BOSTON -- Pedro Ciriaco's day didn't begin very well.
After being called up on Friday to replace the injured Dustin Pedroia -- who was placed on the disabled list with a hyper-extended right thumb -- Ciriaco made his Red Sox debut in the first of a day-night double-header on Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park, hitting second and starting at second base.
The result? He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in a 6-1 Red Sox loss to the New York Yankees.
Ciriaco remained in the lineup for the night-cap, starting at shortstop and hitting ninth. The result was a whole lot different.
The 26-year-old Pawtucket call-up helped the Red Sox to a 9-5 win over the Yankees by finishing the night 4-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored, and a game-high four RBI. He also had a stolen base and seven assists in the field.
"I think hes just a nice player," said Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine after the win. "He played so well for us in spring training, doing just what he did tonight, being able to steal a base, bunt for a base hit, he swings the bat, plays exciting defense. He did all those things tonight. And I dont know that he can do it every day at the Major League level, but its a nice breath of fresh air."
Ciriaco put down a perfect bunt single in his first at-bat in the bottom of the third, which advanced Mauro Gomez to third, and led to the Red Sox' first run of the game on a Daniel Nava ground-out, cutting New York's lead to 3-1.
In his second at-bat, he singled to left in the bottom of the fifth, and later scored Boston's second run of the game on a Nick Punto sacrifice fly to center field.
Then, trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth with bases loaded and one out, Ciriaco ripped a three-run double down the third-base line and ended Phil Hughes' night, giving the Red Sox their first lead of the game at 5-3 in the process.
"I said in my mind, 'In a big situation, I've just got to be aggressive.' I looked for my pitch, and didn't try to do too much," said Ciriaco about his mindset in that at-bat.
Not doing too much seemed to be his mindset throughout.
"I was seeing the ball pretty good tonight, and just trying to be simple," he said afterwards. "Just trying to get my approach to the middle, and not trying to do too much. Just try to be simple and hit the ball to the middle."
Ciriaco drove in his fourth and final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh, as Jayson Nix couldn't handle his hard grounder down the third-base line, scoring pinch-runner Mike Aviles and giving the Red Sox an 8-4 lead.
But just because he was done with his bat, didn't mean Ciriaco was done for the night. After his RBI double in the seventh, Ciriaco stole third, and Russell Martin's throw got past Nix, leading to Ciriaco scoring Boston's ninth and final run of the game.
"Base running's part of my game, and I've got to take advantage," he said. "They didn't really hold me on the base, and he was slow to the plate, so I took advantage of that."
For as impressive as his career night at the plate was on Saturday, Ciriaco's defense was equally as impressive.
"I think I'm here for my glove," said Ciriaco. "So when you play defense, defense wins ballgames. So, I'm just trying to be solid and consistent in my defense."
"He was definitely electric tonight," said Red Sox infielder Nick Punto. "He was fun to watch run around. And he came up with some big hits. It was fun."
So much so, that when Ciriaco walked up to the plate for his final at-bat in the bottom of the eighth, he received a standing ovation to the cheers of "Pedro, Pedro, Pedro!"
"It's really fun for me," he said afterwards. "Hearing everybody say my name, it's amazing."