Vazquez goes on a hit parade
Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez packed a lot of everything into last night’s 8-1 victory against the Baltimore Orioles.
In his second start of the season, Vazquez guided lefty starter Drew Pomeranz through six-plus scoreless innings for his first win with the Red Sox. Pomeranz allowed one earned run on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
“He pitched well, and he was attacking the zone and getting ahead and getting the hitters out of balance,” Vazquez said. “The curveball was breaking good, and he was good.”
Vazquez remained spoton working the counts for right-handed relief pitchers Heath Hembree, Matt Barnes and Joe Kelly.
“They were painting everything, and they do a great job with the breaking ball,” Vazquez said of the relief corps that finished off the victory.
Vazquez did the job at the plate, too, going 4-for-4 with a triple and a double, two RBI, two runs scored and his first major league stolen base. He became the first Sox catcher to have four hits and a stolen base in a game since Johnny Peacock on Sept. 21, 1938.
“Vazquez did a great job behind the plate and at the plate, and it was a good win all around,” Pomeranz said.
Vazquez had his second career four-hit game and has now reached safely in his first seven at-bats this season.
“I’m trying not to do too much and keep it to the middle, and I hit it well, and I’m seeing the ball well, and it felt good,” he said.
Vazquez was a contributor in a patchwork threerun rally in the seventh inning that locked down the victory.
Pablo Sandoval drew a one-out walk and reached second on a muffed double-play ball by Baltimore shortstop J.J. Hardy. Vazquez loaded the bases on a single to right. Dustin Pedroia followed with a two-run single, and Vazquez scored on a single to right by center fielder Andrew Benintendi.
Vazquez applied the finishing touches on the Orioles with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. With runners on first and second, he laced a line drive to right that eluded the outstretched glove of Craig Gentry, and Vazquez ended up with his triple. He then scored his second run of the game on an infield single by Pedroia.
“I’m trying to win the game and get the rallies going and RBI,” the catcher said.
Vazquez has made a career out of throwing out runners, and he said it felt good to be helping with the bat.
“That was my first (triple), so get ready,” Vazquez said.