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WILL MIDDLEBROOKS |
BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
Middlebrooks & Salty help
win one in Colorado
September 25, 2013 ...
While Todd Helton said good-bye to Rockies fans with a memorable performance in his home finale, the Red Sox stayed focused on their own business and closed in on clinching the best record in the American League.
Backed by a dominant offensive attack, the Sox rolled past the Rockies, 15-5, on Wednesday night at Coors Field.
With three games left in the regular season, the Red Sox (96-63) lead the Athletics by two games in the quest for home-field advantage throughout the postseason. The Athletics lost and then the Sox took full advantage, pounding the Colorado Rockies.
While Helton (2-for-3, homer, double, three RBIs) gave Rockies fans one last reminder of how gifted a hitter he's been over the last 17 years, the Red Sox got offense from all over the lineup. There were plenty of standout performers, led by
Will Middlebrooks, who belted two homers, including a grand slam, and had a career-high seven RBIs. Middlebrooks has stayed the course, even after a near two-month demotion to
Triple-A and a recent slump. He feels primed to help the Red Sox in whatever way he can down the stretch. One player who just keeps helping the Red Sox win is Jarrod Saltalamacchia,
who went 4-for-5, scored twice and drove in three. The same goes for Shane Victorino, who ripped a three-run homer and had three hits.
Jake Peavy turned in a so-so performance from the mound, giving up eight hits and five runs over six innings. But it was good enough to get the win, and Peavy aided his own cause with a
double that led to a three-run rally. Peavy lasted 110 pitches. Giving up five runs on eight hits and four walks over his six innings wasn't pretty. But on a night when the Red Sox were piling up runs, it was effective. Junichi Tazawa started the
seventh inning and allowed a one-out single by Cuddyer. Lefthander Franklin Morales, in what looked like a test to gauge his readiness for the postseason roster, was called in.
The Red Sox have made finishing with the best record in the American League a goal because of the advantages it brings in the postseason. But manager John Farrell is balancing that with the need to rest some key players.
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TODD HELTON |
The start of the game was delayed for 12 minutes as the Rockies honored first baseman Todd Helton, who will retire at the end of the season. Helton has played 2,244 games for the Rockies, 1,074 more than second-place Larry Walker. He also leads the franchise
in runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, and walks.
After a highlight video, Helton was introduced to the crowd and tipped his cap to all corners of Coors Field before catching a first pitch thrown by one of his daughters, Tierney Faith. The Rockies then presented Helton with a horse for his ranch. The horse,
named A Tru Bustamove, is a champion American Paint Horse. Helton took the lineup card out to home plate. When the Rockies ran out on the field, they held back and Helton went to first base alone. |
