I hate writing that.  Anything dealing with losing to a Boston team makes me cringe. 

Anyway, the game last night was pretty much a pitcher's duel that ended up in the favor of the Red Sox.  Daisuke Matsuzaka and Joe Blanton squared off for 6 innings and neither seemed to want to give any ground.  Blanton threw 6 strong innings and gave up 2 runs on 7 hits.  Matsuzaka was just a little more in command than Blanton though and threw 6 2/3 innings with 9 strikeouts, while only giving up 1 run on 2 hits.  Jonathan Papelbon came in and earned his second save of the season.

On the offensive side....not much to brag about.  Jack Cust hit a solo homer in the second inning, giving Oakland the early lead.  Other than that, the A's could only muster up two more hits, both singles. 

The lack of offense, ah yes.  Travis Buck, Mark Ellis, and Daric Barton were a combined 0-for-12 with 6 strikeouts.  Buck and Barton are still both hitless after three games and Mark Ellis is hitting .091.  Combine that with Cust hitting .167 and Emil Brown hitting .182, the top five of the A's order is struggling to say the least! 

I know it is only three games into the season, but they need to snap out of that crap in a hurry.  It's going to be bad enough watching the team lose this season, they don't have to go hitless every game though.

On a positive note, the bullpen has been outstanding so far.  They have thrown a combined 10 1/3 innings, with 10 strikeouts.  They have given up 2 walks, 8 hits, and 3 runs.  All three runs were given up by Huston Street in the first game when he blew the save...and the victory in the long run.

Oakland will try and even up their record this afternoon as they finish up their series with the Red Sox.  Rich Harden is going to be on the mound today.  He will try and duplicate his effort from a few days ago in Japan and become the first 2 game winner in baseball this season!  He will also try to catch up with Dice-K on the K's leader board.