Ellsbury stars for Red Sox in wins over Phillies

Boston Red Sox center-fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was a hazard on the basepaths, reaching base seven times, while scoring four times, including via a home-run, over a two game stretch. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

Boston Red Sox center-fielder Jacoby Ellsbury is coming into his own, becoming one of the best center-fielders in the major leagues. His play in the past two games only backed up this fact. The speedster, with the bases-loaded and one out in the 13th inning, slapped a low fastball by Philadelphia Phillies recently re-called Kyle Kendrick past the drawn-in infield, scoring the go-ahead run. Because of his clutch hit, and the two runs that followed, the Red Sox defeated the Phillies.

A day later, Ellsbury was even better. The former Oregon State Beaver rarely ever walks. This is because of his speed. Pitchers don’t want him on the basepaths because he can create a run with his legs. Time and time again, Ellsbury has reached via single, stole second, then scurried to third base on an errant throw. Just like that, all that’s needed for him to score is a well-placed fly-ball. Teams are so worried of this sequence that they try everything possible to make him uncomfortable at the plate, throwing a lot of strikes or pitches too tempting to lay off.

Pitchers think along the lines of this: if he puts the ball in play, at best he has a 33 percent chance of getting a hit. This philosophy has backfired, as Ellsbury has been torrid of late: He’s getting hittable pitches and he’s taking advantage of nearly every one.

Entering the third game of the series with the Phillies, he toted a batting average of .303, while his on-base percentage has steadily increased, and stood at a respectable .351. Both increased even more with another stellar performance. Knowing his speed poses all sorts of problems for the opposition, he was patient, swinging at nothing except pitches in his wheelhouse. So, uncharacteristically, he walked in his first at-bat, watching fastballs from rookie Antonio Bastardo surround the strikezone. His bat stayed on his shoulders over the entirety of the plate appearance, then, struck fear into the hearts of every Phillie by making the satisfactory trot down to first base.

On cue, he swiped second, forcing a rushed and airmailed throw by catcher Carlos Ruiz. Alert, Ellsbury scampered to third base. Ninety-feet away from scoring the first Boston run, he watched Kevin Youkilis walk. He had already stolen home once this season, but, with Bastardo rattled, he wouldn’t dare chance making an out at home, which would quell the rally. I am sure the thought of doing so crossed his mind, but, as potent as the Red Sox offense is, he knew he would eventually score.

Since there was one out and runners at the corners, Bastardo kept an eye on Youkilis at first base. Youkilis isn’t a stolen base threat by any means, but the Phillies would much rather keep the possibility open for a double-play. The first pickoff attempt was successful, but the second wasn’t. The throw was on-target, as many of this variety are, but first baseman Ryan Howard muffed the catch. The ball trickled off his glove and to the backstop. Nonchalantly, he slowly jogged to retrieve it. Ellsbury scored with ease. Youkilis, with a very high baseball I.Q., sped down to second base, peered back at Howard, noticed that he was moving at a snail’s pace, then ran to third base.

Jason Bay watched the events transpire from the batters’ box, then rewarded Youkilis for his hustle. Presumably tired of running, Youkilis was able to walk home, as Bay socked a home-run to center-field. Boston continued to click offensively, as Julio Lugo capped off the five-run first inning with a two-out, two-run single.

Because of the early offensive explosion, Ellsbury was at-bat often. He flied out in the second inning, but worked a walk in the fourth, laying off tantalizing fastballs and changeups by Chad Durbin, who relieved Bastardo after a lengthy rain delay. Nothing came of it, as Youkilis struck out, but his patience and good eye at the plate was a sign of the times.

An inning later, it was his turn again. The Red Sox had already scored three runs in the frame–an rbi-double by Jason Varitek and rbi singles by Lugo and Dustin Pedroia–and they wouldn’t score another in the inning, but Ellsbury still made his presence felt. With two out, he fouled off a cutter from Jack Taschner, then watched four straight miss the strikezone–three fastballs and a slider–to extend the inning for Youkilis.The third-baseman clubbed a fastball 403 feet to deep center-field, but to clear the wall, 408 feet is necessary, as Shane Victorino tracked it down for the over-the-shoulder catch.

Ellsbury’s next at-bat led to runs. With one-out, after Pedroia beat out a potential double-play, he squibbed a Sergio Escalona fastball to shortstop Jimmy Rollins. The slow dribbler was so well placed that Rollins didn’t have a chance, not even to get Pedroia at second base. Julio Lugo scored easily, stretching the margin to three.

In his final at-bat, Ellsbury made up for Youkilis’ close call. He fouled off the first two pitches from J.C. Romero, then took two balls, then fouled off two more fastballs. H saw one too many fastballs for the Phillies liking, nailing the low Romero offering on a line over the right-field fence.

In total, Ellsbury reached base seven times in the two games. Though each didn’t lead to run, there is no question Philadelphia will be thrilled to see him vacate the premises, and take his act to Red Sox next opponent.