Red Sox Give Beating Right Back In Nightcap Of Double-Header
The story heading into tonight’s nightcap against the Angels was Clay Buchholz and his marvelous start to the 2013 season. That trend continued tonight as Buchholz (8-0, 1.62) faced off against CJ Wilson (4-4, 3.93) just hours after the Angels had ousted the Red Sox 9-5. The game got off to a good start for the Red Sox, as they scored in the first two innings, and they never really looked back. An all-around good effort pushed the Red Sox to 38-25 and kept them in first place by a solid 1.5 games in the AL East.
Shane Victorino, making his first start back from the 15-day DL, started off the game with a single to left. He was promptly scored on a double by Jonny Gomes, who rushed across the plate himself to make it 2-0 on a double from Dustin Pedroia. That would be all for the first inning, but the Red Sox kept touching Wilson up in the second inning. After a pair of groundouts to start the frame, a single by Jonny Gomes and a walk to Dustin Pedroia set the Red Sox up for another rally. David Ortiz pushed another run across the plate with a double to make it 3-0, and give Buchholz all the run support he would need.
May 6, 2013; Boston, MA USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Clay Buchholz (11) pitches during the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Buchholz pitched very well yet again for the Red Sox, as he wound up going 6.2 innings, allowing 2 earned runs on 6 hits and 1 walk while punching out 4 batters. Buchholz earned the win to push his record to an American League-leading 9-0 and raised his ERA to a similarly American League-leading 1.71 mark on the season. His only blemishes were single runs in the third and sixth innings, as he continues his remarkable season.
Even after those three runs the Red Sox put up early on, however, they were far from done. Mike Napoli singled with one out in the fifth, and reached second base on a throwing error by third baseman Alberto Callaspo. Napoli would score on a soft single off the bat of David Ross. The biggest offensive outburst of the night came in the sixth inning, however.
Jose Iglesias knocked out an infield single to start the inning, and advanced to second on an error on an attempted pickoff, then to third on a passed ball. He would score on a soft line drive through the hole and into right field by Dustin Pedroia. That would push the score to 5-2, and the final runs of the night came across on a monster home run to right field by David Ortiz. It was a feel good win, and with another tomorrow, the Red Sox will take the series and have some momentum heading in against a very hot team in Tampa Bay.