Jul 9, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman
Dustin Pedroia(15) celebrates as right fielder
Daniel Nava(29) scores the winning run against the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
This season’s rookie debut game on July 9th ended in dramatic fashion with a nine-inning, 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox at Fenway.
This was a big day of transition for the roster: The team designated A.J. Pierzynski for assignment and, for the first time since 1952, five rookies appeared in the starting lineup.
And those young guys were crucial to this win.
Behind 4-0 in the eighth, Mookie Betts kicked off a three-run rally with his second double of the game. The bullpen duo of Junichi Tazawa and Koji Uehara held the White Sox to a scoreless eighth and ninth, allowing Brock Holt the opportunity to crush a single to right field to drive in Daniel Nava from second base.
The surge of youth that began in this game shifted the tone of this season, and the exciting contributions from Betts and Holt, along with Christian Vazquez, Xander Bogaerts, and Jackie Bradley Jr., provide hope for the future of the team.