Doubront Impresses In Near No-No Over Marlins
BOSTON (CBS) - After getting roughed up by the Washington Nationals last week, Felix Doubront just wanted to get some confidence back when he took the mound for the Red Sox Wednesday night in Miami.
He did that and then some, going seven innings for the first time in his career, and tying his career-high with nine strikeouts in Boston's 10-2 win.
Doubront retired 16 in a row at one point, holding the Marlins hitless into the sixth inning. When it was all said and done, Doubront allowed just three hits and two runs to Miami.
"That was my first seven innings, I was waiting for that," Doubront said after improving to 7-3 on the season. "I was really focused when I was pitching."
"I saw that when he was coming out of the bullpen," catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said when asked about the young lefty's potential. "With the stuff's he's got is the best, it's the best in the league. He's up there with CC (Sabathia) and Jonny (Lester) and all those guys, as far as lefthanded pitchers go. I think he just needs to stay healthy, that's the biggest thing for him. He's done a great job of keeping his body in shape. You're seeing what he's doing."
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For Doubront, who struck out the side twice, he didn't even realize he had a no-no going.
"I was feeling like something's going on, but I was just enjoying it, kind of thinking first of all to win and do a good job on the mound," Doubront said. "I'm hitting, too. I was excited to hit."
Although he said he was nervous to hit prior to taking his first time in the batter's box, Doubront went 0-for-1 with a sac bunt in the third, successfully getting Mike Aviles to third. The Sox shortstop scored the games first run on Scott Podsednik's RBI groundout to give Boston a 1-0 lead.
"That felt good," Doubront said of the bunt.
With the win, Doubront joins Clay Buchholz as a seven-game winner on the Boston staff. Not a lot would have expected it out of the Sox' fifth starter. But his battery-mate isn't surprised at all.
"I'd believe it 100-percent," said Saltalamacchia. "The guy has great stuff; he's up there with the best."
