If it weren’t for a dropped popup by New York Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli, we quite possibly could be talking about the Boston Red Sox taking a step towards the light (end of the 2010 season). Instead, we are talking about a great outing from Clay Buchholz and home runs from David Ortiz and Ryan Kalish in last night’s 6-3 win.
The Red Sox had runners on first and second in the 2nd inning and two outs when Cervelli dropped the popup off the bat of Mike Lowell to load up the bases. Yankees starter Javier Vazquez followed that with a walk to Jacoby Ellsbury to force in a run and Marco Scutaro followed that with a 2-run double to push the Red Sox out front 4-2. And they would never look back from there.
Despite allowing nine hits over his 7 1/3 innings, Buchholz was solid on the bump. He made one mistake pitch that Mark Teixeira crushed to right field for a two-run homer in the first that left you to wonder maybe he was a little tired after his wife had just given birth a few days before.
But that simply wasn’t the case as Buchholz as settled down and executed his pitches. The Yankees managed to push another run off him in the 5th on an Alex Rodriguez single but he retired the next six batters he faced until a Nick Swisher single in the 7th. He worked around that and was chased in the 8th after a one out double by Robinson Cano.
From there Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon closed the door and helped the Red Sox get within five games of the first place Yankees and 4.5 games of the Tampa Bay Rays who lost last night as well.
While Big Papi hit a monstrous home run in the 1st inning, it was Kalish’s home run in the 6th that provided the insurance the Red Sox would need.
Kalish has manned left field since his surprise callup last Saturday after Jeremy Hermida was designated for assignment. And all Kalish has done so far is prove the Red Sox made the right decision in bringing him to the big leagues.
In his first seven big league games, Kalish is hitting .429 (9-for-21) with a home run and 4 RBIs while providing solid defense. He’s definitely giving Red Sox fans some hope for the future especially at the revolving door position of left field.
Solid efforts all around last night as the Red Sox look to continue to keep their 2010 postseason hopes alive. They’ll try to make it two in-a-row this afternoon when John Lackey will square off against another new dad in C.C. Sabathia.
We’ll be back later with this afternoon’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups, any news and links from the day but for now, enjoy the overnight links after the jump.
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Video: Rib Injury? What Rib Injury [SOX & Dawgs]
Miracle workers? Sox look to improve owner’s playoff forecast [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Rebirth for Red Sox [Boston Globe]
Kalish turns on the power [Boston Globe]
Lowell retains healthy outlook [Boston Globe]
Doubront’s conversion happens quickly [Boston Globe]
Are the Yankees digging themselves a hole? [Boston Globe]
Still keeping us guessing [Boston Globe]
Recap: Red Sox 6, Yankees 3 [Boston Herald]
Clay Buchholz starts it off with a key win [Boston Herald]
Carlos Delgado takes a swing [Boston Herald]
Healthier Mike Lowell hip to new full-time gig [Boston Herald]
All is ‘Ells’ after diving grab [Boston Herald]
Of the Red Sox and Black Swans: John Henry’s not waving white flag yet [Clubhouse Insider]
Kalish helps power Sox to Bronx victory, 6-3 [CSN New England]
New dad Buchholz gets first win vs. Yanks [ESPN Boston]
Diving catch puts Ellsbury’s ribs to test [ESPN Boston]
Kalish’s trip home is a blast [ESPN Boston]
Closing Time: Red Sox 6, Yankees 3 [Full Count]
David Ortiz, Terry Francona Excited for Shaquille O’Neal Era to Begin in Boston [NESN.com]
Carlos Delgado Perhaps Best Option at First Base for Red Sox [NESN.com]
Ken Singleton Impressed With Red Sox’ Resolve Amidst Major Injuries [NESN.com]
View From New York: With Red Sox-Yankees Rivalry, Always Expect the Unexpected [NESN.com]
Red Sox Deliver First Strike in Uphill Battle Back Into Thick of AL East Race [NESN.com]
Key Performances by Buchholz, Kalish and Ellsbury Push Red Sox Past Yankees [NESN.com]
Ryan Kalish Overcomes Two Bad Strikeouts to Record Memorable Moment for Red Sox [NESN.com]
Clay Buchholz Wins First Start as New Father [NESN.com]
Will Lance Berkman, Austin Kearns and Kerry Wood Help or Hurt Yankees? [NESN.com]
Hamstring woes send a struggling Okajima to DL [Providence Journal]
Coello being groomed for possible role in Boston pen [Providence Journal]
Red Sox Journal: Lowell says he ready to play a lot [Providence Journal]
Lowell adapting well at first base [RedSox.com]
Red Sox give Delgado a look [RedSox.com]
Pedroia takes a running step [RedSox.com]
Cervelli’s error benefits Boston in big way [RedSox.com]
Kalish picks perfect time for first homer [RedSox.com]
Buchholz’s strong outing lifts Sox past Yanks [RedSox.com]
For more slices of Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, ESPN Boston, NESN, Providence Journal and WEEI websites.
And to take a look at what the enemy papers are saying, head over to the ESPN New York, NY Post, NY Daily News, NY Times and Journal News websites. You can also check out what our Bloguin brother NYY Stadium Insider has to say.
