RED SOX DESTROY TWINS 18-5, TAKE THE SWEEP
July 9, 2008
Boston, MA - Kevin Youkilis went 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBI, and Boston took advantage of a wiped-out triple
play call in the seventh inning to rout Minnesota, 18-5, en route to sweeping the three game- set at Fenway Park.
Jacoby Ellsbury posted the first four-hit game of his career for the Red Sox, who posted season highs with the 18 runs and 23 hits. Dustin Pedroia extended his career-best hitting streak to 17 games for Boston, which improved to an American League-best 34-10 at home.
Justin Morneau hit a two-run homer for the Twins, who have lost three in a row after a five-game win streak.
Josh Beckett (9-5) earned the win despite allowing five runs in just five-plus innings of work. The ace right-hander, who has now won four of his last five decisions, also yielded eight hits and two walks, while striking out two.
Livan Hernandez (9-6) suffered the loss after being tagged for six runs in only 4 1/3 innings. The veteran righty did not allow any walks, but surrendered 11 hits, while striking out two.
Ahead 7-5, the Red Sox put game away with seven runs in the seventh after a triple-play call was reversed. Mike Lowell led off with a walk, moved to third on a Sean Casey double and crossed the plate via a base hit up the middle by Jason Varitek, but only after a reversal call.
Denard Span made a sliding attempt at catching Varitek's sinking liner to center and then threw to second to double off Casey. Second baseman Alexi Casilla threw to third to get Lowell, who appeared to tag up and had already crossed the plate. The play was originally scored an 8-4-5 triple play, but replays showed Span didn't make the catch and the call was reversed.
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire argued and was ejected.
Two batters later, Julio Lugo drew a one-out walk from Craig Breslow and Ellsbury followed with a single to left that brought in Casey. Brian Bass was summoned from the bullpen, but Pedroia cleared the bases with a three-run double. Youkilis doubled in Pedroia and then scored on a Manny Ramirez single.
"We just couldn't stop it," Gardenhire said referring to Boston's offensive explosion. "We made some good plays early. We actually did a real good job on Beckett, made him throw a heck of a lot of pitches. We got a lead but couldn't hold it. It was a disappointing series here, two games were really good. This one was going along okay and then got out of hand."
Boston capped off the scoring with four runs in the eighth. Pinch-hitter Kevin Cash led off with his second homer of the year, Brandon Moss scored on a groundout by Lugo and Youkilis belted a two-run homer that also drove in Pedroia, who had singled.
"It's good to just win a series and also to sweep a series, and to regain our winning ways and swing the bats good," Youkilis said. "We've just got to keep on grinding out at-bats."
The Twins opened the scoring with three runs in the first. Casilla smacked a one-out double and came around one batter later courtesy of a base hit by Joe Mauer. Morneau belted a two-run homer to right.
The Red Sox posted a four-run third and led the rest of the way. Ramirez doubled in a run and scored on Lowell's two-RBI single. Lowell raced to third on a Span error and scored on a Casey single up the middle.
Boston improved its advantage to 6-3 with two runs in the fifth courtesy of a Ramirez RBI double and a Casey-run-scoring single.
The Twins trimmed the deficit to 6-5 with a pair of runs in the sixth. Jason Kubel led off with his 13th home run of the season, and Nick Punto drove in the other run with a one-out single that scored Delmon Young.
Boston's advantage was extended in the bottom half of the inning though as Ellsbury scored on a Youkilis sacrifice fly.
"It's always good to have success from all the players," Youkilis said. That's what's huge for us is having success and trying to get guys comfortable at the plate and trying to get confidence."
Game Notes:
Each player in the Red Sox starting lineup had at least one hit...Red Sox right fielder J.D. Drew missed the game with back spasms...The last time Boston had 23 hits was when on May 28, 2005 when the Red Sox had 27 versus the Yankees...The Red Sox swept the Twins for the first time since a three-game set at Fenway Park from July 29-31, 2005...It was 432nd consecutive sellout since May 15, 2003...The 18 runs are the most for the Sox since recording 25 against Florida on June 27, 2003...Boston optioned infielder/outfielder Jeff Bailey back to Pawtucket following the game. The club plans to recall pitcher Clay Buchholz on Friday for a start against the Orioles.
-~Cledus being Cledus~
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