With the Red Sox losers of five straight games, including dropping the first game of the day-night doubleheader with the Yankees earlier on Saturday, they needed a spark in Game 2.
That spark came from Pedro Ciriaco, an International League All-Star, who was called up from Pawtucket on Friday to replace Dustin Pedroia who was put on the 15-day disabled list with an injured thumb.
With the Red Sox trailing 3-2 in the sixth inning, Ciriaco came to the plate with the bases loaded and delivered a clutch, bases-clearing double down the left field line, giving the Red Sox a 5-3 lead.
Boston ended up winning the game 9-5, but still trail the Yankees by 8.5 games in the AL East.
Ciriaco finished the night going 4-for-5 with two doubles, two singles, a stolen base, three runs scored, four RBIs and also dazzled in the field at shortstop, showcasing his range as well as his strong arm.
The Red Sox once again struggled in the first inning as the Yankees scored three times in the top of the first.
Through three games of the four-game set the Yankees have scored 12 runs (11 earned) in the first inning.
Mark Teixeira’s three-run bomb off of Red Sox starter Felix Doubront gave the Yankees the early lead.
Doubront settled down nicely, however, retiring 17 of the next 21 hitters he faced. He gave up a solo home run to Andruw Jones in the seventh and retired the next hitter before being replaced by Matt Albers.
In all, Doubront went 6 1/3 innings allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits, while striking out six.
New York starter Phil Hughes pitched fairly well until the sixth inning. He finished the game throwing 5 1/3 innings giving up five runs (three earned) on 10 hits.
The Yankees also committed a season-high four errors.
Boston added four insurance runs in the seventh inning off of relievers Boone Logan and Corey Wade. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Ryan Sweeney and Mauro Gomez accounted for the first two runs.
Gomez finished the game 3-for-4, and has totaled seven hits in the first three games this weekend.
Ciriaco then ripped an RBI double just over the third base bag. He then stole third base and was able to trot home as the throw went into left field, which gave the Red Sox a 9-4 lead.
Adrian Gonzalez extended his hitting streak to a career high 18 games with a double in the fourth, and added a single in the sixth. David Ortiz reached base three times with two singles and a walk.
The two teams will meet again Sunday night for the series finale and the unofficial end of the first half of the season. First pitch is scheduled for a little after 8 p.m.
