The Red Sox had their first home game today since the Marathon Bombing and a city wide manhunt to get the terrorist in custody. This city lives and breathes baseball and today it was so much more than just a game. The Red Sox began the game with an amazingly beautiful ceremony highlighting the many heroes that we've seen this week, an emotional rendition of the National Anthem and then an epic speech from David Ortiz. Here is a link to the whole tribute in case you missed it. What a moment!
Clay Buchholz took the mound for the Sox and was looking for his 4th win of the season. Clay took the mound sporting a 0.41 ERA. To say that Clay has been pitching like an ace is an understatement. Buchholz wasn't perfect tonight, but he continued his dominant ways. The game was scoreless until the 5th when Clay gave up a single run with an RBI single to Francoeur. Sox 1-0. The Sox bats tied the game up in the bottom of the 6th with an RBI from the one and only David Ortiz. He didn't take long to start contributing on his first day back from the DL.
Unfortunately, the Royals were able to grab that run right back in the top of the 7th. Buchholz gave up an RBI triple to Perez. Sox 1-2. Clay got out of the inning with no other damage done, but he wasn't getting a lot of run support from his teammates. Buchholz came back out and pitched a scoreless 8th. He had himself another stellar outing, however when he left the mound he was looking down the barrel of a loss. Buchholz's pitching line for the night was 104 pitches, 8 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 BB and 6 Ks.
In the bottom of the 8th, the Sox bats got back to work. Jonny Gomes came into the game to pinch hit for Victorino. He hit a leadoff double to start the inning. Pedey walked and then Papi grounded into a double play. Mike Napoli got a walk and then Daniel Nava came to the plate. Nava hit a no doubt HR to right and gave the Sox the lead 4-2! It was amazing and Nava is showing that he can benefit the team in the field AND at the plate. What a joyful moment to be cheering like a crazy person in the stands! Andrew Bailey got up and ready for the 9th and was in the game. Bailey made things interesting by allowing a leadoff HR to Cain. Sox 4-3. I think the moment might have gotten to Bailey since he was missing the strike zone badly and seemed to be over throwing. However, Bailey got through the inning and got the 3 outs to notch his 3rd save on the season!
What a great win! It really felt magical to be at Fenway today! The Sox have now won 7 games in a row and are looking like a pretty decent, well rounded team.
Red Sox 4 Royals 2 BOXSCORE
WP: Buchholz (4-0) LP: Herrera (1-2) SV: Bailey (3)
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