Projo Sports Blog

By KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA - For the second straight game, the Red Sox rode their deep, versatile bullpen to a win. But this time the post-game smiles were tempered a bit.

After five relievers helped nail down a 5-2 win over the Phillies Friday night, four more came on to shut the door in the second game of the series. With their usual army of fans invading Citizens Bank Park, the Red Sox roughed up Philly pitching for 13 hits and won going away, 11-6. The series concludes Sunday afternoon with the Red Sox sending Josh Beckett to the mound.

The bullpen contributions were vital because the Red Sox saw Japanese pitching starter Daisuke Matsuzaka struggle yet again. The Sox handed Dice K a 5-0 lead in the first inning but after a 95 minute rain delay, he nearly blew it all. The Phillies scored four times in the second and third innings to close to 5-4. Matsuzaka left after four innings and 91 pitches.

Afterwards, he expressed frustration with his recent struggles. Asked if he could take anything positive from the start, Matsuzaka said, "No, I can't and I think that's a real problem. I need to make some sort of forward progress."

The good news is the Phillies' pitching was awful for most of the night. Starter Antonio Bastardo (2-1) was ripped right out of the gate and didn't return after the rain delay. After the home team sliced the Sox lead to 5-4, Boston responded with three runs in the fifth inning off Jack Taschner to create some breathing room. The Phillies didn't get closer than three runs off the lead the rest of the way. The road win was Boston's sixth in a row, its longest streak away from Fenway since 2005.

"We did a lot of good things," said manager Terry Francona. "I thought our guys played. We've been here a long time but there was a lot of energy on the bench all night."

Boston's bullpen was again very sharp. Francona entered the game hoping to ride Matsuzaka and the only two relievers he didn't use Friday, Manny Delcarmen and Jonathan Papelbon. That plan went up in smoke after the rain delay. With Matsuzaka keeping fresh on a stationary bike and staying warm, Francona let him resume his start but knew he probably could not pitch deep into the game.

Delcarmen came on to pitch the fifth inning and gave up one run. Hideki Okajima then threw for the second straight game and looked good for two innings, only giving up a solo homer to Jayson Werth. Ramon Ramirez pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning and Papelbon cruised in the ninth.

The offensive stars were deep and varied. Jason Bay (two hits, three RBI) hit a two-run homer in the critical first inning. Jacoby Ellsbury went 2-for-3 with a home run and reached base five times. Mike Lowell kept hitting, stroking a double and two singles to raise his average to .301.

But the most productive Sox hitter was a surprise. Julio Lugo went 4-for-5 with three singles and a double for two RBI. This was his first start in eight days and he says he's not dealing well with the bench time.

"I don't adjust to being on the bench," he said. "For me, it's very tough I'm not a guy who wants to come to the field, work out and not play. That's very tough."

Lugo has spoken with both Francona and general manager Theo Epstein about his role on the team. The Red Sox are clearly confident that Nick Green can help them win games and Jed Lowrie is about to crank up his rehab from wrist surgery. Where does that leave Lugo, long-term?

"You asking the wrong guy. You should ask Theo that," he said. "I'm a player. Whatever they do, I'm still going to be here."

Asked if he might be traded, he answered "I'm going to think about the Red Sox right now while I'm here. If something else happens, then I'll think about it. I just want to play and not worry about other things."

Francona acknowledged that the last week "hasn't been the best for him," but pointed out that Lugo is more than capable of chipping in on a team that is getting contributions from all corners right now. The bullpen owns the best ERA (2.30) in the majors and different offensive heroes seem to emerge nightly.

"The idea of whoever we play, we want to win," he said. "We try to strike a balance where we put our best team out there and sometimes that balance isn't every other day. We'll just continue to do what's right."

 Tags  Red Sox

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