Red Sox starting pitcher Julian Tavarez statistics aren’t of the all-star caliber variety but Tavarez is easily one of the most reliable pitchers on the staff.
For a pitcher who has started and relieved for Boston this year, Tavarez (7-9), was much more than reliable in the Boston 11-1 win over the Chicago White Sox only giving up two hits, over 6 innings pitched, while walking three and tying his season high in strikeouts with seven in the game.
J.D. Drew (7), David Ortiz (24), and Bobby Kielty(1) all homered as White Sox starter Javier Vazquez picked up his seventh loss of the season (11-7) throwing 109 pitches over 6 innings of work, giving up six hits, seven runs, three walks, but struck out 10 batters in the game.
The last time Drew homered was in Tavarez’ last win back on June 20th against the Atlanta Braves.
Dustin Pedroia had the biggest hit despite the Red Sox (80-51) hitting three homeruns as Pedroia notched a two-run single to center field over the outstretched glove of White Sox shortstop Juan Uribe with two outs in the fifth inning giving Boston a 3-1 lead.
Kielty started the inning with a bunt single down the third base line and Coco Crisp and Julio Lugo kept the inning alive as Crisp put in a good slide at second base and Lugo was safe at first on the fielder’s choice. Lugo stole second base after White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski did not have a handle on the ball and Pedroia followed with his two-run single breaking the game open after Vazquez had been pretty dominant throughout his start.
Ortiz’ 24th homerun of the season came in the next at-bat driving home Pedroia on a blast to center field cushioning the lead at 5-1.
Jermaine Dye hit his 25th homerun of the season for Chicago (56-74) off of Tavarez in the bottom of the second to tie the game at 1-1, but Tavarez was stellar after the solo-homer not allowing a hit until the sixth inning.
Jerry Owens had the second and last hit off of Tavarez with a single to center field.
With the win, Tavarez, lowered his ERA from 5.01 to 4.84 in the start throwing 94 pitches (58 for strikes) in the 6 innings pitched.
Jonathan Papelbon pitched a perfect inning of relief in the bottom of the ninth striking out the side after not seeing any action since the last game of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays series where he earned his 30th save of the season.
Julio Lugo drove home his 63rd RBI of the season on a single in the top of the ninth inning coming against Chicago relief pitcher and former Red Sox Mike Myers.
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