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BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
The Red Sox unleash their
bats against the Giants
August 21, 2013 ...
Backed by a batting barrage and a surgical pitching performance by lefty Felix Doubront, the Red Sox rolled to a 12-1 victory in the rubber match
of a three-game series against the Giants.
Doubront (9-6) set just the type of tone his team needed, firing eight strong innings. He allowed five hits and a run, walking one and striking out three.
The offense came from all over the lineup, but started at the top with Jacoby Ellsbury, who belted three hits and stole a base. Shane Victorino ripped three hits from the No. 2 spot. And third-place hitter Dustin Pedroia belted three hits, including two doubles, giving
Boston's 1-2-3 spots in the order an 8-for-13 afternoon. But it didn't stop there. Stephen Drew hammered a three-run homer. Will Middlebrooks put Boston up early with a two-run shot. Middlebrooks returned to the Sox Aug. 10. He is 15 of 34 (.441) since with three doubles, two home runs, and seven RBIs. He has struck out only seven
times while drawing six walks.
The Sox did more damage against Barry Zito in the third. Ellsbury led off with a single to right and stole second. Victorino reached on a bunt single. Pedroia followed
with an RBI double into the corner in left. Jonny Gomes blooped a two-run single to left and just like that, the Sox had a 5-1 lead. The Red Sox broke it open with a five-spot in
the seventh, fueled by a two-run single by Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Drew's three-run rocket to right.
David Ortiz, who has been bothered by some general soreness, particularly in his lower back, was replaced by Mike
Napoli in the bottom of the fifth. And Middlebrooks was moved from third base to second base for the final three innings. From what Middlebrooks could remember, it was the first time he's played second base in his life. He was a shortstop in high
school. When the Red Sox recalled prospect Xander Bogaerts and sent Brock Holt back to the minors, it left the club without a backup second baseman.
For the Red Sox, getaway day wound up being a highly successful mission.
Shane Victorino is 11 for his last 22 with four extra-base hits and three RBIs. He's up to .290 on the season. It was "Jonny Gomes Day" in his hometown of Petaluma, about an hour north of San Francisco. "With Jonny Gomes, you either love him or you love
him," Petaluma mayor David Glass told Petaluma Patch. The mayor and a busload of Gomes fans had seats along the left-field line. Gomes was 1 for 3 with a walk and two RBIs. Mike Napoli was out of the starting lineup for the fifth consecutive game. The first
baseman is dealing with plantar
fascistic in his left foot. |
