Peavy Dominates, Bats Heat Up, Sox Win 8-1

Jake Peavy absolutely dominated the Dodgers in LA Sunday night. The Red Sox bats were on fire and they won the series.

Aug 25, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jake Peavy (44) throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

In the first inning the Sox had a huge opportunity to start the game off on an awesome foot. Mike Napoli‘s ground-rule double scored Shane Victorino. The bases were loaded with Dustin Pedroia, Victorino, and Jonny Gomes when Will Middlebrooks came to bat. The third baseman, batting only .224 and looking to make a permanent home for himself in the big leagues, proceeded to ground into a double play. In the second inning, Jacoby Ellsbury showed off his legs and made it to first for a single that would have been an out for most other players. He proceeded to steal second, advance to third on a sacrifice bunt by Victorino, and then score on a sacrifice fly by Pedroia. In the fourth inning Xander Bogaerts doubled and scored Middlebrooks thanks to Will’s wheels and a slight flub by center fielder  Skip Schumaker.

Leading 3-0, the first hit Peavy allowed was a solo home run by Adrian Gonzalez in the fourth. Peavy also gave up singles in the fifth and sixth.

Peavy received even more run support when Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a home run with Napoli on base in the sixth inning and Victorino blasted a solo shot in the seventh. Napoli homered in the 9th inning with Pedroia on base. (Does Lackey sit in the dug out wondering to himself why everyone else gets run support but he doesn’t?)

Just as he had been in the first, second, and third innings, Peavy was lights-out again in the seventh, eighth, and ninth. His final line was an extremely impressive 9 innings, 3 hits, 1 earned run, 1 walk, and 5 strike outs. And he did it all in 111 pitches! This was Peavy’s 15th career complete game, his first with the Sox. He is now 10-5 with 3.99 ERA

The Yankees did the Red Sox a favor by beating the red-hot Rays. Boston is now one whole game ahead in the AL East standings.