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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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BOSTON STRONG - June 26, 2013 ... John Lackey tied a career high with 12 strikeouts in seven innings and gave up just two runs as the Red Sox beat the Rockies, 5-3, at Fenway Park. For Lackey, it was his ninth quality start in 13 appearances. Lackey primarily used a fastball that topped out at 95 mph, about 2-3 mph faster than normal, and attacked the strike zone (73 strikes on 98 pitches) to carve through the Rockies' lineup. His 12 strikeouts marked the 14th time in his career he's struck out double-digit batters in a game, and was the first time he accomplished the feat since Oct. 3, 2010. Lackey recorded his first six outs by strikeout and had three strikeouts in three different innings. The last Red Sox pitcher to strike out 12 without a walk was Pedro Martinez in 2003. Not since Curt Schilling in 2004 had a Sox pitcher struck out a dozen at Fenway. Lackey surrendered a run in the first when Wilin Rosario knocked in Carlos Gonzalez, who reached on a broken-bat single. Lackey's only other blemish was a towering solo homer in the sixth from Michael Cuddyer, who extended his hitting streak to 23 games. Later in the frame, runners were on the corners with one out, but Lackey retired the final two batters to escape the jam. Fresh off a season-high 20 hits yesterday, the Boston bats stayed hot against Colorado starter Roy Oswalt. Once again it was the top of the lineup getting on base that spurred the production. The Red Sox's first four batters scored all five of their runs and combined for seven of the team's 10 hits. It all started in the first inning when, for the second straight game, Jacoby Ellsbury led off with a double. Victorino then clubbed his first of three hits to score Ellsbury. A double from David Ortiz scored Victorino, and one batter later, Daniel Nava smashed an RBI single to score Ortiz. Oswalt then loaded the bases up with no outs in the third. Mike Napoli's single knocked in Victorino and Nava followed it up with a sacrifice fly to score Dustin Pedroia. Oswalt struck out Saltalamacchia and then got Stephen Drew to fly to center to end the inning. That would be all the run support Lackey needed, though. As he walked toward the dugout following the seventh inning, fans stood and applauded his effort. It's been a tough road for Lackey since he signed with Boston in 2010. He never really lived up to the expectations and missed the entire 2012 season due to Tommy John surgery. However, Lackey finally appears to be back for the long hall. Through 13 starts, Lackey is now 5-5 with a 2.99 ERA, his lowest mark through 13 starts since 2007. The rest of the league has taken notice. For the first time since replacing Andrew Bailey as the team's closer, Koji Uehara took the mound in a save situation. Hanging onto a 5-3 lead, he retired the bottom of the Colorado lineup in order and recorded two strikeouts. Clay Buchholz had another setback. Lingering soreness in his right trapezius muscle caused Buchholz to cut short a bullpen session after only 18 pitches. He was then sent to get an MRI. The Red Sox activated righthander Clayton Mortensen from the disabled lost and optioned righthander Pedro Beato to Pawtucket. Mortensen was out with a groin strain. Triple A shortstop Xander Bogaerts and Double A righthander Anthony Ranaudo were selected for the Futures Game July 14 at Citi Field in New York. Bogaerts will play for the World Team and Ranaudo for the United States. The game is a showcase for top prospects. The 20-year-old Bogaerts was promoted to Pawtucket earlier this month and hit four home runs in his first 12 games. Ranaudo, a first-round draft pick out of LSU in 2010, is 7-2 with a 2.28 ERA in 14 starts. Sox players Felix Doubront, Daniel Nava, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia will join team strength and conditioning coach Pat Sandora in leading an on-field workout for 45 children from the Joslin Diabetes Center. |
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