Sox Strike Back Behind Hermida and Pedroia, Topple Twins 6-3

The Red Sox bounced back from a disappointing series opener against the Twins with a 6-3 victory.

John Lackey was shaky, but effective enough to get through 2 outs in the 7^th inning while allowing only 2 runs. He allowed 11 baserunners, including an uncharacteristically high 4 walks, but managed to pitch around leadoff trouble and avoid damage in all but the third inning, when back-to-back base hits by Orlando Hudson and Joe Mauer scored 2 runs.

Hideki Okajima recorded the pivotal third out in the 7^th inning up 3-2 after intentionally walking Joe Mauer to load the bases. Justin Morneau popped out in front of the mound, where Adrian Beltre made a running basket catch to retire the side.

Marco Scutaro and Dustin Pedroia got the Sox off on the right foot, as Dustin doubled in Scutaro after a leadoff single. Scutaro would then drive J.D. Drew in from third in the 2^nd, and Pedroia sent another inside fastball deep for his 4^th home run of the year.

Clinging to a 1-run lead, the Sox loaded the bases in the 8^th inning as Youkilis singled, Beltre doubled, and J.D. Drew was intentionally walked. Jeremy Hermida, playing in left for the banged up Jacoby Ellsbury, stepped up to the plate with 2 outs, and smacked the 2-1 pitch into the left field gap for a bases-clearing double.

Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon were both shaky in relief, but managed to give up only 1 run in closing out the game.

Game Notes:

• One reason to miss the Metrodome? Rain. No delay, but it got nasty for about an inning. No other reasons though.
• Lackey's wildness seemed to come and go suddenly. When he was missing the strike zone, he was missing it a lot. When he wasn't, he was on. He seemed to have a lot of trouble finding his location in the rain.
• Dustin Pedroia's fourth home run last year? July 9^th.
• Jeremy Hermida's honeymoon period continues with the Red Sox. He's recorded a hit in all of his 5 games, and is tied for second on the team in RBIs with 6 despite only having 14 at bats.
• David Ortiz reached base twice with a double and a walk, but looked really bad in his other at bats. He was also caught stealing, of all things, in the 3^rd inning. That has to be a missed hit-and-run, right?
• Another game, another ridiculous strike zone. This guy had no idea whether he did or did not want to call strikes outside.