Ubaldo Jimenez had the unenviable task of pitching to this group looking to pick up a city in the top of the first inning. Jacoby Ellsbry, Shane Victorino and Dustin Pedroia all grounded out in short order. Felix Doubront took the hill in the bottom of the first. Drew Stubbs and Asdrubal Cabrera flied out then Carlos Santana grounded out to end the inning.
The Sox inexplicably exploded on Jimenez in the top of the second inning. Mike Napoli doubled and Will Middlebrooks walked. Daniel Nava struck out but Jonny Gomes walked to load the bases. David Ross walked in the first run before Pedro Ciriaco scored Middlebrooks with a sac fly to make it 2-0. Ellsbury singled home Gomes as Ross took third. Ellsbury swiped second as Victorino walked to re-load the bases. Pedroia walked in a run and that was it for Jimenez. He couldn't find the plate if you had directions for him. Cody Allen came in and Napoli cleared the bases with a double. Middlebrooks struck out to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-0.
The Indians tried to fight back in the bottom of the second. Nick Swisher singled but Mark Reynolds struck out. Michael Brantley singled Swisher to third and Nick scored on the sac fly by old friend Mike Avilies. Lonnie Chisenhall struck out to end the inning but the Indians were on the board 7-1.
The Sox offense went to sleep after that as Nava struck out to open the top of the third. Gomes and Ross singled but Ciriaco struck out. Ellsbury grounded out to end the inning. Doubront was in command in the bottom of the third. Ryan Raburn looked at strike three but Stubbs walked. Cabrera and Santana both struck out to end the inning.
Allen returned for the top of the fourth and got Victorino to ground out to begin. Pedroia singled but Napoli flied out. Middlebrooks looked at strike three to end the inning. Doubront pitched well in the bottom of the fourth. Swisher flied out but Reynolds walked. Brantley lined out and Avilies struck out to end the inning.
Allen came back for the top of the fifth and Nava earned a hat trick with his third strikeout. Gomes walked but Ross struck out. That was it for Allen as Indians manager Terry Francona brought in former Sox prospect Nick Hagadone (traded for Victor Martinez in 2009). Ciriaco flied out to end the inning. Doubront got tagged in the bottom of the inning. Chisenhall flied out but Raburn singled. Stubbs walked and Cabrera singled to load the bases. A passed ball on Ross scored Raburn then Swisher walked to re-load the bases. Doubront got out of it by getting Reynolds to pop up to end the inning.
Hagadone returned for the top of the sixth. Ellsbury grounded out but Victorino walked. Pedroia struck out but a wild pitch moved Shane to second. Napoli watched strike three go by to end the inning. Clayton "Vigo" Mortensen replaced Doubront in the bottom of the sixth inning. Brantley singled but both Avilies and Chisenhall flied out. Raburn walked but Stubbs struck out to end the inning.
Hagdone came back for the top of the seventh to get Middlebrooks to ground out. Nava struck out to earn a golden sombrero but Gomes walked to chase Nick. Another old friend, Rich Hill came on to pitch to Ross. A wild pitch moved Gomes to second but Ross struck out to end the inning. Mortensen cruised in the bottom of the seventh. Cabrera, Santana and Swisher all grounded out in short order.
Hill returned for the top of the eighth where Ciriaco led off with a walk. Ellsbury struck out and Victorino flied out before Francona pulled Hill for Byan Shaw. Pedroia struck out to end the inning. Rookie Alex Wilson came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth. Reynolds walked but Brantley hit into a double play. Swisher struck out to end the inning.
Napoli and Middlebrooks struck out to begin the top of the ninth and Sox manager John Farrell sent in Mike Carp to pinch hit for Nava since he hasn't played much. Carp struck out too to end the inning. Jackie Bradley Jr came in to play left field in the bottom of the ninth. Chisenhall grounded out as Cord Phelps pinch hit for Raburn and grounded out. Stubbs singled and took second on defensive indifference. Cabrera grounded out to end the game. The Sox had won 7-2.
Hero of the night is Mike Napoli again. He drove in 3 of the 7 runs and that iced the game early.
The Good:
Jonny Gomes was 1 for 1 with 3 walks and a run scored. David Ross was 1 for 3 with a walk, run scored and rbi. Felix Doubront got the win tossing 5 innings of 3 run ball, allowing 4 hits and 4 walks while striking out 7. Clayton Mortensen and Alex Wilson both tossed 2 innings of scoreless relief.
The Bad:
Daniel Nava was 0 for 4 with a golden sombrero. Not his best night. Mike Carp struck out as a pinch hitter.
The Ugly:
Jacoby Ellsbury was just 1 for 5 with a run scored and a stolen base. Shane Victorino was 0 for 3 but walked twice and scored a run. Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 4 but walked, scored a run and drove in one. Will Middlebrooks was 0 for 4 but walked and scored. Pedro Ciriaco was 0 for 2 but walked and scored a run.
Honorable Mention:
Jackie Bradley Jr played left field in the bottom of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
After the Marathon tragedy, the city of Boston needed a lift and a victory by the Sox helped a little bit, even if it was on the road. The bats came alive for just one inning but it was enough to put the game away early. Good on Mortensen and Wilson to hold the fort after Doubront left. Any win without David Ortiz or Jon Lester/Clay Buchholz on the mound is a bonus. It was great to see Avilies, Francona and Hill again even if they are on the other side. Then again, after a tragedy like that there are no sides. Somehow the Sox are 9-4 to start the year, stunning. Tomorrow night Alfredo "The Vulture" Aceves gets the spot start in place of John Lackey while old friend Justin Masterson goes for Cleveland at 7:05 PM.
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