The Red Sox put forth a woeful offensive performance against the Tigers in Game 1 of the ALCS on Saturday night, and now trail in the series. They will face likely AL Cy Young winner Max Scherzer in Game 2, and former Cy Young winner Justin Verlander in Game 3.

Anibal Sanchez, the American League ERA leader, struck out 12 Red Sox batters in six no-hit innings. Jim Leyland lifted him after six innings because he had thrown 116 pitches after walking six men.

The Tigers pitching staff took what would have been the first combined no-hitter in playoff history in to the top of the ninth when Daniel Nava roped a single to centerfield. Closer Joaquin Benoit retired the next two batters he faced, Stephen Drew and Xander Bogaerts, to notch down the victory.

Tigers Pitching Dominated Red Sox Hitters

 


It certainly didn’t seem like it on Saturday, as the Red Sox fanned 17 times in the loss. Sanchez striking out four batters in the first inning (Shane Victorino reached base after the third strike got past the catcher) was a harbinger of things to come.

The Fenway crowd was razing home plate umpire Joe West, and though it’s easy to get on Cowboy Joe, he isn’t to blame for the Red Sox’s passive plate approach on Saturday.

This was West’s strike zone, courtesy of brooksbaseball:

Granted, it’s better to have seven base runners and be shutout than have one or two base runners. The Red Sox went 0-6 with runners in scoring position, and one has to figure they’ll eventually cash in on scoring opportunities. Only thing is, they’ll have to take the bats off of their shoulders.

 Jon Lester Wasn’t As Dominant As His Line Would Indicate

Lester pitched six and one-third innings of one-run ball in Game 1, which would lead one to assume he had a dominating outing. But Lester was hit hard all night.

Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder whacked base hits off Lester in the top of the first, and the Tigers would’ve scored at least one run if both men weren’t the slowest guys in the world. (Cabrera should’ve made it to second base after his line drive off the Green Monster, and thus would’ve scored on Fielder’s line drive to centerfield.)

The Red Sox’s defense aided Lester in the fifth inning, as Jhonny Peralta led off with a double. He was then picked off second base after Mike Napoli threw him out on an Omar Infante ground ball to first.

Later in the inning, with men on the corners, Jose Iglesias hit a ground ball to third base. Infante broke for home plate, and Middlebrooks gunned him down by several feet.

The only Tigers run came in the sixth inning, when Peralta laced a single to centerfield which scored Cabrera.

Red Sox Have A Tall Task Ahead Of Them

The Red Sox will face Scherzer and Verlander over the next two games, and hope to avoid falling behind 3-0.

Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, Napoli and Middlebrooks went a combined 0-11 with six strikeouts in Game 1. To state the obvious, the Red Sox need better production from their key cogs in the lineup.

John Farrell has already said he will likely start both Jonny Gomes and Mike Carp in Game 2. He should look to start Xander Bogaerts, too, as Middlebrooks is now 3-15 this postseason.

Clay Buchholz will counter Scherzer at Fenway on Sunday night. Expect there to be plenty of strikeouts from both sides.

Photos via Matt Slocum/AP and Elisa Amendola/AP

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