Ortiz's Clutch Home Run Lifts Red Sox to Victory

 

                                                                                            Sports Illustrated 

Red Sox 4 Tigers 3

Winning Pitcher: Matt Albers (1-2)

Losing Pitcher: Jose Valverde (2-2)

Save: Jonathan Papelbon (10)

Recap

David Ortiz didn't get the start in game one of today's double header, but he came up big in his pinch hitting opportunity, and led the Red Sox to a 4-3 victory over the Tigers. The Red Sox were able to get on the board first, with Jacoby Ellsbury leading off with a double and stolen base, followed by a Pedroia walk and a stolen base of his own. The next batter, Adrian Gonzalez, continued his great season with a sac fly, and Clay Buchholz was given a 1-0 lead before even walking onto the field. After Buchholz held Detroit scoreless in the bottom half of the inning, Mike Cameron came up in the second and hit a solo shot to give the Sox an early 2-0 lead. In the top of the third, Dustin Pedroia led off the inning with his own solo homer, and the Red Sox were up 3-0, with Buchholz cruising early. His first mistake came during the first at bat of the bottom of the fourth, when he served up a home run to Tigers' left fielder Andy Dirks. He ran into more trouble in the 6th, when he gave up another solo shot to Brennan Boesch, and then a game-tying single to Jhonny (worst spelled name in baseball) Peralta. Buchholz finished out the sixth, and was pulled afterwards, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out three batters. Matt Albers came in for the 7th and 8th, and only allowed one base runner. The Red Sox offense, however, couldn't get anything going against the Tigers 'pen. Boston came to the plate in the top of the ninth, and started the inning with a pinch-hit out from JD Drew. Ortiz came to the plate next, hitting for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and crushed one to the deep right center bleachers at Comerica, giving the Red Sox a 4-3 lead late in the game. Jonathan Papelbon came on for the save in the bottom of the 9th, and shut Detroit's offense down 1-2-3, including two Ks, and Boston has the opportunity for the series sweep tonight.

Home Runs

Boston: Mike Cameron (3), Dustin Pedroia (4), David Ortiz (11)

Detroit: Andy Dirks (2), Brennan Boesch (4)

News and Notes

• Before the game, the Red Sox placed Franklin Morales on the 15-day DL with a forearm injury on his throwing arm. To take his place on the roster, Michael Bowden has been recalled. Morales has allowed 8 earned runs in 15 innings of work so far this year, and has struck out 14 batters, compared to his 9 walks. 

The Red Sox and Tigers play the second leg of their double header tonight at 7:05 PM ET. Boston sends Josh Beckett (4-1 1.69) to the mound against Detroit's ace Justin Verlander (4-3 3.42) for a fantastic pitching match up.