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JONNY GOMES AGAIN |
BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
Jonny Gomes delivers again with
a walk-off homer in the ninth
July 3, 2013 ...
It was Jonny Gomes again at home plate, mobbed by 24 teammates after his walk-off shot over the Green Monster led the surging Red Sox to a 2-1 victory over the Padres. If it seems like Gomes keeps coming through in the clutch, it's because he has.
This hit came just 15 days after Gomes finished off the Rays with a walk-off blast over the Monster. And just five days after Gomes snapped a tie against the Blue Jays with a pinch-hit RBI single. It was the third pinch-hit homer for Gomes this season, and
the sixth of his career. You'd have to go back to Bernie Carbo in 1977 to find the last Red Sox player to have three pinch-hit homers in one season.
That flair for the dramatic has become a team-wide thing for the Red Sox. Of their 30 wins at home, eight have come via the walk off. This game-winning blast came against Padres right-hander Luke Gregerson on a 2-2 slider.
When Gomes finished off the Rays with that walk-off shot on June 18, he punted his helmet before he got to home plate. This time, Gomes faked the punt and then made like a running back, sprinting into a mob of congratulatory teammates.
This was also Jon Lester's best start in weeks. Over seven innings, the lefty scattered six hits and gave up just one run, walking one and striking out five. Despite the strong performance, Lester took a no-decision, as the Red Sox were locked in a 1-1 tie
when he departed. Lester battled in the first inning, throwing 32 pitches. But the Padres only got one run for their trouble, and it came on an RBI single by Kyle Blanks.
By the end of the night, the biggest moment belonged to Gomes. |
