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BROCK HOLT |
ONE LAST RUN FOR A
RED SOX LEGEND -
FROM SEASON CHAMPS TO PLAYOFF CHUMPS
Rick Porcello buckles
down while
Brock Holt and the offense comes alive
July
4, 2016 ... Brock Holt is back and his value
to the Sox has not changed. In a game chock full of hits, Holt had
the biggest one. His two-run homer in the third inning gave the Red
Sox the lead and eventually a 12-5 victory against the Texas Rangers.
Down 4-0 in the first inning,
the Sox responded with a season-high 21 hits and
won for the third time in four games. Thirteen of
the hits were for extra bases, including home runs
by Holt, Mookie Betts, Dustin Pedroia, and Travis
Shaw.
Holt’s home run came with one out in the third inning off
Nick Martinez. Holt lined a slider to right field and the ball hit the top of
the low wall in front of the Red Sox bullpen and bounced over.
Reliever Robbie Ross Jr. popped off the bench and deftly
caught the ball in his hat before it hit the ground. He had to dodge around a
security worker to make the play.
With the Sox up, 5-4, in the top of the fourth inning,
Shin-Soo Choo doubled for Texas. He tried to score when Ian Desmond singled to
left field, but Holt made a strong, accurate throw and catcher Sandy Leon tagged
Choo to end the inning.
It’s not happenstance that the 45-37 Sox are 24-9 with Holt
in the lineup this season. A concussion was Holt’s second in a span of 20 months
and the team was understandably cautious in bringing him back because of
lingering symptoms. He is 5 of 13 in three games since with three extra-base
hits, three RBIs, five runs, and two outfield assists.
The bottom third of the order (Holt, Travis Shaw and Sandy Leon) contributed
eight hits and four RBIs. Leon was 4 for 5 with three doubles. He is 20 of 40
with nine extra-base hits and nine RBIs, remarkable for a player who came into
this season with six extra-base hits and eight RBIs in 75 previous major league
games.
Sox starter Rick Porcello allowed four runs in the first inning. With a runner
on second and two outs, he gave up four consecutive singles. But the
right-hander locked down the Rangers from there and went six innings.
The Red Sox scored in three innings while Porcello was on
the mound and, each time, he came back in the top of the next inning and kept
the Rangers off the scoreboard. With only three relievers available in the
bullpen, Porcello was going to throw 100 pitches regardless. That he lasted six
innings won his teammate’s admiration. Porcello (10-2) is the fourth pitcher in
the majors to give up 12 hits and still earn a win this season.
With the Sox up, 9-4, in the eighth inning, Koji Uehara
allowed a home run by Rougned Odor. When Elvis Andrus doubled, Farrell went to
Ross. With his hat on his head this time, Ross retired five of the six batters
he faced. |
