They covered everything in
plastic tarps. Corks were popped;
crushed beer cans littered the clubhouse rug.
The Boston Red Sox had won the American League East.
In a storybook season, the Red
Sox reached their first destination with a 6-3 win over the Blue Jays. Next up is home field advantage, then ultimately
World Series Champions.
Jon Lester looked great yet again
and has continued to rebound his season with his 13th start of at least 7
innings while allowing 2 or fewer runs.
Lester went 7 strong innings, giving up only 1 run on 5 hits while
walking only 2 and striking out 8. The
only thing that went wrong was that Lester’s pitch count was extremely high at
123 pitches and he really wanted to go back out in the 8th. Its better that he didn’t, need to rest that
arm for the playoffs Jon.
In the top of the 4th,
Jon received some help from Will Middlebrooks to escape a jam that could have
given the Jays a huge advantage. With
bases loaded and no outs, the Sox brought the infield in against Anthony Gose. Gose then hit a sharp ground ball to 3rd
where Middlebrooks fielded the ball, stepped on 3rd then threw to
Salty who applied the tag for the 5-2-5-2 double play. Lester then struck out J.P. Arencibia to end
the threat.
Junichi Tazawa pitched 1/3 of an
inning and looked absolutely terrible. He
gave up 2 runs on 3 hits, including a homer.
He was rightfully pulled for Koji Uehara who got the 5 out save. He let up 2 hits but also struck out 2 for
his 20th save of the season.
The offense was pretty good in
the win as they banged out 6 runs on 12 hits.
They were 5 for 13 with runners in scoring position but did leave 8 men
on base. Dustin Pedroia went 3 for 5
with a run scored, an RBI and his 42nd double of the year. He’s been very good out of the lead-off spot
in Jacoby Ellsbury’s absence. Daniel
Nava went 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored from the 2 hole.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia went 2 for
4 and Jackie Bradley Jr. went 2 for 4 with a run scored. Bradley has been hitting the ball lately and
that will definitely be a bonus if Ellsbury can not return this season.
David Ortiz went 1 for 2 with a
run scored, an RBI and 2 walks. Mike
Carp went 1 for 3 with 3 RBI and a walk and Will Middlebrooks went 1 for 4 with
a run scored and his 3rd stolen base of the season. Stephen Drew walked once on the night and
Mike Napoli walked twice.
The offense was ultra-patient as
always and knocked the pitcher out of the game before the 5th inning
for the 39th time this season, tied for the most in the Majors. With the AL East crown, the Sox became the
second American League team since 1994 to win a division after being in the
cellar the previous year.
There will be more baseball to be
played. In fact, the Sox have a full
week left on the schedule to fine tune their pitching and work on hitting with
runners in scoring position. They’ll be
back at it again on Saturday with Clay Buchholz taking the hill for the
Sox. He’ll be opposed by veteran lefty
Mark Buehrle.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
Jon Lester. Lester was brilliant again as he went 7
strong innings striking out 8. It was
yet another quality start and his turnaround from his mid-season troubles has
been just what the Sox needed to get where they’ve gotten.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Junichi Tazawa. Tazawa was brutal in the 8th and
makes you question giving him the baseball in high pressure situations. Give me Morales or Breslow any time over him.
PLAY OF THE GAME
The double-play turned in by
Middlebrooks in the top of the 4th that I described above. It really swung momentum the other way.
NEXT
Saturday, September 21st, at home
against the Toronto Blue Jays.
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