GAME 4 – 4/5/2013 - @ Blue Jays

RESULT - WIN – 6-4

I don’t think I’ve seen the Rogers Centre that packed in about six years.  These Toronto fans sure love their new ballclub.  And really, why shouldn’t they.  Their lineup is downright scary!  They have speed, power and solid pitching on paper, but does that translate to wins?  Not last night as the Sox downed the new and improved Blue Jays by a score of 6-4.

John Farrell saw his fair share of “boos” every time he walked onto the field because of his decision to leave Toronto for his dream job in Boston.  But who can really blame him?  He pitched for the Red Sox and was their pitching coach when they won their championships.  It was only a matter of time before he left to come back.

The game was certainly exciting as both offenses banged out 24 hits and put up 10 runs on the scoreboard.  The Sox had a hell of a time with Jose Reyes who when 4 for 5 with a home run and 2 doubles.  Mark DeRosa also homered and drove in two for the Jays.  Josh Johnson pitching in his first game for the Jays wasn’t great pitching 6 innings, giving up 9 hits and 3 earned runs.  He walked 2 and struck out 6 but seemed to be in trouble most of the game.

Felix Doubront was well, Felix Doubront.  We’ve seen this before from Felix and well, I am still hoping to see him mature a bit.  Doubront wasn’t horrible going 5 innings, striking out 6, allowing 9 hits and 3 earned runs but his high pitch count (90 pitches) made sure he didn’t last past 5 innings.  As you recall that’s been a reoccurring pattern for young Felix.  He routinely throws a ton of pitches and hardly ever makes it to the 6^th inning.  Luckily the bullpen was solid again with Uehara, Bailey, Tazawa and Hanrahan going an inning a piece only allowing 1 run (Tazawa in the 7^th) while striking out 5.  Particularly impressive was Koji Uehara who took over for Felix in the 6^th and after J.P. Arencibia doubled to lead off the inning.  Koji promptly struck out the next two batters then got pinch hitter Adam Lind to fly out to end the inning.  Joel Hanrahan again closed out the game and was incredibly nasty.  He did walk one but also struck out one and let up no runs while routinely hitting 97-99 miles per hour.  Going to love watching him close games this year.

After being shut out of the home run department the first 3 games, the power finally showed up for the Red Sox.  Mike Napoli hit his first home run on his new team, a nice opposite field bomb to right.  Will Middlebrooks also hit his first home run of the year in the 9^th inning to give the Sox a 2 run cushion and ease the pressure off Hanrahan.  Shane Victorino and Dustin Pedroia went 2 for 5 and the Sox also 3 stolen bases (Bradley Jr., Ellsbury and Ciriaco).  Speaking of Pedro Ciriaco, he was very impressive coming in after Jose Iglesias was hit by a pitch in the 2^nd and going 2 for 4 with a 2B and RBI.  Nice to see him come off the bench and contribute like he did last year.  The only down spot on the night was Jarrod Saltalamacchia who went 0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts.

SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP

Will Middlebrooks who went 2 for 5 with a big clutch HR in the top of the 9^th inning.  He also doubled in the top of the 2^nd to get things going for the Sox who would later score their first run.  In the bottom of the 1^st he made a really good plan on a ground ball to hit to him at 3^rd with Jose Reyes in front of him.  Jose Reyes was dancing around waiting for Middlebrooks to throw over to first to score on the play.  But Will, checked him, faked the throw and tried to tag Jose who had his momentum going toward home.  Jose made it back to the bag but the very next batter grounded to Middlebrooks who promptly turned a 5-4-3 double play to get out of the inning.  That move to keep Reyes at 3^rd proved important as it kept the Jays off the board.

ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP

Jarrod Saltalamacchia.  Going 0 for 4 with 3 K’s will put you in this spot often.  We call striking out 3 times in one game the hat trick my friend and it’s not good.  Come on Jarrod, let’s show some patience and when you have 2 strikes on you, maybe work on shorting up that swing and making contact.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Mike Napoli’s first home run as a member of the Red Sox in the top half of the fifth inning.  His opposite field bomb to right put the team up 4-1 and really turned the tide of the game.
 
NEXT
Today, Saturday, 4/6 in Toronto vs. the Blue Jays.  It’s John Lackey’s first start of the season and first start in over a year.