Not this time, boys.
The Red Sox swept the Angels out of Fenway Park, 11-6 on Thursday night. Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched 5 1/3 innings, gave up five runs, and looked awful in the first, giving up four runs while walking three. He started the nibbling act again, and it got him into trouble. The Sox failed to turn a DP in the inning which would have bailed him out with just one run scoring. But he still created the mess, and was nearly yanked by Terry Francona, with the bullpen cranking as he got the last out of the inning.
But to his credit, Dice-K did settle down, allowing just two hits the remainder of his time in the game.
Victor Martinez had four RBI in the comeback, including a bomb sent into the Red Sox bullpen, and the Sox scored two in the third off of onetime Red Sox "killer" Scott Kazmir, who was plain awful after the Angels staked him to the first inning lead.
The Red Sox scored five in the fifth and four more in the sixth to make it the eventual final score, 11-6. The Red Sox have now been involved in three straight series sweeps, winning over Toronto, losing to the Orioles and now winning over the Angels.
BTW, a sad irony is that the last time the Red Sox swept four from the Angels at Fenway Park was the weekend of August 18, 1967, when Tony Conigliaro was beaned and was never the same ballplayer again, missing the remainder of 1967 and all of the 1968 season.
The Red Sox are now 15-14, one game over .500 for the first time since their win Opening Night. And speaking of Opening Night, their opponents from that night return to Fenway tomorrow for three. I think you know who I mean...
2 comments:
Call me hopelessly optomistic about him but I am enthused about how Dice K looked after 1st inning. Seemed like the lights went on. He did win 33 games his first 2 years.
Rick
I have to admit I'm getting to the end of my rope with Dice-K. He has a LOT to prove this season that he can be a quality MLB pitcher.
See you tonight, Rick.
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