With the Boston Red Sox starting a five-game road trip that is part of eleven road games in thirteen days, it was imperative that they got off to a good start in Detroit against the Tigers at Comerica Park. They would need a better start from Clay Buchholz than he had given them his last two times out.
While Buchholz did have a little bit of command issues in the 1st inning and again in the 7th inning, he did his job as he allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings in the Red Sox 7-2 win. Of course it helps when he was given a 5-0 lead before even taking the mound.
Home runs from Dustin Pedroia (2-run HR) and David Ortiz (3-run HR) in the top of the 1st gave the Red Sox the 5-0 lead. Ortiz would add a second home run (a solo shot) and Bill Hall had a pinch-hit solo home run in the 9th.
Now I’ve been super critical of Big Papi over the course of the season. While I didn’t exactly come out and say that I thought he would released if things didn’t start to pick up for him, I did agree with some of the national writers saying he would be released sooner rather than later.
After watching his performance on Friday night, I think we can put tuck that talk in, read it a bedtime story and put it to bed. If you watch Big Papi’s first home run, don’t look at the distance it went (estimated 450 feet). Rather look it at the swing he took. On the previous pitch from Max Scherzer before the 3-run blast, he just missed it and fouled it off.
He didn’t make that mistake a second time though as he has in past at-bats this season.This time around, he absolutely crushed it. It was vintage Papi and his second home run was more of the same as Scherzer tried to go inside with a fastball only to watch Ortiz hit it 394 feet into the right field seats.
Papi’s bat heating up couldn’t have come at a better time. Now if the starting pitching can continue what it’s been doing lately, things could be looking on the up-and-up for the Red Sox.
Speaking of starting pitching, Josh Beckett, who is celebrating his 30th birthday today, worked out his achy, breaky bat and deemed himself ready to make a start on Tuesday. He’s been penciled in for the start against the Yankees and they’ll wait to see how he feels in the morning and then again after throwing a side session this afternoon.
Hopefully this time off will have allowed Beckett to clear his mind and focus on turning his dismal start to 2010 around.
We’ll be back later with tonight’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day but for now enjoy the overnight links.
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Things We Learned: Softball slugging is working for Red Sox [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Rejuvenated Ortiz (two HRs) takes Sox for a ride [Boston Globe]
Damon still valued presence [Boston Globe]
From a sorry state to many apologies [Boston Globe]
Beckett gets back at it [Boston Globe]
David Ortiz turns it on [Boston Herald]
David Ortiz heats up [Boston Herald]
Josh Beckett upbeat [Boston Herald]
Johnny Damon at ease away from hyped AL East [Boston Herald]
Ortiz, Sox label Detroit, 7-2 [CSN New England]
Buchholz on cruise control [ESPN Boston]
Papi’s power surge continues [ESPN Boston]
Closing Time: Red Sox 7, Tigers 2 [Full Count]
Ortiz [Hit and Run with Dan Roche]
Red Sox Lefty Prospect Felix Doubront Improves to 3-0 With Sea Dogs [NESN.com]
David Ortiz Continues Hot Streak With Two Titanic Blasts in Win Over Tigers [NESN.com]
Terry Francona Enjoying Hot Bat of David Ortiz [NESN.com]
Ortiz homers twice, backing solid start by Buchholz [Providence Journal]
Increased confidence gives Buchholz the edge [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: Beckett on track to face Yankees [Providence Journal]
Francona fondly recalls Harwell [RedSox.com]
Cameron could be back Monday [RedSox.com]
Beckett aiming to face Yanks on Tuesday [RedSox.com]
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal and WEEI websites.
And if you must see what the enemy papers are saying, head over to the Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News and MLive.com websites. You can also check out what our Bloguin brother, Detroit4lyfe, has to say.
