Kevin Youkilis went had 4 hits, falling a triple short of the cycle, and had 4 RBIs to help the Boston Red Sox to a 6-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in front of 37,559 on a crisp night for baseball at Fenway Park. It’s the third straight win for the Red Sox after losing their previous three games.
Youk has been by far the hottest hitter on the Red Sox (5-6) this season as the four hits tonight raised his average to .467 and he also has 3 home runs and 9 RBIs. And we were worried about David Ortiz not having protection behind him without Manny Ramirez this season.
Josh Beckett (2-1) started this one for the Red Sox and looked dominant early on. He faltered a little bit in the 5th inning and ended up going 6 innings. He allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits and 4 walks while striking out 5. The bullpen continued it’s good run as Hideki Okajima, Takashi Saito and Jonathan Papelbon closed the door on the Orioles (6-5). Okajima and Saito both had 2 strikeouts while Saito and Papelbon gave up a hit apiece.
David Ortiz showed a little life at the plate as he had 2 hits. Mike Lowell also had 2 hits and drove in one while Jason Varitek added an RBI to the cause as well.
Adam Eaton (0-2) took the loss for the Orioles as he lasted just four innings. He gave up 6 runs on 9 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4.
The Red Sox got on the board first in the 2nd inning.
Youk got it started by leading off with a double. After a J.D. Drew fly out, Jason Bay walked but Eaton got Lowell to line out to left. The Captain brought in Youk with a double of his own to make it 1-0 Red Sox as Bay had to stop at third. That’s all the Red Sox would muster up though as Nick Green grounded back to Eaton for the final out.
After Jacoby Ellsbury flew out to start the 3rd, Dustin Pedroia singled to right and then went to second on a Big Papi single. They wouldn’t be there long though as Youk took an Eaton offering and crushed it for a 3-run homer to put the Red Sox up 4-0.
Eaton got the second out of the inning when Drew struck out looking. He then walked Bay and with Lowell at the plate, Bay stole second. It proved to a be a good baserunning move as Lowell singled to score him and make it 5-0 Red Sox.
Youkilis singled in the 4th inning with two outs to give the Red Sox a 6-0 lead.
After getting out of trouble in the 2nd inning, Beckett couldn’t repeat the task in the 5th when he channeled his inner Brad Penny.
Cesar Izturis had been mired in a 0-for-18 slide but decided to bunt his way on. Brian Roberts got him over to third with a double and then Beckett walked Adam Jones and then Nick Markakis to force in a run. Aubrey Huff followed with a double that scored Jones and Roberts and an error by Green allowed Markakis to score and cut the Red Sox lead to 5-1.
Beckett got the first out of the 5th when Wigginton lined out to third. Beckett then got Luke Scott to ground to Lowell at third who decided to get Huff in a rundown and record the second out. Zaun flew out to end the inning.
Another good win for the Red Sox as things continue to click on all cylinders.
These same two teams are back at it again at 1:35 PM tomorrow afternoon as Jon Lester and Koji Uehara will exchange pitches.
Notes and musings:
Baltimore Orioles @ Boston Red Sox 4.18.09 box score
At 5th place through the games of April 17, it marks the latest date the Red Sox have occupied the last spot in the A.L. East since September 9, 1997. Through the games of April 17 last season, the club led the division at 10-7.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Sox were one of 7 teams to overcome a deficit of 3 runs or more yesterday, joining the Padres (6), Twins (5), A’s (4), Dodgers (3), Mariners (3) and Rays (3). It was just the 3rd time in major league history that there were at least 7 comeback wins of 3 runs or greater in a single day. It happened previously on July 19, 1997 (7 games) and June 5, 1999 (8 games).
Kevin Youkilis now has 8 multi-hit games.
Jason Bay has also reached base safely (walk or a hit) in 24 straight gamesdating back to September 12,
2008. Bay collected his 500th career RBI with a 2-run homer in the 2nd inning last night and has now driven in 501 runs in his career.
Julio Lugo, Mark Kotsay and Jonathan Van Every all participated in an extended spring training game earlier today. Lugo played 4 innings at shortstop, going 1-for-2 with 2 walks. Kotsay was 1- for-3 with a double as the designated hitter. Van Every played 5 innings at center field and went 1-for-3 with a HBP. In addition, John Smoltz threw 20 pitches of live batting practice.
Red Sox on streaks:
- J.D. Drew extended his hitting streak to 6 with a double
- Jacoby Ellsbury extended his hitting streak to 4 games
- Mike Lowell extended his hitting streak to 4 games
- Jason Bay saw his 4-game hitting streak come to an end
