RESULT - WIN – 7-4
It got a little dicey at the end but the Sox held on to get win number 2. The theme again was clutch, two out hitting. Four players had 2 out RBI singles (Ellsbury, Victorino, Bradley and Salty) and were 5 for 13 (.385) with runners in scoring position. They did leave 10 men on base but again timely hitting is what broke the Yankees backs. The Sox again jumped out on the Yanks in the first inning with a 2 out RBI single by Jarrod Saltalamacchia. I’m hoping this is a reoccurring theme this year as last year they continually got down early and were not built to fight their way back. If this team can get out to early leads and the starters can go five to six innings, the strong bullpen will carry this team to the playoffs.
The Sox knocked Hiroki Kuroda out in the 2nd inning with a line drive single up the middle by Victorino. Kuroda instinctively reached his throwing hand up and it hit his middle finger bruising it. With it being so cold you could tell he couldn’t get a good feel for his pitches as he was very wild after that, hitting Bradley and Nava and walking Ellsbury. He wasn’t even close with a lot of those pitches. In came Cody Eppley who induced an inning ending double play by Pedroia but wouldn’t survive the 3rd inning. The Sox torched Eppley in the 3rd for four runs with rookie Jackie Bradley getting his first major league hit and another RBI. The Yankees have to be grateful by the pitching performance of Adam Warren who came in to replace Eppley in the third and settled the Sox bats right down for 5 plus innings. Warren
Will Middlebrooks looked lost in his first two at-bats striking out badly on outside sliders. I think the book is out on him to throw down and away and get him to chase. Thankfully in his next two at bats he made some adjustments and flew out deep to left-center-field. On hot summer nights both those balls are gone. He needs to make those adjustments because it looks like pitchers are going to pound him down and away. Mike Napoli didn’t look great again, but did get his first hit in a Red Sox uniform, though it was an infield hit. He struck out again and finished 1 for 5. The Sox have scored 15 runs in two games and Big Papi’s on the DL and both Middlebrooks and Napoli haven’t gotten it going yet. That’s positive news as they can only get better when these 3 get it going.
On the pitching side, Clay Buchholz was efficient in his first start going 7 innings with only 94 pitches. His slider was hanging and his change-up looked flat but his curve-ball was filthy last night. His fastball was between 91-94 all night and his two seamer was nasty. He caught Hafner and Youkilis looking on two nasty two seamers that broker a good 6 inches. My only complaint was his tempo between pitches and his constant throwing over to first base. In the spring he moved at a quicker pace than last night and I was hoping that would hold to the regular season. The throwing over to first was a problem he had 2 years ago where he concentrated too much on the base runners and I thought he had worked through that last year but last night he seemed more focused on the base runners at times. Let’s hope Farrell works on that with him.
The bullpen wasn’t as sharp as Monday night as Andrew Miller again was a bit wild hitting a batter but man can he hum the ball. Alfredo Aceves looked absolutely horrible yet again. I don’t know how they can continue to put this guy out there. I know he provides great depth in that he can start and relieve but every time he’s on the mound I get nervous. I just think he’s lost it out there and I would love to see him gone. Joel Hanrahan notched his first save and looked pretty damn nasty out there. He continually hit 97 and made Brett Gardner look like a little leaguer out there completely dominating him. I was happy to see them leave Robinson Cano on deck because you never want to give him a chance to tie the game.
No matter what, the Sox have one their first series of the year. Nice to get that out of the way and even nicer when it’s on the road against the Yankees. They go tonight for the sweep with newcomer Ryan Dempster facing off vs. Andy Pettite.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP
Clay Buchholz. He looked good not great out there going 7 innings with incredible efficiency and poise. Even though he had to sit through two really long waits, one when Kuroda was taken out in the second, and two, when they put up 4 in the 3rd inning, he came out and got a scoreless quick inning after both. On a cold windy night on the road that long wait could hurt a pitcher but he came out and got a quick 1-2-3 inning in both situations.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Alfredo Aceves. First batter he faced gave up a single up the middle then threw gasoline on the fire when he gave up a HR to Vernon Wells of all people. I have no confidence in Aceves right now and I’m betting Farrell doesn’t either.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Top of the 3rd, two outs with runners on 2nd and 3rd (Bradley & Iglesias) and Ellsbury delivered a big two run single that broke the game open (6-0). Ellsbury’s single essentially put the game out of reach for this weak Yankee lineup. I hope to see more of these big two out hits this year.
NEXT
Tonight, Thursday 4/4 at the Yankees.
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