After weathering a 2 1/2 hour rain delay, the Red Sox rode Kason Gabbard’s strong 5+ innings and Kevin Youkilis helped out with a home run, as the Red Sox beat the Braves 6-3 on Connecticut Day at Fenway Park.

Gabbard came up from Triple-A Pawtucket to make the start for the Sox today and was immediately sent back down to Pawtucket after his outing. Gabbard was brilliant today. He was just what the Sox needed after 5 games in 3 days.

He cruised through the first 3 2/3 innings without allowing a hit. He retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced. The Sox hitters gave Gabbard a 4 run cushion to work with after the first inning.

Braves starter Tim Hudson retired Coco Crisp, then gave up a single to Youkilis and a double to David Ortiz. Manny Ramirez then ground into a fielder’s choice and Youk was thrown out at the plate trying to score. J.D. drew a walk, loading up the bases for Jason Varitek. Varitek woke up the Fenway Faithful with a triple that cleared the bases and gave the Sox a 3-0 lead. Varitek came around to score on a Eric Hinske single, making it 4-0.

Gabbard sent the Braves down in order in the 2nd inning, including the first of Andruw Jones 5 strikeouts on the day.

The bats gave Gabbard another run in the 2nd inning. Dustin Pedroia led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice from Coco. Youk drew a walk bringing Big Papi to the plate. Big Papi grounded into a fielder’s choice but Pedroia was able to score, giving Gabbard a 5 run cushion to work with.

After retiring 9 straight batters, Gabbard gave up a single to Jeff Francoeur. Matt Diaz followed that with a single. Gabbard then got Jones for the second time on a strikeout.

Gabbard’s pitch count was starting to get high and it showed in the 5th inning. He gave up a leadoff single to Brian McCann but retired he next two batters he faced. With 2 outs, Martin Prado, who was called up from Triple-A Richmond the night before, hit a single that advanced McCann to third. However, Gabbard got former Red Sox goat shortstop Edgar Renteria to ground out ending the threat.

In the bottom of the 5th inning, Youk did his best Johnny Pesky impression by putting a ball just around the foul pole in right field to give the Sox a 6-0 lead. Hudson then got Big Papi and Manny out but was chased out of the game after giving up singles to J.D and ‘Tek. Micah Macay McBride got the Braves out of the inning by retiring Hinske on a pop fly to short.

Chipper led off the 6th with a single and advanced to third on a Francoeur ground rule double. Those two hits chased Gabbard from the game and Brendan Donnelly came in to relieve him. He promptly gave up a single to Matt Diaz that scored Chipper. Donnelly then got Jones, to what else, strikeout. With McCann at the plate, Diaz stole second base before McCann walked loading up the bases for Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Saltalamacchia drew a walk bringing in the second run of the inning, cutting the Sox lead to 6-2. This closed the book on Gabbard. Javier Lopez came in for Donnelly and promptly got Thorman to hit into a rally killing inning ending double play.

Gabbard threw 100 pitches, gave up 6 hits, 2 runs, walked 1 and struck out 7.

Kyle Synder came into pitch the 7th inning and Hideki “Darkman” Okajima pitched the eighth inning. Jonathan Papelbon came on in the 9th inning in a non-save situation. He sandwiched strikeouts of Prado and Chipper around a Renteria single. Francoeur then hit a single to score Renteria, making it 6-3 Sox. He then allowed as single to Diaz before striking out Jones on the high cheese to end the game.

Notes and Musings:

The game was delayed 2 1/2 hrs as the remnants from the Nor’easter pulled out of the Boston area.

Andruw Jones struck out 5 times in 5 at bats thus earning the “platinum sombrero”. (Thanks Sooze for that one)

Devern Hansack was optioned to Pawtucket to make room for Gabbard. Gabbard was sent back, as noted above, to Pawtucket and Manny Delcarmen was called up to take his place. Barring any injuries to the other starters, the Sox won’t need another one til May 29th, which coincidentally is the day Josh Beckett should return from the DL.

Martin Prado was called up by the Braves to replace yesterday’s starter Anthony Lerew, who was placed on the 15 day DL.

The Sox wore their red jerseys for the first time this year on Sunday.

Gabbard’s 7 strikeouts were a career high.

On a personal note, Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald mistakenly gave me credit for the idea of the “Darkman” nickname for Okajima. The full credit goes to Peter, from Peter’s Red Sox Forever. Peter asked me to help him spread he word and try to get it stick and that’s what I did. I did make the photo of him, click here to see, to try and help get the nickname to stick.