GAME 12 – 4/15/2013 – Home Vs. Tampa Bay Rays

RESULT – WIN – 3-2

How sweep it is!!!  Mike Napoli saves the day for the Sox with a clutch bottom of the ninth inning RBI Green Monster double.  The Red Sox were up 2-1 with 3 outs to go when Andrew Bailey came on to try and close out the game as Joel Hanrahan is nursing a right hamstring injury.  It didn’t take him very long to blow the save for the outstanding Ryan Dempster as he let up a lead off single to Desmond Jennings, then a single to Ben Zobrist to plate Jennings who had stolen second.  Bailey did get out of the inning striking out the next two batters and getting a popup to end the inning but the damage had been done.

The first win eludes Ryan Dempster again as he was simply fantastic today going seven innings, letting up only 2 hits and striking out 10.  He did walk 2 and let up one run on a home run by Evan Longoria in the 4^th.  He’s striking out batters a lot more than I thought he would and looks in total command of his sinker out there.  Koji Uehara pitched a perfect 8^th yet again striking out one in his one inning of relief.  Boy does that guy get fired up when he holds the lead.  He goes berserk in the dugout high fiving everyone in sight with a unique ferocity.  I think he almost knocked over a couple guys in there today.  As I stated above Andrew Bailey blew the save but picks up the win as Napoli bails him out.  The second walk-off of the year for the Red Sox and it’s great to see this team fight this year.

Offensively, the Sox could only muster 4 hits and 3 walks on the day.  Luckily all four hits were extra base hits with Stephen Drew and Mike Napoli hitting doubles, Ellsbury hitting a triple and Jarrod Saltalamacchia hitting his 2^nd home run of the year in the 5^th inning to put the Sox out 2-1.  Will Middlebrooks, Jonny Gomes and Jackie Bradley Jr. all went 0 fer with 2 strikeouts a piece.  The Sox actually struck out 11 times on the morning/afternoon, nine of them coming from young Jeremy Hellickson.

Hellickson was as good as Dempster going 7 innings, letting up only 3 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk and 9 strikeouts.  Jake McGee threw a perfect eight inning striking out 2.  Peralta came on in the bottom of the ninth and retired Victorino but walked Pedroia (his first walk of the year) and then allowed the game winning double to Mike Napoli.

It was all about pitching this series in Boston with 2 one run walk off wins and another shutout.  The Rays mustered only 3 runs the entire series and the Sox only 10.  We knew the Rays had great pitching; who knew the Sox would counter.  Next up a trip to Cleveland to face former manager Terry Francona for 3 games but they’ll be back pretty quickly as it’s only a 3 game road trip.  They’re back Friday.

SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP

Ryan Dempster.  I know Mike Napoli had the walk off hit but Dempster was outstanding today.  7 innings, only 2 hits, 2 walks, 1 run and 10 K’s.  He’s struck out 25 batters in 17 innings so far this year and has looked dominant at times.  He kept his walks down today and I’m very impressed with what I’ve seen out of him so far this year.

ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP

Andrew Bailey.  His first opportunity to grab the closer role back from newcomer Joel Hanrahan and he promptly blows it through 2 hitters.  Bailey was flawless before that run and I still have hope for him as he was able to work out of the inning with 2 strikeouts and a weak popup but this was your chance and you couldn’t nail it down.  Very disappointing.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Mike Napoli’s RBI walk off double in the bottom of the ninth.  Dustin Pedoria was on first and was off like a rabbit when the ball hit the bat.  He motored the entire way around and was not going to be stopped.  Love the hustle out of these Sox this year.

NEXT

Tuesday, April 16^th at Cleveland vs. the Indians.