“Absolutely,’’ Drew said, his dry sense of humor awakened. “Not a player alive wouldn’t know that he was ready to hit a double in that situation. Had a ball down and away, swung through it, then hit a changeup. That’s how it goes. I was trying to hit a double. Just didn’t quite work out.’’
How exactly do you try to hit a double?
“I don’t know how you try,’’ Drew cracked. “I was just going to hit the ball and just run straight to second, if I had to. Just right through the middle of the infield.’’
Personal achievement aside, the Red Sox weren’t in need of more offense. They only needed two more innings from their bullpen to close out the Orioles, 4-0, last night, the team’s second shutout in three days.
Jonathan Papelbon was called upon to get the last out, and Jason Bay made it a good one with an outstanding sliding, backhanded catch with two runners aboard. Papelbon got his 132d save in front of 36,548 at Camden Yards to tie Bob Stanley’s club record.
While Jon Lester’s excellent stuff - especially a sweeping curveball that accounted for half of Lester’s eight strikeouts - commanded attention, it was manager Terry Francona’s lineup change that engendered the offensive revitalization.
With Dustin Pedroia struggling in the leadoff spot, Francona switched his first two batters in the order, moving Drew up and dropping Pedroia to No. 2. The move paid off immediately. Drew opened the game with a ringing triple to left-center, and Pedroia drove him home with a single up the middle.
“You know what I’m going to take credit for is having good players,’’ Francona said. “That got a little bit of a reaction in the dugout in the first inning, as you can imagine.’’
“Seemed to work out all right,’’ Drew said.
Asked how smart his manager was, Pedroia smiled and said, “Yeah, right. That’s more the opposite. Nah, J.D. swung the bat great. Seemed like every time [Francona] mixes it up, we do something good for him.’’
Not that the change will last long, with the plan calling for Rocco Baldelli to play right field tonight with lefty Rich Hill pitching for the Orioles. But for one day, at least, it was just about perfect.
