Pedroia, Ellsbury are at top of their game
Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia isn’t immune to batting slumps, but he doesn’t stay mired in them for long.
Pedroia put an end to an 0-for-16 slide with three hits and three RBI Friday night against Tampa Bay.
Last night he nearly duplicated that effort on behalf of Red Sox [team stats] starter Josh Beckett by going 3-for-5 with a double, two runs and an RBI in a 12-4 victory over the Rays.
The last time Pedroia posted consecutive three-hit games July 18 and 19 of last season.
Pedroia is a contact hitter whose particular skills are enhanced batting second in the order behind speedy center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and ahead of sluggers David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.
“He does a good job there,” said Ellsbury, who contributed two runs on a 2-for-4 hitting performance last night. “He’s aggressive but at the same time he waits for a good pitch to hit and he’s always making contact.
“That’s what you want from a guy hitting in that spot in front of those guys,” Ellsbury added.
The foursome at the top of manager Terry Francona’s batting order got the Red Sox offense up and running against Tampa Bay starter James Shields, who blanked the Sox 3-0 at Tropicana Field last weekend.
Ellsbury led off with a single up the middle and went to second on Pedroia’s base hit to left. David Ortiz brought home Ellsbury with a double to left. Manny Ramirez gave Beckett a 3-0 lead with a two-run single to center.
“It was good to get off to a fast start like that especially when you have Beckett on the mound,” said Ellsbury. “When you get a couple of runs early you get a lot off confidence.
“For me, I was trying to get a pitch in the zone and drive it. The first time I faced him I was a little too anxious and was maybe swinging at pitches out of the zone.”
Ellsbury and Pedroia continued their blitz on Shields in the second. Ellsbury drew a one-out walk, reached second on a wild pitch and scored on Pedroia’s single to right. Pedroia prompted Shield’s early exit when he opened the fourth with a double off the wall in left center and scored on Ortiz’ second opposite field double of the game.
The top four batters in the Red Sox’ lineup accounted for six of their first seven runs.
“Getting a couple of runs in the fourth with Beckett going allowed us to relax and swing freely.” said Ellsbury. -www.bostonherald.com
Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia isn’t immune to batting slumps, but he doesn’t stay mired in them for long.
Pedroia put an end to an 0-for-16 slide with three hits and three RBI Friday night against Tampa Bay.
Last night he nearly duplicated that effort on behalf of Red Sox [team stats] starter Josh Beckett by going 3-for-5 with a double, two runs and an RBI in a 12-4 victory over the Rays.
The last time Pedroia posted consecutive three-hit games July 18 and 19 of last season.
Pedroia is a contact hitter whose particular skills are enhanced batting second in the order behind speedy center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and ahead of sluggers David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.
“He does a good job there,” said Ellsbury, who contributed two runs on a 2-for-4 hitting performance last night. “He’s aggressive but at the same time he waits for a good pitch to hit and he’s always making contact.
“That’s what you want from a guy hitting in that spot in front of those guys,” Ellsbury added.
The foursome at the top of manager Terry Francona’s batting order got the Red Sox offense up and running against Tampa Bay starter James Shields, who blanked the Sox 3-0 at Tropicana Field last weekend.
Ellsbury led off with a single up the middle and went to second on Pedroia’s base hit to left. David Ortiz brought home Ellsbury with a double to left. Manny Ramirez gave Beckett a 3-0 lead with a two-run single to center.
“It was good to get off to a fast start like that especially when you have Beckett on the mound,” said Ellsbury. “When you get a couple of runs early you get a lot off confidence.
“For me, I was trying to get a pitch in the zone and drive it. The first time I faced him I was a little too anxious and was maybe swinging at pitches out of the zone.”
Ellsbury and Pedroia continued their blitz on Shields in the second. Ellsbury drew a one-out walk, reached second on a wild pitch and scored on Pedroia’s single to right. Pedroia prompted Shield’s early exit when he opened the fourth with a double off the wall in left center and scored on Ortiz’ second opposite field double of the game.
The top four batters in the Red Sox’ lineup accounted for six of their first seven runs.
“Getting a couple of runs in the fourth with Beckett going allowed us to relax and swing freely.” said Ellsbury. -www.bostonherald.com
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