The Red Sox came into this series holding onto a small lead in the AL East. The Sox were sending Ryan Dempster, Jake Peavy and Feix Doubront to the mound. The team had a great mix of quality pitching and timely hitting to send the White Sox packing without a win.
Friday 8/30:
Ryan Dempster was back for his first game since his suspension. It looks like the time off did Dempster well. Dempster pitched into the 7th inning and was able to hold the White Sox to just 3 runs. The Sox offense gave Dempster an early lead when Napoli walked in a run in the 3rd inning. The Red Sox seemed to have the White Sox's pitcher, Santiago, on the ropes. The Red Sox knocked him out in the 4th when they scored 3 runs when Victorino hit an RBI single and Papi hit a 2 run RBI single to have the Red leading 4-0. The White Sox cracked the scoreboard for the first time in the 5th inning when Viciedo hit an RBI single. Red 4-1. Dempster gave up a leadoff HR to Garcia in the 7th and when he gave up a single with one out, he was done for the night. Tazawa came into the game and gave up an RBI triple to De Aza to close the books on Dempster's start. Tazawa finished the 7th and got one out in the 8th before Morales was in the game. Morales did his job and got Dunn out and then Farrell went with Uehara for a 4 out save. Uehara breezed through the 4 outs to give the Red Sox the first game of the series.
Red Sox 4 White Sox 3 BOXSCORE
WP: Dempster (7-9) LP: Santiago (4-8) SV: Uehara (15)
Saturday 8/31:
Jake Peavy was taking the mound on Saturday vs. his old team. The Red Sox offense hit early and often in support of Peavy, while he battled through and went about beating his old team. The Red Sox scored their first run when Napoli hit an RBI single in the 1st inning. The White Sox tied it up in the 3rd when De Aza hit into an RBI fielder's choice. Red 1-1. The Red Sox grabbed the lead again in the bottom of the inning when Gomes hit an RBI double. Red 2-1. The White Sox tied it up again in the 4th when Garcia hit an RBI single. Red 2-2. In the bottom of the inning the Red Sox offense went off and gave Peavy some breathing room. Ellsbury hit an RBI double, Pedey hit an RBI sac grounder and Papi hit an RBI single. Red 5-2. In the 5th the Red Sox added another run when Bogaerts hit an RBI single. Red 6-2. Boston scored their final run of the game in the 6th when Victorino scored on a wild pitch. Red 7-2. Peavy pitched 7 strong innings and then handed the ball over to Craig Breslow in the 8th. Breslow pitched a scoreless 1-2-3 inning and then Drake Britton took the mound for the 9th. Britton issued a leadoff walk, but then put the White Sox down in order to secure the Red Sox win.
Red Sox 7 White Sox 2 BOXSCORE
WP: Peavy (11-5) LP: Danks (4-11)
Sunday 9/1:
The Red Sox came into the game on Sunday hoping for a sweep. Felix Doubront was on the mound and while he would struggle, the Red Sox offense was able to keep out in front and they were able to squeak out a win for the sweep. The Red Sox jumped out to an early lead when they scored 4 runs in the 2nd inning. Ellsbury hit an RBI single to score Carp and Salty and then Papi hit an RBI double to score Ells and Victorino. And who was worried about Papi and his slump? Red 4-0. Stephen Drew added another run to the Red Sox lead when he hit a solo HR in the 3rd inning. Doubront found himself in all kinds of trouble in the 4th inning. Doubront allowed an RBI sac fly with the bases loaded and then gave up an RBI double and single to have the White Sox within a run. Doubront couldn't make it out of the 4th inning and Brandon Workman was in the game. Workman got the out we needed to get out of the inning still holding on to the lead. In the bottom of the 4th the Red Sox offense gave the pitching some breathing room when Pedey hit an RBI infield single and Papi hit an RBI single. Red 7-4. Workman gave up an RBI single to Konerko in the 5th to have the White Sox within 2 runs. Franklin Morales pitched a scoreless 6th and took the mound in the 7th. Morales gave up a single and he was out and Tazawa came into the game to pitch a scoreless inning. Craig Breslow took the mound in the 8th and gave up a solo HR to Flowers to once again have the White Sox within a run. Red 7-6. Uehara came into the 9th with the offense clinging to a one run lead. That would be no problem for Koji who would have a 1-2-3 inning to grab the sweep for his team.
Red Sox 7 White Sox 6 BOXSCORE
WP: Workman (4-2) LP: Rienzo (1-1) SV: Uehara (16)
And while the Red Sox were sweeping the White Sox, the A's swept the Rays to have the Sox out to a 5.5 lead in the AL East. A good weekend all around.
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