The Sox iced the game early against Angels starter Matt Palmer as Jacoby Ellsbury doubled into the right field corner to start. Dustin Pedroia flied out to left but Adrian Gonzalez scored Ellsbury with a double to center. Kevin Youkilis walked and David Ortiz lined a base hit to left to score Gonzalez with another run. Youk moved to third on the hit and he scored on the rbi grounder by Mike Cameron to increase the lead. Carl Crawford grounded into a force to end the inning but the Sox were ahead 3-0.
Lackey got the ball in the bottom of the first and Erick Aybar tried to bunt his way on but Youkilis snuffed it out. Bobby Abreu singled to center but Torii Hunter flied out to right. Alberto Callaspo singled off the glove of Pedroia but Ellsbury made a leaping catch to rob Vernon Wells of a hit to end the inning.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia struck out swinging to start the top of the second but Scutaro walked. Ellsbury forced Scutaro at second and Ellsbury was thrown out trying to steal to end the inning.
Lackey turned up the heat in the bottom of the second as Howie Kendrick struck out swinging to start. Mark Trumbo took strike three and Jeff Mathis struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the third as Pedroia was retired on a squibber in front of the plate to start. Gonzalez took strike three and Youkilis flied out to right to end the inning. Peter Bourjos caught the Sox asleep with a bunt single up the third base line to start the bottom of the third. Aybar beat out a fielder's choice but Abreu banged into a double play. Hunter was plunked but Callaspo flied out to left to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the fourth as Ortiz grounded out to short to start. Cameron flied out to center and Crawford grounded out to second to end the inning. Lackey cruised in the bottom of the fourth as Wells grounded out to short to start. Kendrick flied out to center and Trumbo went down swinging to end the inning.
The Sox got another run in the top of the fifth although Saltalamacchia grounded out to first to start. Scutaro singled to left and Ellsbury singled him to third with a base hit to right. Pedroia scored Scutaro with a sac fly to left and Gonzalez grounded out to second to end the inning with Boston ahead 4-0.
Scutaro scores a run
Mathis flied out to right to begin the bottom of the fifth but Bourjos singled to center. Aybar struck out swinging and Abreu grounded out to first to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the sixth as Youkilis singled up the middle to chase Palmer. Hisanori Takahashi came in and walked Ortiz, but Cameron banged into a double play. Crawford then smashed his first home run of the season to increase the lead. Saltalamacchia struck out swinging to end the inning.
Lackey cruised in the bottom of the sixth as Hunter flied out to center to start. Callaspo also flied out to center and Wells flied out to center to end the busy inning for Ellsbury.
Francisco Rodriguez came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Scutaro singled in the hole at short to begin. Ellsbury struck out swinging and Pedroia advanced Scutaro to second with a grounder to second. Gonzalez hit a grounder through the hole at third to score Scutaro and he took second on the throw home. Youkilis walked but Ortiz grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-0.
Gonzalez drives in a run
Lackey got Kendrick to to ground out to short to start the bottom of the seventh and Trumbo popped up to second. Mathis singled to left and took second on a wild pitch, but Bourjos took strike three to end the inning.
Reggie Willits came in for Wells, Bobby Wilson came in for Hunter and Rich Thompson came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Cameron struck out swinging to start. Crawford singled to right but Saltalamacchia flied out to center. Scutaro also flied out to center to end the inning. Lackey returned for one final inning in the bottom of the eighth and Aybar singled to right to start. Abreu popped up to short but Wilson walked. Callaspo popped up to short and Willits flied out to center to end the inning. Lackey was outstanding, tossing 8 shutout innings while allowing just 6 hits.
Ellsbury took strike three to open the top of the ninth and Pedroia struck out swinging. Gonzalez singled to right but Youk struck out swinging to end the inning. Dan Wheeler came in to close out the bottom of the ninth and Kendrick grounded out to second to start. Trumbo struck out swinging and Mathis flied out to center to end the game. The Sox had won their second consecutive shutout 7-0.
Hero of the Night is John Lackey. He tossed 8 shutout innings while allowing 6 hits and a walk while striking out 6.
The Good:
Jacoby Ellsbury was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Adrian Gonzalez was 3 for 5 with 2 rbis and a run scored.
Kevin Youkilis was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and a run scored.
David Ortiz was 1 for 3 with a walk, rbi and a run scored.
Carl Crawford was 2 for 4 with a 2 run home run.
Marco Scutaro was 2 for 3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.
Dan Wheeler pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Jarrod Saltalamacchia was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
The Ugly:
Dustin Pedroia was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in a run.
Mike Cameron was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but drove in a run.
Final Thoughts:
THIS was the team Sox fans envisioned going into the season. Not a single automatic out and great starting pitching. This week especially showed how great the starters can be if they lock in and today was no different. This was one of Lackey's best starts in Boston since he's been here and this is what they were expecting out of him last season. Better late than never for both Lackey and the Boston bats which now is a well oiled machine. Barring injury, this team is loaded for bear and its only a matter of time before they streak right by the New York Yankees in the AL East. The Yankees are good but the Sox look unbeatable right now. Its only April and the Sox got off to a really bad start but when everyone plays to their full potential. this is a very dangerous team. Good to see Crawford hit his first home run as he's the only one who hasn't lived up to expectations yet. He's too good not to deliver so this could be the start. After an off-day tomorrow the Sox travel to Baltimore for a four game set with the Orioles. Clay Buchholz (1-2) looks to keep the starting pitching hot streak going when he takes on Zack Britton of the O's on Tuesday night at 7:10 PM at Camden Yards.
No comments:
Post a Comment