With the top three in the Boston Red Sox lineup going a combined 2-for-15 in yesterday’s 6-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles, the production came from the unlikeliest of sources. The 7-8-9 hitters.
Daniel Nava, Scott Podsednik and Kelly Shoppach all went 2-for-3 and all three of them each had a home run. Nava’s home run in the 6th put the Red Sox out in front for good at 3-2 while Shoppach’s two-run homer two batters later gave the Red Sox some breathing room. In the 8th inning, Podsednik adding a solo home run for an insurance run the Red Sox would end up needing.
Nava has been producing for the most part since his callup from the PawSox and has pretty much been a regular in the lineup. Shoppach sees most of his time against lefties but Bobby Valentine has gone away from that in recent starts. And like Nava, Podsednik is only with the Red Sox out of necessity because of the fact that six outfielders are on the disabled list right now.
But for the Red Sox, it seems like everyone they have called up is making an impact.
Will Middlebrooks went for 2-for-4 with an RBI and is hitting .296 while Nava is hitting a robust .350. Even Che-Hsuan Lin helped out yesterday after taking over as a defensive replacement in right field for Adrian Gonzalez who moved back to his natural first base in the 8th inning.
The Orioles had runners on second and third with one out in the 8th when Wilson Betemit hit a fly ball to short right field. Lin came in and made the game saving diving catch that made Adam Jones have to stay at second. Nick Markakis did come into score but had Lin not made the catch, it was more than likely that Jones would have scored on the play.
Daniel Bard started this one for the Red Sox and picked up the win despite having trouble with his command and location. His strikeouts are down (only two on the afternoon) while he walked four more batters giving him 29 on the season. He’s only struckout 28 batters.
Right now Bard is trying to find his mechanics to be more consistent. He was more efficent and had better command of all of his pitches early on this season but that’s gone by the way side. The thing I think he’s also missing is an out pitch. When he was in the bullpen, he could use his overpowering fastball or his nasty slider. But as a starter he hasn’t been able to do that.
The bullpen picked him up again though yesterday although Andrew Miller had his first rough go of things.
Miller was touched up for a two-run homer by Nick Johnson but Rich Hill was outstanding as he struck out both batters he faced. Vicente Padilla put those two runners on base before the Lin catch and like Padilla said, he can come in and keep inherited runners from scoring. But when he starts a “clean” inning, he doesn’t know what the problem is.
Alfredo Aceves came in for the four out save and struck out one along the way to pick up his 11th save of 2012.
The Red Sox are definitely playing some of their best baseball this season right now despite the fact that their record is at .500. But the weather’s warming up so hopefully they’ll continue this trend.
They are also enjoying their first day off today after playing 20 games in 20 days. It’s a much needed break before the Tampa Bay Rays come to town.
We’ll be back shortly with the MLB on Fox breakdown for Saturday’s game as well as the pitching matchups. So for now, let’s take at look at the overnight links from the media by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
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Podsednik plays a major role in Red Sox’ latest win [Boston Globe]
Step up to the plate on Ortiz [Boston Globe]
It is a stretch to say Bard is pitching well [Boston Globe]
Red Sox earn break [Boston Herald]
Kelly Shoppach turns ire into fire [Boston Herald]
Daniel Bard amiss on key pitch [Boston Herald]
Che-Hsuan Lin’s catch a game-saver [Boston Herald]
Valentine: Red Sox are championship caliber [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]
Red Sox close road trip with 6-5 win over Orioles [CSN New England]
Nava providing Red Sox with major-league value [CSN New England]
It may be time to shop Shoppach [CSN New England]
Bard continues to struggle with command [CSN New England]
Sox should consider Lin for center field [CSN New England]
Bard seeking delivery he can repeat [CSN New England]
Podsednik back with a bang [CSN New England]
Putting the save in Aceves [CSN New England]
Rapid Reaction: Red Sox 6, Orioles 5 [ESPN Boston]
Bobby Valentine names names in dishing praise to his weary Boston Red Sox [ESPN Boston]
No plans for Red Sox to move Alex Wilson back to rotation [Full Count]
Closing time: Bottom of the lineup powers Sox back to .500 [Full Count]
Red Sox makeshift outfield comes up with unlikely contributions in win [Full Count]
Jerry Remy on D&C: Alfredo Aceves good enough to keep closer spot on Andrew Bailey’s return [Full Count]
Red Sox make progress, but pitching still must improve [Tony Massarotti – Boston Globe]
Scott Podsednik, Kelly Shoppach Among Red Sox Role Players to Show Surprising Power Surge [NESN.com]
Kevin Youkilis’ Performance Through Two Games Brings Reason for Optimism [NESN.com]
Recent Success Has Bobby Valentine Believing Red Sox ‘Will Win a Championship’ [NESN.com]
Rest for Red Sox well timed, well deserved [RedSox.com]
Greenville’s Owens learning on the go [RedSox.com]
Adrian unlikely to start in right field at Fenway [RedSox.com]
Just Lin time: Key switch, play save Red Sox [RedSox.com]
For the Red Sox, 20 lessons learned from 20 games in 20 days [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Adrian Gonzalez has glove, will travel [Touching All the Bases]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSN New England, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy news, be sure to head over to the Baltimore Sun and MASN websites. Also be sure to check out our Bloguin brother the Oriole Post for all of your Orioles needs.
Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.
photo credit: Getty Images
