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A TEAM THAT COULDN'T
GET THE JOB DONE ...
JBJ leads the Sox in a comeback victory
June 9, 2017 ...
Jackie Bradley Jr has been putting together a string of quality
at-bats, none more crucial than his last in tonight’s win over the
Tigers, when he had a seven-pitch battle with Alex Wilson with the
game tied in the eighth inning. He fouled off
four pitches before finally blasting a two-run shot into the right field
bleachers for the go-ahead home run that helped pushed the Sox to a 5-3. It was
his eighth homer of the year, the first of his career that gave the Sox a lead
after the eighth inning, and it continued a run in which Bradley’s bat’s started
to heat up.
Four of his eight homers have come in the past six games,
six have come over the past three weeks. Over the past 21 games, Bradley’s
hitting .286 with six homers. But the most telling numbers have been his 14
walks compared to 15 strikeouts.
A right knee injury hindered him early in the season,
putting him on the disabled list and forcing him to wear a knee brace
temporarily. He fueled a Sox offense that put up 11 hits.
Mitch Moreland went 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs,
Xander Bogaerts went 2 for 4, and Mookie Betts went 2 for 3 to help the Sox open
a five-game homestead with a win. The Sox are now 12-6 in their past 18 games.
Making his third spot start of the season, Brian Johnson
gave the Sox 4 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on eight hits.
Dustin Pedroia was off the disabled list and back at second
base after missing the past nine games with a sprained left wrist. Pablo
Sandoval was at third base. The batting order may have been tweaked, but the
pieces they had on the field for their series opener against the Detroit Tigers
on Friday was the closest to their Opening Day lineup since April.
The Sox bullpen made Bradley’s heroics count for something,
delivering 4 2/3 scoreless innings. Heath Hembree, Joe Kelly, Matt Barnes, and
Craig Kimbrel allowed only three hits and a walk and fanned eight. Kimbrel
turned in another 1-2-3 outing, striking out two to earn his 18th save. |
