Buchholz, who allowed just three hits in seven shutout innings, won his fourth straight decision thanks to six Red Sox home runs. Dustin Pedroia launched a pair of long balls while Alex Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis, J.D. Drew and David Ortiz also went deep in Boston's eight-game homestand opener. The six homers were the most in a game by the Sox offense since Sept. 15, 2008.
Red Sox 10, Orioles 0
Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.
September 8, 2009
Headliner: Dustin Pedroia snapped an 18-game homerless drought in a big way. In the first inning, Pedroia smashed a two-run homer over everything in left to put Boston up 2-0, but the reigning AL MVP wasn't done there. In the third, Pedie peppered the Monster seats with a line shot to give the Sox a 5-0 lead. The dinger gave the second baseman his first regular season multi-home run game of his career (he hit two homers against Tampa Bay in Game 2 of the 2008 ACLS). Pedroia finished 2-for-3 with a walk and three RBIs giving him his first three-RBI night since June 30 — also against the Orioles.
Dirt dog: Clay Buchholz retired the first 10 batters he faced and won his fourth straight decision after holding the O’s to just three hits in seven innings pitched. The righty struck out five, walked one and threw 68 of his 106 pitches for strikes while improving his record to 5-3 on the season.
David Ortiz's seventh-inning blast was his 269th as a designated hitter, tying him with Frank Thomas for the most all-time as a DH.
Better luck next time: David Hernandez may have allowed just four hits in his outing, but unfortunately for the O’s hurler, all four hits were homers. The righty allowed six earned runs and two walks and was yanked after 2 2/3 innings and is now winless in his last five starts.
Key moment: Already up 4-0 heading into the third inning, Dustin Pedroia led off the frame with his second homer of the night. After a pair of walks to David Ortiz and Jason Bay, J.D. Drew stepped in and smashed a three-run homer to right-center to give Boston an 8-0 lead.
On deck: Paul Byrd will take the bump in his third start of the season — a rubber start of sorts for the veteran who was incredible in his first start and roughed up in his second outing last week. Byrd lasted just 2 1/3 innings against the White Sox on Friday night, allowing seven earned runs on 10 hits. Two weeks ago, Byrd’s debut went off without a hitch as he held the Blue Jays scoreless over six innings.
The 38-year-old is 2-4 in seven career starts against the Orioles and is 5-3 in 10 career starts at Fenway Park.
Toeing the rubber for the O’s will be rookie righty Jason Berken. Berken owns a 4-11 record but has wins in his last two decisions and is 3-2 since Aug. 7. In his last start against the Sox, Berken was roughed up for six earned runs on seven hits over just 1 1/3 innings on Aug. 2. In his first start against Boston, Berken lasted five innings but took the loss after allowing four earned on eight hits back in late-June.
