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| Photo: AP |
Darnell McDonald hit a tiebreaking three-run double and homered to help Boston rally to beat the Chicago White Sox 10-3 on Friday night.
David Ortiz hit a two-run shot for the Red Sox, who are 5-0 since blowing a 9-0 lead against the New York Yankees on Saturday for their fifth straight loss.
Ross said he and his teammates agreed with Valentine's assessment, and getting away from Fenway Park for a seven-game road trip came at a perfect time.
"Yeah. Definitely. When we lost that game when we were up 9-0 at that point it was the bottom, it felt like. It was nice to get away from that. Get on the road," said Ross. "In baseball, I think it really doesn't matter. A lot of times, it's nice to have the home crowd behind you, but when you're struggling as a team, sometimes it's nice to just get away and it's been helpful for us. But it's something that is rare what we're doing."
After Paul Konerko's home run in the fifth gave the White Sox a 3-2 lead, the Red Sox responded with a five-run sixth inning, highlighted by McDonald's bases-clearing double.
Boston starter Daniel Bard (2-2) took advantage of the run support and threw seven strong innings. He allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits and retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced. He struck out six and walked one. Before Friday, Bard was only backed by two total runs in 12 1/3 innings.
"It was really about Daniel tonight," said Valentine. "There was a lot to like what I saw tonight."
White Sox starter John Danks (2-3) struggled in his fifth start of the season. He allowed seven runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. Chicago has lost four straight.
"They hit mistakes. That's plain and simple. I was trying to make pitches, didn't, and they hit them. That's the story of the game," said Danks.
Danks was unable to hold a lead for Chicago in the sixth inning.
He issued back-to-back walks to Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Youkilis. Ortiz then loaded the bases with a single and Ross followed with an RBI single to tie the game. With two outs and the bases still loaded, McDonald lined a double down the left-field line. Marlon Byrd ended Danks' night with an RBI single to put the Red Sox ahead 7-3.
The game was played in cold and windy conditions. The temperature at first pitch was 39 degrees, but it didn't slow the Red Sox hitters. They have hit 12 homers and scored 53 runs over the last six games.
"It's the best (offense) we've seen. You look up and down that lineup, the way they work counts in the middle part there. John walks the first two guys and that's the stuff that happens with good lineups like that," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura.
Trailing 1-0 in the second inning, Youkilis drew a leadoff walk, then Ortiz followed with a two-run shot to right. It was Ortiz's fourth homer of the season and 382nd of his career. He is tied with former Red Sox great Jim Rice and Frank Howard for 59th on the career list.
"He is swinging the bat really well. Playing with a great deal of confidence and enjoying what he is doing," said Valentine. "He is just locked in."
Alejandro De Aza led off the first inning with a double down the left-field line. Two outs later, A.J. Pierzynski doubled off the left-field wall to score De Aza.
In the third inning, Alexei Ramirez reached on Youkilis' throwing error and advanced to second on Konerko's bloop single. With two outs, Ramirez came across to score on a passed ball by catcher Kelly Shoppach.
Ross and Shoppach had back-to-back RBI singles in the seventh inning to extend the Boston lead to 9-3.
McDonald homered in the ninth.
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