Red Sox' machine still churning even with spare parts

Tag : 3 In 1 Machine

By Scott Garbarini, MLB Contributing Editor
(Sports Network) - David Ortiz has yet to win a Most ValuablePlayer Award, and the Boston Red Sox slugger isn't making a strongcase for one so far this season.
That's no knock on Ortiz, who has maintained his remarkablyprodigious rate of production from the heart of the Red Sox'powerful lineup when healthy. But with Boston continuing to pile upwins and runs while its feared designated hitter continues torecover from a partially torn tendon sheath in his left wrist,Ortiz's candidacy has taken an unlucky hit.
One man's misfortune often becomes another's opportunity, however,and J.D. Drew has made the most of his chance in the spotlight. Theoft-injured and many-times maligned right fielder has flourishedupon being inserted into Ortiz's customary No. 3 spot in thebatting order, and Boston hasn't skipped a beat with the change.
Since Ortiz was placed on the disabled list on June 1, Drew hasbatted a torrid .447 (21-for-47) with seven home runs, 19 runsscored and 16 RBI over 14 games. The surge has raised the32-year-old's team-leading average to .321, the fifth-best numberin the American League at the moment.
Drew's hot streak has been the highlight of a nice bounce-backcampaign for the enigmatic outfielder, who hit a disappointing .270with 11 home runs -- his lowest over a full major-league season --during his first go-around with the Red Sox last year. The formerfirst-round draft pick has already matched his long-ball total whenhe socked his 11th of the season in Sunday's 9-0 rout ofCincinnati.
That blast was Drew's fifth homer in an eight-game span in which hehas driven in 10 runs. He started off the tear by homering in threestraight contests, including a tie-breaking solo shot thataccounted for the winning margin in a 2-1 triumph over Seattle onJune 8.
"It's just the repetition of playing the game, taking at-bats,grinding them out, just putting swings on balls that are in yourzone," Drew recently told the Red Sox' official site when askedabout his recent success. "And it's working out well."
Drew's contributions have not only been prolific, but timely aswell. Boston played the majority of the Cincinnati series withouteither of its two big boppers, as Manny Ramirez did not start thefinal two tests of the three-game set due to a sore hamstring.
Other Red Sox hitters have picked up the pace as of late, mostnotably young outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury. The speedy 24-year-old isbatting .321 (9-for-28) during a current six-game hitting streakand went 5-for-10 with a solo home run in the two games Ramirez satout. Ellsbury also stole his major league- leading 32nd and 33rdbases of the season in Sunday's win over the Reds, which broke a100-year club record for steals by a rookie.
WELCOME BACK
This past weekend's series with Cincinnati turned out to be a happyhomecoming for Boston first baseman Kevin Youkilis as well as hisbackup, veteran Sean Casey.
Youkilis was born and raised in the Queen City and playedcollegiately at the University of Cincinnati, where he twice earnedAll-America honors for the Bearcats. The 29-year-old had a mostmemorable moment in Saturday's extra- inning win over the Reds, asYoukilis belted a go-ahead solo home run in the top of the 10thframe and finished 3-for-5 with two RBI.
"It was definitely a great home run, and just to be able to hit aMajor League home run here in Cincinnati, something I've never donehaving never played here, it was definitely exciting," Youkilissaid afterward.
Casey spent eight seasons with the Reds from 1998-2005 and was oneof the organization's most popular players during his tenure inCincinnati. The three-time All-Star was inserted into the startinglineup for Friday's series opener and received a standing ovationfrom the Great American Ball Park crowd prior to his first at-bat.
INJURY REPORT
Starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, out since May 27 due to astrained rotator cuff, will make a rehab start for Triple-APawtucket on Monday and is expected to throw around 80 pitches. Ifall goes well, the Japanese superstar could re- join the Bostonrotation for this weekend's series with St. Louis at Fenway Park.
Catcher Jason Varitek missed three consecutive games due to a strepthroat inspection, but returned to the lineup on Sunday and caughtthe first seven innings of Boston's 9-0 win. The Red Sox captainwent 0-for-2 with two walks and scored once on the afternoon.
Ramirez came in as a pinch-hitter in Saturday's victory over theReds and Sox skipper Terry Francona is hopeful the perennialAll-Star will be able to play the field when Boston begins a serieswith Philadelphia on Monday. Ramirez won't be able to be used as adesignated hitter in the three-game set, however, since the gameswill be played in a National League park.
WHO'S HOT
Youkilis has seven hits, including a pair of homers, in his last 14at-bats and has scored five times over his last four games. Thehard-working first baseman has also driven in five runs during thatspan and is now batting .305 on the season.
Ace pitcher Josh Beckett delivered six shutout innings in Sunday'svictory to record his seventh win of the season. The hard-throwingright-hander is 2-0 with a 2.52 earned run average over his lastfour starts.
WHO'S NOT
Reliever Hideki Okajima was saddled with the loss in last Tuesday's10-6 setback to Baltimore after yielding three runs in justone-third of an inning of work. The Japanese lefty then was touchedfor a run while recording only one out in Saturday's matchup withthe Reds. Over his last five appearances, Okajima is 0-2 with awhopping 21.60 ERA.
Varitek is batting just .176 (6-for-34) with 11 strikeouts overnine games during the month of June.