Buchholz got the ball in the top of the first and Jemile Weeks struck out swinging on a big curveball to start. Old friend Coco Crisp grounded out to first and guest Sox analyst Peter Gammons called Oakland's Stadium the "Al Davis Memorial Dump." Another old buddy Josh Reddick walked and Yoenis Cespedes lined out to center to end the inning. Milone got the ball in the bottom of the first inning and Mike Aviles popped up to second to start. Dustin Pedroia reached on an error by Weeks and stole second, but Adrian Gonzalez lined out to Brandon Inge. Cody Ross swung at strike three in the dirt to end the inning.
The A's struck first in the top of the second as Seth Smith took strike three to start. Kurt Suzuki lined a base hit to center and Daric Barton, but Inge lined out to center. Chad Pennington ripped a base hit to left and then Keystone Kops took over. Suzuki stopped at third base but Barton overran second and got himself caught in a rundown. Nick Punto completely ignored Suzuki going home and tagged out Barton after Kurt scored. The inning was over but that mental error led to the A's leading 1-0.
The Sox took their frustrations out on Millone in the top of the second as David Ortiz picked up Punto by lining a home run into the bullpen to tie the game. Kelly Shoppach took strike three but Darnell McDonald pounded a ground rule double into the bullpen. Marlon Byrd singled off the glove of Weeks to drive in Darnell to put Boston on top and moved to second on the Punto grounder to short. Byrd scored on the Aviles base hit to left and Pedroia also got a base hit to left. Gonzalez hit a routine grounder to Weeks who threw to first....UNDER THE GLOVE OF BARTON! The error was charged to Weeks as Aviles scored and both runners moved into scoring position. Ross grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox up 4-1.
A nightmare for the A's
Buchholz settled down in the top of the third as Weeks grounded back to the mound to start. Crisp beat out a roller to short but during a pre-taped interview with Ortiz, Reddick grounded into a run-down double play to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the third as Ortiz walked to start. Shoppach struck out swinging but McDonald hit a home run off the centerfield light tower to add to the lead. Byrd flied out to center and Punto took strike three to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-1.
Cespedes grounded back to the mound to start the top of the fourth before Smith struck out swinging. Punto made a great play to rob Suzuki of a hit to end the inning. Aviles grounded back to the mound to start the bottom of the fourth before Pedroia flied out to the centerfield wall. Gonzalez flied out to left to end the inning.
Barton took strike three to start the top of the fifth but Inge walked. Pennington was plunked but Weeks lined out to a running Byrd. Aviles made a great play to force Inge at second to end the inning. The Sox blew the game open in the bottom of the fifth although Ross grounded out to Pennington to start. Ortiz hit a ball deep to right and Reddick fell into the bullpen trying to make the catch, the ball popping out for a home run to increase the lead. Shoppach earned the hat trick by striking out swinging but Ingle bobbled a "single" by McDonald to chase Milone. Jordan Norberto came in to pitch and Byrd doubled off the top of the Monster to score McDonald. Punto walked and Aviles hit a 3 run bomb into the Monster Seats to make this a laughter. Pedroia popped up to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 11-1.
Reddick slapped a base hit down the right field line to start the top of the sixth but Cespedes hit into a double play. Smith struck out swinging on a nasty changeup to end the inning. Brian Fuentes came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth and Gonzalez grounded out to short to start. Ross grounded out to third and Ortiz grounded out to short to end the inning.
Lars Anderson took over for Ross to start the top of the seventh as Anthony Recker pinch hit for Suzuki to start. Recker got a base hit to left and Barton walked. Inge lined out to short and Barton cleaned out Aviles to break up a double play ball by Pennington. Weeks walked to load the bases and at 94 pitches, Sox manager Bobby Valentine was sound asleep in the dugout. Crisp hit a seeing eye single into right to score both Recker and Pennington. Valentine was still asleep when Reddick smashed a home run all the way to Marblehead to cut the lead in half. Valentine finally woke up to get Buchholz out who was tagged for 6 runs in 6 2/3 innings, what a shame. Junichi Tazawa came in to pour gas on the fire as Cespedes ripped a base hit to center and Smith was hit with a pitch. Recker popped up on the infield and Punto DROPPED IT! Another error loaded the bases and Vicente Padilla was brought in to face Barton. Thankfully Padilla froze Barton for strike three to end the inning but it was now 11-6 Sox.
Jim Miller came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh and Shoppach walked to start. McDonald flied out to center and Byrd grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Scott Atchison came in crap his pants in the top of the eighth as Inge lifted a base hit to center to start. Pennington singled to right and Weeks walked to load the bases with nobody out. Somehow Atchison struck out Crisp swinging and Valentine woke up from another nap to bring in Franklin Morales to face Reddick. This time Reddick grounded into a double play to end the inning. Punto struck out swinging to start the bottom of the eighth before Aviles flied out to center. Pedroia doubled off the centerfield wall and Gonzalez was intentionally walked to get to Anderson. Lars popped up to Inge to end the inning.
Alfredo Aceves came in to close out the top of the ninth with Ryan Sweeney taking over for Anderson in right to begin. Cespedes struck out swinging on a nasty curveball before Smith went down hacking as well. Recker doubled high off the Monster but Barton popped up to Punto to end the game. The Sox had won it 11-6.
Hero of the Night is Mike Aviles. His 3 run homer proved to be the biggest difference in the game. He also drove in 4 total runs.
The Good:
Dustin Pedroia was 2 for 5.
David Ortiz was 2 for 3 with 2 home runs, a walk and 3 total runs scored.
Darnell McDonald was 3 for 4 with a two run home run and 3 total runs scored.
Marlon Byrd was 2 for 4 with 2 rbis and 2 runs scored.
Vicente Padilla struck out the only man he faced.
Franklin Morales induced the inning ending double play in the eighth.
Alfredo Aceves pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Cody Ross was 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
Lars Anderson was 0 for 1 at the plate.
Junichi Tazawa allowed a hit and hit a man without recording an out.
The Ugly:
Adrian Gonzalez was 0 for 4 but drew a walk.
Kelly Shoppach was 0 for 3 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but walked.
Nick Punto was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts and an error but walked and scored a run.
Clay Buchholz got the win but allowed 6 runs in 6 2/3 innings. He allowed 7 hits and 5 walks.
Scott Atchison allowed 2 hits and a walk in just 1/3 of an inning.
Honorable Mention:
Ryan Sweeney played right field in the top of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
Good win to start the homestand but there are definitely some underlying woes with the pitching. Not that Valentine being asleep at the wheel in the seventh inning helped, but Buchholz getting hammered was troubling. If he's only a 6 inning pitcher, that's bad news moving forward. Also the bullpen was a roller coaster with Tazawa and Atchison loading the bases only for Padilla and Morales to bail them out. Things worked out THIS time but given their horrendous start to the year, that's definitely something to keep an eye on. Its not for a few months but getting a bullpen ace at the deadline would be nice since Andrew Bailey won't be back until what looks to be August. Still, offensively the Sox have found their stroke and everyone is pitching in one way or another. Just as long as the pitching doesn't collapse again, they should be one of the best in baseball just like they were last year. The Sox better keep the momentum going because the New York Yankees have struggled out of the gate too, they're not doing much better. All in all it was a good win even if it got frustrating at times. The Sox end the month of April at 11-11, 3.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the AL East. The Sox look to make it two in a row against the A's tomorrow night when Felix Doubront (1-0) goes for the Sox against Jarrod Parker of the A's. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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