Before the game the team made some news. David Ross was transferred to the 60 day DL meaning his concussions are far worse than we thought. Will Middlebrooks was sent down to Pawtucket, officially losing his job as starting 3rd basemen to Jose Iglesias. Taking his spot will be Brandon Snyder. Also, Franklin Morales was placed on the 15 day DL and the Sox brought back Pedro Beato for tonight's game.
As for the game itself, Ryan Dempster took the hill for the top of the first. Dexter Fowler walked and DJ LaMahieu caught Dempster asleep by bunting his way on. The Sox defense pitched in when MVP candidate Carlos Gonzalez popped up and Michael Cuddyer bounced into a double play to end the inning. The Sox struck first in the bottom half. Rockies starter Juan Nicasio was ineffective right from the start. Jacoby Ellsbury doubled to lead off the game and Shane Victorino sacrificed him over to third. The way runs were hard to come by against Detroit, that wasn't such a bad move. Dustin Pedroia singled home Ellsbury for the quick 1-0 lead. David Ortiz and Mike Napoli worked back to back walks to load the bases, but only one run scored when Daniel Nava's single was too shallow to score anyone else. With a chance to break the game open early, Jarrod Saltalamacchia struck out and PU Drew popped up to end the inning. The Sox led 2-0 but the missed chance was eerily similar to the Detroit series.
The Rockies wouldn't go away quietly. Todd Helton lined out but Wilin Rosario smacked his 12th home run of the year to cut the lead 2-1. Corey Dickerson grounded out but Nolan Arenado doubled. Jonathan Herrera grounded out to end the inning. The Sox pretty much put the game away in the bottom of the second, all with 2 outs. Jose Iglesias and Ellsbury were retired but Victorino, Pedroia and Ortiz hit back to back to back doubles to make it 4-1. Napoli's single made it 5-1 and Nava singled as well. Just like the first inning, Saltalamacchia failed with men on base by striking out. Still, the Sox now led 5-1.
The Rockies were unable to respond this time, Dempster got the side in order in the top of the third. The Sox rallied again in the bottom of the third. PU Drew flied out but Iglesias and Ellsbury hit back to back singles. Victorino then snuck one by Cuddyer for a single and error that advanced the two runners and scored Iglesias. Pedroia slammed a single to bring home Ellsbury, advance Victorino and chase Nicasio from the game. Adam Ottavino relieved Nicasio and struck out Ortiz, but Pedroia and Victorino executed a double steal. With a 7-1 lead and a chance for more....Napoli flied out.
The Rockies refused to go quietly, even trailing by 6 runs in the top of the 4th. Cuddyer singled and took second on a wild pitch. Helton flied out and Rosario grounded out back to Dempster. Dickerson walked and Arenado singled home Cuddyer but the runners moved up when the ball got by Ellsbury. Another error in as many games for the Sox. Dempster got Herrera to ground out but it was now 7-2 Boston going into the bottom of the 4th. The Sox smacked the Rockies pitching around even more. Nava singled but was erased on a strike em out, throw em out double play...yet another miscue by Saltalamacchia. PU Drew then hit a long fly ball off the top of the center field wall, most thought it was gone but after a TEN MINUTE review, it was ruled a triple.
The red hot Iglesias singled home Drew to bring justice to the game and increase the lead 8-2. Ellsbury grounded out to end the inning. Dempster retired the side in order in the top of the 5th and Ottavino worked around a 2 out walk to Ortiz to keep the Sox scoreless for the first time all game. Rosario struck a 2 out single in the top of the 6th but Dempster finished his day by getting out of the inning. 6 innings and just 2 runs allowed, good start for Dempster.
Manny Corpas took over for the bottom of the 6th and retired the side. Alex Wilson took over for Dempster and got even more shoddy defense. Arenado singled and scored when Victorino blew a play on Herrera. Wilson recovered to strike out the next 2 batters but Sox manager John Farrell pulled him for Craig Breslow. The lefty/lefty matchup failed as Gonzalez singled home Herrera. Cuddyer flied out but the score was now 8-4. Good news for Wilson was both runs were un-earned. The Sox got the runs right back in the bottom of the 7th. Iglesias and Ellsbury singled and both advanced when Victorino grounded out 1-3. Pedroia scored Iglesias with a sac fly and Ortiz was intentionally walked...bad move. Napoli singled home Ellsbury to make it 10-4. Nava flied out to end the inning. Breslow gave up a one out single and double but got the next 2 batters to avoid any trouble.
The Sox wrapped up the scoring in the bottom of the 8th against Josh Outman. Salty finally joined the hit parade with a single and Drew hit another one as well. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch but Iglesias' fly out was too shallow for Salty to score. Ellsbury walked to load the bases and Victorino scored Jarrod with a ground out. Pedroia struck out but that wrapped it up at 11 runs on 20 total hits. Pedro Beato had mop up duty in the top of the 9th and overcame yet another error, this time by IGLESIAS of all people to retire the side and win the game 11-4.
THE GOOD:
Hero of the Night is a tough one. It was an all-around team effort but I'll have to give the nod to Dustin Pedroia.
Pedroia was 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored and 4 runs batted in. He wins Hero because he almost beat the Rockies by himself. He's joined on the good list by Jacoby Ellsbury was 3 for 5 with a walk and 3 runs scored, bumping his batting average to .294....THIS is the Ellsbury that the Sox had in 2008-09. Shane Victorino was 2 for 5 with an rbi and a run scored. David Ortiz was 1 for 2 with a run scored, rbi and 3 walks. Mike Napoli was 2 for 4 with a walk and 2 rbi's. Daniel Nava was 3 for 5 with an rbi. PU Drew was 2 for 5 with a run scored. Jose Iglesias was 3 for 5 with an rbi and 2 runs scored to maintain his batting average at .434. Ryan Dempster tossed 6 innings of 2 run ball, improving his record slightly to 5-8 with a 4.15 ERA. Pedro Beato pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
THE BAD:
For one of the only times all year, no one's on this list.
THE UGLY:
Jarrod Saltalamacchia picked up the hat trick (3 strikeouts) but came back to single and score. Alex Wilson gave up 2 un-earned runs due to an error by Victorino. Craig Breslow pitched an inning and 1/3 scoreless relief but he allowed Wilson's 2 runs to score.
Final Thoughts:
That's more like it. With Iglesias continuing his hot streak as well as Ellsbury and Pedroia heating up, the offense appears to be picking up. If the starting pitching could come around the Sox may have a shot to pull away in the division. Its nice to see Dempster finally get some run support as well. If Buchholz can come back soon and Lester gets his head out of his ass, this team is on the cusp of going on a run. The win put the Sox at 46-33, still 2 1/2 games in front thanks to the Dirty Birds 5 run 7th inning to beat Cleveland and the Yankees beating Texas on a walkoff by Ichiro of all people. Tomorrow John Lackey goes against the back from the dead Roy Oswalt.
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