sox at FenwayPark, but the damage had already been done.
Alfredo Aceves allowed eight runs, six earned, in five-plusinnings in the Red Sox' 10-7 defeat, giving him his first loss since June of 2009.
Tuesday night was just his third start of the season. Hisusual role is in the bullpen, and it may be a role that hell soon return tonow that John Lackey will officially be back pitching on Sunday.
Whatever Aceves' role, he wasnt nearly as goodin his third start of the season as he was in his first two. In those appearances, he allowed only two earned runs in 11 innings.
Tuesday, however, told a different story.
I dont think he executed like he has certainly in the lastcouple of outings, said Red Sox manager Terry Francona after Tuesday nights10-7 loss to the White Sox. Saying that, there were some balls that foundholes. The two walks, and us not finishing the ground ball to short, certainlydidnt help in that inning. But he wasnt quite as sharp as hes been.
Boston Red Sox
The White Sox scored four runs in the second inning, afterAceves loaded the bases with no outs on a pair of walks and an A.J. Pierzynskisingle. Gordon Beckham singled to left field to score Paul Konerko, and then RedSox shortstop Jed Lowrie booted a Brent Morel grounder in the hole that scoredPierzynski to make it 2-0. Alexei Ramirez topped it off with a two-run singleup the middle to make it 4-0.
Pierzynski added another run with an RBI ground-rule doublein the third to make it 5-0, and then Ramirez drove in Chicagos sixth run inthe fourth to give the White Sox a 6-1 lead.
Aceves was removed from the game with no outs the sixthafter he hit Adam Dunn with a pitch and then allowed a single to Beckham. ScottAtchison came in, and Juan Pierre drove in two more runs that were charged toAceves, giving the White Sox a commanding 8-1 lead.
Though Aceves wasnt as sharp as he wasin his first two starts, everyone involved realized that the White Sox shouldget some credit for having brought their "A" game, as well as a little luck.
It was one of those games where you feel real good, and thethings dont happen that way, said Aceves. You just have to swallow, andprepare myself for the next start.
The White Sox are really good hitters too, and I feel happyfor us because we scored a lot of runs too, added Aceves. That helps us a lotto win a ballgame. Unfortunately, I couldnt hold the team.
They have really good hitters, Konerko and Pierzynski. Itwas a little bit of everything. Sometimes mistakes, sometimes not luck, andsometimes they swung at good pitches, and it was luck for them.
Jason Varitek was behind the plate for Aceves on Tuesdaynight, and while he said hes still learning about him, he agreed with Acevesopinions on what went wrong, and more specifically, what went right forChicago.
I thought the White Sox just swung the bats well, saidVaritek. We werent able to adjust. We werent able to get into a good rhythm.They went from hitting some good pitches, to balls finding holes. We couldntreally ever get ourselves established with anything.
Sometimes you credit the other side, added Varitek. And Ithought today that they did a good job of when he did make pitches, balls foundsome holes. They also did a good job of hitting. That second inning startsoff with a walk, and then A.J. has a really good at-bat and pulls his handsinside on a cutter that was a pretty dog-gone good pitch.
If you have some things going different ways, some resultscan be different.
The results were different for Aceves on Tuesday night, asthe loss was only the second of his career, as opposed to his 16 total wins.
With Lackey returning to the rotation Sunday, Aceves rolecould change in the near future. Whether its staying in the rotation as thefifth starter until Daisuke Matsuzaka comes back, or returning to the bullpen,Aceves is prepared.
Ive been saying it all season, Im a pitcher, saidAceves. Thats what I do. Im a pitcher. It dont matter whats your spot oryour role. Youve got to pitch. Youve got to make outs. Youve got to getouts.
Danny Picard is on twitter at http:twitter.comDannyPicard.