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JOSE BAUTISTA |
BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
Jonny Gomes delivers the go-ahead
base hit as the Sox comeback
June 29, 2013 ...
Frustrated by missed opportunities, not to mention a dominant all-around performance against them by Jose Bautista, haunted the Red Sox in a 6-2 loss to Toronto in front of a packed house of 37,437 at Fenway Park.
Bautista padded the Jays' lead to 2-0 with the first of his two homers on the day. The Red Sox looked to have some life offensively. Shane Victorino led off with a double. Up stepped Dustin Pedroia, who stung a ground single to right. Third base coach Brian Butterfield challenged
Bautista to make a great play. And he did, throwing an absolute bullet to the plate to nail Victorino.
After a single by Jarrod Saltalamacchia to lead off the seventh, Jose Iglesias dropped down a perfect bunt single. Second baseman Maicer Izturis made an error on the play, giving the Sox runners at the corners with nobody out. John Farrell stayed with rookie
Jonathan Diaz, who was making his Major League debut. Diaz dropped down a safety squeeze against 42-year-old lefty Darren Oliver, but Saltalamacchia was thrown out at the plate.
Despite that run being cut down, the Sox still rallied back. Jacoby Ellsbury laced a single to left, loading the bases. Victorino came through with a two-run single up the middle against right-hander Steve Delabar to tie the game at 2.
In the eighth, Farrell turned to Junichi Tazawa, who has come up big for the Red Sox numerous times this season. He came on and gave up a single to Jose Reyes, and then a towering two-run shot to left-center by Bautista, which gave the Jays a 4-2 lead.
(Coming into the game, Bautista had just one homer in his last 56 at-bats)
Against the Blue Jays this season, Tazawa is 1-3 with a 10.13 ERA in six games. Felix Doubront gave the Red Sox a solid start, going 6 1/3 innings and allowing five hits and two runs. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Boston.
Shortstop Stephen Drew, who strained his right hamstring on Friday night, will not need a stint on the 15-day disabled list, according to the team medical staff. Infielder Jonathan Diaz was called up from Triple A Pawtucket and started at third base. To make
room for him on the 25- and 40-man rosters, righthanded reliever Clayton Mortensen was designated for assignment. Brandon Snyder, a journeyman first baseman with limited experience at third base and the outfield, is on the bench along with the light-hitting
Diaz, a career minor leaguer.
Dustin Pedroia is 16 of his last 34 with four extra-base hits. He's up to .325 Jarrod Saltalamacchia has started 12 of the last 14 games behind the plate. After two days off to rest his sore right shoulder, Clay Buchholz played catch before the game.
The Sox are hopeful it's the start of a program that will get him back on the mound within a few weeks. |
