A Day That Made the Patriots Proud

When you have a game that is completed by rookie pitcher Hunter Jones, you know you've had either a very good day or a very bad day.

It turned out to be a VERY good day for the Red Sox.

Justin Masterson was superb for 5 1/3 innings, Dustin Pedroia had four hits, David Ortiz had a triple and two RBI, and Jason Varitek went deep again, as the Sox busted out the brooms and swept the Orioles in the wraparound four-game series, 12-1. They now have won five straight, with the Minnesota Twins in for two games beginning tomorrow.

In shortstop news, Julio Lugo will begin his rehab assignment tomorrow, and maybe back shortly. But Terry Francona said after the game that it appears that Jed Lowrie will need surgery on his ailing wrist, and that might end his season. A decision is expected to be announced in a few days. (UPDATE: Lowrie had the surgery on Tuesday morning, and now the Sox say he may miss just 6-8 weeks. But Rocco Baldelli is now heading to the DL with a hamstring injury, and Jeff Bailey will be up to replace him.)

Extra Bases today revealed that Capt. Richard Phillips, the skipper who was rescued from Somali pirates on Easter Sunday, has been invited to Fenway by John Henry for a Capt. Richard Phillips Day. Capt. Phillips is from Vermont and is a big Red Sox fan, and proposed to his wife at Fenway Park.