After being held to just 1 hit on
Friday night, the Red Sox bats wake up to the tune of 11 hits and 8 runs as they
even up the series in Arlington with the 8-3 victory over the Rangers.
Leading the way on Saturday night
was Shane Victorino who went 3 for 4 with 4 RBI. Victorino looks to be fully healthy and is
contributing like he did last year after some early hamstring issues. David Ortiz also had a big night going 2 for
4 with 2 runs scored, an RBI, a walk, a double and his 7th homer of
the season.
Of the 11 hits the Sox had on the
night, 4 came with runners in scoring position as they went 4 for 8 in those
situations. They still left 8 men on
base but I’ll take what I can get at this point because they’ve been so awful
early on this season.
Jackie Bradley Jr. went 2 for 3
with 2 runs scored after striking out 3 times the night before. Dustin Pedroia went 2 for 3 with 2 walks and
an RBI out of the leadoff spot and Will Middlebrooks went 1 for 3 with 2 runs
scored. Jonny Gomes went 1 for 5 but
drove in 2 runs.
Getting production from the top
of the lineup you’re going to win a lot of games. The 1 and 2 hitters (Pedroia & Victorino)
went 7 for 11 with 4 runs scored and 6 RBI.
That’s the formula for success and what worked so well last year.
With the offense clicking, Jon
Lester quietly pitched a pretty good game.
He went 7 strong innings, giving up 3 runs on 4 hit while walking 3 and
striking out 8. Jon admitted after the
game that he really had to grind it out, although it didn’t really look like it
as he went through the 1st 3 innings pretty perfectly.
The Rangers were able to get 2
back in the 4th and were on the verge of a huge inning when Lester
settled down and struck out Leonys Martin to end the threat.
In the 5th, Lester
would allow another run but he would then retire the side in the 6th
and was able to work around a walk in the 7th.
Junichi Tazawa went 1 scoreless
inning giving up just 1 hit and striking out 1.
Burke Badenhop and Andrew Miller worked the 9th as Badenhop
went 2/3 of an inning allowing 2 hits and striking out 1. Miller struck out the only hitter he faced.
The Sox will go for the series win
on Sunday with John Lackey taking the mound against Robbie Ross Jr. The Sox are at .500 again and can put over
that mark with a win.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
Shane Victorino. The Flying Hawaiian drove in 4 and had 3 hits
in the win.
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
David Ross who went 0 for 4 with
3 strikeouts. Ross has done very little
with the bat this year but does call a really good game behind the plate.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Jonny Gomes’ 2-run single in the
top of the 4th to open up the lead to 6-0 and put the game out of
reach for the Rangers.
NEXT
Sunday, May 11th in Texas vs. the Rangers.
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