Lackey & Sox seal the deal with sweep of Twins
Jim Monaghan
Contributing writer
John Lackey pitched six sensational innings, Will Middlebrooks homered, and the Red Sox completed a 3-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins with a 5-1 win at Target Field. For the Red Sox it was their fifth win in a row and moved them to within a half game of the Yankees who were rained out earlier in the day.
Lackey - in a word - was outstanding. He allowed just one hit (a double by Trevour Plouffe in the bottom of the 5th inning) and didn't walk a batter while striking out 5 in six innings of work. He was on the mound for the 7th inning when rain stopped the game for what turned into a 3-hour delay.
The Red Sox took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the 2nd inning on Will Middlebrooks' (pictured) 8th home run of the season. Boston added single runs in the third, and fifth innings, and two more in the ninth.
Dustin Pedroia had a pair of hits including his second home run of the season in the top of the 9th inning in extending his hitting streak to 11 games; Daniel Nava & David Ortiz also had 2-hit games for the Sox.
Jacoby Ellsbury was out of the lineup for the first time this season, a scheduled day off for the centerfielder who had previously played every inning so far in 2013.
"You're killing me, Smalls." - During the 3-hour rain delay, the movie "The Sandlot" was played at Target Field.
Click here to find more by Jim Monaghan on Red Sox Life. Follow Jim Monaghan on twitter - @Monaghan21
Contributing writer
John Lackey pitched six sensational innings, Will Middlebrooks homered, and the Red Sox completed a 3-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins with a 5-1 win at Target Field. For the Red Sox it was their fifth win in a row and moved them to within a half game of the Yankees who were rained out earlier in the day.
Lackey - in a word - was outstanding. He allowed just one hit (a double by Trevour Plouffe in the bottom of the 5th inning) and didn't walk a batter while striking out 5 in six innings of work. He was on the mound for the 7th inning when rain stopped the game for what turned into a 3-hour delay.
The Red Sox took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the 2nd inning on Will Middlebrooks' (pictured) 8th home run of the season. Boston added single runs in the third, and fifth innings, and two more in the ninth.
Dustin Pedroia had a pair of hits including his second home run of the season in the top of the 9th inning in extending his hitting streak to 11 games; Daniel Nava & David Ortiz also had 2-hit games for the Sox.
Jacoby Ellsbury was out of the lineup for the first time this season, a scheduled day off for the centerfielder who had previously played every inning so far in 2013.
"You're killing me, Smalls." - During the 3-hour rain delay, the movie "The Sandlot" was played at Target Field.
Click here to find more by Jim Monaghan on Red Sox Life. Follow Jim Monaghan on twitter - @Monaghan21