After a maddening, spirit-crushing, profanity-inducing, blood pressure-spiking start, the 9-game tour through the No-DH-zones of the National League, the Red Sox made it all right in the end, sweeping the woebegone Astros in Houston and finishing the trip 5-4. After all that frustration and early-season deja vu, our boys found their groove in the last game in Philly and carried the momentum to Houston.
It wasn't an easy sweep in Minute Maid Park, however. Friday night, a shaky Wakey had the Sox trailing the 'Stros fro 6 innings, while Bud Norris befuddled Boston bats as if he were Cliff Lee. In the 7th, however, the tide changed. Norris was tiring and allowed back-to-back singles by JD Drew and Salty, Reddick doubled to bring home the Red Sox' 2nd run (Scoots had led off the game with a dinger before the bat-befuddling by Norris began) Norris was pulled and the Sox really feasted on the Astros 'pen. Sutton singled the 3rd run off Escalona. D-Mac takes one for the team and Escalona is lifted for Lopez. Lopez fans Scoots, but Pedey, after jawing about a called strike, ropes one down the first base line, scoring runs 4 and 5, tying the game. On the way to first, Pedey briefly turns his head and takes one more shot at home plate ump Laz Diaz. Gonzo unties the game with a 2-run double and it's Bard and Pap Time. Red Sox win 7-5
Saturday, Andrew Miller toes the rubber and delivers another solid start, to the tune of 6 innings and 2 runs. The first inning was rough for the young lefty--he allowed a leadoff triple to Houston speedster (and good friend of Carl Crawford) Michael Bourn and an RBI single to Angel Sanchez. After a single to Hunter Pence, Miller settles down and gets a lineout and a ground ball double-play. He keeps the 'Stros to 1 run until the 6th inning, when Hunter Pence takes him yard. His teammates give him plenty of run support, including pinch-hitter Yamaico Navarro's first career long ball and a 3-run shot by the much-beleaguered Darnell McDonald that blows the game open. Red Sox win 10-4
This afternoon, Beckett dominated the Astros, holding them to a single run over 8 innings and striking out a season-high 11 batters. He didn't get much love in the form of run support, however. The Sox left the population of a small country on base and scored on an error in the 4th and a walked-in run by Youk in the 9th. Talk about clutch walking! You have to get creative when you don't have the clutch hitting. Red Sox win 2-1.
Congratulations to the 4 Red Sox who will represent the team in the 2011 All Star Game: Papi and Gonzo got in via the fan vote. Beckett was chosen as one of the starting pitchers and Ells as a player-chosen reserve. All 4 are very deserving of the honor, as they are the three best hitters on the team and the best pitcher. Past All-Stars who will be getting some much-needed rest this year are Youk, Pedey, Pap, and Lester. Lester, despite his recent struggles, has put up some very good numbers this season, but he, along with CC Sabathia were likely hurt by the fact that the Red Sox and Yankees already had several players on the team and all teams needed to be represented. Youk and Pedey have had slow starts this season coming off of injuries and Pap, though he's improved over last year, still has an ERA that's on the high side for a closer.
Back to Fenway for the 4th of July and the Canadian contingent (a.k.a. the Toronto Blue Jays) will occupy the visitor's clubhouse. Keep the winning streak going, Red Sox!
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