Coco Crisp drove in five RBI’s and Kason Gabbard earned his fourth victory of the season beating the Chicago White Sox (43-53) in a romping defeat 11-2.
Crisp has hit .370 in his last 29 games and has driven in eighth RBI’s in his past two games hitting from different spots in the lineup (leadoff and eighth slot). Crisp was 3-4 and also scored once in the game.
The man of few words in the clubhouse, Gabbard, lets his pitching do the talking, and that has been evident in his last two starts.
Combine this start with his last and Gabbard has only allowed six hits over 16 innings pitched. Gabbard earned the win pitching for 7 innings in this start, giving up three hits, one run, one walk, one strikeout and got 15 of his 21 batters out on ground balls.
Crisp started the scoring for the Sox in the bottom of the second as Boston was down 1-0, but a single to left by Crisp plated two Sox and put Boston up 2-1. Boston handed over a quick lead to Gabbard and he held on to it for the next five innings that he pitched only allowing one hit.
In the bottom of the sixth Boston added another two runs to the scoreboard as J.D. Drew who has been heating up of late doubled to deep right scoring Manny Ramirez and Crisp added another RBI on a single giving Boston the 4-1 lead.
With a three run lead entering the bottom of the seventh the Boston lineup took advantage of a bases loaded situation with two outs as Drew, Mike Lowell, and Jason Varitek were all walked with the sacks loaded and with each walked it ended up forcing home three runs.
Crisp then singled to center scoring Drew and Lowell and Eric Hinske followed with a triple to deep right field scoring Varitek and Crisp breaking open the game to a 11-1 score.
Drew ended his day going 1-3 with two runs, two RBI’s and two walks.
Gabbard’s second masterful pitching performance dropped his ERA from 3.44 to 2.97 on the season.
