Sox Blitz Dickey, Beat Jays (5/10/15)

Before the game the Boston Red Sox made some roster moves. Edward Mujica was traded to the Oakland A's for a player to be named later or a big sack full of money. He posted a 4.61 ERA this year and with the rise of young pitchers like Matt Barnes, he was pretty much expendable. Good luck in Oakland. Also, Robbie Ross Jr and Allen Craig were sent to Pawtucket while the Sox brought back Jackie Bradley Jr and Steven Wright. 

                                                                      OUT

                                                                         IN

As for the game, usually the M.O. is the Boston Red Sox starters give up a bunch of runs and the bats have to play catch up the rest of the game. Well today the Sox flipped the script as they attacked Toronto Blue Jays starter RA Dickey at the opening pitch. Dustin Pedroia knocked in a run then the struggling Mike Napoli belted a 3 run home run to put the Sox up big early. Pablo Sandoval hit a two run bomb as well but the story was the pitching. Clay Buchholz (2-4, 5.73) had one of his better starts of the season as he held the Jays offense to just 3 runs in 6 1/3 innings. The Orient Express came in to slam the door and the Sox snapped their losing streak with a 6-3 win over the Jays at the Skydome.

                                                      Jordan Spieth approves of the win

The Sox wasted no time getting to Dickey in the top of the first inning as Kevin Pillar dropped a diving catch by Mr. Mookie Betts for a "triple" to start. Dustin Pedroia grounded out to short to score Betts to put Boston on top then David Ortiz drew a walk. Hanley Ramirez forced Ortiz at second but Pablo Sandoval doubled to right. Mike Napoli broke out of his slump with a three run bomb to give the Sox some breathing room. Xander Bogaerts popped up to short to end the inning with the Sox up 4-0.

                                                      Sox go up early

Buchholz got the ball in the bottom of the first and Devon Travis walked to start. Josh Donaldson grounded into a double play but both Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion walked. Kevin Pillar forced Bautista at third to end the inning.

Jackie Bradley Jr grounded out to first to start the top of the second but Sandy Leon dropped a base hit to right. Mr. Mookie forced Leon at second but Pedroia lashed a base hit to center to move Betts to third. Ortiz grounded out to short to end the inning. Chris Colabello got a base hit to right to start the bottom of the second but Ezequiel Carrera took strike three. Josh Thole grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Ramirez grounded out to short to begin the top of the third before Sandoval grounded out to second. Napoli walked and Bogaerts lined out to right to end the inning. Ryan Goins grounded out to second to open the bottom of the third before Travis grounded back to the mound. Donaldson grounded out to short to end the inning.

JBJ grounded out to first to start the top of the fourth before Leon grounded out to second. Mr. Mookie lined out to left to end the inning. The Jays struck back in the bottom of the fourth as Bautista grounded back to the mound to start. Encarnacion blooped a base hit to center and moved to second on a grounder to second by Pillar. Colabello lined a base hit to center to score Encarnacion to break up the shutout. Carrera grounded out to second to end the inning with the Jays down 4-1.

                                                              Jays get a run back

The Sox struck back in the top of the fifth as Pedroia grounded out to third to start. Ortiz popped up to second but Ramirez lashed a base hit to left. Sandoval then demolished his third home run of the season to ice the game. Napoli walked but Bogaerts popped up to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-1.

                                                     Home run Sandoval

The Jays got a run back in the bottom of the fifth as Thole grounded out to second to start. Goins struck out swinging but Travis doubled to right. Donaldson ripped a double to center to score Travis to cut the lead. Bautista grounded out to short to end the inning with the Jays down 6-2.

                                                     Donaldson drives in a run

JBJ popped up to short to start the top of the sixth before Leon popped up to third. Mr. Mookie flied out to right to end the inning. Encarnacion flied out to center to start the bottom of the sixth before Pillar struck out swinging. Colabello got a base hit to right but Carrera grounded back to the mound to end the inning.

Ryan Tepera made his ML debut in the top of the seventh and Pedroia lined out to center to start. Ortiz popped up to first and Ramirez grounded out to third to end the inning. Buchholz got knocked out in the bottom of the seventh as Thole doubled to right to start. Goins grounded out to second to move Thole to third and that was it for Buchholz. He allowed 3 runs in 6 1/3 innings off 7 hits and 3 walks. It was time for The Orient Express as Junichi Tazawa came in to pitch and Travis scored Thole with a grounder to short. Donaldson flied out to right to end the inning with the Sox up 6-3.

                                                         Good work Clay

Sandoval grounded out to start the top of the eighth before Napoli struck out swinging. Bogaerts flied out to right to end the inning. Tazawa returned for the bottom of the eighth and Bautista ripped a base hit to left to start. Encarnacion grounded into a double play and Pillar popped up to first to end the inning.

Brett Cecil came in to pitch the top of the ninth and JBJ took strike three to start. Leon grounded out to first but Mr. Mookie walked. Betts got picked off to end the inning. Koji Uehara came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and Colabello struck out swinging to start. Danny Valencia pinch hit for Carrera and grounded out to third, but Thole walked. Justin Smoak pinch hit for Goins and grounded out to short to end the game. The Sox had won it 6-3.

                                                               Sox win

Hero of The Night is Mike Napoli. His three run home run in the first set the tone of the game.

                                                             Hero Napoli

The Good:

Pablo Sandoval was 2 for 4 with a 2 run homer and 2 total runs scored.

Clay Buchholz got the win by tossing 6 1/3 innings of 3 run ball. He allowed 7 hits and 3 walks while striking out 3.

Junichi Tazawa tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Koji Uehara earned his sixth save with a scoreless ninth inning.

The Bad:

Xander Bogaerts was 0 for 4.

Jackie Bradley Jr was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

The Ugly:

Mookie Betts was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored.

Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run.

David Ortiz was 0 for 3 with a walk.

Hanley Ramirez was just 1 for 4 but scored two runs.

Sandy Leon was just 1 for 4.

Final Thoughts:

New Sox pitching coach Carl Willis says getting first pitch strikes is the key to victory and Buchholz seemed to have listened in this one. Willis was the pitching coach for Eric Wedge when John Farrell was the minor league "farm" director for the Cleveland Indians so they're familiar with each other. Other than, good on the offense for jumping on Dickey early. The Sox offense really didn't do much after that besides the Sandoval home run so kudos to Buchholz to lock it down. The Orient Express came through with 2 2/3 scoreless innings so good work Tazawa & Uehara. The Sox have been a funk pretty much since the season began so maybe they're finally breaking out of it. The win improved the Sox to 14-17, good for last place in the AL East. The Sox now travel to Oakland for a set with the A's. Rick Porcello (3-2, 4.38 ERA) takes on Scott Kazmir of Oakland. The game begins at 9:00 PM at Oakland Coliseum.