Cody Ross likes to make up for his mistakes rather quick. A day after losing a pop up in the sky that gave the Rays the winning run, the Sox outfielder gets a two out RBI single in the eighth which would be the difference in a 5-3 win.
Ross had himself a great night as he had Rays starter Matt Moore work hard tonight. Moore walked Ross with the bases loaded in the first and then took him deep in the third. It appeared that Moore's night could've ended earlier but after the Ross homer, he settled in and retired 10 in a row to keep the Rays into it.
Besides Ross, Marlon Byrd hit his first homer for the Sox to account for the other run. Pedroia was the only other significant contributor as he went 2-5, unless you want to count Mike Aviles picking up his first career ejection after giving the home plate umpire a few choice words for a close third strike call.
Sox starter Felix Doubront looked good out there despite the Rays working the count on him which worked against him as they were able to drive in a couple of runs in the third & fourth innings. Thankfully he pitched into the sixth before Bobby Valentine took him out. He allowed two runs on six hits and four walks. He also struck out seven.
Speaking of Bobby Valentine he was really micro manging tonight. He used Rich Hill, Scott Atichson, and Andrew Miller for one out a piece (throwing ten pitches combined) before letting Vicente Padilla and Alfredo Aceves to pitch the next 2 1/3 innings to close the door on the Rays.
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May 18, 2012
