Wednesday, July 31, 2013

GAME 108 – 7/30/2013 – at Home vs. the Seattle Mariners

RESULT – WIN 8-2

The bats were on fire and rookie Brandon Workman was lights out against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Tuesday night as the Sox win big 8-2.  That’s not the headline however as a big trade deadline deal will be what Boston’s buzzing about today.

Jake Peavy is on his way to the Red Sox as the Sox complete a 3 team trade with the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers.  The Sox get Peavy from the White Sox and reliever Brayan Villareal from the Tigers.  Jose Iglesias is on his way to Detroit as part of the deal.  Iglesias has been great with the glove and his bat came around a bit this year but the Sox have a bit of a logjam at shortstop and this paves the way for their number 1 prospect, Xander Bogaerts to be the shortstop of 2014 and beyond.  Three prospects were also included in the deal from the Red Sox (SS – Cleuluis Rondon, RHP – Francellis Montas & RHP – Jeffrey Wendelken).

Jake Peavy this year is 8-4 with a 4.28 ERA in 13 starts.  He missed about a month and a half this year with a rib injury but has looked healthy in his last two starts.  He is only 32 and under contract for 2014 and has a player option for 2015.

This means that last night’s starter Brandon Workman who pitched brilliantly again in his 3rd start will likely head to the bullpen.  The bullpen desperately needs right handed pitchers and Workman could provide that help without a trade.

Workman was great yesterday going 6 strong innings giving up 1 run on 6 hits while striking out 9 and walking only 1.  The Sox have something in this kid and it’ll be fun going forward to see how he develops.  Craig Breslow and Matt Thornton both pitched 2 perfect innings of relief with Thornton striking out 2 of the 3 batters he faced.  Pedro Beato closed out the game but was touched up for a run on 2 hits and a walk.

The story of the night besides the Peavy deal was the bats.  The Sox banged out 11 hits with 5 of them being extra-base hits and 3 long balls.  They were 2 for 4 with runners in scoring position and only left 3 men on base all night.

Shane Victorino went 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored and 2 doubles.  Dustin Pedroia went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI with his 7th homer of the year.  Jarrod Saltalamacchia went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and his 9th homer of the year.  Ellsbury had only 1 hit but it was his 5th homer of the year.

Big Papi added an RBI and a hit and Jose Iglesais in his last game as a Red Sox went 1 for 3 but was thrown out at 2nd trying to stretch a single into a double.  I’ll miss Iggy but the prospect of having Peavy for a pennant run and playoffs is well worth the deal.

Mike Napoli also added one hit and scored a run.  The only 2 players without a hit in the game were Jonny Gomes who walked once and Stephen Drew who went 0 for 4.

They’ll go at it again today as the Mariners send Hisashi Iwakuma (10-4, 2.87) to the mound.  Iwakuma has been very good this year but his last start against the Red Sox was atrocious.  Back on July 9th in Seattle, he went only 3 innings and gave up 6 runs on 8 hits.  Hopefully the Sox will get to him again tonight.

Pitching for the Sox will not be Jake Peavy.  Ben Cherrington, the G.M. said he will not pitch Wednesday which sets up John Lackey (7-8, 3.19) to make his scheduled start.  I expect to see Peavy either Thursday or Friday.

SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP
Dustin Pedroia.  Pedroia’s been in a bit of a slump since signing his contract extension but last night he broke out a bit going 2 for 4 with 3 RBI and his 7th homer of the year.

ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Stephen Drew.  Drew went 0 for 4 with a strikeout on the night.  Now that Iggy’s gone, Drew will have to step it up as the primary shortstop.

PLAY OF THE GAME
Dustin Pedroia’s 2 run homer in the bottom of the 2nd to put the Sox up 5-1 and start the rout.

NEXT
Wednesday, July 31st, at home vs. the Seattle Mariners.

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