The Red Sox batting was pretty similar to opening day. They spent the majority of the game working through the Yankees bullpen. Lots of small ball and run manufacturing from the top and bottom of the lineup. Jacoby Ellsbury seems to have regained his near MVP form and is playing like a man with a big payday coming up. His two out, two run single in the 3rd created some nice separation to make it 6-0. Shane Victorino looked good again with a 2 for 5 night and an RBI. Jose Iglesias continues to impress going 2 for 4 with a double. If he keeps up this pace the Red Sox may have some awkward decisions to make when Stephen Drew is healthy again. Daniel Nava had a great game going 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. Jackie Bradley Jr. got his first big league hit and an RBI in the process and eventually scored two runs. Pedroia and Salty both had respectable 2 for 5 games with an RBI each. Pedroia squandered a nice opportunity to blow the game open early when he hit into a double play in a 1-out, based loaded situation after Kuroda left the game. The only disappointing part of the lineup so far has been Mike Napoli and Will Middlebrooks. Middlebrooks managed another walk, but is still looking for his first hit of the season. Napoli managed to grab a single for his first hit in a Red Sox uniform, but otherwise he's been a black hole. Neither of them has been atrocious, and it's only been two games, but with the rest of the lineup feasting on Yankee pitching it's strange to see their lack of production.
HITTING GRADE: B+
Buchholz looked good. 7IP/6H/1ER/2BB/4K is just the sort of stat line you'd like to see out of Clay. This Yankees lineup is really lacking some offensive bite, but he still took care of business and put up a quality start. He kept his pitch count low, worked out of jams when he needed to and the solo shot to Travis Hafner in the 4th with a 6 run lead is certainly forgivable.
STARTING PITCHING GRADE: A
Because Buchholz went deeper in this game the bullpen was left responsible for holding onto a 6 run lead with just the 8th and 9th to play. Andrew Miller and Alfredo Aceves split the 8th inning. Miller nailed Ben Francisco and then got Robinson Cano to line out to center. Some people thought that Miller might have been retaliating for the two batters the Kuroda hit in the 2nd inning. I hope this isn't the case. Kuroda was hurt and had to be pulled from the game, I'm pretty sure there was no ill intent there and no need for retaliation. Miller has yet to allow a hit, but has put 3 men on in his combined 1 inning of work and has an ERA of 9.00. He a flamethrower, but still seems to be working through some control issues. Aceves took over and allowed a single and a 3-run homer in this 2/3 IP. It doesn't look good, but with a 6 run lead Aceves may have been pitching for contact to keep the game moving at a brisk pace. With a newly created save situation, Joel Hanrahan was given the ball for the 9th. He continues to look great out there and crushed any hope of a Yankees rally.
RELIEF PITCHING GRADE: C+
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