GAME 105 – 7/27/2013 – in Baltimore vs. the Orioles

RESULT – WIN 7-3

The Red Sox needed someone to jump start the offense.  It’s been David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia all year but last night it was Stephen Drew who just went off and propelled the Sox to a 7-3 victory in Baltimore to stay a half game back in the AL East.

It was his most productive night in a Red Sox uniform as he went 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored and 5 RBI.  He had 2 homers and 3 of his RBI on the night came with 2 outs.  When the Sox signed him this offseason, these are the types of games I was looking forward to.  Unfortunately it’s been and up and down kind of year for Drew but maybe this will get him jump started and he’ll get his hot streak.

Mike Carp also had 3 hits on the night including his 14^th double of the year.  Jacoby Ellsbury, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jose Iglesias also each had a hit in the game.  Shane Victorino homered, his 5^th of the year, and also drove in 2 runs.

Offensively, they broke out a bit but still were only 2 for 8 with runners in scoring position and left 6 men on base.  Hopefully this will be a start of a hot streak for the bats.

There was some drama late in the game as David Ortiz was ejected in the 7^th for arguing balls and strikes with home-plate umpire Tim Timmons.

Ortiz, who struck out in the at-bat, was upset on a 3-0 pitch that was called a strike that looked about 2 feet too high.  It was a late strike call and Ortiz had already tossed his bat aside.  The 3-1 pitch was on the outside corner and borderline and again, Ortiz was mad at Timmons who called another late strike.  Big Papi would swing and miss at the next pitch but then went off on Timmons.  After shattering a dugout phone with his bat in the dugout, just inches away from teammate Dustin Pedroia and other Sox players, Ortiz bounded back onto the field and had to be held back by manager John Farrell.  Pedroia did get into it a bit with Ortiz in the dugout.  They were fine and it was more of Pedroia settling down the big fella.

It was crazy and it shows how a player can easily snap in this game.

Ryan Dempster got his 6^th win of the season going 5 and 1/3 innings giving up 2 runs on 6 hits.  He struck out 4 and walked 2.  It wasn’t a great start but he did his part and grinding through a win.

The bullpen took care of the rest as Craig Breslow went 1 and 2/3 innings of no-hit, no-run ball.  Junichi Tazawa was touched up for 1 run in an inning of work but Koji Uehara nailed down the 9^th for the Sox win.

They’ll go for the series win Sunday afternoon as Jon Lester will take the hill and look to build off his positive performance in his last outing.  He’ll be opposed by Jason Hammel.

SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP

Stephen Drew.  Drew’s big night carried the Sox over the O’s Saturday evening.

ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP

Mike Napoli who went 0 for 4 and struck out twice on the night.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Stephen Drew’s 3 run homer in the bottom of the 4^th to put the Sox up 4-0.

NEXT

Sunday, July 28^th, in Baltimore vs. the Orioles.