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Right fielder J.D. Drew steps in front of center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury to make the catch for the final out of the game. (Jim Davis/Globe Staff) |
Red Sox Notebook
Is Pedroia dustin’ off the old stroke?
Dustin Pedroia chugged to first base with his head down, so he didn’t see what might have been the longest home run he has hit in a Red Sox uniform. In the first inning of yesterday’s 8-4 win over the Mariners, Pedroia mashed a homer that clanged off the AAA sign over the Green Monster.
“As long as it went over,’’ he said, “I don’t care.’’
The homer sparked what might have been Pedroia’s best offensive game this season; he went 3 for 5 with the homer, a double, and two runs. The blast also may have been a sign that Pedroia is nearing the unstoppable form that led to last year’s Most Valuable Player award.
“Honestly, this is the best I swung the bat all year,’’ Pedroia said. “It seems like I haven’t felt good up there one time. I’ll have a good at-bat, and then the next at-bat’s not good. I’m kind of a streaky hitter. When I get going, you guys know what happens.’’
Pedroia is now batting .290, 36 points lower than his average last season, which may lead to the conclusion that this has been a disappointing encore to his MVP campaign.
But consider: through 81 games last year, Pedroia was hitting .289. In his next 19 games, he batted .451 and improved his season average to .322. In August, Pedroia went on an ever more destructive tear.
“It was almost otherworldly,’’ left fielder Jason Bay said. “Three or four hits were the norm. He probably hasn’t played his best baseball yet, and he’s still hitting right around .300. It’s scary.’’
Pedroia believes he found the reason for his recent slump. He had been batting .220 with no home runs since June 1, a span of 123 at-bats. Manager Terry Francona said Pedroia had been batting out of character while in the leadoff slot, and Pedroia admitted his home run total - still just three - weighed on him.
“I tried to do too much,’’ Pedroia said. “That’s human nature. I’m not a home run hitter. I hit 17 last year. Hit some up in the wind, played in some homer-friendly ballparks. That probably helped me out. You know, I’ll hit around 10. I hit home runs by accident.’’
Hello, old friend
It has been nearly five years since Nomar Garciaparra played at Fenway Park, his home from 1996-2004. Garciaparra became one of the most popular players in Sox history before they traded him to the Cubs in ’04. He’ll come to Fenway as a visitor for the first time today as a member of the Athletics.“That’ll be strange,’’ Garciaparra said in April when the Sox played at Oakland. “I look forward to it, just because of the fans and to see some old friends and everything. I always loved the fans, and that city will always have a special place in my heart.’’
Garciaparra faced the Sox for the first time in that April series. He went 1 for 4 with a solo home run and a walk. For the season, Garciaparra is batting .257 with two homers in 31 games.
Comfortable home
John Smoltz will make his Fenway debut tonight, and “I’ve been waiting a long time to pitch at home,’’ he said. Smoltz always felt at home here with the Braves. Against the Sox at Fenway, Smoltz allowed no earned runs in 20 2/3 innings, earning two wins and two saves.In his last outing, Smoltz allowed one run in four innings, his start shortened by rain in Baltimore. Smoltz was disappointed, because he felt the game - a 10-1 blowout when he left (the Sox lost, 11-10) - would have allowed him to experiment with his changeup.
“You dream of those games to try pitches that you’re hesitant maybe to throw,’’ Smoltz said. “I just want to give hitters something to think about. I always want to make them think about something different, a wrinkle.’’
When asked if he had been considering what kind of ovation he may get today, Smoltz replied, “Not really. I’m concentrating on getting hitters out and making the ovation as loud as possible throughout the game.’’
Bailey hurting
First baseman Jeff Bailey will miss an extended period and could land on the disabled list, unfortunate timing with the Sox set to face two consecutive lefthanded starters. Bailey rolled his left ankle Saturday in a collision at first base, and yesterday he wore an air cast on his ankle.Francona had hoped to use Bailey against A’s lefthanders Brett Anderson and Dallas Braden while allowing Mark Kotsay a break. Kotsay, who played yesterday and delivered a key two-out, two-RBI single, aggravated a calf injury in Baltimore breaking for a ground ball.
“I’m fighting a calf right now and it won’t leave me alone,’’ Kotsay said. “Hopefully, I can ride it through the All-Star break and get a couple days off. It’ll be a day-to-day thing and hopefully we’ll be able to grind.’’
Early last week, Francona said shortstop Nick Green could play third base while Mike Lowell remains on the DL. So one possible solution to not having Bailey would mean the Sox putting Green at third, Julio Lugo at shortstop, and moving Kevin Youkilis back to first.
Nearly an inside job
The Sox nearly yielded an inside-the-park grand slam in the fourth inning. Ronny Cedeno flared a ball toward Pesky’s Pole. J.D. Drew gave chase and slid at the wall, coming up short. The ball rolled into the corner and Cedeno raced to third, but he was held up by the coach. “One of them balls where you’re trying to do anything you can - knock it down, catch it, do something,’’ Drew said. “Luckily, we kept him from scoring. It could have easily been an inside-the-park home run.’’ . . . Jed Lowrie was going to play shortstop at Triple A Pawtucket yesterday, but wet grounds postponed a doubleheader . . . Yesterday was Rhode Island Day at Fenway.Adam Kilgore can be reached at akilgore@globe.com 
© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.
