BOSTONClay Buchholz had dug a pretty sizable hole for his team after the first inning, giving up four runs to the Rays. But Buchholz settled down and the Red Sox offense came to life, pounding the Rays, 13-5, Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park.
it was the second straight shellacking the Sox gave the Raysand the first time the Sox have won two straight games since taking a doubleheader from the Rays on Aug. 27. It was the first time the Sox have won consecutive home games against the Rays since taking four straight form May 10Sept. 13, 2009.
Buchholz went seven innings, giving up five runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts and a home run.
Entering the game with just two home runs as a team in the previous seven games this season, the Sox banged out five homers against the Raysthe most theyve hit since belting six home runs July 7 against the Orioles.
Every batter in the Sox starting lineup except Darnell McDonald had at least one hit, led by David Ortiz, who went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and five RBI, and Mike Aviles, who went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Ortiz, Aviles, Cody Ross, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia each hit their first home runs of the season, while Dustin Pedroia got his second.
In the first two games of the four-game series against the Rays, the Sox have scored double-digit runs while recording double-digit hits. They have scored 25 runs in their first two home games, compared to 22 total runs in six road games to start the season.
STAR OF THE GAME: David Ortiz
Going 4-for-5 with two doubles, and a home run, it was the third time in his career that he has recorded at least four hits and five RBI in a game. He also did son on July 26 against the Royals and Aug. 12, 2005, against the White Sox. The home run, his first of the season, was the 40th of his career against the Rays, Ortizs second-most against one team, behind his 42 against the Blue Jays. The 40 home runs are third-most by one player against the Rays, behind Manny Ramirezs 41 and Alex Rodriguezs 46.
HONORABLE MENTION: Clay Buchholz
Buchholz (1-0, 9.82) started off with a shaky first inning. He faced seven batters, throwing 27 pitches, giving up four runs on two walks, and two hits, including Luke Scotts two-out, three-run homer. But Buchholz settled down, holding the Rays in check, giving his offense a chance to respond.
The win extended Buchholzs career-high 11-game undefeated streak, going back to May 2, 2011.
TURNING POINT: Bottom of the second inning
With two outs and a 4-0 lead, Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson could not close the door on the Sox. He walked Ryan Sweeney before giving up Jarrod Saltalamacchias first home run of the season, a blast to straightaway center field. That was enough to let the Sox back into the contest, before their late-inning offensive barrage for the win.
BY THE NUMBERS: 2
Taking the first two games of the four-game series from the Rays marks the first time the Sox have won consecutive games since sweeping a double-header from the As on Aug. 27 at Fenway.
QUOTE OF NOTE
We got a good-hitting team. We never shied away from that. Were just trying to see a lot of pitches, trying to get back to what weve done well, which is see pitches and trying to put a good at-bat together. Its a dangerous lineup.Jarrod Saltalamacchia