Ortiz, Sox Pound Astros Again (4/27/13)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. Ryan Lavarnway was sent down to Pawtucket as Franklin Morales was activated off the disabled list. The Sox have a surplus of bullpen help now.

                                                                           Out

                                                                     In

Everything seems to be going right for the Sox as they continue to rock and roll to begin the 2013 season. David Ortiz keyed another barrage of runs to defeat the Houston Astros for the third straight game in this four game series. Tonight the home team defeated the Astros 8-4 at Fenway Park.

                                                      The Mayor approves of the win

Felix Doubront (3-0) got the call in the top of the first inning and the Astros immediately smacked him around. Jose Altuve singled and Brandon Barnes was hit with a pitch. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Brandon Laird walked to load the bases. Chris Carter walked to force in the game's first run. Ronny Cedeno hit a sac fly to score Barnes and Carlos Corporan walked to re-load the bases. Doubront caught a break when Matt Dominguez popped up and Marwin Gonzalez struck out to end the inning. Doubront was very fortunate to only be down 2-0. The Sox nearly rallied in the bottom of the first off Astros starter Brad Peacock. Jacoby Ellsbury grounded out to second and Daniel Nava lined out to right. Dustin Pedroia singled and David Ortiz singled him to third on an error by the centerfielder. Mike Napoli struck out to end the high impact first inning.

Doubront managed to settle down in the top of the second inning. Robbie Grossman grounded out to third and Altuve struck out. Barnes walked but Laird looked at strike three to end the inning. The Sox roared back in the bottom of the second inning. Mike Carp grounded out but Jarrod Saltalamacchia walked. Will Middlebrooks doubled and Stephen Drew walked to load the bases. Ellsbury singled home Saltalamacchia and Middlebrooks to tie the game. Nava grounded out but both runners advanced. Pedroia walked to re-load the bases and Ortiz doubled home Saltalamacchia and Ellsbury to give the Sox a 4-2 lead. Napoli walked and Carp struck out to end the inning.

                                                    Ortiz makes it 4-2 Sox

Doubront turned up the power in the top of the third. Carter, Cedeno and Corporan all struck out swinging in short order. Peacock settled down in the bottom of the third. Saltalamacchia looked at strike three and Middlebrooks flied out, but Drew walked. Ellsbury flied out to end the inning.

Doubront almost had a clean inning in the top of the fourth inning. Dominguez grounded out but Gonzalez doubled. Grossman advanced Gonzalez with a ground out before Altuve grounded out to end the inning. Nava doubled to open the bottom of the fourth and moved to third on the groundout by Pedroia. That was it for Peacock after just 3 1/3 innings as Travis Blackley replaced him. Ortiz hit a sac fly to score Nava and Napoli singled. Carp looked at strike three with the Sox up 5-2.

Doubront cruised in the top of the fifth inning. Barnes looked at strike three, Laird grounded out to third and Carter struck out to end the inning. Great comeback by Doubront who appeared headed to the showers 5 batters into the game. The Sox also failed to score in the bottom of the fifth. Saltalamacchia struck out but Middlebrooks singled. Will moved to second on the Drew groundout but Ellsbury grounded out to end the inning.

Doubront came back for the top of sixth and cruised. Cedeno and Corporan grounded out and Dominguez popped up to end the inning. Wesley Wright was brought in to pitch the bottom of the sixth inning. Nava struck out but Pedroia walked and stole second. Ortiz walked but Napoli lined into a double play to end the inning.

Doubront tried to go seven but couldnt make it. Gonzalez singled and took second on a passed ball to start the top of the seventh inning. Grossman grounded out but Gonzalez stole third and scored on the Altuve ground out. Barnes reached on an infield single and that was it for Felix. Junichi Tazawa took over for Felix and advanced Barnes to second on a balk. Fernando "Cinco-cinco-cinco nuevedos-nuevedos" Martinez pinch hit for Laird and walked. Carter struck out to end the inning. Doubront gave it a hell of an effort after almost getting knocked out in the first to go 6 2/3 innings, giving the Sox a chance to win the game.

                                                     Way to go Felix.

Inspired by Doubront's effort, the Sox put the game with a seventh inning rally. Hector Ambriz came in to pitch and Jonny Gomes pinch hit for Carp. Gomes flied out but Saltalamacchia doubled. Middlebrooks walked and Drew singled home Saltalamacchia. Ellsbury struck out but Nava singled home Middlebrooks. Pedroia singled home Drew before Ortiz flied out to end the inning. The Sox had iced it and led 8-3.

Daniel Bard came into pitch the top of the eighth but didn't last long. Carlos Pena pinch hit for Cedeno and walked. Corporan walked and that was it for Bard, replaced by the rookie Alex Wilson. Dominguez singled home Pena but Gonzalez flied out to right. Grossman lined out to left although Drew went OLE! on a ground ball. Rick Ankiel hit for Barnes and struck out to end the inning with the score 8-4.

                                                   Wilson guts through the 8th inning,

Jose Veras got the ball in the bottom of the eighth inning. Napoli grounded out, Gomes struck out and Saltalamacchia flied out to end the inning.

Andrew Miller took over for the top of the ninth. Martinez grounded out, Carter looked at strike three and Pena struck out to end the game. The Sox had won it 8-4.

                                                     "Hear ye, Hear ye, we win!" - Miller

Hero of the night is David Ortiz. He was 2 for 3 with a walk and drove in 3 runs, leading the offense to victory.

                                                        Hero of the Night: David Ortiz

The Good:

Daniel Nava was 2 for 5 with a run scored and an rbi.

Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 3 with 2 walks, a stolen base and an rbi.

Will Middlebrooks was 2 for 3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.

Stephen Drew was 1 for 2 with 2 walks, an rbi and 2 runs scored.

Felix Doubront gutted through 6 2/3 innings giving up 3 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks to earn the win.

Andrew Miller pitched a scoreless ninth.

The Bad:

Mike Carp was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts

Jonny Gomes was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.

Daniel Bard walked two men and one of them came around to score.

The Ugly:

Jacoby Ellsbury was just 1 for 5 with a run scored but made the hit count as it drove in 2 runs.

Mike Napoli was just 1 for 4 with a walk.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia was 1 for 4 but walked and scored twice.

Junichi Tazawa allowed an inherited run to score and retired one of the two batters he faced.

Alex Wilson allowed an inherited runner to score but didn't allow one of his own.

Final Thoughts:

Another good win for the Sox who appear to be firing on all cylinders. Too bad its only April but every win counts in the end. The offense has been producing big time from top to bottom and the starters have been pitching well lately. The bullpen still has issues getting to Andrew Bailey but that can be corrected if Joel Hanrahan comes back healthy. Its hard to take Bailey out of the closer's role the way he's been pitching but then again, its no guarantee he'll stay healthy either. The 4 game set ends with John Lackey making his return from the disabled list tomorrow against Bud Norris at 1:35 PM tomorrow. Someone has to go in order for Lackey and I think I know who. So long Daniel Bard.