Loretta Delivers Victory Over Sox

By KC Downey in Featured, Red Sox ⋅ June 29, 2008 at 8:29pm ⋅ Post a comment

Mark Loretta played one all-star season at second base for the Red Sox (in 2006), finishing with five HRs, 59 RBI, and a .285 AVG. The Red Sox then just let him go en lieu of an unknown rookie named Dustin Pedroia. Now with the Astros, Loretta is merely a backup infielder and pinch hitter, but in Sunday’s game he made the Red Sox remember who he was after a game-winning RBI single (his fourth RBI of the series) in the eighth inning off Hideki Okajima during a 3-2 Astros win.

The current Red Sox second baseman, Dustin Pedroia, also impressed. He went 2-5 with a HR and a stolen base. He continues to be absolutely on fire. In his last 10 games, Pedroia is 24-40 (.600) with 2 HR, 5 RBI. Simply put, he is getting on base for the 3-4-5 hitters.

Sox Stud of the Game:

Manny Ramirez connected on a game-tying HR in the seventh inning (his 16th of the season) during a 2-4 game. He also singled and walked on the afternoon, but his effort was not enough as the Sox lost 3-2.

Diamond Dud of the Game:

I don’t want to attach negative labels to any Sox players (even Julio Lugo) especially because the Sox are 50-34. But, I find myself closer and closer to naming a certain Red Sox left-hander, Hideki Choke-ajima. It applied in Sunday’s game as he allowed yet another inherited runner to score, costing David Aardsma (2-2) and the Red Sox the win.

Game Notes:

Jason Varitek went 0-3, dropping his batting average to .225.
Before losing this series to the Astros, the Red Sox had won its last nine interleague series since losing two of three to the Cubs in 2005.
Red Sox pitchers went AWOL at the plate in interleague play, finishing 0-25 with 18 strikeouts.