Week 10

Red Sox 23, Astros 8
Sunday, July 20 @ Fisher Park, Upper Allen Township

The Sox got out of the hot sun early with a mercy-rule win over the Astros.

The Sox limped on to the field with 9 players, and suffered a few more tweaks throughout the afternoon. The players in uniform were boosted by injured Sox Matt LaBuda and Gary Dubas, who showed up to provide moral support and help around the dugout.

Curt LaCoe took the ball knowing that he couldn't count on much, if any, relief pitching behind him, and delivered a solid game. LaCoe walked just 2 batters and kept the Astros from putting together any big innings en route to a well-deserved complete game win.

The defense didn't do anything spectacular, but was made most of the plays behind LaCoe. The Sox cut short one Astros rally when John Lindholm charged a line drive to centerfield, picked it up on the bounce, and forced a runner at second base. Bill Miller and Dave Strock, who were both bothered with minor injuries by that point, then hooked up on a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

On offense, the Sox kept the heat on all day, scoring more than half of their runs with 2 outs. Kirk Strous and Lance Strous each finished 3 for 5 with a triple, 2 singles and a walk. Joe Rogers hit the ball hard every time up, finishing with 3 hits. Jerry McKeon, despite suffering from flu-like symptoms, singled and walked and stole a couple of bases, and Michael Plank reached base 5 times in 6 trips to the plate.

The win was the fifth straight for the Sox and kept them tied with the Dodgers, a game behind the division-leading Angels.