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ALFONSO SORIANO |
BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
Soriano powers the Yankees
past the Red Sox
August 16, 2013 ...
Outplayed by the Yankees in all facets of the game, the Red Sox suffered a 10-3 loss in the opener of a three-game series between the rivals. At least judging from this one night, it was hard to believe the Red Sox
were the team that has led the American League East for most of the season, while the fourth-place Yankees, even after this win, still trail by 7 1/2 games. The Red Sox pitched poorly, played sloppy defense, and ran the bases with little regard for common sense.
Coming in, the Sox liked their chances with lefty Felix Doubront on the mound. All six of his previous career starts against the Yankees were quality starts. But this one wasn't
even close. The lefty was pounded for eight hits and seven runs (six earned) over four innings. He walked two, struck out four and finally saw his streak of starts giving up three earned runs or less end at 16.
Alfonso Soriano, who has been hitting at a torrid pace after being re-acquired by the Yankees before the non-waiver Trade Deadline, went 3-for-4 with four RBIs. He is 13-for-18 with 18
RBIs and five homers in his last four games. The Yankees controlled the game from the outset. An infield hit by Soriano off the glove of shortstop Stephen Drew made it a 1-0 game in
the top of the first. The Fenway faithful did have one satisfying moment in that inning as Alex Rodriguez, who was booed lustily in his first at-bat in Boston this season, lined into a
double play. Mark Reynolds, taking his first at-bat as a Yankee, pummeled a two-run homer to left in the top of the second to make it 3-0.
Things worsened for Doubront in the third. Eduardo Nunez led off with a single, and Robinson Cano reached on
an error by Drew. Up stepped Soriano, and he unloaded for a three-run homer to left. In this one, the Sox committed three errors and had three runners thrown out on the bases. A triple by Brett Gardner and an RBI single by Cano made it 7-0 in favor of New York in the top of the fourth.
The Red Sox finally got a run against Andy Pettitte in the fourth on an RBI single by Jonny Gomes. But Gomes
was then picked off first to end the inning. There was a rally in the seventh, as Ortiz and Jarrod Saltalamacchia came through with RBI singles to slice the deficit to 7-3. But
Mike Carp struck out to end the threat, and was ejected after slamming his helmet to the ground. Carp thought he had been hit by a pitch earlier in the at-bat, but home-plate umpire Bill
Welke disagreed. Another rally was thwarted in the eighth. With two on and one out, Ortiz hit a line drive that A-Rod snagged and fired to second to double off Shane Victorino.
The Yankees tacked on three runs in the ninth off lefty Drake Britton, with Ichiro Suzuki, Reynolds and
Chris Stewart each tallying an RBI single.
Shane Victorino, who has one hit in his last 18 at-bats, was removed after the eighth inning, just as a precaution with his left hamstring, according to John Farrell. Stephen Drew had two more hits and is hitting .355 with nine RBIs in his last 16 games.
Rubby De La Rosa made his Fenway debut in the fifth inning. He put three runners on base over 2 1/3 innings but did not allow any runs.
Hold on tight. The Sox have lost three straight, four of five, and six of their last eight games. They now lead the division by one game on the Rays, who beat Toronto. Beyond wins and losses, the level of play has been well below the standard set earlier in
the season. The Sox have scored only 14 runs in their last five games, going 10 for 48 with runners in scoring position.
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JERRY REMY |
NESN analyst Jerry Remy did not work Friday night's game against the Yankees following the arrest of his son for murder. Jared Remy, was arrested by Waltham police, who were called to his townhouse in Waltham, where they found Remy covered in blood and
Jennifer Martel, his girlfriend, slashed to death beside a pink tricycle and other toys on their patio.
Alex Rodriguez denied reports that he purchased and leaked documents that implicated Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun and his Yankees teammate Francisco Cervelli in Major League Baseball's most recent performance-enhancing scandal. Rodriguez, who is
currently appealing a 211-game suspension levied by Major League Baseball, said he wasn't surprised by the latest development in a saga that has cast a pall over the Yankees. |
