Ryan Dempster was terrible yesterday
allowing 7 runs in just 3 and 1/3 innings, but knuckleballer Steven Wright was
excellent scattering only 3 hits over 5 and 2/3 scoreless innings. Wright’s performance and Daniel Nava’s clutch
go-ahead RBI in the 10th push the Sox past the Mariners in an 8-7
win for the series victory.
Dempster was the worst I’ve seen
him all year. He continually left
pitches up in the zone and he was hit hard by the Mariners. In his 3 and 1/3 innings he let up 9 hits and
7 runs but only 4 were earned. A big
error by Brock Holt in the bottom of the 2nd allowed 3 unearned runs
to score but his command was off yesterday and Seattle made him pay. When the Sox would climb back into the game,
he would give up more runs.
Luckily, Steven Wright had his
knuckler working yesterday. We’ve seen
Wright a couple times before and I wasn’t impressed but yesterday he looked
fantastic. He throws the knuckler a bit
harder than Tim Wakefield used to, almost like R.A. Dickey of the Blue
Jays. His 5 and 2/3 innings of work were
picture perfect. He allowed only 3 hits
and 2 walks but most importantly 0 runs while striking out 3. It was the relief the Sox needed to claw back
into the game.
Koji Uehara pitched a perfect
ninth to pick up his 7th save of the year. He struck out 2 of the 3 batters he faced and
he seems to have locked up that closer role.
The Sox bats were good again
scoring 8 runs on 10 hits while racking up 7 walks. The Mariners pitchers really hurt themselves with
those 7 walks. This is a team you can
not walk because they will make you pay.
They were also really good yesterday with runners in scoring position
going 7 for 14 and were clutch as 6 of their 8 runs were with 2 outs.
Jacoby Ellsbury stayed red hot as
he went 2 for 4 with his 3rd homer of the year and 2 RBI. He also walked twice getting on base 4
times. Brock Holt had a big day as well
going 2 for 4 with a run and 2 RBI and Jose Iglesias went 2 for 5 with 2 RBI.
Daniel Nava only had one hit but
it was a big one. The game-winner in the
top of the 10th with an RBI single.
Dustin Pedroia, Jonny Gomes and Ryan Lavarnway all had a hit in the
contest. David Ortiz went 0 for 3 but
walked and scored twice. Mike Carp also
walked once and drove in a run on a sacrifice fly.
The Sox trailed early on 5 to 1
in the top of the 4th. They
then scored 3 to pull within 1 but Dempster gave it right back in the bottom
half and put the Sox back down 7-4. The
Sox however, pulled right back into it with a big 3-run 5th inning
to tie the game. It would stay that way
until the 10th when the Sox were able to scrape one across for the
win.
It’s the Sox major league leading
19th series win of the season and they are now 3 games away from
this tough road trip. They have
guaranteed themselves a 1st place finish at the All-Star break,
something no one, not even I had ever dreamed of.
They’ll start a tough 3 game set
tonight against the A’s. The Sox send
John Lackey (6-6, 2.80) to the mound.
John’s been nasty as of late and hopefully he can keep it going. The A’s will send Jarrod Parker (6-6, 4.04)
to the mound. Parker has been good as of
late as well.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
Jacoby Ellsbury. Ellsbury has been red hot since missing a
couple games with an injury. Last night
he was on base 4 times and got the game started off nicely with a lead-off
homer.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Ryan Dempster. Dempster was terrible yesterday leaving a lot
of balls up in the zone that was hammered by Mariners hitters.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Daniel Nava’s 10th
inning single up the middle to plate Jackie Bradley Jr.
NEXT
Friday, July 12th vs.
the Oakland Athletics.
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