Cody Ross certainly played with a
chip on his shoulder last night. In his
return to Fenway Park against his former mates, Ross terrorized Sox pitching to
the tune of 4 hits and knocking in 3 runs including a homer that broke a 6-6
tie in the 7th and led gave Arizona the lead they would not
relinquish.
Ross made comments on the radio
earlier in the day that he felt “jaded” by his departure from Boston. He felt he was lied to by management as they
told him they were not giving out any long term deals but then offered two 3
year deals to Shane Victorino and Mike Napoli.
The Napoli deal feel through and ended up being a one year deal but the
offers turned Ross off and he went to Arizona via free agency. Last night, Cody showed what he can do and
what he did for the Sox last year. While
I like the team we have right now, he was certainly one of the better things
from last year.
Three of Ross’ four hits came off
of Jon Lester, who struggled right from the start. Lester couldn’t even get 5 innings in as he
went 4 and 1/3 giving up 6 runs on 11 hits.
He didn’t walk anyone and struck out 6 but needed 102 pitches to get
through his outing. It was a step back
after a solid July. The big lefty missed
over the plate, and the Diamondbacks made him pay when he did. There were too many balls that were just
straight down the middle and professional hitters aren’t going to miss those
meatballs.
The bullpen was solid on the
night and kept the Sox in the game as Matt Thornton went 1 and 2/3 innings
giving up just 2 hits and striking out 1.
Pedro Beat pitched 1 and 1/3 innings and did allow that go ahead Cody
Ross homer but it would be the only run he gave up. Junichi Tazawa went the final 1 and 2/3
innings giving up just 1 hit while striking out 1.
It looked like the walk-off magic
that Boston has found this year may happen again on Friday night. Down by one in the bottom of the ninth,
Stephen Drew led off with a single.
Brock Holt botched a bunt attempt and eventually struck out looking for
the 1st out but Jacoby Ellsbury followed with a single to put
runners on 1st and 2nd with Shane Victorino and Dustin
Pedroia coming up and Big Papi looming in the hole.
Arizona’s closer Brad Ziegler
would get Victorino to lineout to left and get Pedroia to ground out with a
weak grounder back to the mound to end the game and shut the door on any Red
Sox comeback attempt.
In the bottom of the 4th,
the Red Sox had a golden opportunity to break the game open as they had bases
loaded with only 1 out. Brock Holt would
ground into a double play to the pitcher and Jacoby Ellsbury would fly out to
left to end the threat. The Diamondbacks
would put up a big inning in the top of the 5th to jump out to a 6-4
lead.
The Sox were just 1 for 10 with
runners in scoring position and left 6 men on base. You’re not going to win many ball games going
1 for 10 with runners in scoring position and leaving golden opportunities out
there.
Jacoby Ellsbury went 2 for 5 with
a run scored and David Ortiz went 1 for 4 with 2 RBI and his 21st
homer of the season. Mike Napoli went 2
for 3 with a run scored and both Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Shane Victorino each
had 1 double a piece. Stephen Drew had a
big game going 2 for 2 with a run scored and 3 RBI and walked once getting on
base 3 times. He hit his 8th
homer of the year and the Sox would love to see him heat up for the stretch
run.
Jake Peavy will make his debut
Saturday night and the Sox would like to even the series and get some distance
in the AL East. He’ll be opposed by
Patrick Corbin who has been outstanding this year. Hopefully Cody Ross got it all out of his
system Friday night and the Sox can get him to make some outs.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
Stephen Drew. Drew was on base 3 times and drove in 3 runs
to be the offensive hero for the Sox. He
even tried to start the game winning rally in the 9th.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Jon Lester. A big step back for the lefty to open
August. Let’s just hope its one bad
outing and he can have better command in his next start.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Cody Ross’ homer off Pedro Beato
in the 7th to put the Diamondbacks ahead 7-6.
NEXT
Saturday, August 3rd, at home vs.
the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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