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BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
John Lackey crushes the
Tribe with a 2-hitter
May 24, 2013 ...
This was the second straight start that Lackey was masterful. While leading the Red Sox to an 8-1 victory over the Indians at a rainy Fenway Park, the righty allowed just two hits and an unearned run over seven innings. He walked three and struck out
eight. In Lackey's last two starts, he hasn't allowed an earned run over 13 innings.
Don't be fooled by Lackey's 3-4 record. His 2.72 ERA is far more indicative of the way he's pitched. While slicing through Cleveland's batting order, Lackey threw 109 pitches, 71 for strikes.
In the sixth, after Lackey struck out Nick Swisher, he hopped off the mound with a fist pump. That was a sight Angels' fans became accustomed to for years. Lackey got an early boost from his offense, as Mike Carp drilled a three-run homer in the second
against Justin Masterson to make it a 3-0 game.
Lackey opened the third by giving up two straight hits, a single to left by Mark Reynolds and an infield hit by Michael Brantley. With two outs, the Indians called for a double steal that turned into a problem for the Red Sox. Jarrod Saltalamacchia's throw to
third wasn't even close, and it sailed into left field. The ball glanced off Carp's glove and Reynolds scored to make it a 3-1 game.
With the bases loaded and one out in the sixth, the Red Sox added an insurance run on a strange play. Mike Napoli hit a grounder to short. The Indians got the force at second, but the throw to first by Jason Kipnis took first baseman Nick Swisher off the bag as
Daniel Nava scored. As Swisher tried to tag out Napoli to no avail, Dustin Pedroia attempted to score from second. However, he was tagged out easily, ending the inning.
The Red Sox broke it open with a four-spot in the seventh. The big hits were two-run singles from Jacoby Ellsbury and Pedroia. From there, Lackey handed it over to the bullpen after another job well done.
Nagging injuries have pinched the Red Sox roster and forced them to make a handful of moves. Lower-back spasms sent third baseman Will Middlebrooks to the 15-day disabled list along with outfielder Shane Victorino (retroactive to May 21), who had been
dealing with a strained left hamstring. Infielder Jose Iglesias and righthander Alfredo Aceves were called up from Triple A Pawtucket. Iglesias had never played third base before doing it Tuesday night for Triple A Pawtucket and as slick as the 22-year-old is with
the glove, he was nervous about it.
When shortstop Stephen Drew went on the disabled list after being hit in the head with a pitch in spring training, Iglesias started the season on the major league roster and exceeded expectations, hitting .450 in the first six games. Once Drew was healthy,
Iglesias was sent to Pawtucket.
After going through team and league tests and completing a rehab assignment Thursday with Double A Portland, catcher Ross was activated from the seven-day concussion disabled list. Ryan Lavarnway was sent to Pawtucket. |
