The Red Sox hitters stayed hot
yet again on Friday night as they belted out 15 hits to provide just enough to
get the win over the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5 at Fenway Park. Rookie, Allen Webster looked good early but
didn’t last long enough to get the win.
Allen Webster looked sharp early
on and had a shutout going into the fifth.
Then he hit a wall in the top of the 5th as he allowed 3
runs. The Blue Jays would add another in
the top of the 6th and Webster would be lifted after 6 innings of
work. His pitching line ended up being 6
innings, 6 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. Not spectacular but better than his last 3
starts. He attached the strike zone in
this outing and looked a lot more confident with his fastball.
With the Sox up 1 in the top of
the 7th, they called Andrew Bailey’s number out of the bullpen to
preserve the lead. His recent troubles
have him demoted from his closer’s role to a set-up man and he again couldn’t
hold the lead. After getting 2 quick
strikeouts of Jose Reyes and Jose Bautista, he left up a solo homer to Edwin
Encarnacion to allow the Jays to tie the game.
He was lifted after the homer for Andrew Miller who struck out Adam Lind
to get out of the inning.
Andrew Miller would work around a
1 out single in the top of the 8th after the Sox took back the lead
in the bottom half of the 7th.
Koji Uehara would then close out
the game for his 4th save of the year by striking out 2 and getting
a ground-out. Koji’s been spectacular as
the new Sox closer and looks perfectly comfortable in his new role. There were some worries about him pitching
back-to-back days but so far we haven’t seen any signs of fatigue.
After Bailey’s mishap in the top
half of the 7th, the Sox got leadoff singles from Shane Victorino
and Dustin Pedroia to open the bottom half.
After a David Ortiz strikeout, Mike Napoli walked to load the
bases. Jonny Gomes came on to pitch hit
for Daniel Nava and delivered in a clutch way as he singled off third baseman
Maicer Izturis to drive in Victorino.
With the bases still loaded, Jarrod Saltalamacchia worked a walk to
plate another run and keep the bases loaded.
They would get no more in the inning but Gomes and Salty came through in
a big way.
The Sox pounded out 15 hits on
the night and walked 4 times. They were
6 for 16 with runners in scoring position and were able to string hits together
all night. Jacoby Ellsbury was 2 for 5
with 2 RBI and Dustin Pedroia went 3 for 5 with his first triple of the year.
Speaking of triples, Stephen Drew
had yet another triple, his 6th of the year and was 2 for 2 with 2
RBI before leaving with tightness in his hamstring. Hopefully that’s not serious as he’s been
tearing the cover off the ball lately.
Daniel Nava went 2 for 3 and Jose
Iglesias was 2 for 4. Mike Napoli was 1
for 2 with an RBI and 2 walks and Victorino and Ortiz each had a hit. The only starter without a hit was Salty but
he walked once and had a key RBI in that 7th inning.
With the bats hot, the Sox have
been rolling as of late. They’ll try to
make it 3 in a row vs. the Jays tonight as Felix Doubront will take the hill
against Esmil Rogers who’s been tough this year for the Jays.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
Jonny Gomes. Coming off the bench cold with the bases
loaded in a tie game and delivering a clutch single into left field is
something of the norm lately for the Sox.
Every game it seems someone comes up with a big hit in a key situation
and last night was Gomes’ turn.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Andrew Bailey. Bailey again is undone by a solo homer in a
key situation.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Gomes’ pitch hit single to give
the Sox the lead in the bottom of the 7th.
NEXT
Today, June 29th, vs. the Toronto
Blue Jays.
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