Another one run loss for the Red Sox

This season is slowly turning into a carbon copy of last year, while the injury bug has hit us hard it hasn't been as bad as last year yet. The Sox are 20-23 in their games since June 1st. They are 3-7 in their last ten, and are off to a 3-4 start on this home stand that was suppose to be opportunity to play better ball. Losing a series to the Royals topped it off last night, couple that with the Yankees trumping over the Blue Jays and a 5 game win streak, the lead in the AL East is down to 7, and is only 6 in the loss column. Panic time? not yet but another series loss to the White Sox this weekend and for sure Red Sox nation will be reminded of 1978 all over again.
The club is starting to feel the pressure, you could see it several times in last night's game. Pedroia getting thrown out at first on a close play, Youkilis getting robbed in the 7th on a nice play by Grudzielanek that would have brought across the tying run. Then in the 8th Coco Crisp bomb to right that missed a home run by a foot and a half. Their reaction during the game and especially afterwards gives you an idea that this club is feeling the pressure that is the NY Yankees. Both Coco Crisp and Julio Lugo made comments about the Yankees.
The lack of offense doesn't seem to be the issue since the All-Star game, the offense has been getting 10 hits a night for the past 9 nights, and we only have 3 wins to show for it. We continue to lose one run games, and the Sox are 1-33 when losing after 8. The Cleveland Indians on the other hand have 28 come from behind wins, with 16 in their last at bats. This team is 3-33 in the 7th or later in these one run games in their last 17 games, Manny is 0-12 in the 9th in one run games on the season, while Papi is just 3-12. The lack of clutch hitting is killing this team, along with the ineffectiveness of J.D. Drew, who we are paying $14 million a year.
It's time for Tavarez to be taken out of the starting pitchers role, give someone else a chance. The Sox need to make a move at the deadline, they need another Outfield bat. Jermaine Dye and Ken Griffey Jr are names that have been thrown around, but I doubt the Sox will be able to get those guys, especially since they won't be playing everyday.
The White Sox are in town this weekend, let's hope we can get this ship back sailing in the right direction. I'll be at Sunday game, my first of the season. Dice-K and Beckett need to step it up and be the front line pitchers they are, the pressure is on and pretty soon this large lead is going to be no longer....