The "MVP! MVP!" chants continue from adoring fans who are continually amazed that such a small player can generate so much power. Yet again last night, Dustin Pedroia, hitting cleanup after Kevin Youkilis was a late scratch with back spasms, thumped the baseball in a manner that would make Albert Pujols jealous.
He had five more RBIs and hit his 16th homer. Could you ever imagine Pedroia hitting 20 home runs in a season?
That's precisely the path the little big man is on.
"I don't know about any of that stuff," said Pedroia following a 14-2 win over the Orioles in a game in which the Red Sox tagged Baltimore pitching for 20 hits. "I'm just trying to go out there and put a good swing on the ball."
He has run out of things to say. It's the same old story, but the best of stories. With three hits, he raised his American League-leading average to .330. He's 9 for 14 from the cleanup spot with six RBIs.
He had plenty of help, as David Ortiz, hitting in front of him, went 3 for 3 with four RBIs. All of it was in support of Jon Lester's 13th win, though the lefthander went just five innings, getting his pitch count up to 99 before Terry Francona decided there was no point in stretching him out.
It was an easy night at Fenway, though any euphoria over the 10 runs the Sox scored in a two-inning span had to be tempered by the fact that the battering was done against the Orioles and a fellow named Radhames Liz.
That being said, what a thrashing it was.
"I don't know how much worse it could get," said Orioles manager Dave Trembley. "You'd like to think that this is it. You'd like to think that tomorrow is another day and you'll play better. You've got to keep that approach, keep that in mind."
Yet it could get worse, with the Orioles throwing Lance Cormier this afternoon in place of the injured Jeremy Guthrie.
The Sox had this one wrapped up by the fourth inning, when they held a 10-1 lead. By that time, Ortiz had all three of his hits, including two doubles, and had knocked in his four runs. Pedroia had already knocked in four with a sacrifice fly and a three-run homer.
The Sox scored four in the third and six in the fourth, and the rest was pretty much a walk in the Fens.
So much for the "progress" the Orioles have made this year. So much for the "spoiler" team they could be in September. They look every bit the last-place team they are, having dropped a season-low 12 games below .500. In their last 54 games, the Orioles have allowed 10 or more runs 13 times.
"You hope you can get it out of your system," said Trembley. "You've hit rock bottom and you would think that sooner or later, it's going to turn for you."
