Alfredo Aceves Takes Home Amica Pitcher of the Week Honors for Relief Work

The Red Sox entered the pivotal final week of the season in a heated battle with the Tampa Bay Rays for the wild card spot. Even though much attention was given to the starting pitchers, three games in the final week were decided by relievers.

One of those games, a critical one victory over Baltimore on Tuesday, came from reliever Alfredo Aceves. Aceves pitched 6 2/3 innings total and gave up one run, earning himself this week’s Amica Pitcher of the Week honors. In Aceve’s win over Baltimore — the Red Sox’ only win in the three-game series — the 28-year-old came in after starter John Lackey gave up four runs in six innings. Aceves pitched 3 2/3 innings and gave up one run on three hits in relief.

In Boston’s last game of the season, Aceves relieved starter Jon Lester in the seventh and gave up zero runs over one inning.

Aceves appeared in every game of the week except the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Yankees. His final numbers for 2011 are 55 appearances with a 2.61 earned run average, 80 strikeouts and 84 hits allowed in 114 innings.