Boston Red Sox 9 Toronto Blue Jays 2 (May 8, 2007)
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0 commentsThe Boston Red Sox (21-10, 1st in AL East) gave me a nice birthday present on Tuesday, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays (13-19, 5th in AL East, 8.5 GB) 9-2. Victor Zambrano (L, 0-2) was absolutely shelled in his 2.2 innings pitched, giving up 4 home runs and 8 runs on 8 hits. Josh Beckett (W, 7-0), on the other hand, continued his torrid start and became the majors' first 7-game winner with a strong 7 inning outing, striking out 5 and walking one and giving up one run, on a lead-off homer to Alex Rios in the first.
| W: | Josh Beckett | (7-0, 2.51, WPA 0.53) |
| L: | Victor Zambrano | (0-2, 10.97, -1.03) |
| S: | N/A | N/A |
Kevin Youkilis, Mike Lowell, Jason Varitek, and Dustin Pedroia hit home runs off of Zambrano to stake the Red Sox an early 8-0 lead. Pedroia's home run was his first of the year and only the third of his major league career. Youkilis was having a good game until the 6th inning, when he was hit in the leg with a pitch by Casey Janssen and had to leave the game. No word yet on if he'll miss time.
Beckett is only the 6th Red Sox pitcher in club history to win his first 7 starts of the season, and the first to do it since Roger Moret in 1973. A big reason why he's been so successful? The home run he gave up to Rios in the first was only the 2nd he's allowed on the year.
- Beckett: 60
- Zambrano: -27
Leaders by Win Probability Added:
- Red Sox: Josh Beckett (.068), Dustin Pedroia (.250)
- Blue Jays: Shane Marcum (.014), Alex Rios (.102)
Coming Up Next: The Land of the Rising Sun descends upon the Rogers Centre as struggling superstar Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-2, 5.45, WPA -0.28) takes on countryman Tomo Ohka (2-3, 5.50, WPA -0.53).
Date
May 8, 2007
