Red Sox frustrated, but expect success

BOSTON -- For a few weeks, the pitching sputtered. Then, the offense went into complete hibernation. Friday night, as the bats showed more life, the pitching and defense fell apart.

These are tough times for the Red Sox, who are 19-23 overall and 1-3 on the current homestand after a 12-5 loss to the Angels.

"I can say our expectations are always the same, and that's to play contending baseball. We've got to do better in every phase," said Red Sox manager John Farrell.

Dustin Pedroia, the team's spiritual leader, is adamant that effort, focus and intensity aren't the issues.

"We've got guys breaking bats after they get out. We'll put in more bat orders. That stuff's eyewash, man," said Pedroia. "Everybody's [mad]. We're obviously not playing well."

Consistent execution has clearly been lacking across the board, and that's what needs to change.

"I think every day guys show up ready to play and win," said Pedroia. "There's not a day I show up expecting to lose. I've never done that in my life, and neither have the other 24 guys. So we're going to show up tomorrow and expect to win and play the best we can and build on it."

During the last road trip, the Red Sox had a players-only meeting. But words aren't going to turn the team around, according to their leader.

"Less talk, more play," Pedroia said. "We're working as hard as we can to try to get better. We're playing hard. We're just not playing very good. I wish I had a magic word. That's baseball. You can't flip a switch. You've got to put the work in and then play better."

In Friday's loss, the Sox gave up nine runs in the fifth inning, as a 3-2 lead turned into an 11-3 deficit.

"There's definite frustration, and that's shared by all in our clubhouse and [all] that work day in and day out with us," said Farrell. "We all expect more from ourselves. That is a given. That's repeatedly discussed and talked about, and yet in the moment, we've got to go out and execute more consistently, do a better job all around."