| 30 April 2009
Kevin Youkilis was not in the lineup last night. JD Drew... also not in the lineup. Jason Bay, the Red Sox hottest hitter actually in the lineup, went 0 for 4 with a walk in the cleanup spot.
Doesn't sound promising, right?
Well, that's because I didn't mention Jonathan Van Every!
That's right, Van Every, the 29-year old call-up, did "Van Every-thing" last night, going 2 for 4 out of the 8th spot and sacraficed the body for an amazing catch in shallow right field. But Van Every's most exciting trick was his Jason Bay impression - with two outs in the 10th, Van Every stepped in against his former minor league roommate, Jensen Lewis and smashed a fastball to deep center to put the Red Sox up 6-5.
"This has got to be the top so far in my career," said Van Every, who played in the Indians' minor league system from 2000-07. "It's definitely a special day. I spent seven years of my career trying to figure out a way to get to this point. Luckily I'm here. It couldn't have happened at a better time."
With some of the big guns on the bench and a medicore performence from starter Jon Lester (6.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 2 HR, 3 BB, 7 K), Van Every and Jeff Bailey were asked to step up. Bailey was 0 for 4 with a walk and a runs scored, but Van Every came through in the clutch, sparking a three-run, 8th inning rally with an RBI single, making a great catch in the field and hitting the game-winning homer in extras.
Bottom Line: Player depth has been a key factor in the Red Sox success this season. Van Every's performence last night ... Justin Masterson's two win's while filling in for the injured Matsuzaka ... Hunter Jones and Michael Bowden posting 0.00 ERAs in limited time out of the bullpen ... and Nick Green's solid play at short stop with Lugo and Lowrie nursing injuries.
Next up: the 8-14 Tampa Bay Rays...
Photo 1: Yahoo! Sports, Photo 2: Boston Globe
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