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Bats Start Swinging, Sox Sweep Rays
ProBaseball-fans.com Boston Red Sox Correspondent Dan Warner brings us his latest update on the defending World Series Champion Boston Red Sox.
The defending World Series Champion Boston Red Sox picked up the offense over the weekend, scoring at least seven runs in every game. Boston scored a combined 26 runs in the series, and swept the Tampa Bay Rays out of Boston to end their home stand.
The first game of the three-game-set featured two young studs for each team, Clay Buchholz for Boston, and Edwin Jackson for Tampa Bay. Dustin Pedroia notched three RBI’s for the Sox, whose offensive woes came to an end in this one. Boston had been hitting .153 over the previous five games. The Sox would go on to cruise to the 7-3 victory. Buchholz (2-2) allowed one run on five hits over five and a third innings to get the win. Jackson (2-3) gave up six runs on nine hits over four innings of work in the loss.
Game two was a slugfest with 16 total runs being scored. Josh Beckett got the start for the Sox, with James Shields on the mound for the Rays. Sox captain Jason Varitek drove in three runs for the BoSox, with David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia each grabbing three hits. Boston went on to cruise to the 12-4 victory to move to 19-13 on the young season. Beckett (3-2) collected the win for the sox allowing four runs on seven hits over eight innings. Shields (3-2), who had a great game against Boston last time out, took the loss going three and two-thirds innings allowing seven runs on twelve hits.
The final game of the series saw Jon Lester take the ball for Boston, and Scott Kazmir saw his first action of the season for Tampa Bay after recovering from an injury. This game went a lot like the rest, with Kevin Youkilis hitting a home run and collecting four RBI’s in the 7-3 victory. Lester (2-2) got the win for Boston, and Kazmir (0-1) suffered his first loss of the season. Jonathan Papelbon (9) got the save for the Sox.
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Boston will now head on the road to Detroit to take on the Tigers. Matsuzaka, Wakefield, and Buchholz are expected to see time on the mound for the Red Sox, while Bonderman, Robertson, and Galarraga should start for the Tigers. The Sox will look to keep the bats hot and the pitching strong.
Red Sox Notes: OF Jacoby Ellsbury was in the lineup for game one after missing three games with a sore groin. RHP Bartolo Colon is scheduled to move up to AAA Pawtucket soon. OF J.D. Drew was back in the lineup in game two after missing three straight games with a tight quadriceps. INF Alex Cora took batting practice over the weekend, a promising sign for someone who was on the 15-day DL. OF Brandon Moss received an appendectomy over the weekend. 1B David Ortiz was off the roster for the last game of the series with tightness in his right knee. Boston has taken 26 of 28 series against the Rays all-time.
By Dan Warner
ProBaseball-fans.com Red Sox Correspondent
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