Sox Roll Through California

Well, they roll through California teams, anyway. A couple days ago, they finished off a sweep of the San Diego Padres at Fenway, just rolling through the Padres. Since my last post, they were bolstered in the second game of the Padres series by a pinch-hit walk-off home run by Jonny Gomes. Even though Gomes does not have great stats, I don't think he needs great stats, considering how well he's been doing in clutch situations this year. Then Allen Webster finally had a decent outing, giving up just two runs in six innings and earning the first win of his major-league career, in an 8-2 romp. I just love how the Sox bats can carry pitchers so well, especially struggling pitchers like Webster; I think the Red Sox run support helps give pitchers a much-needed morale boost and helps the Sox win more games.

Last night, Felix Doubront pitched for the Red Sox against the struggling LA Angels. Despite a lineup loaded with stars like Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols, the Angels have a record below .500. The Sox struck first off LA starter C.J. Wilson, as Jarrod Saltalamacchia lined a two-run single to give the Sox an early lead. Unfortunately, Doubront gave it back in the third and fourth innings, but managed to hold the Angels at two runs, so the score remained tied. Then in the seventh inning, Josh Hamilton, the former superstar, dropped an easy fly ball and allowed Shane Victorino to score, putting the Sox ahead 3-2, a lead they would never relinquish. Indeed, the lead expanded, as David Ortiz launched a two-run blast and Mike Napoli clouted a solo homer to give the Sox a 6-2 lead. I was very impressed-- again!-- with the Red Sox's performance, as they have been hitting well in the clutch and taking advantage of opposing miscues. Furthermore, their starting pitching has been excellent, and so they have been able to perform at a very high level and stay in first in the competitive AL East. One final note: Koji Uehara, who has stepped into Boston's closing role, currently owns a 1.95 ERA for the BoSox.