Pedey Pedroia And Big Papi David Ortiz Power Red Sox 13-9 with Four Hits Apiece

What a difference a day makes. Monday, both the Red Sox and their opponents strived to score one run for a very long time. Last night, Tuesday, runs were not hard to come by. On the down side, Boston starter Andrew Miller lasted a scant 3 2/3 innings, giving up nine hits and seven runs, 5 of them earned. Then POOF. He was gone (thank goodness). Should the team look for a legitimate number five guy? To me, it all depends on how Clay Buchholz is progressing. Last night, Aceves came in and saved the day as well as the bullpen with 3 1/3 shutout innings. By then, the Red Sox bats had done their work. The hitting stars? Big Papi David Ortiz (4 hits!) and our spark plug, Pedey Pedroia. Pedroia came within a hit of hitting for the cycle. On Pedey batting fourth in the place of Kevin Youkilis, here's our Papi...

“If I’m Tito, I’d let him hit cleanup the whole year. Make it easy for us. It’s crazy but the little guy’s numbers are ridiculous the way he hits. Might as well take advantage of it, right? Hitting is about feeling good and having your hands and eye coordination going on at the same time. We've got a good hitting ballclub. Once we get going, we're hard to stop.

And here's Pedey...

"It was a crazy game because Monday night, both teams were struggling to score one run for a long time. So tonight was different. It was a good night to hit. The wind was blowing out and both teams swung the bat really well. We just had that one big inning and kind of held on."

The other hero of the game, Alfredo Aceves, has been effective in the 'pen for a long time. For those of you who think it would be wise to make him the #5 guy in the rotation, forget about it! He's way too valuable to the team when he comes in from the bullpen and does his three or four magic innings, just like last night. Here's Terry Francona, Boston Red Sox skipper...

"We got in our bullpen a lot last night. If he doesn't do what he did, you're asking a lot from the rest of the bullpen. The ability to not just get people out, but to go multiple innings is so important. It's been so valuable to us."

Ortiz knocked in five and had four hits, three of them doubles. He is having such a great year so far. But I have to stress this...if Clay Buchholz comes back as soon as he's expected to and can be effective again, there are your five starters. I'll name them...Lester, Beckett, Buchholz, Wakefield and Lackey. Good enough.

So that's the story of a Tuesday night in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. The wind was blowing out, the hitters took advantage of it and our Alfredo Aceves stopped the Royals for more than three innings, almost four, to seal the deal.

Tonight's another night with another game scheduled. Boston & KC will put Lackey and Chen on the mound. I hope Lackey can keep his good streak going. The bullpen is rested enough so Bard and Paps, if needed, should be available. Aceves will sit a couple of days but it's nice to know he's out there (with a Boston uniform).

That's it for this Wednesday Hump Day. If you'd like, click on this post's title to be zapped to the Sox official web site and watch so many things there, including all the highlights in their "every game" highlight reel. Just look for the circular emblem with the two team's logos on it. Today, it's in the left center of the screen. You'll see it. You need your sound on. As always, BE WELL, and GO SOX!!