As for the game, the last time John Lackey (3-4, 2.72 ERA) pitched in the rain he was outstanding, giving up just 1 run in 6 innings. Tonight he was even better, going 7 innings and giving up an unearned run to lead the Red Sox to victory over the Cleveland Indians. Mike Carp struck a big home run and the Sox rolled over the Indians 8-1 at Fenway Park.
Lackey got the ball to start the top of the first inning and froze Michael Bourn to start. Jason Kipnis grounded out to third and Asdrubal Cabrera whiffed to end the inning. Old buddy Justin Masterson got the start for the Indians and he whiffed Jacoby Ellsbury to start. Daniel Nava and Dustin Pedroia both grounded out to first to end the inning.
Nick Swisher grounded out to second to start the top of the second inning but Carlos Santana walked. The ancient Jason Giambi banged into a double play to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom of the second. David Ortiz walked and Mike Napoli singled to put two men on. Jarrod Saltalamacchia flied out which moved Ortiz to third. The much maligned Mike Carp stepped to the plate and crushed a 3 run home run to put the Sox on the board. Stephen "PU" Drew grounded out to second and the returning Jose Iglesias took strike three to end the inning but it was 3-0 Sox.
The Sox defense nearly pissed the lead away in the top of the second. Mark Reynolds and Michael Brantley hit back to back singles but Drew Stubbs lined out to short. Michael Bourn whiffed but the baserunners pulled off a double steal on Saltalamacchia, Reynolds scoring when Saltalamacchia fired the ball 627 feet over the head of Iglesias at third. More runs with 2 outs. Kipnis walked and he too stole 2nd off Saltalamacchia. Luckily John got Cabrera to ground out to first to end the inning with the Sox leading intact 3-1.
Masterson settled down in the bottom of the third as Ellsbury grounded out to short to start. Nava singled but Pedroia grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Lackey got the Indians to beat the ball in the dirt in the top of the fourth inning. Swisher grounded out to first, Santana grounded out to short and Giambi also grounded out to first to end the inning. Masterson matched Lackey in the bottom of the fourth as Ortiz grounded out to first, Napoli looked at strike three and Saltalamacchia grounded out to third to end the inning.
Lackey whiffed Reynolds to open the top of the fifth before Brantley grounded out to short. Stubbs whiffed to end the inning. Masterson stayed tough as Carp grounded out to third, PU Drew grounded out to second and Iglesias whiffed to end the inning.
Lackey got Bourn to ground back to the mound to start the top of the sixth inning. Kipnis walked and moved to second on the Cabrera groundout, but Swisher whiffed to end the inning. The Sox struck back in the bottom of the sixth although Ellsbury watched strike three go by to start. Nava worked a owalk then Pedroia and Ortiz hit back to back singles to load the bases. Napoli then hit a ground ball that should have been two but the relay throw to first pulled Swisher off the bag allowing Nava to score. Unfortunately Pedroia was too greedy and he was thrown out at home. Still, the Sox led 4-0.
Lackey returned for one final inning in the top of the seventh. Santana grounded out to first to start before Giambi whiffed. On Lackey's 109th pitch, he struck out Reynolds to end the inning. After Dempster's disaster yesterday, this was a much needed breath of fresh air. Lackey went 7 innings while giving up just the unearned run on 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 8.
The Sox put the game away in the bottom of the 7th against a trio of former Red Sox pitchers. Saltalamacchia led off with a double off Masterson who was replaced by old friend Rich Hill. Jonny Gomes pinch hit for Carp and was hit by a pitch. Drew struck out but Iglesias singled to load the bases. Ellsbury then singled home Saltalamacchia and Gomes. Nava popped up to third and old pal Matt Albers replaced Hill. Ellsbury swiped second and Pedroia singled him (and Iglesias) home to wrap up the scoring. Ortiz walked but Napoli grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-1.
Gomes took over in left and Koji Uehara replaced Lackey for the top of the 8th. Brantley doubled to lead off the inning but Koji got Stubbs to pop up to second. Bourn flied out to right and Kipnis flied out to center to end the inning. Vinnie Pestano got the bottom of the eighth and Saltalamacchia flied out to center to start. Gomes whiffed and PU Drew flied out to right to end the inning.
Alfredo "The Vulture" Aceves worked mop up duty in the top of the 9th. Cabrera singled to lead off the inning but Swisher whiffed. Santana flied out to center and Giambi grounded out to third to end the game. The Sox had won it 8-1
Tonight's co-heroes of the night are John Lackey and Mike Carp. Carp's three run home was all the offense the Sox needed while Lackey shut the Indians completely down.
The Good:
Daniel Nava was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 4 with a 2 run single.
David Ortiz was 1 for 2 with 2 walks.
Jonny Gomes pinch hit for Carp and was hit by a pitch, then scored.
Jose Iglesias made his return by going 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Koji Uehara pitched a scoreless 8th.
Alfredo Aceves pitched a scoreless 9th.
The Bad:
Stephen Drew was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Jacoby Ellsbury was just 1 for 4 but drove in two runs and scored.
Mike Napoli was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run and scored.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Final Thoughts:
Good win and even better pitching by Lackey. If only he could start in the rain more often. It was nice for the Sox not to score all their runs in one inning and the defense of Iglesias is already an improvement over Middlebrooks. Anything he brings on offense is a bonus. The injury to Victorino hurts but if Carp can keep his uncanny streak of good starter/bad pinch hitter, they should be fine until Shane gets back. Ellsbury needs to heat up and maybe today is the start. The win puts the Sox at 29-20, 1 game behind the Yankees. Tomorrow Jon Lester goes for the Sox opposite Scott Kazmir of the Indians at 1:35 PM at Fenway Park in Game 3 of this series.
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