|
 |
|
FELIX DOUBRONT |
BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
David Ortiz sets a new
DH record
while Felix Doubront
pitches in a rout
July 10, 2013 ...
Felix Doubront allowed just one run on five hits while striking out six batters over seven strong frames and David Ortiz set a new all-time mark for hits by a designated hitter in the Red Sox's 11-4 romp over the Mariners on at Safeco Field. Ortiz has 420 career home runs, and needs
seven to pass Billy Williams for 47th place all time.
After a couple hiccups early in the season, Doubront (6-3, 3.91 ERA) has given up only three or more earned runs twice in his past 11 starts. With the win, the American League East-leading Red Sox (56-37) improved to 2-1 in the four-game series.
Ortiz led off the second inning with a double to pass Harold Baines and take sole possession of the most hits by a designated hitter with 1,689. After Mike Napoli drew a walk, Daniel Nava was plunked to load the bases. A pair of sacrifice flies by Jarrod
Saltalamacchia and Jose Iglesias scored Ortiz and Napoli to give Boston an early 2-0 lead. Ortiz drove in two more for the Red Sox in the third inning with a thundering home run, scoring Dustin Pedroia from first. It was the slugger's eighth hit in his first
nine plate appearances of the series.
Even while pitching well of late, Doubront has struggled in the early innings. That wasn't a problem for him on Wednesday, as he struck out three of the first four batters he faced.
Jacoby Ellsbury played well after taking two games off with a left wrist injury. He hit a leadoff single in the first and hit a double in the fourth inning, scoring on Shane Victorino's single to give the Red Sox a commanding 5-0 lead. Ellsbury finished 3-for-4 at
the plate, extending his hitting streak to 18 games, the longest active streak in the Majors.
Boston nearly batted around in the sixth, adding four runs. Only a fielder's choice by Brock Holt broke up a parade of singles by Saltalamacchia, Iglesias, Ellsbury and Victorino. Ortiz added a sacrifice fly for good measure. The Red Sox tacked on two
insurance runs in the ninth, as Nava scored on a wild pitch from Tom Wilhelmsen and former Mariner Mike Carp plated Saltalamacchia on a single.
Making his big league debut in relief of Doubront, Brandon Workman allowed three runs in the eighth inning. The right-hander would settle down, as he notched four strikeouts.
The Red Sox optioned rookie righthander Allen Webster back to Pawtucket a day after he allowed seven runs over 21/3 innings. Righthander Alfredo Aceves also was sent back to Pawtucket. Righthanders Pedro Beato and Steven Wright were recalled from
Pawtucket. Righthanded reliever Alex Wilson, who went on the DL Tuesday with a sprained right thumb, has only inflammation and will be shut down for four or five days. David Ross, out with a concussion since June 18, saw a specialist Tuesday. He continues to
improve and could return to the team by the end of the month. |
