I’m starting to think that David
Ortiz shouldn’t have asked for that extension from the Red Sox in the offseason
and instead left after this year to go to Minnesota because he has insane stats
at Target Field in Minnesota. Ortiz
added to those totals last night as he hit 2 more solo homers in the rout of
the Twins on Wednesday night to the tune of 9-4.
He’s officially in that zone; you
know the zone, the one he was in during the World Series. The one where every strike is hammered and
the opposing pitchers should just intentionally walk him in every at bat. Ortiz went 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored, 2 RBI,
a double and 2 homers to run him to 7 for 10 in his last 2 games. He is the first Boston player to have consecutive
homers in back to back games since July 4th and 5th of
2003. The last Red Sox player to do it,
of course is David Ortiz, who accomplished it at Yankee Stadium 11 seasons ago
in his first year on the team.
The homers move him past Jim Rice
and into 3rd place on the Red Sox homerun list. The only 2 players above him are Carl
Yastrzemski (452) and Ted William (521).
Though he likely won’t catch either of them, he should get over 400
homers and put himself in a very special place on the Red Sox list. It also moved him into a tie for 39th
on the all-time MLB list with Dave Kingman (442).
Ortiz wasn’t the only one hitting
for the Sox as they scored 9 runs on 12 hits and walked 3 times. They were 5 for 10 with runners in scoring
position and left 7 men on base. Grady
Sizemore went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI, a double and a walk. Xander Bogaerts also went
2 for 4 with 2 run scored, a walk and a double.
Every Red Sox starter had a hit
except for Jackie Bradley Jr. Dustin
Pedroia went 1 for 4 with an RBI and a walk, Mike Napoli went 1 for 4 with a
run scored, RBI and a double as A.J. Pierzynski went 1 for 4 with a double and
2 RBI. Shane Victorino went 1 for 4 with
a run scored and Will Middlebrooks went 1 for 4 with an RBI.
Production came from everyone in
the lineup as the Sox seem to be out of their early season funk. The saying goes that as the weather warms up
so does the bats and it seems to be coming true for the Red Sox.
Lefty Felix Doubront, who hasn’t
been all that great this season, turned in one of his finest outings of the
season throwing 6 and 1/3 strong innings.
He allowed only 1 run on 7 hits while walking only 1 and striking out 5
hitters. He looked a little shaky early
but settled down and at one point retired 9 straight batters in the middle
innings.
The bullpen wasn’t all that great
on the night. Burke Badenhop went 1 and
2/3 innings allowing 1 run, though it was unearned, on 1 hit while walking 2
and striking out 1. Edward Mujica stunk
up the place allowing 2 runs on 2 hits, including a homer, and struck out 2
batters. I continue to lack faith in
Mujica and if he can’t get outs with a 7 run lead then how can the Sox trust
him in tight situations.
The Sox will try to take the
series today in a day game at Target Field as Clay Buchholz (2-3, 6.44) will
take the hill opposite of old Yankee Phil Hughes (4-1, 3.92).
Buchholz was terrible in his last
outing on May 9th against the Rangers as he let up 6 runs on 10 hits
in just 4 and 1/3 innings. He’s actually
been pretty terrible all season but the Red Sox need him to find it soon as he’s
been the weakest link on the Sox starting staff, and yes I’m including
Doubront.
Phil Hughes, the one-time phenom
and now cast-off for the Yankees, has been pretty good in his first year with
the Twins. He’s been excellent in his
last 3 starts as he’s allowed only 3 runs in 20 and 1/3 innings. In those 3 starts he’s walked none and struck
out 12. The Sox have at least seen him
before and hopefully can get to him today for the series win.
SHAVING CREAM PIE TO THE FACE –
GAME MVP
David Ortiz. For the 2nd consecutive night,
Ortiz lit up the Twins to the tune of 3 for 5 with 2 RBI, 3 runs scored and 3
extra base hits (2 homers and a double).
ELBOW TO THE FACE – GAME LVP
Jackie Bradley Jr. JBJ was the only Red Sox starter without a
hit. Though he hit the ball hard twice
he had nothing to show for it.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Grady Sizemore’s 2nd
hit of the night to drive in Napoli to make the score 4-0 and the rout was on.
NEXT
Thursday, May 15th in Minnesota vs. the
Twins.
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