IT'S A BROKEN RECORD

How many times can I write this opening line? The Red Sox once again built a three-run lead only to see it disappear. Yep, it happened again. Leading 3-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning the Red Sox pitching staff again blew up as the Orioles scored six unanswered for a 6-3 victory. Boston has now lost 5 of their last six games and limp home after a bad 10-game road trip.

Starter Jon lester cruised through the first five innings in this afternoon tilt. And he was aided by a spectacular catch by Manny Ramirez in left. However, Lester cracked in the sixth. He allowed two runs on three hits as the Orioles climbed to within 3-2. The pen followed with a miserable performance. Javier Lopez, Craig Hansen and Hideki Okajima were touched for four runs with Jay Payton hitting a grand slam off Okajima allowing the O's to take the lead for good.

A tough question now has to be answered: Is the Red Sox pitching staff really this bad? Both starters and relievers are struggling to pitch consistently good baseball. You could make a case that this is just a bad stretch for everyone involved as both ace Josh Beckett and closer Jonathan Papelbon are struggling currently. But when your top guns are not performing up to par your weak links in the staff are exposed even more. Additionally, rookie starter Clay Buchholz is now on the 15-day DL as a precauition to allow a finger nail to heal properly. Boston could be looking to trade for pitching help in the pen with a trade of Coco Crisp and or Sean Casey, but no team will or should be looking to deal quality pitching at this point in the season. Right now it appears Boston might just need to ride out the storm.

The Sox now head home for a seven-game stay at Fenway Park beginning Friday evening against the Milwaukee Brewers. That could get things turned around in a hurry for the pitching staff. Or at least that's what most in Red Sox Nation are hoping for.