Red Sox outlast White Sox in 14 behind Bradley’s two-run double
By Sean Sylver
Apr 3, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder
Jackie Bradley, Jr (25) is congratulated by
Jonny Gomes(5) after scoring in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Jackie Bradley’s two-run double in the 14th inning double broke the ice for the Boston Red Sox as they prevailed 6-4 over the Chicago White Sox on another cold April night at U.S. Cellular Field. The game took five hours and 14 minutes to play and featured 16 different pitchers (the White Sox used nine). Utility infielder Leury Garcia (0-1) was on the hill for the ChiSox when Bradley plated Daniel Nava and Jonathan Herrera with the winning runs.
Manager Robin Ventura could not have been happy with the generosity of Chicago’s pitching staff as they handed out 15 walks, but the Red Sox repeatedly failed to capitalize and trailed 3-1 going into the eighth. Boston scratched runs across on sacrifice flies by A.J. Pierzynski in the eighth, Grady Sizemore in the ninth, and Jonny Gomes in the 11th as the offense only managed six hits on the night.
Yesterday I wrote that Clay Buchholz needed to shut down the White Sox, as Boston’s scuffling offense wasn’t exactly poised to give him the support to grab a win on the road. The righty tossed a quality start but left trailing, as Alexei Ramirez took him deep with two out in the sixth, the last frame of work for Buchholz on the evening.
The Red Sox bullpen should be applauded for holding Chicago to one run over the final eight frames. Craig Breslow and Andrew Miller were particularly impressive, combining for five strikeouts. While Edward Mujica blew the save in the 11th, Chris Capuano (1-0) chipped in 2 and 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for the win and is still unscored upon through seven appearances totaling nine innings. Burke Badenhop eventually nabbed the save, pitching to one batter in the bottom of the 14th. The Red Sox improved to 6-9 on the season.
The Red Sox send Jon Lester (1-2) to the mound Thursday night to counter Chicago’s Chris Sale in a battle of lefty aces at 8:10 pm with the series on the line.