April 26, 2013

G23: Red Sox 7, Astros 3

Astros  - 001 010 100 - 3  7  0
Red Sox - 111 210 01x - 7 17  2
The Red Sox hit four home runs, including two by David Ross (who had four hits for the first time in his career), and Ryan Dempster (6-4-2-3-10, 104) struck out 10 Astros in six innings. Boston is now 12-0 when they score first. They are 16-7 overall.

Only four Red Sox teams have had a better record after 23 games: 1946 (20-3), 1904 (18-5), 1940 (17-6), and 1998 (17-6).

The Red Sox scored in each of the first five innings:

1st: Jacoby Ellsbury lined a single off first baseman Brandon Laird's glove and scored on Dustin Pedroia's one-out double.

2nd: David Ross hit a two-out solo home run.

3rd: Pedroia doubled (a ground rule two-bagger to right) and scored on Mike Napoli's double into the left field corner.

4th: Will Middlebrooks and Ross began the inning with back-to-back home runs. Those dongs ended Erik Bedard's night: 3-8-5-0-5, 91.

5th: David Ortiz homered to dead center with one down - his second straight game with a tater.

The Red Sox added a run in the eighth. Singles by Middlebrooks, Ross, and Pedro Ciriaco loaded the bases with none out. Ellsbury lined to shortstop and Middlebrooks was doubled off third. Jonny Gomes's single scored Ross, giving Gomes his first RBI of the year.

Napoli set two team records for April: most doubles (13) and most extra-base hits (18). He has 27 RBI in the month, with three games remaining.
Extra-Base Hits18  Mike Napoli      2013
16  Jose Offerman    1999
15  David Ortiz      2012
15  David Ortiz      2007
15  David Ortiz      2006
15  David Ortiz      2004
15  Mo Vaughn        1998
  
Doubles13  Mike Napoli      2013
11  Ryan Sweeney     2012
11  Mike Lowell      2006
11  Jose Offerman    1999
10  Adrian Gonzalez  2011
10  Dustin Pedroia   2008
10  David Ortiz      2004
10  Mo Vaughn        1993
  
RBI
31  Manny Ramirez    2001
28  Mo Vaughn        1996
27  Mike Napoli      2013
26  Manny Ramirez    2002
Ellsbury stole second base in the sixth - the 200th of his career - breaking his own Sox record for steals in April. He now has 11, which also leads the major leagues.
Stolen Bases11  Jacoby Ellsbury  2013
10  Jacoby Ellsbury  2009
9   Johnny Damon     2002
Matt Dominguez (two doubles, HBP) scored all three of Houston's runs. Five of the Astros' seven hits were doubles.

Example
Erik Bedard / Ryan Dempster
Ellsbury, CF
Gomes, LF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Nava, RF
Middlebrooks, 3B
Ross, C
Ciriaco, SS
Boston is tied with Texas and Atlanta for the most wins in the major leagues (15).

The Red Sox have been in first place for all 26 days of this season, which sets a new club record for the longest stretch in first to begin a season. The 1918 team was atop the American League for the first 25 days.

Mike Napoli's double in the seventh inning last night was his 16th extra-base hit of the month, tying Jose Offerman (1999) for the team record in April. He also tied Offerman (1999), Mike Lowell (2006), and Ryan Sweeney (2012) for the team record with 11 doubles in April.

The Red Sox are 11-0 when they score first. ... The Red Sox are 13-2 when scoring three or more runs.

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