It may be time to pump the brakes on all the feel-good stories surrounding Doug Fister.
Even during a recent four-game stretch that saw him post a 1.50 ERA, Fister had some difficulties in the first innings of his starts, allowing runs in each of the previous four outings, before settling down for the rest of the game.
But Wednesday night, Fister dug a much deeper hole in the first and his struggles didn’t end there.
Fister was shelled for four runs in the first, then yielded two more in the third and was gone after just four innings in a 7-3 loss to the lowly Oakland A’s.
The defeat allowed the New York Yankees to climb back to within three games of the A.L. East lead with 17 games remaining.
A run-scoring triple by Jed Lowrie and a two-run homer to right by Matt Olson were the big blows in the first inning. In the third, Lowrie added a run-scoring double while another run scored on an infield out.
The Sox attempted to chip away with solo runs in the first and third innings. A solo homer into the Red Sox bullpen by Jackie Bradley Jr. pulled the Sox to within 6-3 in the fifth.
But the A’s got an RBI double from Bruce Maxwell off the Red Sox bullpen in the sixth and the Sox got no closer, stranding baserunners in scoring position in both the sixth and seventh innings.
GAME NO.: 145
WHO: Red Sox (82-62) vs Oakland A’s (63-81)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
TV: NESN/ESPN
RADIO: WEEI (93.7 FM)
PITCHERS: Doug Fister (5-7, 3.91) vs. Jharel Cotton (7-10, 5.82)
BOX SCORE: MLB Gameday
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
- The issue with Doug Fister allowing runs in the first inning has to be addressed. Tonight marks the fifth straight start in which the opposition scored in the first. In three of the last four, he was nicked for a run, and two runs were scored in the other outing. But tonight was a full blown meltdown, with four runs scoring in the first. That's a deep hole for any team, regardless of the competition. Whether it's how he's warming up or his pitch use in the first, it would seem there's an answer. Fister has been -- on most nights -- too good in the following innings to not figure this out.
- That said, I can't understand why the Red Sox had the infield in with one run in and a runner on third base in the first inning. That alignment prevented second baseman Dustin Pedroia from drifting back to the grass and grabbing a pop-up by Khris Davis. Instead, with the infield pulled in, the ball fell in, another run scored and a big innings continued.
- The Sox seemed asleep a bit in the third. With Matt Joyce on first, Jed Lowrie doubled to center and Joyce headed for the plate. The throw home was a bit up the third base line and catcher Sandy Leon attempted to reach for the throw and apply a swipe tag to the incoming baserunner, the ball squirted loose. Joyce, attempting to avoid the tag, also, inadvertently avoided the plate, too. Fister had come in to back up the throw and picked up the loose ball. Joyce was on the ground and would have been out if Fister had reached down to tag him. Instead, he seemed to freeze, giving Joyce time to reach over and tag the plate. Only then did home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt signal that he was safe.
- David Ortiz and the Red Sox agreed to a "long-term'' contract Wednesday "that should link with the organization forever,'' according to a press release from the club. "Ortiz will act a mentor for players, participate in recruitment efforts, make a variety of special appearances for the club and work in business development capacity for Fenway Sports Management and its partners,'' the release further stated. "He got his long-term deal, right?'' joked John Farrell. "His place in this organization speaks for itself and I think anytime that players that have that kind of success, and what he's meant to the city and organization, to keep him around and keep him involved, there's a lot to be gained from their experiences. He's a big personality, a big presence (so there's) nothing but positives in terms of him staying connected to the Red Sox. I'm glad he's going to be here and hope to include him in some player aspects as we go forward.''
- Reports out of Japan Wednesday indicated that Shohei Otani, the multi-talented pitcher/outfielder, will seek to make himself available as a free agent this winter. Farrell got to see Otani in 2014 when he managed a team of American All-Stars in an exhibition tour of Japan. "He's an impressive player,'' said Farrell. "I didn't see him hit, but obviously the numbers beyond 2014 are very impressive. He's a unique talent, there's no doubt about it. The ability to pitch like he can and swing the bat like he can...I'm sure he's grabbed the attention of every team with the potential to come over (to MLB).''
- Eduardo Nunez, who has a sprained PCL in his right knee, has shown considerable improvement in the last couple of days. "The swelling that was present has really subsided substantially,'' said Farrell. "The range of motion has returned. But as far as baseball activities, we won't approach that until the weekend. But the rehab, the strengthening, the range of motion have all improved.''
