Recently inserted into the third slot of the Boston Red Sox lineup, J.D. Drew has been shining in the role as he notched two hits and drove in one run in the 5-1 over the Tampa Bay Rays.
With the win Boston takes over possession of first place from the Rays in the A.L. East leading by a 1/2 game with a 37-25 record.
Drew has been very hot of late especially in the last four games he has played in collecting eight hits in 13 at bats and has driven in five runs during the four game span.
Josh Beckett earned is sixth win of the season pitching for six innings, allowing seven hits, one run, no walks and struck out five Rays.
Star of the Game: Bullpen
I am saying this because it seems as if the pen is becoming a little bit more consistent as of late. Also, Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen have been solid out of the pen as MDC last let up a run on May 24th against the Athletics and Hansen has not let up a run since May 25th against Oakland as well.
Preview of Next Game: Shields vs Lester
Shields is 1-1 against Boston so far this season where the starter was dominant in one start and so-so in the other. The offense for Boston will have to make sure to work Shields deep into counts and make him pitch in hitters counts.
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Not just MDC and Hansen, but Aardsma, has been solid over the last 12 games now, throwing for strikes, reducing BB’s. IMO we have our Pen.
Imagine being the Rays, O’s or Mariners and, just for a minute, breathing a sigh of relief because, coming to fan dominant Fenway, neither Papi, nor Daisuke, nor Buchholz, nor Moss are available; and the vaunted Pen and Defense have been underwhelming.
Then watch Lowell and Drew hit HR’s, and realize Youk, Tek and Manny have not, and they are due; and have Coco and Jacoby climb out of slumps; and watch them run; and realize two of the best hitters, the Mayor and Carter, haven’t even come to the plate yet; and have the Pen suddenly be impregnable; and still have to face Becket, Lester, Colon, Wake and super-rookie Masterson.
None of these teams could be overly optimistic.
JD is rakin’. Hope he can keep this up for another couple of weeks. It’ll make losing Papi a lot more absorbable.
You have to be enjoying the .302/.401/.469 from JD right now. He’s one of the most important players right now with Ortiz out- along with Manny and Beckett stepping it up.
It is good to see Aardsma getting it done too. We need this bullpen badly down this stretch.
JD Drew is like your deadbeat father who comes around once a month, takes you to Disneyland, you have the time of your life, promises to “make it up to you.”….then ultimately lets you down by going cold or on the DL with another owwie. so sorry I don’t trust his current hit streak.