GAME 7 – 4/8/2013 – Home Vs. Baltimore Orioles

RESULT - WIN – 3-1

A brilliant pitching performance by Clay Buchholz and a clutch home run by Daniel Nava send the Red Sox faithful home with a smile after the Sox home opener.  Clay didn’t have his best stuff but despite some bumps along the way, he finished with seven scoreless innings to improve to 2-0 and drop his ERA to 0.64.  He walked 4, scattered 3 hits and struck out 8 over those 7 innings with a total pitch count of 113.  He started very shaky with the first batter singling to open the game, the fourth batter flying out to the warning track in right, the fifth walked and the sixth batter flew out to the warning track in right.  Then there were also two more singles by Baltimore hitters in the third.  The saving grace for Clay was his ability to get strikeouts in key situations, with four of his eight strikeouts ending an inning.  I was impressed the way he would get into sticky situations and get a big strikeout to end the threat.  The walks scare me a bit but the Oriole hitters seem more patient this year than last with them taking Buchholz deep into counts most of the afternoon.

Andrew Bailey came in for the eighth inning and simply dominated, striking out 2 of the 3 batters he faced.  He’s looked like a completely new pitcher this year.  He seems much more confident this year and his fastball looks electric.  I think the Sox have found their bridge man to closer Joel Hanrahan.

Speaking of Joel Hanrahan, he was a bit shaky and brought back scary nightmares of Jonathan Papelbon saving games for the Sox.  He let up a solo home run to Adam Jones to lead off the ninth, then after recording two quick outs let up a wall ball double to J.J. Hardy to bring the tying run to the plate.  Thankfully, he got Ryan Flaherty to pop out to end the game but I was a bit concerned as it seemed like he was throwing too many fastballs, a habit Papelbon often fell into.  You have a good slider Joel, please use that more often, I don’t think Red Sox Nation can take any more 9^th inning scares.

Offensively there wasn’t much to write home about for the Sox.  Wei-Yin Chen again stifled the Red Sox hitters much like he did last year (2-0, 2.50 ERA, 12K’s, 4 BB’s in 18 innings in 2012).  For six innings it looked bleak again for the home team who seem to not be able to hit the crafty Chen.  Then the 7^th inning started and Pedrioa opened the inning up with a single, Napoli followed with a double off the center field wall setting up Will Middlebrooks to be the hero two games in a row.  It was not to be for young Middlebrooks as he struck out swinging bringing up Daniel Nava who was playing left for struggling Jackie Bradley Jr.  Daniel Nava rose to the challenge and crushed a 1-1 pitch into the Monster seats for a three run homer and sent the sell out crowd into a frenzy.  Nava was playing in his first ever home opener at age 30, something rarely seen in this day and age.  He was 2 for 2 on the day with a walk and is batting .500 with 1 double, 2 home runs, 6 runs batted in and 3 walks on the young season.  Off to a fast start and becoming a great platoon player for John Farrell.

Other than Nava, there wasn’t much more offensively.  Pedroia, Napoli and Victorino each had 1 hit and Pedroia reached base on a walk as well.  That was it though as the Sox could only muster 5 hits off Chen and Napoli’s double in the 7^th was the first extra base hit of the game for either team at that point.  All around ugliness for both sides offensively.

The Sox get another weird off day in the middle of the series but return to play on Wednesday when Ryan Dempster makes his second start of the year.  Let’s hope the rest of the starters can get it going just like Lester and Buchholz have.

SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP

Daniel Nava.  Is there any doubt who would get it?  Game winning three run home run in the 7^th, on base all three plate appearances.  All around great day for Daniel Nava.  Honorary mention of Clay Buchholz as his pitching performance was stellar.

ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP

David Ross.  Ross took an 0 for 3 with a strikeout but looked lost in 2 of his 3 at bats.  I think we know that he’s more defense than offense but I hope he can look a little better than he did today.  He flailed a couple of times and looked like a little league hitter up there.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Daniel Nava’s three run home run with one out in the 7^th.  As soon as it left the bat, he knew he had put it over the wall.  Great clutch at bat that proved to be the game winner.

NEXT

Wednesday, April 10^th vs. the Baltimore Orioles.