Red Sox - 020 005 201 - 10 13 1 White Sox - 101 010 000 - 3 6 0Bard (7-6-3-1-6, 96) went seven strong innings and Darnell McDonald broke the game open with a three-run double in the sixth inning. The Microwave also homered in the ninth. Boston (9-10) has won five consecutive games.
The Red Sox trailed 3-2 when they batted in the sixth. With one out, Adrian Gonzalez walked and took second on a wild pitch. Kevin Youkilis walked and David Ortiz (who hit a two-run dong in the second) singled to load the bases. Cody Ross singled in a run to tie at 3-3. After Kelly Shoppach struck out, McDonald cleared the bases with a line drive into the left field corner. Marlon Byrd then singled McDonald home.
Ross and Shoppach had RBI singles in the seventh.
Bard had thrown 58 pitches through the first three innings (19-17-22), but then pitched economically, throwing only 38 over the next four frames (10-11-5-12). He allowed two doubles and a walk in the first and was victimized by a throwing error, a wind-blown pop-up single and a passed ball in the third. Paul Konerko homered on a 3-0 pitch in the fifth.
Matt Albers pitched the final two innings, retiring all six batters he faced on 18 pitches. Since that dismal game against the Yankees, the bullpen has been nearly perfect, allowing only one run in its last 13.2 innings, walking two and striking out 11.
The Justin Thomas Era appears to be over (for now, at least). He has been sent down to Pawtucket to make room for fellow lefty Rich Hill, who underwent TJ surgery last June.
In nine rehab innings in Greenville (A), Salem (High-A), and Pawtucket (AAA), Hill walked two, allowed two runs, and struck out 18.
Aviles, SS
ReplyDeletePedroia, 2B
Gonzalez, 1B
Youkilis, 3B
Ortiz, DH
Ross, RF
Shoppach, C
McDonald, LF
Byrd, CF