In a welcome change of pace from the first 2 games, the Red Sox struck first in the top of the first inning against Hector Santiago. The slumping Jacoby Ellsbury grounded back to the mound but Jonny Gomes was hit by a pitch and Dustin Pedroia doubled. David Ortiz made up for yesterday's incompetence by smashing a 2 run single. Mike Napoli worked a walk and then the Sox attempted a hit and run. Only problem was Daniel Nava struck out but just the sheer fact Ortiz was running sent Chisox catcher Tyler Flowers into shock, allowing Ortiz to steal third. Yes, David Ortiz stole third base. You can pick your jaws up off the floor now. Unfortunately it sent Will Middlebrooks into shock as well as he struck out to end the inning. Still, the BoSox had the quick lead 2-0.
Buchholz was not sharp to start the game but he was picked up by some good defense and timely pitches. Alejandro De Aza singled to start the game but the alert Jarrod Saltalamacchia gunned him down at second trying to steal. Its a good thing he did because Alexei Ramirez singled and Alex Rios walked. Unlike Lester, Clay did not give up a 3 run bomb to Adam Dunn, instead he punched him out swinging. Paul Konerko flied out and Buchholz was out of the jam.
Stephen "PU" Drew and Saltalamacchia both struck out to start the top of the second but Ellsbury singled. Gomes flied out to right to end the inning. Buchholz pitched a clean bottom of the second as Dayan Viciedo grounded out to short to start. Connor Gillaspie flied out to center and Jeff Keppinger grounded out to short to end the inning.
Pedroia walked to lead off the top of the third but Ortiz bounced into another double play this series, talk about Jekyll and Hyde. Napoli walked but Nava whiffed to end the inning. The Chisox broke through in the bottom of the third. PU Drew couldn't find the range and Flowers made it to first on an infield single and De Aza walked. Buchholz got Ramirez to hit a ground ball but he beat out the double play throw. A Rios ground out scored Flowers but Clay once again got Dunn swinging to end the inning with the BoSox still ahead 2-1.
Turns out the BoSox impotent offense would fall asleep again as Santiago shut down the Sox in order in the top of the 4th. Middlebrooks, Drew and Saltalamacchia all whiffed in short order. Konerko singled to begin the bottom of the fourth but was erased on the Viciedo force at second. Buchholz induced a double play from Gillaspie to get out of the inning.
Ellsbury worked a walk to lead off the top of the 5th but Gomes banged into a double play to end that. Pedroia popped up to first to end the inning. Clay worked around a leadoff single by last night's Chicago hero Keppinger to strike out Flowers. Keppinger was erased on the force by De Aza and Ramirez lined out to center to end the inning.
Santiago returned for the top of the sixth and got Ortiz to fly out to center to begin. Napoli whiffed and Nava popped up to first to end the inning. The BoSox went up against a relief pitcher, only scored 2 runs and got only ONE HIT after the 2nd inning. The Sox defense picked up Buchholz in the bottom of the 6th after Rios singled to start. Dunn popped up to second, Konerko flied out to left and the alert Saltalamacchia gunned down Rios trying to steal to end the inning. After taking a lot of criticism, Jarrod stepped up tonight.
Brian Omogrosso replaced Santiago in the top of the 7th as Middlebrooks flied out to center to start. Drew popped up to short but Saltalamacchia and Ellsbury hit back to back singles. Gomes grounded out to end the frame. Buchholz returned for the bottom of the 7th and struck out Viciedo to begin. Gillaspie flied out to left and Clay got Keppinger to fly out on his 113th pitch of the outing. Clay wasn't as sharp as he has been but he still managed 7 solid innings and only 1 run allowed (on a beat out double play ball).
The BoSox bats finally woke up in the top of the 8th. Pedroia lined out to left but Ortiz and Napoli hit back to back singles. Nava walked to load the bases and Nate Jones replaced Omogrosso. Middlebrooks hit a sac fly that scored Ortiz and the alert Napoli moved to third. PU Drew walked to re-load the bases. This time it wasn't the Sox offense that produced a run, a passed ball scored Napoli and everyone else moved up. Saltalamacchia struck out to end the inning but it was now 4-1 BoSox.
Ortiz scores
Staked to a 4-1 lead, Koji Uehara came on in the bottom of the 8th. Koji caught Flowers looking, and whiffed De Aza. Ramirez lined out to left to end the inning and unfortunately Shane Victorino was the victim of his excessive post-inning celebration. Take a look:
Inspired by Uehara's enthusiasm, the Sox put the game away in the top of the 9th. Ellsbury walked and Gomes singled to start the inning but Pedroia struck out. Donnie Veal replaced Jones as Ortiz lined out before Napoli walked. Once again the bases were loaded with 2 outs but this time Nava delivered with a 2 run single. Middlebrooks grounded out to end the frame but it was nice to see a clutch hit for a change with the BoSox ahead 6-1.
With the game in hand, the recently activated Andrew Bailey made his return to the mound for the bottom of the 9th. Rios popped up to third before Dunn grounded out to third. Konerko sent the Bosox a parting gift of a 380 foot home run to left field. Viciedo struck out to end the game with Boston avoiding a sweep with a 6-2 win.
Hero of the Night is.....*drumroll*.....Clay Buchholz. Clay worked 7 innings allowing 5 hits, 3 walks and only a single run while striking out 4. He is now 7-0 with a 1.73 ERA, was he cheating this time Jack?
The Good:
Jacoby Ellsbury was 2 for 3 with 2 walks and a run scored.
David Ortiz was 2 for 5 with 2 rbis, a stolen base and a run scored.
Mike Napoli was 1 for 2 with 3 walks and a run scored.
Koji Uehara pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
The Bad:
Andrew Bailey served up a home run to Konerko in the bottom of the ninth.
The Ugly:
Jonny Gomes was just 1 for 4 but scored twice.
Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored.
Daniel Nava was just 1 for 4 but walked and drove in two runs.
Will Middlebrooks was 0 for 4 but drove in a run.
Stephen Drew was 0 for 3 but walked.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Final Thoughts:
It was a good win to salvage the series and going 5-3 on the road trip isn't bad at all. If the bats could wake up they'd be in good shape the way they were pitching. Buchholz pitched great but just like Jon Lester, he's due for a stinker. I just hope when that day comes the bats can bail him out to avoid a similar fate. Hopefully Bailey can get on track as the closer because the rest of the troops in the bullpen have been outstanding so far this year. Other than Alfredo Aceves and Joel Hanrahan, the bullpen all has their ERA under 4. The win put the Sox at 28-19, a half game behind the Yankees who lost to Baltimore. If it wasn't for that 2-8 disaster earlier this month, they'd be 2-3 games up by now. Still, this is all you can expect from a team that seemingly can't get a clutch hit more often than not and has trouble with left handed pitching. At least that can be corrected moving forward. Terry Francona makes his return to Fenway Park tomorrow as the Cleveland Indians are in town. Ryan Dempster looks to bounce back from his stinker in Minnesota to send the fans home happy.
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