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BRANDON WORKMAN |
BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
Three homers give
Brandon Workman his first win
July 30, 2013 ...
Brandon Workman pitched effectively again for the Red Sox, earning his first Major League win in his third start. With the win, the Red Sox remained a half-game behind the torrid Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East.
This was Workman's third start since July 14, and he's been solid each time out, giving up two runs or fewer in six-plus innings all three times. Workman ended his night in resounding fashion, getting out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the sixth by
striking out Michael Morse and Justin Smoak. Workman scattered six hits over six innings, giving up one run. He walked one while notching a career-high nine strikeouts. His body of work, though brief, has been impressive. Workman became the fifth
pitcher since 1980 to open his Red Sox career with three straight starts of six-plus innings and three earned runs or fewer. The others? Tim Wakefield, Pedro Martinez, Hideo Nomo and Josh Beckett.
The Red Sox provided Workman with plenty of offense. Dustin Pedroia snapped an 0-for-16 with two hits, including a homer. Shane Victorino went 3-for-3 and Jarrod Saltalamacchia belted a two-run homer, his first since June 9.
The Mariners struck for a brief lead in the top of the first, when Kendrys Morales came through with a two-out RBI single. However, lefty Joe Saunders couldn't keep the momentum on his side. In Boston's half of the first, Victorino belted a one-out double to
left. Pedroia reached on an error by shortstop Brad Miller. A passed ball by Henry Blanco allowed Victorino to score. That gave David Ortiz a chance, and he came through with an RBI single to left to give Workman a 2-1 lead.
Jacoby Ellsbury roped a solo homer to right with one out in the second. Victorino followed with a single and that set up Pedroia, who ripped a two-run homer over the Monster. Pedroia came through again in the fourth with an RBI single, putting the Sox up,
6-1.
Shane Victorino was 3 for 4 with two doubles and scored three runs. Pedroia, who was 3 for 39 in the previous 10 games, was 2 for 4. Craig Breslow, Matt Thornton, and Pedro Beato closed the game out for the Sox, who start a 16-game stretch against the
Mariners, Diamondbacks, Astros, Royals, and Blue Jays.
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ROGER CLEMENS |
Workman was excited when he learned Roger Clemens would be at Fenway Park on Tuesday night to take part in a pregame ceremony to honor former manager Joe Morgan. Workman was a senior at Bowie (Texas) High when Clemens pitched his final season in the majors. Like
Clemens, Workman then pitched for the University of Texas before the Sox picked him in the second round of the 2010 draft.
Lefthander Andrew Miller has been back around the team after undergoing season-ending surgery on his left foot. Doctors have said he should be recovered in time for spring training. Miller faces a long rehab. He is in a non-weight-bearing cast now and will
graduate to a walking boot in a few weeks. Eventually a second surgery will be required to remove a long screw from his foot. Reports were positive on lefty reliever Franklin Morales, who started a minor league rehab assignment with Triple A Pawtucket on
Monday and struck out the three batters he faced. |
