Things went bad right from the start of the top of the first. Mike Trout took strike three to start and Josh Hamilton grounded out to short....but Albert Pujols swatted a 400 foot bomb to right-center to put the Angels on top. Mark Trumbo singled to right but Dempster struck out Howie Kendrick swinging to end the inning with the Angels on top 1-0.
Joe Blanton got the start in the bottom of the first and Jacoby Ellsbury lined out to left to start. Daniel Nava stepped in against Blanton, the man he hit the grand slam off of 3 years ago in Nava's MLB debut. This time it was Blanton who got the duke, inducing a line out to center. Dustin Pedroia grounded out to third to end the inning.
Dempster got some help from his defense in the top of the second. Alberto Callaspo walked but the Sox pulled a 4-6-3 double play off Erick Aybar. Chris Iannetta struck out swinging to end the inning. The Sox threatened in the bottom of the second as David Ortiz worked a leadoff single to begin. Mike Napoli and Jarrod Saltlamacchia both struck out swinging but Mike Carp walked. With two men on....Stephen "PU" Drew popped up to third to end the inning.
Dempster ran into big trouble in the top of the third as J.B. Shuck doubled to center to lead the inning off but got a key out when Trout grounded out back to Ryan, stranding Shuck at second. Hamilton lined out to right but in stepped in Pujols. Dempster drilled him, earning some serious stank eye from Albert. Dempster pulled a Rick Vaughn and threw a wild pitch juuuuuust a bit outside to advance Shuck to third. Trout walked but PU Drew robbed Kendrick of a hit with a good play to end the inning. The Sox finally broke through in the bottom of the third. Jose Iglesias reached on an infield single to short but was erased on an Ellsbury force. Ellsbury made up for it by swiping his 24th base of the year. Nava singled home Ellsbury to tie the game. Pedroia singled to left to bring up the red hot Ortiz, who took advantage of the wind blowing out to launch yet another 3 run bomb to give the Sox the lead. Napoli was rung up for strike three on a bad call and Saltalamacchia struck out swinging to end the inning with Boston ahead 4-1.
Could Dempster hold the 3 run lead in the top of the fourth? NO! Callaspo hit one of those 300 foot home runs right around the Pesky Pole to cut the lead instantly. Aybar lined out to left, Iannetta popped up to second and Shuck popped up to short to end the inning with the Sox still ahead 4-2.
In the bottom of the fourth, Carp took advantage of a shoddy throw from Callaspo to reach on an error to begin. PU Drew then struck out swinging by losing his bat into the stands. Blanton threw over to first a few times but that was rendered useless when a wild pitch advanced Carp all the way to third. All Iglesias had to do was hit a fly ball but all he could do was pop up to first. Ellsbury then scored Carp with a scintillating triple to right that extended the lead. Nava flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 5-2.
Could Dempster hold the fort in the top of the fifth? NO! Trout hit a leadoff double to left but Dempster froze Hamilton for strike three. Pujols popped up to center but Trumbo singled home Trout. Kendrick forced Trumbo at second to end the inning with the Angels down 5-3.
The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fifth as Pedroia popped up to second to start. Ortiz took strike three and Napoli went down hacking to end the inning.
Dempster finished his day with a clean top of the sixth inning. Callaspo struck out swinging, Aybar lined out to left and Iannetta went down hacking to end the inning. That was one of the better starts for Dempster this season, finishing strong by allowing 3 runs in 6 innings with six strikeouts.
The Sox pulled away in the bottom of the sixth when Saltalamacchia pounded his seventh home run of the year to increase the lead. Carp then cracked his sixth of the year for back to back jacks. That was it for Blanton as Michael Kohn came in to face Drew. Kendrick pulled a Tuukka Rask and kick-saved a grounder by Drew for an error before PU took second on a passed ball. The rally ended as Iglesias flied out to right, Ellsbury popped up to right and Nava struck out swinging on a ball up in his eyes to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-3.
MagiCarp delivers again.
Craig Brewslow replaced Dempster in the top of the and Shuck botched a bunt attempt, popping up to Iglesias who caught the attempt. Trout doubled off the monster and Hamilton advanced him to third on a force. Napoli and Saltalamacchia nearly killed each other on a pop up but Napoli caught it for the third out. Old friend Robert Coello replaced Kohn for the bottom of the seventh and poured gas on the fire. Pedroia flied out to left but Ortiz walked. Napoli also walked and Saltalamacchia cleared the bases with a three run bomb to center to extend the lead. Carp flied out to center but Drew ripped a base hit up the middle. Iglesias doubled into the left field corner and Ellsbury walked to load the bases, chasing Coello. Scott Downs came in and Nava lined out to left to end the inning with the Sox up 10-5
Jarrod says to Ortiz "Anything you can do I can do better"
Koji Uehara of the Orient Express relieved Breslow in the top of the eighth and pooped himself. Iglesias moved to second to give Pedroia the rest of the day off as Pedro Ciriaco took over at third. Trumbo grounded out to short but Uehara hit Kendrick with a pitch, his first hit batsmen ever. Callaspo beat out a double play ball but both Aybar and Iannetta walked to load the bases. A single by Shuck up the middle drove in two runs and chased Uehara. Andrew Miller came in to replace Koji and was greeted by a Trout single to right. Good news was Iannetta stopped at third and Shuck was tagged out by Drew going back to second to end the inning. The Sox still led 10-5.
Koji Uehara of the Orient Express relieved Breslow in the top of the eighth and pooped himself. Iglesias moved to second to give Pedroia the rest of the day off as Pedro Ciriaco took over at third. Trumbo grounded out to short but Uehara hit Kendrick with a pitch, his first hit batsmen ever. Callaspo beat out a double play ball but both Aybar and Iannetta walked to load the bases. A single by Shuck up the middle drove in two runs and chased Uehara. Andrew Miller came in to replace Koji and was greeted by a Trout single to right. Good news was Iannetta stopped at third and Shuck was tagged out by Drew going back to second to end the inning. The Sox still led 10-5.
Kevin Jepsen replaced Downs for the bottom of the eighth and Ciriaco grounded out to first to start. Ortiz grounded out to short and Napoli earned the golden sombrero by striking out swinging to end the inning.
Andrew Bailey came on to finish off the top of the ninth. Hamilton went down hacking before Pujols popped up to first in foul territory. Trumbo walked but Kendrick took strike three to end the game. The Sox had won it 10-5.
Hero of the Night is Jarrod Saltalamacchia. He went 2 for 4 with 2 home runs and 4 total rbi's.
The Good:
David Ortiz was 2 for 4 with a 3 run home run.
Mike Carp was 1 for 3 with a walk and a home run.
Jose Iglesias was 2 for 4.
Ryan Dempster got the win by allowing just 3 runs in 6 solid innings. He walked 2 and struck out 6 batters.
Craig Breslow pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Andrew Miller got the final out of the eighth inning.
Andrew Bailey pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Pedro Ciriaco was 0 for 1 at the plate.
Koji Uehara allowed 2 runs in 2/3 of an inning
The Ugly:
Daniel Nava was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout but drove in a run and scored a run.
Mike Napoli was 0 for 4 with a golden sombrero of 4 strikeouts but walked.
Jacoby Ellsbury was just 1 for 4 but walked, drove in a run, stole a base and scored a run.
Dustin Pedroia was just 1 for 4 but scored a run.
Stephen Drew was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout.
Final Thoughts:
Other than Uehara's meltdown, the day was an impressive one for the Red Sox. Their bats woke up to pound the Angels and finish 4-2 on the homestand. 6-3 in their last 9 games. This was the Sox 39th win of the season, after 64 games last year the Sox were 31-33. Quite a turnaround. Oh and guess who defeated the Red Sox in the 64th game last year, today's starter Ryan Dempster. The Sox now travel on a critical road trip to Tampa Bay for three games and Baltimore for another four. Whether they stay in first or not will be decided by this road trip. The win today improved the Sox to 39-25, 1 1/2 games in front of the Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox now begin a three game set with the Rays, John Lackey (3-5, 2.79 ERA) goes up against Alex Cobb tomorrow night at 7:10 PM at Tropicana Field.
Other than Uehara's meltdown, the day was an impressive one for the Red Sox. Their bats woke up to pound the Angels and finish 4-2 on the homestand. 6-3 in their last 9 games. This was the Sox 39th win of the season, after 64 games last year the Sox were 31-33. Quite a turnaround. Oh and guess who defeated the Red Sox in the 64th game last year, today's starter Ryan Dempster. The Sox now travel on a critical road trip to Tampa Bay for three games and Baltimore for another four. Whether they stay in first or not will be decided by this road trip. The win today improved the Sox to 39-25, 1 1/2 games in front of the Yankees for first place in the AL East. The Sox now begin a three game set with the Rays, John Lackey (3-5, 2.79 ERA) goes up against Alex Cobb tomorrow night at 7:10 PM at Tropicana Field.
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