GAME 14– 4/172013 – In Cleveland vs. the Indians

RESULT – WIN – 6-3

John Farrell made is first bad managerial decision in last night’s game as I think he kept starter Alfredo Aceves in an inning too long.  Alfredo escaped the 5^th inning but gave up a single, deep double to LF and a walk to load the bases before giving up a LONG lineout to RF that Shane Victorino played beautifully to end the inning.  If I was John Farrell right there, I would have taken him out.  He was getting hit hard and was already well above the number of pitches he’d ever thrown in a game.  Unfortunately John let him come out in the bottom of the sixth where he proceeded to walk the leadoff hitter then give up back to back home run’s to former Yankee’s sluggers Nick Swisher and Jason Giambi.  Mark Reynolds then followed with a double before Farrell came out and replaced him with Junichi Tazawa.  By then the score was 5-3 and the tying run was at the plate with no outs.  You could tell Aceves was done at the end of the fifth and I didn’t see the point letting him start the 6^th.

Luckily we have the Japanese tag team known as Junichi Tazawa and Koji Uehara who came in and again looked dominant.  Tazawa got out of the 6^th unscathed and then struck out the side in the 7^th, he had 4 straight strikeouts.  Koji came on in the bottom of the 8^th and got a weak groundball out of Swisher then struck out the next two hitters, then came into the dugout with a fury of high fives that I hope doesn’t injure his hand.  These guys looked completely in control and really saved the day for the Sox.  Andrew Bailey came on and struck out two after giving up a heart attack inducing long fly ball to start the inning.  He recorded his first save of the year and the bullpen looks fantastic this year.

Alfredo’s line wasn’t all that impressive as he went 5 innings, giving up 7 hits and 3 earned runs.  He walked 3 and struck out 2 but continues to be serviceable in that 5^th starting role.  While I don’t think I’d like to see him there all year, he’s certainly giving the Sox some depth until John Lackey returns from his biceps injury.  The bullpen’s line last night, 4 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks and 8 strikeouts.  Just pitching nasty right now.

The Sox started off hot again last night with the first 5 batters reaching against Cleveland’s ace Justin Masterson.  Ellsbury opened up the game with a single and went 3-5 on the night, Victorino then followed with a hit by pitch and Pedroia singled to load the bases.  Mike Napoli then followed with a single to score Ellsbury and Victorino to stay red hot.  Daniel Nava then singled in Pedroia to put the Sox ahead 3-0.  Justin Masterson would get out of the inning but the Sox had him on the ropes all night.  Masterson was touched up for 11 hits and 4 runs through 5 innings.  The Sox loaded the bases against him in the second and fourth but Masterson somehow was able to escape with no damage.  They got to him again in the fifth when Stephen Drew walked and Mike Carp tripled him in.  Mike Carp was brilliant in his first start of the year going 3 for 3 with 2 doubles, a triple and a run driven in.  He was taken out in the 7^th when the Indians brought in a lefty for Jonny Gomes which I also didn’t agree with Farrell on.  Gomes promptly struck out looking to end the inning.  Carp could have done that.

Six Sox hitters had multiple hits and the team had 15 overall.  Shane Victorino and Mike Carp both went 3 for 3.  Dustin Pedroia, Mike Napoli and Daniel Nave all had 2 hits a piece as well with Napoli and Nava driving in 2 apiece.  Will Middlebrooks took a 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts and is now batting .182.  Will is 2 for 32 since his 3 home run game and seems to be getting out on a lot of outside pitches.  Salty also took a 0 for 5 with a strikeout on the night.  Stephen Drew hasn’t found it yet either and went 0 for 3 but did walk and score a run.  He’s only batting .105 in limited appearances this year.

Nick Swisher shined for the Indians going 2 for 4 with a HR and 2 RBI.  Lonnie Chisenhall also went 2 for 4.  Jason Giambi hit his 430^th career home run off Aceves in the 6^th and although he looks like he’s nearing the end of his career, he absolutely crushed that home run to right.  The guy can still mash.

The Sox look for the sweep tonight as Jon Lester takes the mound.  The Sox have won 5 straight and look to be firing on all cylinders right now.  Let’s hope Lester can continue his torrid start.

SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP

Junichi Tazawa.  Really the whole bullpen deserves but Tazawa was nasty last night.  He came on in the 6^th with no outs, a man on second and the score trimmed to 5-3.  He got a ground out, a fly out then struck out the next 4 batters.  He completely dominated in the 2 innings he pitched and I look forward to watching him the rest of the year.

ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP

Will Middlebrooks.  Will took a 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts and better learn quickly on how to hit outside pitches.  Opposing pitchers are getting Will out with outside pitches that he just can’t hit.  He’s either striking out or hitting weak fly balls and ground balls to the right side.  Baseball is all about adjustments and young Will needs to adjust pretty quickly or it’ll be a long season for the third baseman.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Junichi Tazawa’s first strikeout of the game and the last out of the 6^th.  The Indians had already scored 3 runs and had the tying run at home plate and a runner on third.  Tazawa ended the threat and the Indians wouldn’t even get to first base the rest of the night.

NEXT

Thursday, April 18^th at Cleveland vs. the Indians.  Sox for the sweep.