David Ortiz was 2-for-3, with two doubles, two walks and a RBI on Monday night against the Yankees in New York. It must have felt good to get going after taking the collar for the weekend in Tampa, sparking much media and fan scrutiny over whether Boston's DH was all but washed up. He has been struggling all season, and hopefully his performance in the first of the short two-gamer in the Bronx will build his confidence and be a sign of things to come.
The Red Sox got the offense going early, scoring once in each of the first four innings in support of a strong Jon Lester. In the first, Dustin Pedroia scored on a passed ball by Jose Molina. After Lester took the mound for the Sox and struck out the side in order, Mike Lowell then led off the Boston second with a homer to left, making it 2-0. In the third, Lowell once again came through, knocking a single to right to drive in J.D. Drew. Ortiz capped the early scoring with a RBI double in the fourth, plating Jacoby Ellsbury. Lester continued his strong outing until the fifth, when he gave up a two-run homer to Johnny Damon and a solo shot to Mark Teixeira, making the score 4-3, Boston. Lester would then regain his form, allowing just one more Yankee baserunner through scoreless sixth and seventh innings. He would finish the night with seven innings pitched, giving up three earned runs on six hits while striking out ten and walking two.
Jason Bay added a two-run homer in the seventh off of Yankee reliever Alfredo Aceves, finishing the Boston scoring for the night. Teixeira would again homer for the Yanks in the eighth, but New York would get no closer than to load the bases in the ninth against Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon, who struck out Robinson Cano to end the game. Final score: 6-4, Boston.
Some notable injuries took place during the game: Kevin Youkilis left in the sixth due to a lower back injury, and New York's Jorge Posada left the game in the eighth, due to a hamstring injury. Youkilis' status for Tuesday's game is still unclear at this time, while Posada was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday. No results have been disclosed.
Tonight's game pits a struggling Josh Beckett (2-2, 7.22 ERA) against young fireballer Joba Chamberlain (1-0, 3.13 ERA). First pitch is at 7:05 from the Bronx, barring a second consecutive rain delay.
