J.D. Drew career wise has jumped all over Arizona Diamondbacks pitching.
A career average of .340, with 16 HR’s, and 45 RBI’s against the D-backs translated into a two run, three hit, and career-high seven RBI performance in a 10-3 Boston Red Sox win (39-21) over Arizona (36-26).
Drew clobbered two three-run homeruns in the game and his first homer came in the top of the fourth inning against D-backs starting pitcher Doug Davis (4-7) that scored Julio Lugo and Manny Ramirez, but Drew was far from done at the plate.
Roll around the top of the sixth and Drew nailed another three run homerun that scored David Ortiz and Ramirez. The second three run homerun pushed the score to 9-1 and continued to give Josh Beckett all the cushion he needed to pick up his ninth win on the season.
Beckett (9-0) threw for 8 innings, on five hits, three runs, two earned, no walks, and eight strikeouts. Beckett threw 92 pitches in the game, 63 for strikes, and had command of his full repertoire.
Red Sox ace, Beckett, only gave up two runs one of which came in the bottom of the third on an Eric Byrnes RBI single and the other on a homer off the bat of pinch hitting catcher Miguel Montero.
The other was unearned as Orlando Hudson was caught in a pickle between third and home and scored on a Jason Varitek error at the plate.
Drew picked up his seventh RBI in the game on a double to center that scored Eric Hinske.
Julio Lugo homered on a 3-2 count to leadoff the game giving the Sox an early advantage and with that Beckett and Drew’s performances helped the Sox keep their A.L. East lead to 10.5 games over second place Baltimore and 10.5 over the New York Yankees.
