Given the fact the Boston Red Sox didn’t arrive to the hotel in Baltimore at 6 a.m. on Monday morning, you could forgive them if they looked a little sluggish Monday night. And for the first two innings in the eventual 15-10 win, it looked like it might be a long night for the offense.
But then again, when you’re playing the Orioles anything is possible.
After firing blanks in those first two innings, the Red Sox responded with six runs over the next three innings in the sweltering Mid-Atlantic heat. Unfortunately, it also looked like that heat got the better of Tim Wakefield as well even though after the game he said it didn’t affect him.
Coming off the 16-inning marathon on Sunday night, Terry Francona needed Wake to give them 6-7 innings. But with Wake’s knuckleball not doing much in the humidity, he was only able to give them 4 2/3 innings.
He gave up two runs in the 1st on a Derrek Lee triple that Josh Reddick may or may not have misplayed. It was the 5th inning though that would ultimately do Wake in.
He started the inning off by striking out Felix Pie only to have the ball get past Jarrod Saltalamacchia allowing Pie to reach. He rebounded to strike out Robert Andino only to hang a pitch to J.J. Hardy who blasted it out of the ballpark to cut the lead to 6-4. After a Nick Markakis groundout, Wake threw a flat knuckleball that Adam Jones feasted on with a solo shot.
Matt Wieters and Lee followed the home run up with singles and a walk to Mark Reynolds loaded the sacks up for Nolan Reimold. Wake would be chased from the game trailing 7-6 after Reimold’s bases clearing double.
Sans Randy Williams, the Red Sox bullpen was outstanding after that.
Dan Wheeler was outstanding throwing 2.1 innings of hitless relief. He allowed just a walk while striking out three. Williams was roughed up for three runs in the 8th but Morales finished the game off by striking out the side in the 9th.
Even without David Ortiz, the Red Sox offense took care of business. They would put away this game in the 8th with an eight-run inning off of three Orioles relievers.
And who else but the Laser Show or the Muddy Chicken, Dustin Pedroia to get the job done. Michael Gonzalez had loaded up the bases and gave way to Mark Worrell. The sidearmer left a pitch out over the plate to Pedey who took it the opposite way for a 2-run double. Kevin Youkilis would make the Orioles pay for an intentional walk to Adrian Gonzalez with a two-run single to push the lead to 11-7.
Carl Crawford would add an RBI single and Darnell McDonald, who had pinch-hit earlier in the inning for J.D. Drew and walked, cleared the bases with a double to make it 15-7.
Obviously right now, there is no player that is any hotter than Pedey on the Red Sox. He willed the Red Sox on to a win on Sunday night and he did the same thing last night. During his 16-game hitting streak, he’s seen his average climb all the way up to .295, a far cry from the .240’s he was hitting earlier in the season.
With the peace of mind from knowing he couldn’t hurt his knee anymore, Pedroia just gets the job done. Gonzalez may have been the first half MVP for the Red Sox, but right now Pedey is the early clubhouse leader for MVP in the second half for the local nine.
We’ll be back later with this evening’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day. But for now, enjoy 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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Red Sox in comfortable position as trade deadline looms [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Pep club [Boston Globe]
He grabs games in the clutch [Boston Globe]
Beckett’s start went long way [Boston Globe]
Perfectly happy to manage incredible 16-inning game [Boston Globe]
Summering with the Sox [Boston Globe]
Sox run on Dustin [Boston Herald]
David Ortiz’ ban begins [Boston Herald]
Kyle Weiland ready after historic Sox debut [Boston Herald]
Reddick the right choice [Boston Herald]
Hits must keep coming [Boston Herald]
Sox belt Baltimore, 15-10 [CSNNE.com]
Notes: Wakefield disappointed in start [CSNNE.com]
Rapid Reaction: Red Sox 15, Orioles 10 [ESPN Boston]
Buchholz: ‘It’s another step’ [ESPN Boston]
Video: How good are the Sox? [ESPN Boston]
Dan Wheeler a hidden contributor in Boston Red Sox win [ESPN Boston]
Matt Albers not surprised Orioles were miffed at him [Full Count]
Closing Time: Pedroia keeps motoring as Sox beat Baltimore [Full Count]
This is what an Adrian Gonzalez slump looks like [Full Count]
Red Sox Back to Taking Advantage of Overmatched Orioles, Pound O’s Again in Series Opener [NESN.com]
Will David Ortiz Crack the 40-Home Run Plateau This Season? [NESN.com]
Boston’s bats leave no doubt [Providence Journal]
Crawford’s return a boost to Sox [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: Ortiz will miss Orioles series [Providence Journal]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, CSNNE, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal, RedSox.com and WEEI websites.
And if you must check out the enemy news, head over to the Baltimore Sun website. You can also check out our Bloguin brother, the Oriole Post.
Photo credit: Getty Images
