The John Smoltz experiment has not gone as planned. After every loss Smoltz keeps saying that he threw quality pitches. I beg to differ when you give up 3 home runs in the 6th inning.
Francona could have lifted Smoltz after 5 innings & 75 pitches with a 2-1 lead, knowing that the bullpen had Thursday off. But he left Smoltz in there to see if he could go 6 innings in a tight game. Answer - no.
Smoltz has possibly 2 more starts before the end of the month. If he can't improve by then, perhaps the Sox will move him to the bullpen & bring up Buchholz for the month of August. Games will be too important in August & September to continue an experiment.
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