The Red Sox had Dice-K on the mound and he was hoping for his first win of 2012. Unfortunately, Dice-K once again had a horrible first inning and then settled down for a pretty decent outing. Dice-K wasn’t able to get the win, however the Red Sox were behind some bat support from the youngins on the team.
Dice-K struggled right out of the gate again. If Dice-K could just skip the first inning, he’d be a crazy dominant pitcher, but unfortunately it just does not work that way. Dice-K gave up a single and a walk as the game began. Dice-K almost got out of the jam with two outs and two guys on, however he gave up an RBI single to Dobbs to score both Reyes and Stanton. Sox 0-2. Dobbs stole second and then Dice-K gave up a single to Infante to score Dobbs. Sox 0-3. It was one of the Dice-K innings that make you grumble. He threw 33 pitches and allowed 3 runs to score. In classic Dice-K style he really settled down after that. Dice threw just 10 pitches to get through the 2nd inning. Dice-K retired the next 13 batters in order. Unfortunately when the Sox had tied up the game 3-3, Dice-K took the mound in the top of the 6th and gave up a solo HR to Giancarlo Stanton to give the lead back to the Marlins. Dice-K was out of the game and former Marlin Andrew Miller took the mound. Miller gave up a single and an RBI double to give the Marlins even one more run. It was kind of a kick in the gut after the Sox had just been able to tie the game. Sox 3-5.
Let’s talk about that Sox offense a tad and how they continued to show tons of fight. The Sox were down 3 runs early and it looked like they might be heading to their first loss in a while. The Sox got their first runs in the 4th inning when Carlos Zambrano hit both Ross and Salty to start the inning. Middlebrooks hit a single to score Ross and then Aviles hit a sac fly to score Salty. Sox 2-3. In the 5th, Will Middlebrooks was at it again hitting an RBI single to tie the game 3-3. In the 8th when the Sox were trailing 3-5, they bats got back after it again, especially the young bats. Salty started off the inning with a leadoff double. Will Middlebrooks stepped into the batters box and hit a 2 run HR to tie the game for the Sox 5-5. Kalish followed with a single and then booked it on to 3rd when Aviles ground out. Nava came up to the plate and gave the Sox the lead with an RBI single to plate Kalish!
Photo Credit: Charles Krupa/AP
The Sox pitching out of the bullpen did what they have done since the calendar has turned from April and closed the door on the other team. Scott Atchison came out and pitched two scoreless innings of relief. He’s been such a godsend for this team. After the Sox took the lead in the bottom of the 8th, Alfredo Aceves quickly got up and was in the game for the 9th. Aceves had himself a nice 1-2-3 inning and got his 18th save of the season.
Red Sox win and sweep those pesky fish!
Red Sox 6 Marlins 5 BOXSCORE
WP: Atchison (2-0) LP: Mujica (0-3) SV: Aceves (18)
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