155

In this case, Meat Loaf, "two outta three" was bad, since we're talking about losses. The Indians took "two outta three" from the Sox in frigid Cleveland over the weekend. The Sox won the first game in the series, 6-4 behind Javier Vazquez, and then dropped the next two, despite well-pitched games by John Danks, 4-0, and Jose Contreras 2-1 (no earned runs, just one hit). The problem was the bats were "cold as ice" even though Ozzie was "willing to sacrifice." (Okay, I'll stop with the rock references now.) Since the opening series, when the pitchers were to blame, the Sox's losses have largely been the batters' fault. In the four defeats during that time, the Sox have scored a total of three runs. (Their pitchers gave up 11 runs during the four games, only eight of them earned.) The team is now batting .222, with six of the usual starters at or below .235: Erstad; Konerko; Dye; Crede; Iguchi; and Pierzynski. It's early and the weather hasn't been conducive to hitting, but the opponents haven't seemed to have been as bothered by it as the Sox have. Let's hope that some warmer weather, a return to the Cell, and the Rangers' pitching will rekindle the offensive fire that has been a hallmark of the team in the past. Go Sox!