The Red Sox were frustrated once again Saturday morning, as they dropped the opening game of their day-night doubleheader against the Yankees, 6-1.
The game started out looking every bit the rerun of Friday night's game. Facing his first real challenge as a starter, Franklin Morales was victimized by the New York lineup in the first inning. While the first two baserunners he allowed came on a Derek Jeter bloop single and an acting job by Robinson Cano that earned him a HBP, the next two were rather more emphatic. Nick Swisher and Andruw Jones both received fastballs tailing in but over the plate, and each of them hit it a long way to left, clearing the wall and putting four quick runs on the board.
While Morales would settle down in the second inning, he'd only be saved from damage in the third by a pair of pickoffs at first, and there was nothing to save him in the fourth from another set of back-to-back homers, once again including Andruw Jones, this time paired with Jayson Nix.
Justin Germano would quiet down the Yankees from there, providing six strong innings of shutout baseball, striking out seven batters to keep the Yankees with just the six runs.
Unfortunately, however, the Sox' offense was not capable of repeating their performance from the night before. Despite facing off against a struggling Freddy Garcia, the Sox' lineup of misfits, backups, and minor leaguers performed as one might expect. Only David Ortiz was truly impressive, reaching base each time he came to the plate, but being stranded every time but one. His run would be the lone tally achieved by the Sox, leaving them hopelessly behind after nine.
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