Colon throws a gem as A’s flog Red Sox

You always know what you’re going to get with Alfredo Aceves…

…the all or nothing, polarizing righty who keeps you on the edge of your seat, biting your fingernails to relieve the anxiety of The Next Pitch– sometimes he gets away with it for a while, like his start against the Rays last week where he managed six innings before giving up back to back park jobs – and some nights he doesn’t get away with it at all.

April 23, 2013; Boston, MA USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Bartolo Colon (40) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Tonight, he only got through the second inning before it all started to fall apart.

Aceves survived just three and a third innings total, moving base runners along with a comical variety of miscues, allowing 8 runs on 7 hits while walking four, committing a balk and charged with a throwing error as the Boston Red Sox got dragged behind the woodshed by the Oakland A’s 13-0…

…and in truth the A’s didn’t even bother with the woodshed, instead settling for a public flogging that featured the roughing up two Boston pitchers and the blanking of a usually pesky offense that manages to win by manufacturing runs.

On Tuesday night, it was the Oakland A’s that were manufacturing runs, with some timely assists from Aceves and the Boston infield.

Perhaps it was just the gloom of the misty New England evening, but when Aceves walked A’s second baseman Eric Sogard on four straight pitches to start the top of the third, the persistent light rain seemed to get a little heavier, the cold, thick air a little colder and heavier…

…a couple of more walks, a bunch of singles and errors and balks later, the A’s had batted around and had surged out to a 6-0 lead, and when Oakland left fielder Seth Smith homered to center on the first pitch he saw in the top of the fourth, that was it for Aceves – but not the end of the A’s scoring.

Sox releiver Steven Wright allowed five runs on six hits through three and two thirds innings before the game was called in the 7th inning on account of either the progressively harder rain or some manner of mercy rule…

On the flip side, Bartolo Colon was doing some major dealing for the Oakland A’s.

The well-rounded right hander threw a 7 inning gem, allowing just three hits while striking out seven before the game was called, the Sox lone highlight at the plate a – well – not quite a highlight for Boston but an impressive one for Colon, who retired the side in order four times, twice striking out the side.

There’s really not much more to say.  13-0 is your final score.

The two teams finish up their three game series on Wednesday with Lefty Brett Anderson taking the bump for the A’s and Jon Lester dealing for the Sox.  Boston welcomes in the Houston Astros starting on Thursday.