Dustin Pedroia’s two-run homer in the bottom of the 8th inning was the difference as the Boston Red Sox went on to a 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in front of 38,228 at Fenway Park in game 1 of a day/night doubleheader.
Pinch-hitting for Nick Green, David Ortiz got things going in the bottom of the 8th with a leadoff double off of Matt Garza. Joey Gathright pinch-ran for Big Papi and went to third on a Jacoby Ellsbury sacrifice bunt. Pedroia then took a pitch from Garza and drove it the opposite field into the Red Sox bullpen for a 2-run homer.
Jonathan Papelbon worked around a 1-out single by Akinori Iwamura and struck out the side to pick up his 36th save of the season in the 9th.
It’s the fourth straight win for the Red Sox as they improve to 83-58 on the season. For the Rays, it’s their tenth straight loss and fall to 72-70.
The New York Yankees are currently playing the Baltimore Orioles and the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners will attempt to play their doubleheader later in Arlington, TX.
It was a pitcher’s duel for most of the game between Clay Buchholz and Garza.
Buchholz was at his best once again as he held the Rays hitless for 3 2/3 innings. His changeup was nasty again and he had good command and location with all of his pitches. He allowed one run on five hits over seven innings with three walks and recorded five strikeouts.
Hideki Okajima was perfect out of the Red Sox bullpen in the 8th as he set the side down in order.
Garza went 7 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on nine hits with eight strikeouts. He didn’t walk anyone and threw 118 pitches.
Besides the 2-run homer, Pedroia also doubled. Victor Martinez had two hits and an RBI and also made a great defensive play in the 7th when he blocked the plate to prevent a second run from scoring. Jacoby Ellsbury, Casey Kotchman, Rocco Baldelli, Josh Reddick and Ortiz had the other hits on the afternoon for the local nine.
These same two teams will be back on the field at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon in game 2 of the doubleheader. James Shields will start for the Rays and he’ll be opposed by Jon Lester.
