Love that Dirty Water? Then you have to love the Muddy Chicken.
Dustin Pedroia was so singularly sensational Sunday night (and yesterday morning) at Tropicana Field, the “Laser Show” just wasn’t good enough of a nickname anymore.
“We don’t know his real name anymore. He is now the Muddy Chicken,” Josh Beckett said after the epic, 16-inning, 1-0 victory over the Rays. “The Muddy Chicken is definitely the player of the game. He got it done when we absolutely needed it.”
Pedroia got it done every which way. With Beckett spinning another one-hit gem, it was Pedroia’s diving defense at second base that twice robbed the Rays of critical hits. But it was at the plate where Pedroia again flexed his … wings, collecting three of the Red Sox’s five hits — the last driving home Josh Reddick sometime around 2 a.m. with the winning run.
Pedroia finished 3-for-7. The rest of the players for both teams were 5-for-95.
Pedroia’s three hits extended his hitting streak to 15 games entering last night’s late game at Baltimore. It’s his third hitting streak of at least 15 games since 2008. In the current edition, Pedroia is hitting .384 with seven homers.
“I wouldn’t trade Pedey for anyone in the league right now,” David Ortiz said after the game.
