Slump Hits Seven, But Red Sox Know 'No Time To Be Down In Dumps'
BOSTON (CBS) -- Maybe getting away from Fenway Park for a few days will be a good thing for the scuffling Boston Red Sox.
With their 7-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday, the Red Sox went 0-6 on their recent homestand. It's the first time since 1994 they've been swept on a six-game homestand, and their skid is now up to seven games.
The defending World Series champs find themselves six games under .500 and five games behind the Jays in the AL East. Boston is just 10-17 at home this season, and the frustration is starting to mount.
"Everyone in our uniform is aware of what's taking place currently," manager John Farrell said following their latest loss. "We have to remain positive in our daily work and our approach."
"Obviously, we're a little frustrated," said second baseman Dustin Pedroia. "We have to play better and that's it. We have to play one pitch at a time. You can't start winning games, like we're going to win 10 in a row. No, we're going to win the next pitch. That's how we have to start thinking.
"We're trying to find a way to win. Obviously they outplayed us, both series," added Pedroia, who is 7-for-33 during the seven-game losing streak. "We didn't play very good. Both teams were better than us; they out-hit us, they out-pitched us, they played better D so you're going to lose when you do that."
The Red Sox led for just one inning during their abysmal homestand, and were outscored 33-13 by the Detroit Tigers and Blue Jays. During their seven-game skid, the Red Sox are a collective 10-for-49 with runners in scoring position.
When asked if he thought players were pressing, Pedroia said he's hoping that's not the case.
"Pressing? We're professional baseball players," he replied. "We play a lot of games. We expect to win and we expect to play good, and when you don't obviously, you don't want to do that, so you try a little bit harder. I hope we don't press. Just try to come out and win the next pitch. That's all we're going to try and do.
"It's not my job to think if anybody's pressing. We're all here to help our team win," he said. "We've got to find a way to do that."
Boston knows they are scuffling nearly everywhere on the diamond, but they aren't feeling sorry for themselves.
"There's no time to be down in the dumps," catcher A.J. Pierzynski said following Thursday's loss. "There's a long way to go, over 100 games to go, so there's plenty of time to turn it around. We just need to do it [Friday]. We can't waste any more time. [Friday] is a new day in Tampa and hopefully we go down there and play well, win the series. That starts [Friday]."
The Red Sox now head to St. Petersburg for a three-game set with the Rays before heading to Atlanta for a two-game series against the Braves. Those two teams will also visit Fenway Park next week.
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The message is clear in the clubhouse that the team needs to start winning on a consistent basis. When asked if there may be a team meeting over the weekend, Pedroia said it would only happen if it needs to happen.
"I think everybody understands what we're trying to do here. If it needs to be refreshed it will be," he said.
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