Felix Doubront was solid yet
again on Wednesday and Big Papi keeps rolling as the Red Sox roll to an 11-4
win against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.
In his past 11 starts, Felix
Doubront has given up only 3 or more earned runs twice. He has been lights out since his demotion to
the bullpen and whatever that did to his mindset worked brilliantly. Most of his career and early this season,
Doubront has struggled in the early innings.
That wasn’t a problem on Wednesday as he struck out the first 4 batters
he faced.
Doubront went 7 strong innings
giving up only 1 run on 5 hits while walking 2 and striking out 5. The Sox needed him to go at least 7 because
they used up some arms in yesterday’s slugfest and he gave them much needed
rest.
Newly brought up Brandon Workman
pitched the last 2 innings and was not great.
He let up 3 runs on 4 hits while striking out 4. The strikeouts were positive but he left far
too many balls over the center of the plate that was crushed. Fortunately he had a big lead to work with so
the game wasn’t ever in question.
That’s because the Sox bats were out in force once again. They banged out 11 runs on 12 hits and were 5 for 14 with runners in scoring position. Leading the way again was Big Papi, David Ortiz. Ortiz went 2 for 3 with 2 runs and 3 RBI and his 22nd double and 19th homer of the year. He also broke the record for hits by a DH with his 2nd inning double. Though the DH hasn’t been around too long (about 45 years), it’s still a nice record to have.
Jacoby Ellsbury also had a big day going 3 for 4 with 2 runs and an RBI. Daniel Nava, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Jose Iglesias and Brock Holt each had a hit in the contest with Salty and Iggy driving in a run apiece. Shane Victorino went 2 for 4 with a run and 2 RBI. Mike Carp went 1 for 2 with an RBI off the bench late in the game.
The Sox also got some help from
Seattle pitching as they walked 7 times in the game. Mike Napoli and Daniel Nava both walked twice
(and Nava was hit by a pitch again for the 9th time this year). Dustin Pedroia, Salty and Brock Holt all
walked and as the Red Sox have done all year, they will make you pay when you
give up walks against them.
A perfect example of that was in
the top of the second when Ortiz doubled to lead off the inning then Mike
Napoli followed with a walk. Daniel Nava
was then hit by a pitch to load the bases and Jarrod Saltalamacchia lifted a
deep fly ball to left-center field that all runners were able to move up
on. The next batter, Jose Iglesias then
hit a deep ball to right field to plate another run on the sacrifice fly to put
the Sox up 2-0.
The Sox will go for the series
win this early afternoon as they send Ryan Dempster (5-8, 4.04) will be sent to
the mound. He’s been the guy all year
with the least amount of run support so let’s hope the Sox saved some hits and
runs for him today. He’s been very good
in his last 3 starts giving up only 2 runs in each start and going at least 5
and 1/3 while striking out 10. The
Mariners haven’t announced who’s starting as of yet.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
David Ortiz. Ortiz was again the catalyst for the Sox
offense going 2 for 3 with 3 RBI. He also
broke the DH record for hits in a career.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Brandon Workman. It was Workman’s first appearance of his
career and it wasn’t a memorable one. I’m
hoping this was just nerves but he gave up 3 runs in 2 innings of relief work.
PLAY OF THE GAME
David Ortiz’s double in the top
of the 2nd inning to break the all time DH hits record.
NEXT
Thursday, July 11th
vs. the Seattle Mariners.
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