Dodgers Storm Back To Edge Sox

The Red Sox rudely greeted former Sox icon Derek Lowe by tagging the Dodgers starter for five runs on six hits and two walks in just two innings, but a trio of relievers combined to give up eight runs in the final two innings as the Dodgers edged the Sox, 9-6, in Grapefruit League play at City of Palms Park in Ft. Myers, FL.

The loss was the second in a row for the Sox, who fell to 3-4 in official exhibition games. The Dodgers are 4-4.

Right-handed non-roster invitee Lee Gronkiewicz gave up a tie-breaking, ninth-inning grand slam to Jason Repko. That completed a seven-run frame for the Dodgers, who received a three-run homer by Luke May earlier in the inning. Left-handed pitcher Hunter Jones gave up that blast and was saddled with the loss.

The Dodgers began their comeback in the eighth, when left-hander Craig Breslow allowed one run on three walks. Before that, the Sox received seven efficient innings from a quartet of pitchers, including starter Tim Wakefield, who gave up one hit and issued two walks while striking out three in three shutout innings. Wakefield has tossed five scoreless innings over two Grapefruit League starts, during which he’s allowed just two hits and two walks while whiffing three.

Fellow fortysomething Mike Timlin gave up a run on two hits in the fourth before right-hander David Aardsma, who is among the hurlers battling for the final spot in the bullpen, allowed three hits and whiffed one in two shutout frames. Bryan Corey, another pitcher in the mix for the one open spot on the staff, gave up a hit in a scoreless seventh.

Offensively, the Sox were led by Dustin Pedroia, who snapped out of a first-week slump by going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Pedroia had just one hit in his first 12 at-bats.

Sean Casey went 2-for-3 with an RBI to lift his Grapefruit League average to a robust .444. Chris Carter, Jed Lowrie and Brandon Moss all had one RBI apiece while Pedroia, Carter, Casey and Jacoby Ellsbury all doubled off Lowe.

The Sox stirred in the ninth, when they scored a run off Jon Meloan thanks to one hit and two walks, but Eduardo Sierra replaced Meloan—who didn’t record an out—and worked around a walk to retire the side and earn his first save.

The Sox return to action in a pair of split-squad games Friday. Clay Buchholz, the leading contender for the fifth starter’s role, is scheduled to start against the Twins at City of Palms Park at 1:05 p.m. A victory by the Sox will allow them to clinch the Mayor’s Cup, which they currently lead two games to one with two more games left to be played.

Julian Tavarez, who is battling Buchholz in the fifth starter derby, is scheduled to travel to Fort Lauderdale, where he’ll start against the Orioles at 1:05 p.m. Among the pitchers scheduled to pitch in relief of Buchholz and Tavarez are Jonathan Papelbon and Hideki Okajima in Ft. Myers and Kyle Snyder and Dan Kolb in Fort Lauderdale.