Three Errors and Done - Jenn

Colon was not the Colon Red Sox Nation was used to seeing last night. He was bad, and I mean absolutely awful, right from the start.

See, after two men reached in the top of the first, Beltre chopped the ball back to Colon, and what should've been an easy double play to end the inning, turned into an error that allowed a man to score. Colon caught the ball and threw to 2nd, but there was evidently some confusion between Pedroia and Lugo as to who was supposed to be covering the bag. So there was no one there and a ball that should've been caught, ended up in the outfield. Although Colon managed to get the next two batters out, another man scored and the inning ended with the Mariners ahead 2 runs - both unearned.

The 2nd was much better for Colon as he had a 1,2,3, inning. Then in the bottom half of the same inning the Sox had an opportunity to come back when they loaded the bases with two outs. But as is unfortunately way too common for the Sox, the guy who stepped to the plate struck out to end the inning and leave three men on. But I don't think that's what caused the Sox to throw in the towel. I think it was the two errors in the 3rd.

Ichiro stepped to the plate and for the first time in a very long time Youkilis couldn't come up with a low throw from Lowell. Ichiro reached and Lowell was charged with a throwing error. Although the error was Lowell's, Youk's face said otherwise. It was obvious he felt the fault was his and would probably go to the score keepers after the game to make sure they knew it too.

But that wasn't the end of the errors. Two batters later, Colon tried to pick off Ichiro at 2nd. Again the throw was off, and the ball ended up in the outfield, allowing Ichiro to reach 3rd - exactly what Colon was trying to prevent. Ichiro would of course score on the sacrifice to center that Beltre provided. Colon managed to get the next batter to fly out to left for the final out of the inning, but by that point the game was over.

You may ask how I can say the game was over after just 2.5 innings with the opposing team ahead by only three runs. Here's why - because after three errors and three runs, not to mention a final strike out in a bases loaded situation, the Sox were done. They just didn't seem to have the energy they needed to score.

Maybe they were tired after Thursday's brawl. Maybe they were worried about the number of Sox players that have suddenly wound up on the DL. Maybe they were surprised by the suspensions handed to Lester and Casey. (I know I was.) Maybe the Mariners, the worst team in baseball, just happen to be this season's thorn in the Sox' side. Who knows the reason. The fact is they weren't the Red Sox we know and love.

I believe a team follows the lead of the man on the mound. And last night the man on the mound just didn't have his stuff. I mean, look at Lester's no-no. Every guy behind him was doing everything they could to make sure their pitcher walked off that mound without allowing a single hit. Even Ellsbury made a spectacular catch before anyone was even talking no hitter.

On the other hand when you have a pitcher who makes not one, but two errors in the first three innings, the team will obviously still try, but there's not going to be the same kind of passion there is when the pitcher's doing everything right.

At least it's just one game. Hopefully Colon's next start will bring back the Colon we've grown accustomed to seeing. And anyway, it's just the first game against the Mariners. There's still two more, and if the first inning of today's game is any indication, it looks like the Sox are back to their Fenway ways of winning.