GAME 98 – 7/19/2013 – at Home vs. the New York Yankees

RESULT – WIN 4-2

Felix Doubront continues to impress and the Sox get key homers to down the Yankees 4-2 at Fenway Park in their first game back from the All-Star break.

Doubront has been pitching like an ace for the last couple of weeks and Friday night was no different.  He went 6 and 1/3 innings allowing only 3 hits and 2 runs, only one was earned, while striking out 5 and walking 3.  This is the 12^th straight start that he has allowed 3 runs or fewer and has improved to 7-3 on the season and lowered his ERA to 3.76.  Over the 12 game span his ERA is 2.59.

In 6 career starts against the Yankees, Doubront has shined, posting a 3-1 record with a 2.17 ERA.  He’s a Yankee killer and I’m starting to have much more confidence in him when he takes the mound.  His pitch count still soars, 93 in 6 and 1/3, but he’s making quality pitches when he needs them and is attacking hitters with first pitch strikes.

The bullpen got some bad news before the game when they learned that Andrew Bailey would be placed on the DL and could possibly miss the rest of the season.  It will be a big blow because it seemed that Bailey had found his way the last couple of weeks since being demoted from the closer role.

On Friday night, the bullpen shined.  Junichi Tazawa finished off the 7^th allowing no hits and no runs and striking out one.  Craig Breslow got into some trouble in the 8^th but worked around 2 hits to get out of the inning unscathed.  Koji Uehara closed out the 9^th with a perfect inning striking out 1 for his 9^th save.

The Sox bats banged out 4 runs on 8 hits the biggest blows coming from Jacoby Ellsbury who led off the game with a homer and Jonny Gomes who went deep in the 2^nd with one on.  Ellsbury would finish 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI and a walk.  Gomes would finish 2 for 4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI with a double to go along with his homer.

David Ortiz went 2 for 4 with 2 doubles and Jose Iglesias went 1 for 3 with an RBI.  Dustin Pedroia had the other Red Sox hit.  They weren’t very good with runners in scoring position as they went 1 for 9 and left 5 men on base.

Luckily the big flies and Doubront’s clutch pitching held up and they were able to open up a key series with a WIN.  They’ll face Kuruda on Saturday afternoon as John Lackey will take the mound for the Sox.

SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP

Jonny Gomes.  Gomes supplied the power for the Sox, smashing his 7^th homer of the year and his 12^th double of the year.  He knocked in 2 and scored 2 on the night.

ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP

Shane Victorino.  Victorino went 0 for 2 and grounded into a big double play in the game.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Jonny Gomes’ 2^nd inning 2 run homer off Andy Pettitte.

NEXT

Saturday, July 20^th vs. the Yankees.