On April 20, 2007, the Boston Red Sox connected for four consecutive home runs off of New York Yankees pitcher Chase Wright. Today during a spring training game, they hit four consecutive home runs off of Detroit Tigers pitcher Brandon Lyon in a 7-6 win at City of Palms Park.
Mike Lowell got the party started, followed by Jason Bay and Chris Carter. Ivan Ochoa, who had entered the game for Jed Lowrie, provided the final part of the back-to-back-to back-to-back home runs.
Carter led the way for the Sox today with 3 hits. David Ortiz went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and Dusty Brown knocked in a pair runs. Dustin Pedroia walked twice in his 3 plate appearances and also stole a base before being lifted for a pinch-runner.
The four straight home runs overshadowed the Red Sox spring debut of Brady Penny who showed no ill effects of a sore shoulder that sidelined him this spring. Penny threw 33 pitches in 3 innings of work, allowing just a walk with 3 strikeouts. Penny was very happy with his performance.
“It has been a long while since I’ve gone out there and felt good. The last year, I went out and I was pitching, but I never really felt like I had a lot behind it,” said Penny. “Last year was a frustrating year for me. Mentally, I was shot, just because going out there everyday and being hurt. It’s hard enough to get these guys out when you’re feeling great. To go out there and have that pain it makes the game even harder. So it’s nice to go out there with some confidence and some life on my fastball.”
Jonathan Papelbon followed him with an inning of work allowing a hit and striking out 2. Takashi Saito worked an inning, giving up 2 hits and a walk while striking out 1. Javier Lopez also worked an inning allowing a hit with a strikeout. Two Red Sox minor leaguers were hit hard for the six runs by the Tigers.
After the game, the Red Sox announced that they had reassigned Ochoa to the minor league complex.
Information on tomorrow’s games, the Red Sox statement on Curt Schilling’s retirement and Red Sox related links after the jump.
The Red Sox will head up to Legends Stadium in Tampa tomorrow night to take on the Yankees at 7:15 PM. The game will be broadcast on NESN, YES and the MLB Network and can also be heard on WRKO on your AM radio dial in the Boston area.
Tim Wakefield will get the start for the Red Sox while A.J. Burnett gets the start for the Yanks. David Ortiz, Jed Lowrie, Jacoby Ellsbury and Rocco Baldelli are expected to make the trip up I-75.
Here is the statement the Red Sox released on the retirement of Curt Schilling:
Today we join Red Sox Nation and baseball fans worldwide in saluting Curt Schilling for an exceptional and lengthy career. One of the most skilled, determined and passionate players of his era, he made significant contributions to the Boston Red Sox organization both on and off the field. Curt helped bring two World Series championships to the City of Boston through tireless preparation and personal sacrifice. A true clutch performer, he delivered in the most challenging of circumstances.
Along with his wife, Shonda, Curt impacted the community in myriad ways including by raising funds and awareness for such important causes as skin cancer prevention, through his efforts with the Shade Foundation, and Lou Gehrig’s Disease, with Curt’s Pitch for ALS.
Thank you, Curt Schilling, for all you have given to our fans, our team, our community, and the game of baseball.
Promising start for Brad Penny [Full Count]
Almost Like Being In Florida [Center Field]
What’s next for pitchers [Extra Bases]
Thoughts on Schilling [Extra Bases]
Penny’s thoughts [Extra Bases]
I’m Sure This Won’t Annoy Curt Schilling One Bit [Deadspin]
Coming soon: Daisuke Matsuzaka [Full Count]
Reactions to Curt Schilling’s retirement [Full Count]
Sox set Ft. Myers attendance record [Projo Sox Blog]
Red Sox getting healthy fast [Projo Sox Blog]
Sox send Ochoa down [Projo Sox Blog]
Too much, too soon for Dice-K [Tony Mazz]
Tony’s Top 5: Curt Schilling’s most memorable games in Boston [Tony Mazz]
Schilling a Hall Of Famer [Hit and Run with Dan Roche]
BoSox counting on rotation for success [FOXSports.com]
MVP Pedroia hoping Red Sox can make it back to World Series [Naples Daily News]
Will Curt get the call from Cooperstown? [NESN.com]
See you in Cooperstown [Touching All The Bases]
