The Sox made some news when they placed PU Drew on the 15 day disabled list and called up Jose De La Torre. Drew is on the disabled list for the second time this season, he's only been on the DL twice before in his career. As for the game, Felix Doubront was matched up against CJ Wilson. Jacoby Ellsbury, Shane Victorino and Dustin Pedroia failed to reach in the top of the first. Doubront shook off a one out double by Mike Trout to retire the side in the bottom of the first.
The Sox struck first in the top of the 2nd. Mike Napoli flied out but Jonny Gomes walked. Daniel Nava singled but Brandon Snyder flied out. Jarrod Saltalamacchia lofted a ball to left fielder JB Shuck who misplayed it, allowing both baserunners to score and Salty advanced to second. Salty gets credit for just one rbi. Jose Iglesias walked but Ellsbury grounded out to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
Howie Kendrick struck out to open the bottom of the 2nd but Josh Hamilton reached on an infield single. Alberto Callaspo flied out but Chris Iannetta walked. Erick Aybar grounded out to end the inning. Pedroia singled with one out in the top of the second but Mike Napoli grounded into a double play to end the inning. The Angels struck back in the bottom of the third. Shuck redeemed his error by tripling and Mike Trout walked. Albert Pujols banged into a double play but Shuck scored to cut the lead 2-1. Mike Trumbo grounded out to end the inning.
The Sox threatened in the top of the 4th when Gomes reached on an infield single. Nava lined out but Snyder singled. Salty flied out but Iglesias struck out to end the threat. Howie Kendrick greeted Doubront with a 400 foot blast to tie the game in the bottom of the 4th. Doubront got the next 3 outs but the game was tied. Ellsbury singled and stole second after Victorino struck out to open the top of the 5th. Pedroia grounded out and Mike Napoli struck out to end the inning. Felix struck out 2 of the 3 batters he faced in the bottom of the frame.
The Sox tried to threaten again in the top of the 6th when Snyder, Salty and Iglesias all singled with 2 outs to load the bases. Unfortunately Ellsbury hit a shot.....stabbed by Wilson to end the inning. Doubront got the side in order in the bottom of the 6th, not a bad day's work. The Sox struck again in the top of the 7th. Victorino singled but Pedroia and Napoli were retired. Gomes then lofted a lazy ball to Josh Hamilton in right...WHO DROPPED IT! Victorino came around to score and the Sox now led 3-2.
That was it for Wilson as Angels manager Mike Scioscia lifted him for Dane De La Rosa...who picked Gomes off first. The good news was the Sox had the lead.
Doubront came back for the 7th and got Hamilton to fly out but allowed a double to Callaspo. Iannetta struck out and Sox manager John Farrell pulled Doubront for Craig Breslow. A peculiar decision to pull a lefty for another lefty but Craig got Aybar to fly out to end the inning. Doubront remains in line for the win.
Nava doubled to lead off the top of the 8th and David Ortiz pinch hit for Snyder.....BANG! A 2 run homer by Ortiz made it 5-2 Sox.
De La Rosa got the next 3 outs but the damage was done. Jonathan Diaz took over at third and Breslow got Shuck to ground out. Farrell then lifted Breslow for Junichi Tazawa who worked around a Pujols single to retire the side. Michael Kohn took over for the top of the 9th and with two outs....Mike Napoli homered for the first time in a long while to put the game out of reach, 6-2.
Curiously, Farrell sent out Koji Uehara to pitch the 9th inning. It was not a save situation and what if they need him tomorrow? Eh, it didn't really matter as Uehara got the side in order in just 7 pitches to end the game with the Sox winning their 5th straight 6-2.
THE GOOD:
Hero of the night is a tough one with most of the runs coming off errors and home runs with the game already in hand. So that leaves tonight's hero to be Felix Doubront for his 6 2/3 innings of 2 run ball against CJ Wilson, arguably the Angels best pitcher.
Doubront improves to 5-3 with a 4.11 ERA. Other good guys include Daniel Nava who was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored. Brandon Snyder was 2 for 3 before he was lifted. David Ortiz pinch hit for Snyder and blasted his 17th home run of the year. Jarrod Saltalamacchia was 2 for 4 with an rbi. Jose Iglesias was 1 for 3 with a walk. Craig Breslow, Junichi Tazawa and Koji Uehara all pitched scoreless relief.
THE BAD:
None....a rarity indeed.
THE UGLY:
Jacoby Ellsbury was just 1 for 5 with a stolen base. Shane Victorino was just 1 for 5 with a run scored. Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 5. Mike Napoli was 1 for 5 but his one hit was his 10th home run of the season. Jonny Gomes was 1 for 4 with a walk including the fly ball that turned into the go ahead run...but he was also picked off first.
Final Thoughts:
Big win for the rolling Sox. The Angels are one of the worst fielding teams in baseball and tonight showed everyone why. It was nice to see Doubront get back on track and nearly went 7. If the Sox can keep up the momentum, they can cruise right into the all-star break in first place. The win put the Sox at 54-34, 5 1/2 games in front of the Dirty Birds who lost to the Yankees. The Sox had 69 total wins last year and they're already 15 away from matching it, they could get it by the end of the month. Tomorrow night Ryan Dempster looks to keep the streak going against Jerome Williams.
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