Nava, Aviles, Papi lead Sox slugfest

The Red Sox were on a three-game win streak heading into last night's contest with the Miami Marlins, and Ricky Nolasco could not stop them. After Miami scored one run in each of the first two innings, Mike Aviles powered out a three-run homer to put Boston up 3-2. They would not relinquish the lead. Cody Ross added a three-run, bases-clearing double in the very next inning for a 6-2 lead. Now, to be fair, it shouldn't have been a three-run double. Logan Morrison, who did homer in that game, misplayed the shot off the Monster and allowed the ball to roll halfway back to the infield, allowing even David Ortiz to score from first. Anyway, the Marlins scored two in the top of the fourth, including the aforementioned Morrison blast, to draw closer, 6-4.

But that is when the game really got started. After an RBI single by Ryan Kalish, another single loaded up the bases for David Ortiz. Ortiz crushed his 396th career home run, and 18th of the year, down the right field line for a grand slam and an 11-4 advantage. But that's not all. Two batters later, Jarrod Saltalamacchia drilled a homer to dead center field for a 12-4 lead. Things quieted down after that, with just a Boston run on a wild pitch and a John Buck blast for Miami. That is, until the eighth inning, when Will Middlebrooks, a late-game sub for Kevin Youkilis, jumped on the homer bandwagon with a two-run shot of his own. Final score: Boston 15, Miami 5. Felix Doubront wasn't great, but pitched well enough to earn his eighth win of the season, tying Clay Buchholz for the club lead. And if we're talking about leads, can we please talk about Papi?

David Ortiz is now sixth in the AL with a .313 batting average, second in runs with 48, and 5th in the RBI chase with 49 runs batted in. He has been absolutely great and has been smashing the ball all season. He has homered in his last three games. Also, last night the unsung hero was Daniel Nava, who had 4 hits and two runs in the win.Tonight, the clubs face off again, with Daisuke Matsuzaka throwing his third game of the season. He is 0-2 thus far, but with the way the offense is going, it shouldn't be too hard to support him.