Friday, August 1, 2014

Sox Beat Yankees

In the first game after the wholesale bloodletting of yesterday and the earlier part of the week, the Sox took an early two zip lead and held off the Stripes for a 4-3 win.  In spite of homers by Beltran and Jeter, the Sox managed to never trail, winning their third straight over the Evil Empire. Starting in the 3d with a trip by Holt, followed by a solid two bagger by Pedey, and then followed in order by one by Papi, the Sox grabbed a quick lead. Papi's ribbie is his 78th of the year.
The lineup was like a new team, Middlebrooks arriving after missing 78 games for a broken finger and starting at third, which allowed Bogaerts to play short, where he's eminently more at ease. Betts, an infielder by trade, did something of a Holt playing center and then right, and showing his natural ability to good advantage with a highlight reel diving catch of Ellsbury's hard drive to center that had extra bases all over it.
All of this supported rookie starter Anthony Ranaudo's first big league start, giving him the W after six innings in which he scattered a mere four hits. He did give up a Beltran homer, but kept things pretty much in control, then allowed the Sox pen to nail it down.  He even got a K off Jeter in the Yankee Captain's final year tour of the Fens. Although Taz allowed a homer by Jeter, he held the Yanks in check until he could pass the ball off to Uehara for his 22d save of the year in a perfect inning, including a single K.
The heavily rookie laden Sox showed well tonight, and it would be sweet if they could put on something of a run at least to respectability over the balance of the season.

No comments: