Winning Streak Extends To Four In Commanding Win (8-10)

Doubront had a decent night

The Red Sox just continued to pound the baseball last night-- as they have scored six or more runs in the past five ballgames. Much as they did every game of the Twins' series, they got going early, putting runners at the corners with one out to start the game. Adrian Gonzalez doubled into left field to drive in one of them and David Ortiz quickly followed him up with an RBI single. However, the White Sox got one back in the bottom of the first when Paul Konerko drove in Adam Dunn with a double. After a scoreless second for both teams, the Red Sox went crazy in the third inning off the White Sox. They loaded the bases with only one out in the inning (off of Phillip Humber, who recently threw a perfect game, mind you) before Kevin Youkilis shot a fastball to the opposite field which carried into the bullpen for a grand slam-- the Red Sox' first of the year. Jarrod Saltalamacchia proceeded to go back-to-back with Youkilis to make it a 7-1 game in the third inning.

Youkilis hit a grand slam

The White Sox would score another pair of runs on an A.J. Pierzynski single in the bottom of the third and a Dayan Viciedo solo shot-- but Felix Doubront held them for the majority of the night. The Red Sox took a couple more runs in the fifth when Jarrod Saltalamacchia crushed a ball to left-center field for his second home run of the game and fourth of the year-- giving the Sox a 9-3 lead. Felix Doubront held the Red Sox through six innings-- going 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 K-- he is now 1-0/4.09/22 on the season. Junichi Tazawa continued to firm his role in the Red Sox' bullpen by rolling along for three shutout innings with a stellar line of 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 K.The Red Sox would score another run in the ninth when Ryan Sweeney drove in Mike Aviles with a single-- but for the most part, the game was quiet after the sixth inning. It's still very nice to see the Red Sox moving along at such a pace, heck, one more game and they will have completely evened out that five game losing streak.

Bright Spots:
Felix Doubront- 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 K, W (1-0)
Junichi Tazawa- 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 K
Ryan Sweeney- 2-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Kevin Youkilis- 3-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- 2-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI

Dull Spots:
Lars Anderson- 0-3, 1 K

Player of the Game:
Kevin Youkilis- Youkilis put the Sox firmly ahead with his third inning grand slam-- but his day was not done as he went 3-4 and is now .241/2/9 on the year.