Monday, August 5, 2013

GAME 112 – 8/3/2013 – at Home vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks

RESULT – WIN 5-2

Jake Peavy will never forget his first outing with the Boston Red Sox.  As he departed with a 2-run lead in the eighth inning, the 37,971 at Fenway rose to their feet and gave him a standing ovation as he left the field.  Peavy tipped his cap to the crowd and said later on that it was something that he’ll always remember.

The 32 year old pitcher was brilliant in this Sox debut, giving up just 4 hits and 2 runs in 7 innings of work while walking 2 and striking out 7.  His only blemish on the night was a solo homer to Paul Goldschmidt in the 4th inning.

Red Sox faithful got a glimpse at the competitiveness that Peavy has when he’s on the mound.  Peavy shouted into his glove after missing on some pitches and routinely challenged hitters with his fastball.  He threw only 99 pitches in the outing and had total command of his fastball which topped out at 93 mph and seemed to have lots of movement.

Peavy should also give a big thanks to Jonny Gomes who threw out Cliff Pennington at the plate in the 8th inning.  It would have been the game tying run but Gomes’ made sure that Peavy would get the W in his Sox debut with a picture perfect throw to the plate to nail Pennington.

Koji Uehara would nail down the 9th giving up no runs or hits but walking one for his 10th save of the year.  Junichi Tazawa also had his 2nd straight good outing giving up only 1 hit in 1 inning of work with 1 strikeout and most importantly ZERO runs.

The Sox offense wasn’t great getting only 5 runs on 9 hits and again struggling with runners in scoring position by going 1 for 8, leaving 7 men on base.

Shane Victorino went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and his 7th homer of the year.  Jarrod Saltalamacchia went 1 for 4 with 2 RBI and his 10th homer of the year.  Stephen Drew went 2 for 4 and seems to be heating up.  Ellsbury, Pedroia, Ortiz and Brandon Snyder each had a hit in the win.  Ellsbury stole his 40th base of the season as well.

The only extra base hits were the 2 homers as Patrick Corbin really kept the Sox bats in check.  Mike Napoli didn’t get any hits but walked 3 times and scored a run.  Jonny Gomes went 0 for 4 with 2 K’s.

They’ll go for the series win Sunday as Felix Doubront will take the mound and he’s been pretty good as of late.  He’ll be opposed by Brandon McCarthy who’s been up and down this year.  Hopefully the bats will be better with runners on base because they seem to be struggling in those situations as of late.  Let’s get that series win Sox!

SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE – GAME MVP
Shane Victorino who drove in 2 runs and hit his 7th homer of the season.

ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Craig Breslow.  Breslow came out of the bullpen in a very tight situation to get lefty Gerardo Parra out and he promptly gave up a single.  That run would come around to score and without Gomes’ throw to cut the tying run down at the plate could have been very costly.

PLAY OF THE GAME
Salty’s 2-run homer in the bottom of the 8th to give the Sox some breathing room with a 3 run lead.

NEXT
Sunday, August 4th at home vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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