Thursday, June 19, 2008

No Manny, No Youk? No Problem

Yesterday in Philadelphia, the Red Sox fielded a lineup without Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, and Kevin Youkilis, and Coco Crisp left early in the game with a sore hand. And they still whipped the Phillies, 7-4, to take the series and end the interleague road trip 4-2.

The Sox scored four before the Phillies even got an out. Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia both singled, and J.D. Drew continued his amazingly hot hitting by launching a three-run shot over the right centerfield fence to make it 3-0. Mike Lowell then hit a solo shot into the leftfield seats to make it 4-0. (It was also the ninth time the Sox have hit back-to-back homers, most in MLB.)

Justin Masterson pitched five good innings, and allowed two runs. Drew went 4-for-5 with 4 RBI and fell just a triple short of the cycle. Brandon Moss singled in two when he pinched hit for Crisp, and that was all the offense the Red Sox needed.

Craig Hansen allowed two runs and didn't get an out, but Manny Delcarmen bailed him out and pitched two excellent innings. Jonathan Papelbon pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to get his 21st save and Masterson his fourth win in five decisions.

The Red Sox are off today and play the St. Louis Cardinals this weekend at Fenway, with Daisuke Matsuzaka coming of the DL on Saturday.

No comments: