Dodgers pitcher, rocking the mound with his green glasses, orange glove and gold shoes, gave his team steady relief.
Trailing 9-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Dodgers rallied for four runs, but the comeback fell a run short when Red Sox ace Matt Bustos put out the fire to preserve a 9-8 win for Boston at Pelota Park under clear skies.
The pesky Dodgers started the bottom of the fifth with a single from Adam Melgar. Seth Wrightsone then clubbed a two-run homer. Colton Perez singled next and eventually scored on Anthony Cantu’s groundout. Anthony Serven also singled in the inning. Altogether, the Dodgers sent nine batters to the plate before Bustos restored order.
The Red Sox got off to a quick start, scoring five runs in the first, the big blow coming on a two-run homer from Justin Santiago. Overall, the Red Sox collected four hits in the inning. Besides Santiago’s blast, Bustos doubled and John Diaz, Jacob Snyder and J.J. Hackett each singled.
The Red Sox tacked on four more runs in the top of the third. In the inning, Santiago, Bustos and Snyder each singled.
The Dodgers responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame, keyed by three straight singles from Melgar, Wrightstone and Perez. At the end of three, the Red Sox held a comfortable 9-4 lead.
That lead would hold until the bottom of the fifth, when the Dodgers stormed back to close the gap to 9-8. The Dodgers were ever so close to tying or even taking the lead, but left runners stranded at second and third to close out the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, Wrightstone nursed a walk, but that was the last gasp for the hard-luck Dodgers.
Enjoying multiple hit games for the Red Sox were Diaz (2-3), Santiago (3-3), Bustos (2-2) and Hackett (2-3).
Dodgers hitting heroes included Melgar (2-4), Wrightstone (2-3), Perez (2-3).
Spencer Savage was hit in the hand by a pitch and had to leave the game early.
Coverage sponsored by La Verne Realtor Colleen Bennett, Sotheby’s International Realty (909.374.4744).