McDonald HRs, Miller Impressive Again in Red Sox Win Over Astros

By KC Downey in Featured, Red Sox, Top Story ⋅ July 3, 2011 at 1:38am ⋅ Post a comment

Andrew Miller, Jarrod Saltalamacchia (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

It would appear that the Red Sox are finally starting to figure out these National League rules. After losing 2 of 3 to the Pirates and Phillies, the Red Sox have won the first two against the Astros in Houston, their last interleague series of the season. Boston took it to Astros starter J.A. Happ and later the Houston bullpen, piling up double digits in runs and hits in a 10-4 win.

The Red Sox scored three runs in the first on two RBI singles and a bases loaded walk, and that was more than enough for lefty Andrew Miller, who was quite impressive in his third Boston start. Miller allowed a run in a shaky first inning, but settled down in finished allowing just two runs on seven hits in 6.0 innings to nab his second win.

Darnell McDonald, who at this point is probably fighting to keep his job while the Red Sox look for a competent right-handed hitting outfielder, smacked a three-run HR in the eighth to blow a 6-3 game wide open, giving the Sox a comfortable 9-3 lead. He finished 1-4 but is still hitting just .125 on the season.

Terry Francona started David Ortiz at first base for the second time this road trip, and he went 0-2 with a bases loaded walk. Big Papi is now 0-for-his-last-18, and hasn’t had a hit since going 2-4 back on June 20 against the Padres at Fenway.

Adrian Gonzalez started the game in right field and eventually moved back over to first base when Ortiz was pulled. He finished 3-5 with an RBI and three runs scored.

Sox Stud of the Game: Andrew Miller

Miller has pitched really well, and given Terry Francona a “good problem” in the process. When Clay Buchholz returns from the disabled list, who gets knocked out of the rotation? It should be John Lackey, but it won’t because of his contract. It will be interesting to see if Miller turns in a couple more strong outings.

Sox Dud of the Game: Marco Scutaro

Scutaro went 0-4, and is 0-for-his-last-8 since his first-inning HR Friday night.

Game Notes:

W: Andrew Miller (2-0)
L: J.A. Happ (3-10)

Kudos to Yamaico Navarro, who hit his first career HR pinch-hitting for Miller. He’s now battling 1.000.
Michael Bourn went 4-5 out of the leadoff spot for the ‘Stros.