Lightning in a bottle by Jared Carrabis
The Sox may have something in Jeremy Hermida


331 at bats into the 2009 season, Dustin Pedroia hit his fourth home run of the year.

Just 31 at bats into the 2010 season, Pedroia hammered his fourth home run of the 2010 season. By the time Pedroia had hit his fourth long ball last season, all of us here in America had already had our 4th of July barbecues. When it seems like there's nothing left for Boston's second baseman to accomplish, he raises the bar for himself again.

Certainly the Red Sox aren't asking him to be a power-hitter, but it couldn't hurt to have Pedroia reach that 20 HR plateau.

Making his first road start in a Red Sox uniform, John Lackey took to the mound looking for his first win on the young season. But before Lackey could even toe the rubber, Pedroia provided the big right-hander with a 1-0 lead by shooting an RBI double to left.

An RBI single by Marco Scutaro, who was filling in for Jacoby Ellsbury in the leadoff spot, upped the Red Sox's lead to 2-0.

The potent Twins offense got the two runs right back in the bottom of the third, when Delmon Young led off the frame with his first double of the season. Later in the inning with two outs, the O-Dog, Orlando Hudson, drove a base hit back up the middle to plate a run.

Following Hudson's RBI single, Joe Mauer hit a grounder back up the middle that was knocked down by Scutaro, but the Boston shortstop didn't have a play. One run would score, as Mauer had himself an infield single.

With the game tied, Lackey settled settled in and held the Twins scoreless the rest of his outing, which lasted 6.2 innings. The right-hander stretched himself out a bit, tossing 107 pitches, 64 for strikes, while giving up just the two earned runs on seven hits. Lackey also allowed an uncharacteristic four walks to go along with two strikeouts.

The knockout punch for the Red Sox was delivered by the red-hot Jeremy Hermida in the top of the eighth when the former Marlin delivered a bases loaded, bases-clearing, double to give Boston a 6-2 lead.

"He left a pitch on the plate a little bit and I was able to shoot it in the gap out there," Hermida said. "But you tip your hat to Lackey today. He went out there and threw a great ballgame and put us in a position to win. I mean, he deserved to win pitching like that."

In an attempt to keep the Twins at bay, Daniel Bard was summoned from the bullpen in the eighth. Ahead in the count 0-1, Bard hurled a breaking ball that was hammered out to left by Michael Cuddyer for a solo home run.

The homer set up Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth for a save situation. Although not pretty, allowing a pair of walks, Papelbon did not allow a hit or a run, to grab his third save of the season.

With left-hander Francisco Liriano, the Red Sox have informed Ortiz that he will not be in the lineup on Thursday. Not disclosed, however, was the name of the player who will occupy the DH spot. With Ellsbury out of action until the Sox return home, you can bet your bottom dollar that Boston will keep Hermida and his .357 average in the lineup somewhere.

However, when Ellsbury returns, the Red Sox must find a spot for Hermida's bat. There options are plentiful, as they could put Ellsbury in center and Hermida in left for a game. They could bench Papi and have Hermida at DH, or they could sit down JD Drew, who is hitting just .182 thus far, in favor of Hermida in right. Whatever the defensive positioning may be, Hermida stays. He's hitting for average, he's hitting for power, he's hitting in big situations and driving in runs and he's been somewhat of a difference-maker for the Sox in April.

Thursday's probable starters:

As mentioned above, Liriano will toe the slab for the Twins in the rubber-match of this inaugural three-game set at Target Field. The odds are in Boston's favor, as Liriano has faced the Red Sox just twice and lost twice, as his 13.50 ERA is evidence of his struggles. Tim Wakefield will make his second start of the season on Thursday against the Twins. Being a long-time veteran, his numbers against his opposing team is a better sampling than Liriano's. Lifetime, Wakefield holds an impressive 14-5 record against the Twins with a 4.16 ERA.

-Jared Carrabis

To order Jared's debut book, One Fan's Story: If This Hat Could Talk, click HERE!





Published on April 15, 2010

---

Tweet