The Red Sox will most likely need
only 4 starting pitchers in the playoffs, and they probably know who those 4
pitchers are. With that being said,
Felix Doubront is most likely on the outside looking in and this was likely his
last start of 2013. The good news, it
was a really good one.
Doubront kept the Blue Jays
off-balance as he went 7 innings and allowed only 2 runs on 4 hits while
walking 2 and striking out 2. The Sox
cruised to a 5-2 win in their final regular-season game at Fenway Park this season.
The 25-year old lefty worked his
5th start of the season in which he went at least 7 innings. He only did it twice in 2012 and seems to be
getting better each season. He’ll be in
the bullpen next week and his postseason roster spots still remains uncertain
but I would say they keep him in case they need someone for long relief. He’s been pretty reliable all season long and
I can’t see him not making the playoff roster.
A lot of people forget that this
is only Doubront’s 2nd full season in the Majors. He dropped his ERA this year from 4.36 to
4.08 and cut his home runs allowed almost in half. He allowed 24 homers in 161 innings last
year, but just 13 in 161 this year. I
see him in the starting rotation again next year, but you never know. His value is definitely high right now and
the Sox have somewhat of a stockpile in starting rotation arms. Perhaps we see him traded during the
offseason?
Franklin Morales pitched around
some trouble in the only inning he pitched as he didn’t let up a run but
allowed 2 hits while walking 1 and striking out 1. Koji Uehara pitched a perfect 9th
inning for his 21st save of the year. He struck out 1 and has a 1.12 ERA this
season.
The Sox had 5 runs on 6 hits and
were 2 for 4 with runners in scoring position.
They only left 1 man on base but didn’t exactly have a ton of
opportunities.
David Ortiz went 2 for 4 with a
run scored, an RBI and his 29th homer of the season. He also had his 27th double of the
season in the win. Jackie Bradley Jr.
went 1 for 3 with a run scored, 3 RBI and his 3rd homer of the
season. Bradley Jr. is 5 for 10 with a
double and a homer in his last 3 games filling in for the injured
Ellsbury. Ellsbury could return as early
as Wednesday but Bradley seems to be filling in nicely.
Ryan Lavarnway went 1 for 3 with
a run scored and an RBI. Stephen Drew
went 1 for 2 with a run scored and a walk.
Daniel Nava also went 1 for 3 with a run scored.
The biggest take-away offensively
for the Sox was that 4 of their 5 runs came with 2 outs. That’s big going forward. Nothing like scoring runs with 2-outs.
At 95-62, the Sox have the best
record in the American League, and they are up 2 on the A’s in the win column
for the best record. They finished with
a 53-28 record at home, so I feel it’s very important to have home-field
advantage going forward.
The Sox will have an off-day
before traveling to Colorado for 2, then Baltimore for 3 to end the season.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
Jackie Bradley Jr. He’s been great filling in for Ellsbury and
supplied the big hit on Sunday afternoon.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Shane Victorino. Victorino was bad at the dish on Sunday going
0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Jackie Bradley’s big 3 run homer
in the bottom of the 2nd with 2 outs. It gave the Sox a 4-1 lead and really set the
tone for the rest of the game.
NEXT
Tuesday, September 24th, in
Colorado vs. the Rockies.
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