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 Starting seven first-year players for the second night in a row,
the Red Sox got the first career home runs from catcher Christian
Vazquez and center fielder Rusney Castillo, strong pitching from
rookie right-hander Allen Webster and all kinds of production from
the rest of a talented rookie class in an 11-1 victory on Thursday
night.
"A lot of very good at-bats, particularly the bottom third of the
order, along with Mookie (Betts) at the top," Red Sox manager John
Farrell said after the 11-run attack fueled by the rookies.
"Hard-hit balls, very good baserunning overall -- and Webby kept the
game in check."
Spots 7-9 in the batting order -- Castillo, left fielder Bryce
Brentz and Vazquez -- went a combined 8-for-12 with two homers and
seven RBIs, while leadoff hitter Betts had three hits and an RBI.
And Webster (5-3) worked seven strong innings for the victory.
The win gave Boston a 2-1 series win and the 70th victory of the
season. That's one more than the 2012 team won in the disastrous
season under Bobby Valentine.
Farrell took over and won the World Series last year and the Red Sox
will finish last in the American League East again this year.
Vazquez went 4-for-4 with three RBIs, while Castillo had a three-run
homer and a double. Two others rookies had a hit apiece, with third
baseman Garin Cecchini also driving in a run.
The Red Sox scored 22 runs in the last two games of the series after
totaling 10 in the five-game home losing streak they ended
Wednesday.
Webster, who came to Boston as part of a massive 2012 trade with the
Los Angeles Dodgers, worked seven innings and finished his season
2-0 with two no-decisions in his last four starts. He walked one and
struck out five Thursday.
"We got a lot of young guys coming up," said Webster. "Everybody's
really good, a lot of good arms, a lot of good infielders and
outfielders. We're looking good coming forward."
Boston made short work of right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (1-5), with
Castillo's shot capping a four-run third inning -- after Hellickson
had just left.
"Give them credit. They totally beat us up tonight," Tampa Bay
manager Joe Maddon said of the Red Sox.
"It just got away quickly. There's a lot of fight in our guys. When
you keep getting down that severely, it makes it more difficult. We
had a couple opportunities, a couple of splashes, but that was it.
They on the other hand hit the ball really well up and down."
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The rookie homers gave the Red Sox a club-record eight by rookies
this season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Vazquez and
Castillo are the second set of Red Sox rookies to hit their first
homers in the same game. The other pair was Garry Hancock and Chico
Walker in 1980.
"It was fun," said Vazquez, who also threw a runner out stealing in
the game. "My first one ... it's a pleasure. My family was here.
It's a pleasure."
Shortstop Ben Zobrist singled home the Tampa Bay run, tying the game
in the second inning. But the Red Sox had a 7-1 lead through three.
NOTES: DH David Ortiz, out with a right wrist injury he aggravated
on Tuesday night, said he likely won't play over the weekend. The
Yankees and Derek Jeter are in town and Ortiz, asked about Jeter's
heroics in New York Thursday night, said, "Wow. That's him. Perfect.
The Yankee fans this year, they're not going to go to the playoffs,
but that was like a playoff game right there, where you end up
winning it. That was unbelievable." ... The Elias Sports Bureau,
which originally said Wednesday night marked the first time since
1971 the Red Sox started seven rookies in a game, corrected that
note -- it happened in both 1980 and 1987. ... 3B Will Middlebrooks
(hand) remained out of the Boston lineup and may or may not play
this weekend. 1B Mike Napoli (assorted injuries) and INF/OF Brock
Holt (concussion) will not return. ... An MRI on Tampa Bay SS Yunel
Escobar's left knee showed no structural damage, just a bruise. ...
While it wasn't known if Yankees SS Derek Jeter will play in Boston,
knuckleballing RHP Steven Wright opens the final series of the
season against New York. Meanwhile, RHP Chris Archer opens Tampa
Bay's final series at Cleveland. ... Rays C Curt Casali, who
sustained a concussion on a foul tip Wednesday, was feeling better
but still had grogginess Thursday.
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