Better Late Than Never As Red Sox Bats Are Tardy in 5-1 Win
The Red Sox bats finally awoke from their June evening slumber and got to the Blue Jays bullpen in what turned out to be a 5-1 victory. Through the first five innings the Sox could only muster up two hits off of Blue Jays starter Aaron Laffey, but they got to their bullpen and tacked on five runs when they needed it most, proving the game ain’t over til it’s over.
Once again it was the catcher and deserved all-star Jarrod Saltalamacchia who started the rally in the seventh with a solo shot to left field to knot the game at one. After a Ryan Kalish double, Daniel Nava getting hit by a pitch and a Mike Aviles walk, Dustin Pedroia reinforced to every doubter that he was no longer slumping by ripping a two run single to put the Sox ahead 3-1.
Boston would put two more on the board in the bottom half of the eighth thanks to doubles by David Ortiz and Adrian Gonzalez, followed by a sac fly from Will Middlebrooks, making it a 5-1 ballgame in what would be the final score.
Not to be outdone by the offensive outburst in the late innings is the superb outing by starter Daisuke Matsuzaka. After working his way out of a first inning jam that looked like he might revert to the Dice-K of last season, he only allowed one run and settled down after that. His final line of 5.2 IP, 6 hits and just the 1 earned run while walking 1 and striking out 5 was a relief for Red Sox fans as the rotation has suddenly become a question mark again.
The bullpen again stiffled the opposing bats thanks to a combination that included Scott Atchison, Andrew Miller, Vicente Padilla and Alfredo Aceves who pitched 3.1 innings and only gave up one hit between the four of them. The pen has been the steady bright spot on this team all year and tonight was no different.
Hats off to Bobby Valentine as he has done a brilliant job managing the bullpen this season. It seems no matter what reliever he brings out in the last two months, they do their job quickly and quietly, all the while holding the opposition at bay.
The series finale and rubber match will be a 1:35 start on Wedensday that sees Jon Lester (4-5, 4.48 ERA) take on the Jays stud Ricky Romero (8-1, 4.34 ERA). Should be a doozy.