BOSTON — On the schedule, the week that was in Red Sox Nation looks like it was nothing more than five wins for the good guys.
The homestand that kicked off last Monday actually started off on a sour note — with a loss that dropped the team down to second place behind the Rays. That 2-1 defeat was quickly forgotten as the home squad rattled off three straight wins and four in their next five contests — some more terrifically exciting than others.
The 5-2 week at Fenway was highlighted by a couple of thrilling victories and the only downfalls were two losses — both by just one run apiece. The fun got started with an 8-2 win over the Mariners and, despite that win not allowing the club to leap Tampa Bay in the standings, it proved that young Brandon Workman could be something special as he picked up his first career MLB win after striking out nine and allowing one earned run on six hits in six innings. That game also sparked Shane Victorino, as the outfielder notched three hits in that win and set him off on a torrid streak where he is riding a nice streak that sees him with 12 hits in his last six games.
“Our guys even recognized that there’s a greater level of energy that the crowd is creating,” manager John Farrell said on Sunday afternoon, after the Sox’ 4-0 win over the Diamondbacks. “Whether that coincides with the way we’re playing or [because of] some of the late wins we’ve been able to nail down.”
The real fun came the next two nights when the locals walked off in extra-inning fashion early Thursday morning and clipped the M’s 5-4 in the 15th inning thanks to a Stephen Drew RBI single. Later that night, the Sox would do it again. While they only needed nine frames to do it, the Sox completed an improbable comeback in the ninth inning, down 7-2, to sweep the M’s with an 8-7 win. Daniel Nava was that night’s hero but it took a team effort to not only plate six in the final frame but to keep Seattle off the scoreboard in the final four innings.
“This was a good homestand,” Farrell added. “The game Monday night was a tough one but we bounced right back and even after we gave ourselves a chance [putting] the tying run at second base in the first game this series. It was just a well-played series here.”
Over the recent stretch of home success, the team received wins from guys like Workman, Drake Britton, Steven Wright, Felix Doubront and newcomer Jake Peavy — not to mention huge performances by guys like Victorino, Nava, Drew and Dustin Pedroia. Needless to say, Fenway was rocking and it came from guys on all corners of the roster.
The Sox hit the road for 10 straight games before coming back to Fenway to face the Yankees on Aug. 16, but the AL East leaders are hoping to take some of that homestand magic on the road.
“We’ve got 10 games and we can’t let up,” the skipper added. “I know that.”
