Miller in control as Sox rout Astros

Red Sox 10, Astros 4

July 03, 2011|By Michael Vega, Globe Staff

Astros J.A. Happ had a rough start, allowing three runs in the first inning… (Bob Levey/Getty Images )

HOUSTON - Andrew Miller said there was no way to predict it.

Given the way he was forced to start the season at Triple A Pawtucket to sort out his control issues, who would have ever thought the 26-year-old lefthander would find himself in the Red Sox’ rotation midway through the season?

“I didn’t predict it would happen sooner or later,’’ Miller said. “I was just worried about going down there and putting the work in and doing what I thought would get me to competing back at this level, which was where I wanted to be.’’

Last night, there he was, toeing the rubber for the Red Sox in a 10-4 victory over the Astros.

The Minute Maid Park crowd of 39,021 was treated to a fireworks display during and after the game as the Sox erupted for 13 hits, including three doubles and homers by Yamaico Navarro and Darnell McDonald.

“I went out there and felt like I normally do for a start,’’ said Miller, who gave up two runs on sev en hits, including a leadoff homer by Hunter Pence in the sixth, to go along with two walks and three strikeouts in six innings of work.

“I just tried to treat it like any other one and throw a lot of strikes and make them put it in play,’’ Miller said. “Fortunately, I was able to do that today and we were able to put more runs on the board than they were.’’

The offensive explosion - sparked by a three-run first inning against Astros starter J.A. Happ - enabled Miller (2-0, 3.06 ERA) to remain unbeaten in three starts this season and earn his second victory. Both wins came on this nine-game interleague road trip, which helped the Sox climb above .500 (9-8) vs. the National Leaguers.

“We’re excited,’’ manager Terry Francona said of Miller. “I think we’ve said it a number of different times and a number of different ways. I think he deserves a lot of credit. We talked about it before. Everybody looks at Opening Day as the finish line, and it wasn’t.

“He was a mature enough kid to go to Triple A,’’ Francona said. “I’m the one who gets to sit here and talk about it, but Rich Sauveur [Pawtucket pitching coach] and Ralph Treuel [minor league pitching coordinator] and those guys - and him - they did a great job and now he can help us win games. It’s exciting.’’

Wasting little time, the Sox jumped on Happ (3-10) in the first inning.

Jacoby Ellsbury (1 for 4, 2 runs), a late scratch in Friday night’s 7-5 win because of illness, returned and got things going with a leadoff walk.

Dustin Pedroia (3 for 5, with an RBI and a run) advanced Ellsbury to third when he reached on a sharply hit groundball to short. Astros first baseman Carlos Lee was charged with an error when he mishandled the throw from Clint Barmes, enabling Ellsbury to go to third.