Pedroia’s “BLAST” Wins Game 1 For Red Sox!

What’s the first step in sweeping a doubleheader in MLB?  First and foremost it’s by winning game one, which is exactly what the Boston Red Sox did on this afternoon.  As they took Game 1 of their doubleheader with the Tampa Bay Rays, by a 3-1 score.  The first game of the twin bill featured a pitching showdown on the mound with Clay Buchholz (Red Sox) and Matt Garza (Rays).  As both starters dominated the oppositition while keeping their own team in the ballgame.

With the game knotted up at 1-1 in the eighth and Joey Gathright standing on third base for Boston, representing the go ahead run.  The Sox someone or something special to guide them to a victory.  Luckily enough for them and Red Sox Nation, they wouldn’t have to wait long, for an answer.  As up to the plate came Dustin Pedroia, who’s also known as the “The Little Horse” by his fellow teammates.  Since it was Pedroia who made  it possible for the local papers to lead with this headline Pedroia’s “BLAST” wins Game 1 for Red Sox! 

As he took a 2-0 fastball from Garza and quickly deposited it deep into the Red Sox bullpen area in right-field.  Putting the Red Sox ahead once and for all at 3-1.  After the Sox took the lead on Pedroia’s 13thhome run of the year in the eighth.  The only piece of the puzzle which was left, was for Boston to hand the ball to their closer Jonathan Papelbon.  And allow him to work his magic and slam the door shut on the Rays, in the ninth. 

Which is exactly what Papelbon did, as he struck out the Rays in the top of the ninth.  While doing so not only did Papelbon gain his 36th save on the season, more importantly he saved the game for Hideki Okajima.  Okajima who entered the game in relief of Buchholzin the eighth, upped his record to 6-0 on the season.  As he only needed 13 pitches to dispose of the Rays en-route to the victory.