Aceves earns first win in victory over White Sox

Share

BOSTON -- The beneficiary of Cody Ross walk-off three-run home run Thursday night, Alfredo Aceves earned his first win of the season.He was also the engineer behind Ross Gatorade shower at homeplate.Its a celebration, you know, Aceves said. Everybody have his own style. Theres nothing wrong with that. I think its a good thing because we win. When are we going to celebrate? Tomorrow? No, right after we win.Aceves made sure he chose the colorful liquid.Honestly, I take off the top of the Gatorade cooler and it was water, he said. I was like, oh, no, no.He grabbed the other cooler, the one with sticky, blue athletic drink and ran for the plate, waiting for Ross to arrive.The Sox havent had many such opportunities. It was just their third walk-off win of the season, along with the one provided by Jarrod Saltalamacchias game-winning homer on May 26 against the Rays. In that game, though, Aceves was still in the bullpen, too far away to concoct a celebration.This time, he was closer. In the dugout, after pitching scoreless ninth inning. But, Aceves outing -- as many of them have been this season -- was not without its drama.He entered in the ninth to relieve starter Clay Buchholz, who had gone eight innings, giving up just one run. But that one run left the Red Sox trailing the White Sox, 1-0, going into the ninth, behind the sterling work of White Sox rookie starter Jose QuintanaAceves opened the ninth getting Alex Rios to fly out to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez in foul ground and retiring A.J. Pierzynski on a comebacker. With two outs, though, Aceves gave up a single to Dayan Viciedo and a ground-rule double to Gordon Beckham, putting runners are second and third. But Aceves got Chicago No. 9 hitter Eduardo Escobar to ground out to Dustin Pedroia, ending the threat.Ross blast in the bottom of the inning gave Aceves the win, improving his record to 1-6 with a 3.97 ERA.I am happy, of course,Aceves said. Yeah, Im pretty excited that we win. The way that we win, its pretty cool.Aceves said the 0 in the W column next to his name had not been bothering him.No, no, because I understand real well my role now, he said. And if I win, its all extra. I know my responsibility is to hold the score just the way it is. Thats my priority thing. The result, thats not in my hands. Always Im supporting my teammates: Youre going to do it Get on base. Get a hit. Whatever you want to do, do it. Just put them down. Thats all we can do.Aceves, the closer, likes his role. What his role will be when Andrew Bailey makes his season debut remains to be seen.So far, so good, he said. What can I do? It doesnt matter whatever role it is. But I wish to play. Thats all I want.And those Gatorade showers?If we do more walkoffs, oh yes, he said with a laugh.

Contact Us