Wednesday, July 10, 2013

GAME 92 – 7/9/2013 – in Seattle vs. the Mariners

RESULT – WIN 11-8

It was an ugly beginning on Tuesday night in Seattle but the Sox bats bail out rookie Allen Webster and blast 5 homers to end their 3 game skid with a 11-8 win at Safeco Field.

It was an early 5 to 1 deficit as Allen Webster didn’t have it yet again.  He last only 2 and 1/3 innings giving up 7 runs on 6 hits while walking 2 and striking out 2.  Kendrys Morales took him deep twice and Webster simply couldn’t get anyone out.  It may be time for the Red Sox to send him back down and call up a different starter or simply have Alredo Aceves become a starter until Buchholz is ready.  Though he came out of the game early with an arm injury, let’s hope it’s not serious.

The bullpen calmed everything down as they worked 6 plus innings allowing only 1 run and 7 hits.  Craig Breslow went 2 and 1/3 innings giving up no runs on 3 hits while striking out 2.  Andrew Bailey continued his positive comeback going 1 and 2/3 innings giving up only 1 hit in the outing while striking out 1.  Junichi Tazawa was shaky giving up 1 run on 2 hits in his lone inning of work.  Koji Uehara, fresh off the terrible blown save on Saturday, pitched a perfect 9th for his 6th save.

The bullpen held everything in check for the Sox hitters who banged out 11 runs on 16 hits.  The crazy thing is that it could have been a lot worse as they were only 4 for 13 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.  It was a homer happy night as the Sox hitters bailed out the pitching.

On a night where offense was the name of the game, David Ortiz stood out as usual.  Ortiz went 4 for 5 with a homer, 2 doubles and a single.  The single gave him 1,688 career hits, tying him with Harold Baines for the most by a designated hitter.  The homer was his 18th of the season and he’s also up to 21 doubles on the year.  He’s have a career year with a .327 average and 1.032 OPS.  To top off the night, he also stole his 3rd base of the year.

Dustin Pedroia went 2 for 5 with 3 RBI and his 6th homer of the year.  Mike Napoli went 1 for 5 with 2 RBI and his 11th homer.  Shane Victorino went 2 for 5 with an RBI and his 4th RBI.  He was also on base a third time with a walk.  Rookie Jackie Bradley Jr., freshly called up from Triple-A, also went deep, his 2nd of the year.

Every Sox hitter had a least one hit.  Jose Iglesias went 2 for 5 with an RBI and Brock Holt went 1 for 4 with 2 RBI.  Jarrod Saltalamacchia went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and a walk and Daniel Nava went 1 for 5 out of the lead-off spot.  He was also hit by a pitch.

It was a homer happy night and the sox have to be happy with the offensive explosion after 2 straight games of facing top pitchers in the game.

They’ll go at it again tonight in Seattle with Felix Doubront (5-3, 4.11) toeing the rubber for the Sox.  He’s been very good recently.  In his last 10 starts, he’s 2-2 with a 2.87 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 59.2 innings.  He’ll be opposed by Aaron Harang (4-7, 4.92).  Harang has also been good as of late throwing very well in his last 4 starts.  The Sox need to get to him early and have Doubront pitch deep into the game to help out an ailing bullpen.

SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP
David Ortiz.  Ortiz tied the DH hits king Harold Baines last night and simply went off, going 4 for 5 with 3 extra base hits.

ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Allen Webster.  Webster was bailed out by the bats but he was roughed up pretty badly again.  I think it’s time for some more Triple-A action for the young righty.

PLAY OF THE GAME
Jackie Bradley Jr.’s solo homer in the top of the 5th that put the Sox up 8-7.

NEXT
Wednesday, July 10th vs. the Seattle Mariners.

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