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Recap: Tigers get to Cook to snap Sox winning streak

[Tremendous image from Roar of the Tigers]

The Red Sox couldn't make it through a complete turn in the rotation and saw their four-game winning streak come to a halt with a 7-5 loss at Fenway.

Aaron Cook couldn't get out of the 5th against the vaunted Tigers lineup. He got in a jam by starting the inning with three straight singles by the 8, 9, and leadoff hitters. Quintin Berry grounded out, driving in a run -- and bringing up Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder. They did what they're supposed to do and hit back-to-back homers.

The Sox didn't completely cave. Down 6-1, they rallied in the 6th with five singles, including run-producing ones by rookies Will Middlebrooks and Pedro Ciriaco to cut the gap to two. Carl Crawford hit a solo homer in the 7th, but Delmon Young returned the favor and Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde shut the door.

Cook showed why the Red Sox are interested in bringing Franklin Morales back to the rotation. He couldn't keep his sinker down reliably and the Tigers made him pay, collecting nine hits over 4.2 IP. He had yet another start without a walk or strikeout, which continues to amaze me even when his results aren't good.

He's doing what he can out there, but a team like Detroit is going to see through the smoke and mirrors. But don't worry: If this sinkerballer isn't working out for you, the Sox can always go after an old friend.

Box score

Recap: Blah blah blah, Sox lose again

LM Otero | AP

It's Make or Break Weekend™ for the Red Sox and, well, they're broken.  They couldn't muster much of a fight, losing 10-3 to the Yankees.

Despite three solo home runs (off of the bats of Pedroia, Salty and Crawford) Sox batters didn't put up much of a fight against Phil Hughes, who cruised through his 7 innings.  By the end of the 9th, every batter except Ellsbury and Aviles got at least one hit, but they were never able to put much of any pressure on Yankee pitching.  In addition to being great at the plate, Aviles was equally impressive in the field.  He failed to turn a costly double play, then let a ground ball slowly roll up the middle as he tried to..... who knows.  Wait for Pedroia to get the ball, I guess.

Aaron Cook pitched 4 lackluster innings giving up 6 runs and 2 home runs.  He also struck out 1.  Morales relieved him and pitched a solid 2 innings.  Why he's still not starting I'm not entirely sure.  Miller came in and dominated the 7th with 2 strike outs.  Melancon was brought in in the 8th, the Sox down 6-3.  He continued his streak of awful pitching, capped off with a grand slam surrendered to Granderson.  Any hope the Sox had of getting back into the game went away with that blast. 

Tomorrow doesn't look much brighter as Lester faces Sabathia.  CC has only lost 3 games all season.  Lester seems to lose 3 games each time he steps on to the mound.

BOX SCORE

Recap: Sox lose another to Toronto

In their defense, Boston didn't want to overshadow Tek's big night with a victory.

The Blue Jays continue to have no problems beating the Red Sox, cruise to a 7-3 victory.

As a change of pace, Boston was the team to jump out in front early in this one thanks to a 2nd inning 3-run blast from Saltalamacchia.  But that was pretty much the end of the excitement as it was all Toronto the rest of the way.

Aaron Cook took the loss for the Red Sox, and despite the 5 runs he surrendered, he pitched fairly well.  Only 3 of the runs were earned, thanks to errors by Ciriaco and Middlebrooks.  Cook not only struck out a batter (!!!) but he only gave up 4 hits.  Unfortunately, two of those hits were home runs, so it wasn't all golden.

Morales and Albers came in in the 7th to relieve Cook and got themselves into all kinds of trouble.  They faced 5 batters combined, and only mustered a single out between them.  It wasn't a whole lot of fun for anybody.  Thankfully Miller came in and struck out Lind before the Jays could do any real damage.  Not that it mattered.  Padilla kicked some ass in the 8th and Tazawa struggled a bit himself in the 9th, but got the final 3 outs.

Beyond Salty's home run, Sox bats did nothing for the second night in a row.  Ross hit a double.  Pedroia, Gonzalez and Ciriaco each got a hit.  Ciriaco stole his 4th base of the year.  That was your Sox offense.

Any momentum Boston built up heading into this series is officially stalled.  If they can't get their pulses up on Jason Varitek night, I don't know that they have pulses.

BOX SCORE