Game 80: Rockies at Red Sox - The mountains turn blue!
Contributing Writer
That was the start the Boston Red Sox (46-33) needed to kick-off their nine-game home-stand. The Sox pounded out 20 hits en route to an 11-4 win over the Colorado Rockies (39-39). The finale of this short two-game series pits Boston’s John Lackey against the Rockies’ Roy Oswalt. Lackey is 4-5 this season, but boasts a 3.03 ERA. The Sox will attempt to duplicate last night’s performance, which included five doubles, to back Lackey, just as they did with Ryan Dempster.
Here is the lineup for the Red Sox (first pitch – 4:05 pm EDT):
1. Ellsbury, CF
2. Victorino, RF
3. Pedroia, 2B
4. Ortiz, DH
5. Napoli, 1B
6. Nava, LF
7. Saltalamacchia, C
8. Drew, SS
9. Iglesias, 3B
Lackey, P
Oswalt has made one start for the Rockies since signing on May 3. He is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA after allowing four runs on nine hits while striking out 11 in five innings against the Nationals.
Hits on hits on hits
Every Red Sox player in the lineup recorded a hit last night. In fact, all but two had multiple hits. As mentioned previously, the Sox had 20 hits total and five doubles. Stephen Drew had a triple that appeared to be a home run, but was reviewed and ruled a three-bagger.
Thinking of the future
It was brought up by NESN last night that the future infield could look like this:
3B Xander Bogaerts
SS Jose Iglesias
2B Dustin Pedroia
1B Will Middlebrooks
Now that is all way too far ahead for us to be projecting, but it is fun to think about. Iglesias is batting .434, Bogaerts hit his fourth home run with Pawtucket last night, Middlebrooks could find his swing in Triple-A and make the switch to the opposite corner infield spot, and Pedroia is, well, Pedroia. Could be fun to see how things settle of the next few years.
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