RESULT – WIN 6-5
The cardiac kids were at it again yesterday as
they pulled out a great walk-off win to get the series win against the
Cleveland Indians. A four-run ninth
inning is what it took and it was by far the most fun game to watch of the year
so far. The fans were going crazy and
the players looked just as thrilled. The
Sox came back from their biggest deficit since the Mother’s Day miracle of
2007.
Down 5-2 in the ninth with one of the game’s best
closers on the mound, Chris Perez, Dustin Pedroia got things started with a
walk. David Ortiz then rocketed a double
to center-field and 2 runners in scoring position the comeback looked like it
could happen. Mike Napoli then grounded
out to short for the first out but Pedroia scored to make it 5-3.
Big Papi then stole 3rd. Yes, you read that right; Big Papi stole
another base, his 2nd of the year a couple days after stealing his
first since 2008. Jarrod Saltalamacchia
then grounded out to the first baseman to plate another run bringing the Sox
closer to 5-4 but with 2 outs I thought for sure they would fall just short.
Jonny Gomes then walked and Stephen Drew singled
to right. Drew then stole 2nd
and the Sox had the tying run 90 feet away and the winning run right behind
him. Jose Iglesias drew a walk and Chris
Perez hurt himself and had to be removed from the game. With the bases loaded, the Indians rushed out
Joe Smith to try and get the final out of the game against Jacoby
Ellsbury. Joe Smith probably could have
used a couple more warm-up pitches as Jacoby Ellsbury lined the first pitch he
saw into the left field gap to get the walk-off win.
Ellsbury looked elated as he fist pumped when he got to 2nd base and then was mugged by his teammates at 2nd. He finished 2 for 5 on the day with those 2 RBI and hopefully this big game winning hit will get him going a bit as they need big production out of Jacoby to have a successful season.
Stephen Drew also had a big day at the plate
going 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored. He finished
a home-run short of the cycle and had his 3rd triple of the year in
the eighth. When Drew has it going, he
seems to hit the ball hard every at-bat.
The problem is, he’s very streaky and as much as he gets in a groove, he
can fall out of it just as fast.
The Sox didn’t do all that well offensively. They managed only 7 hits and benefited from 5
Indian walks, including 3 in the ninth. They
were only 2 of 7 with runners in scoring position but in the beginning didn’t
have a whole lot of runners in scoring position.
Corey Kluber was brilliant in his 6 and 2/3
innings. He allowed only 3 hits and 1
run while striking out 10. If not for
Chris Perez and his ninth inning meltdown we would be talking about how brilliant
Kluber was and how he made the Sox look like idiots.
Felix Doubront was again uneven going 6 innings
giving up 5 hits, 4 runs (only 2 earned), walking 2 and striking out 8. At times he looked brilliant and others he
looked flustered. In the first after
Ellsbury and Drew let a ball drop in (it was charged as an Ellsbury error),
Doubront couldn’t get out of the inning and allowed 2 runs before getting the
final out. He settled down and was on
cruise control until the fifth and sixth when he allowed a run each inning.
Alex Wilson pitched a nice 7th inning
and Craig Breslow finished the game with 2 innings of relief allowing 1 run on
2 hits. He would get the W but didn’t
look great on the night.
It was a thrilling game and the Sox were able to
get a big series win against a tough Cleveland Indian team. The Sox are now in first place as the Yankees
have been struggling as of late. They
now play their first interleague series of the year as they face the
Philadelphia Phillies for 4 (2 at home then 2 in Philly).
On the mound tonight will be Alfredo Aceves who
will get a spot start as Clay Buchholz is nursing a sore collar and be pushed
back a few days to get it straightened out.
I’m a bit nervous as Alfredo is a nut case but I’m hoping his time in
AAA has made him realize that he’s not above the team and can help the Sox
out. Aceves was a great asset to the Red
Sox before his meltdown last year and I’m hoping his demotion has put things in
perspective.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP
Jacoby Ellsbury.
Ellsbury’s big clutch double to win the game will get you the shaving
cream pie to face every time.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Mike Napoli.
Napoli went 0-4 with 3 strikeouts.
He’s your typical swing big, miss big type of ball player. Even when he strikes out though, that big
swing is a sight to see.
PLAY OF THE GAME
The game winner off of Ellsbury’s bat in the 9th. Jacoby wasted no time and crushed the first
pitch he saw for the walk-off win.
NEXT
Today, Monday (Memorial Day) 5/27 vs. the Philadelphia
Phillies.
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