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JAKE PEAVY |
BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
The Red Sox make Jake Peavy
feel right at home
August 3, 2013 ...
As Jake Peavy departed with a two-run lead, one batter into the eighth inning, the 37,941 at Fenway welcomed the Alabama native to his new home with a rousing ovation that followed him off the field. Peavy
responded with a tip of his cap.
The 32-year-old right-hander was brilliant in his Red Sox debut, giving up just four hits and two runs over seven-plus innings against the D-backs as part of a 5-2 win.
Ever since his arrival, Peavy's competitiveness on the mound has been lauded by those who have had a chance to witness it. Today, the Sox saw it first-hand. Peavy shouted into his glove after missing on pitches, and he routinely challenged hitters with his
fastball. Peavy struck out seven and walked two, throwing 99 pitches in his seven-plus innings. He commanded a fastball that topped out at 93 mph and seemed comfortable going to his offspeed pitches deep in counts.
Due to Peavy's poor eyesight, catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia had to wear brightly colored stickers on his fingernails so Peavy could tell the pitches he was calling. It was just part of the adjustment a catcher has to make when a new pitcher comes to town.
The pair met for about a half-hour before the game to talk about strategy, and one start into what the Red Sox hope is many more, there appeared to be chemistry.
If it weren't for Jonny Gomes, Peavy likely wouldn't have earned the win for his efforts. Gomes threw out Cliff Pennington, who represented the game's tying run, at the plate in the eighth inning.
Boston's offense combined for nine hits, eight of which came off Arizona's Cy Young Award contender Patrick Corbin. With a one-run lead in the eighth, Saltalamacchia provided some breathing room with a two-run homer that Uehara caught while warming up in the
right-field bullpen. Shane Victorino also had two RBIs on the night, including a solo home run off Corbin that tied the game in the fifth inning. After six-plus innings of three-run ball, Corbin was handed just his third loss of the year, compared to
12 wins.
Peavy was all smiles after the game with his two sons watching as he took questions from reporters.
With their bullpen in desperate need of a fresh arm after pitching 22 2/3 innings over the previous five games, the Red Sox called up 24-year-old Rubby De La Rosa from Triple A Pawtucket. After resting Thursday, Clay Buchholz started the first day of three
high-intensity throwing sessions Friday, taking long toss and throwing breaking balls on flat ground. Alex Wilson, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list July 9 with a sprained right thumb, is scheduled to throw two innings for Pawtucket on Monday.
Red Sox principal owner John W. Henry, who signed a deal to buy The Boston Globe from the New York Times Co., prevailed over a half-dozen rival bidders. Henry agreed to pay $70 million for the 141-year-old Globe, its websites, and affiliated properties, the
Times Co. said. The deal followed weeks of negotiations that culminated in a marathon session Friday night, with Henry and his lawyers ensconced in his suite at Fenway Park, trading calls and messages with Times Co. officials. |
