Before the game the Boston Red Sox made a roster move. Jackie Bradley Jr was sent down to Pawtucket to make room for the returning Shane Victorino. We could see Jackie again sometime down the road.
After theLos Angeles Angels took Game 1 of the double-header today, the Sox turned the tables tonight in Game 2. Clay Buchholz (9-0, 1.71 ERA) held the Angels to just 2 runs while pitching into the seventh inning. The bats knocked around CJ Wilson of the Angels and his replacement Jerome Williams for seven runs. Craig Breslow and Junichi Tazawa slammed the door to take the night cap 7-2 at Fenway Park.
Buchholz had to be tough after the Sox used three relievers and they all failed in some way in the day game. Mike Trout popped up to third to start before Josh Hamilton grounded out to second. Albert Pujols popped up to second to end the inning. In a nice change of pace, the Sox struck first for once. The returning Shane Victorino singled to left off Wilson and Jonny Gomes doubled him home to put the Sox on top. Dustin Pedroia doubled Gomes in to increase the lead but David Ortiz flied out to left. Mike Napoli struck out swinging but Daniel Nava and David Ross worked back to back walks to load the bases. With a chance to break open the game....Stephen "PU" Drew struck out swinging to end the inning. Despite leaving 3 men on, the Sox led 2-0.
Pitching with the lead, Buchholz remained tough in the top of the second inning. He struck out Mike Trumbo swinging but gave up a single to right by Howie Kendrick. The recently called up Brad Hawpe struck out looking and Alberto Callaspo flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox broke through again in the bottom of the second although Jose Iglesias grounded out to third to start. Victorino grounded out to third but Gomes singled to left. Pedroia walked and Ortiz doubled in Gomes to increase the lead. Napoli struck out swinging to leave two more men on but the Sox tacked on another run to lead it 3-0.
Just as soon as the Sox scored a run, the Angels took it right back in the top of the third. Backup catcher Hank Conger doubled to right to lead off the third and took third on the Erick Aybar grounder to first. Trout singled home Conger but Hamilton lined out to right. Pujols walked but Trumbo flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox still up 3-1.
The Sox tried to get the run back when Nava singled to left to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Ross sacrificed him to second with a bunt but he was stranded when Drew struck out looking and Iglesias flied out to center to end the inning. 6 men left on base now, same pace as game 1.
Buchholz damn near killed himself in the bottom of the fourth. Kendrick flied out to center to start before Hawpe struck out swinging. Callaspo hit a grounder to Buchholz who threw himself into Alberto to tag him out to end the inning.
Buchholz damn near killed himself in the bottom of the fourth. Kendrick flied out to center to start before Hawpe struck out swinging. Callaspo hit a grounder to Buchholz who threw himself into Alberto to tag him out to end the inning.
The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fourth as Victorino flied out to left to start. Gomes grounded out to third and Pedroia grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Buchholz cruised in the top of the fifth as Conger flied out to left to start. Aybar grounded out to second and Trout flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the fifth as Ortiz grounded out to third to start. Napoli hit a roller to third and Callaspo threw the ball away, allowing Mike to take second. Nava flied out to right but Ross singled home Napoli to increase the lead. Drew struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 4-1.
Napoli makes it to second
Hamilton doubled to center to start the top of the sixth and moved to third on a Pujols grounder to short. Trumbo hit a bullet to Victorino but Hamilton scored to cut the lead. Buchholz started grabbing his neck after Hawpe struck out to end the inning.
Buchholz stumbles, bumbles and guts his way to a good game
The Sox figured enough was enough and it was time to end the back and forth scoring in the bottom of the sixth off reliever Jerome Williams. Iglesias beat out a single to short and Jose reached second on an error by Trumbo. Victorino struck out swinging and Gomes popped up to second but a passed ball advanced Iglesias to third. Pedroia singled Jose home and Ortiz launched an absolute moon shot to right...434 feet to be exact for his 12th home run of the year. Napoli grounded out to second to end the inning but the Sox had a 7-2 Sox lead.
Ortiz watches his blast travel 434 feet to right
Buchholz came out grabbing his neck in the top of the seventh although Callaspo lined out to second to start. Conger singled to right and advanced to second on a force out for Aybar. That was it for Buchholz as he left the game due to neck tightness. Craig Breslow replaced Clay and got Trout to ground out to third to end the inning.
Buchholz came out grabbing his neck in the top of the seventh although Callaspo lined out to second to start. Conger singled to right and advanced to second on a force out for Aybar. That was it for Buchholz as he left the game due to neck tightness. Craig Breslow replaced Clay and got Trout to ground out to third to end the inning.
The Sox blew a rally in the bottom of the eighth as Nava struck out swinging to start. Ross flied out to center but Drew and Iglesias stroked back to back singles, Drew moving to third. Jose stole second but Victorino grounded out to first to end the inning.
Breslow returned for the top of the eighth and Hamilton grounded out to second to start. Pujols flied out to center and Trumbo flied out to right to end the inning. Nice to see Breslow bounce back after his tough outing on Wednesday.
Gomes popped up to second to start the bottom of the eighth before Pedroia grounded out to second. Ortiz reached on an error by Hawpe but Napoli struck out swinging to end the inning with a grand total of 10 men left on base.
Junichi Tazawa came on to finish the 9th and Kendrick worked a lead-off single to right. Kendrick moved to second on a squibber in front of the plate by Hawpe and to third on the grounder to first by Callaspo. Conger struck out swinging to end the game. The Sox had won it 7-2.
Hero of the Night is a tough one so we'll go with David Ortiz. Big Papi was 2 for 5 with a monstrous 2 run home run and 3 rbi's to run his total to 45.
David Hero
Junichi Tazawa came on to finish the 9th and Kendrick worked a lead-off single to right. Kendrick moved to second on a squibber in front of the plate by Hawpe and to third on the grounder to first by Callaspo. Conger struck out swinging to end the game. The Sox had won it 7-2.
Hero of the Night is a tough one so we'll go with David Ortiz. Big Papi was 2 for 5 with a monstrous 2 run home run and 3 rbi's to run his total to 45.
The Good:
Jonny Gomes finally hit a lefty by going 2 for 5 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Jonny Gomes finally hit a lefty by going 2 for 5 with an rbi and 2 runs scored.
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 4 with a walk, 2 rbi's and a run scored.
Daniel Nava was 1 for 3 with a walk.
David Ross was 1 for 2 with a walk and an rbi.
Jose Iglesias was 2 for 4 with a stolen base and a run scored.
Craig Breslow pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Juinchi Tazawa pitched a scoreless ninth inning,.
The Bad:
None
None
The Ugly:
Shane Victorino was just 1 for 5 but scored on his one hit.
Shane Victorino was just 1 for 5 but scored on his one hit.
Mike Napoli was just 1 for 5 with a hat trick of three strikeouts but scored a run.
Stephen Drew was just 1 for 4 with a hat trick of three strikeouts.
Final Thoughts:
That's more like it. Its nice to see Gomes and Ross contribute against a lefty for once. Ortiz' bomb would have been out of Yellowstone and Buchholz remains undefeated. It was sad to see him leave with injury but it appears to be minor. Its nice to see Victorino again although the Sox will have a decision to make when Middlebrooks comes back. Iglesias has been red-hot since he was called up and do the Sox want to demote him despite of that, or finally part ways with either PU Drew's 9.5 million dollar contract or Pedro Ciriaco? If Sox management continues to stick with Drew, either Ciriaco or Iglesias has to go....unless they want to dump a pitcher and keep all 3 of them. Either way the Sox move to 38-25, 1 1/2 games in front of the Yankees. The Sox look to take the rubber game of this series against the Angels tomorrow night. Ryan Dempster looks to give the Sox another series win by trying to defeat the 1-9 Joe Blanton tomorrow night at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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