BOSTON — The kid did it again.
Eduardo Rodriguez, making his second career start, thrived Wednesday as the Red Sox defeated the Minnesota Twins 6-3 in Game 1 of the teams’ doubleheader at Fenway Park.
Boston has won back-to-back games after dropping three straight. Not a bad way for the Sox to kick off the day-night twin bill.
GAME IN A WORD
Definitive.
If there was any question about Rodriguez staying in the Red Sox’s rotation beyond his second major league start, the left-hander answered it with another awesome performance. He’s here to stay, folks.
Rodriguez didn’t just pitch well en route to his second win in as many starts. He again dominated, only increasing the buzz that already surrounded him by virtue of his impressive minor league track record.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Xander Bogaerts delivered a two-run single in the fifth inning to open a 5-1 lead.
Boston grabbed a 2-1 advantage in the third inning on Hanley Ramirez’s RBI single and increased its lead to 3-1 in the fourth inning on Dustin Pedroia’s RBI single. But Bogaerts’ third hit of the game — a base knock back up the middle — really gave Rodriguez and the Sox some breathing room.
ON THE BUMP
— Rodriguez doesn’t look anything like a 22-year-old rookie.
Rodriguez allowed only one run on two hits over seven innings. He struck out seven, walked two and again flashed three impressive offerings while remaining in total control.
One of the two hits Rodriguez surrendered was a home run to Brian Dozier in the third inning. The only other trouble Rodriguez ran into came in the sixth inning, when the first two hitters reached (single, walk) before the lefty shut the door on Minnesota’s rally.
— Alexi Ogando pitched the final two innings. He surrendered a two-run homer in the ninth.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— John Henry’s wish is David Ortiz’s command. One day after the Red Sox principal owner expressed a desire to see Boston hit more doubles, Ortiz produced a pair of two-baggers.
Ortiz opened the scoring in the first inning with an RBI double over Aaron Hicks’ head in center field. He added another double two innings later, marking his first two-double game of the season.
— With the way he’s hitting, Pedroia might never leave the leadoff spot. Pedroia collected four singles, drove in a run and scored another atop Boston’s order.
— Ramirez had two hits. He also led an unexpected double-steal in the fifth inning before scoring on Bogaerts’ two-run single.
Red Sox manager John Farrell said over the weekend he wanted to see more aggressivenessfrom Ramirez. Ramirez showed it at the plate, on the bases and in the field Wednesday.
— Mike Napoli launched his ninth homer of the season into the Monster seats in the seventh inning.
— Bogaerts finished 3-for-4 and is swinging the bat extremely well since starting Boston’s recent road trip with an 0-for-15 skid.
Bogaerts is 8-for-11 with three RBIs over his last three games.
TWEET OF THE GAME
How long before Ocho Cinco issues a challenge?
[tweet https://twitter.com/JMastrodonato/status/606182317695057920Â align=’center’%5D
UP NEXT
Don’t stray too far. The Red Sox and Twins will play the second game of their doubleheader Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Go grab a snack. I’ll wait here.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
