Bay Launches Two HRs in Sox Win

By KC Downey in Featured, Red Sox, Top Story ⋅ April 11, 2009 at 7:14pm ⋅ Post a comment

Jason Bay is doing his best to help Red Sox forget about Manny Ramirez. After an acrobatic yet questionable catch in left field (a play Manny would have never made), Bay blasted a HR to give the Sox a 4-3 lead. He then launched a second HR in the ninth inning that became a very large insurance run for Jonathan Papelbon the next half inning.

In the ninth inning, Jonathan Papelbon uncharacteristically gave up a HR to Torii Hunter on a fastball (he allowed just four HRs all last season). Paps suffered from location problems to load the bases with two outs against Howie Kendrick, but managed to get him to fly out to end the game after Kendrick fouled off seven straight pitches on an 0-2 count. Well…Papelbon definitely earned this save in a 5-4 Red Sox win.

Sox Stud of the Game

Jason Bay, LF: Bay had an awesome game overall. He had the aforementioned circus catch, and went 2-3 with two HRs, three runs scored, and three RBIs.

Sox Dud of the Game

Jonathan Papelbon, CL: Paps didn’t have his best stuff. He got a big out with two outs in the eighth inning against Vladimir Guerrero, but struggled in the ninth inning against the second half of the Angels lineup. He allowed one run (the Hunter HR) on two hits and two walks in 1.1 innings.

Game Notes

Brad Penny pitched well in his Red Sox debut, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks in six innings of work to earn the win.
Joe Saunders pitched well until allowing the two-run HR to Jason Bay in the seventh inning. He allowed four runs on seven hits in seven innings.
Mike Lowell finished 1-4 with a two-run HR.

About KC Downey

KC is the "head coach" of the Sports of Boston, LLC blog network. Follow him on Twitter: @kc_downey

Tags: Brad Penny, Howie Kendrick, Jason Bay, Joe Saunders, Jonathan Papelbon, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Red Sox

Discussion

One comment for “Bay Launches Two HRs in Sox Win”

I actually checked the game at work and saw Bay hit his shot into left field to put us up 4-3. I then got everyone in the building over excited as a walked down the hall clapping and screaming about Jason Bay. I’ve definitely forgotten about Manny’s void at this point, because there is no void!

Posted by Josh | April 11, 2009, 10:31 pm