Adrian Gonzalez Catches Fire, Regains Power Punch at Right Time for Red Sox

by abournenesn

Jul 28, 2012

Adrian Gonzalez Catches Fire, Regains Power Punch at Right Time for Red SoxNEW YORK — Heading into the All-Star break, Adrian Gonzalez was stuck on six home runs. It was a paltry total for the slugger, considering he averaged 31 blasts over the past six seasons.

But with each game, he's rounding back into the form that earned him a seven-year, $154 million contract. During Saturday's 8-6 victory over the Yankees, Gonzalez crushed a three-run jack over the right field porch.

It marked Gonzalez' fourth homer since July 16, signaling a resurgence for the Red Sox first baseman. The newfound power surge was also evident during Gonzalez' other at-bats against New York.

"It's a 320-foot pop up in the gap that gets out, that's all of Yankee Stadium," Gonzalez said. "I was just glad we're playing here, and not Fenway."

Before unloading on Yankees starter CC Sabathia in the fifth, Gonzalez gave him a headache in the first inning. On the second pitch he saw, the slugger rifled a double to right field that drove in Pedro Ciriaco to post the game's first score.

"Personally, for me, I was able to get to a fastball in the first at bat and hit the double," Gonzalez said. "But it was great for us to be able to pull it off and get the win against a great pitcher."

Despite a pitching change in the seventh — reliever David Phelps entered for Sabathia — Gonzalez cranked out a liner to deep right field, but Ichiro Suzuki ultimately robbed him with a spectacular catch.
With the home run and four RBIs against the Yankees, Gonzalez has belted 10 homers and 62 RBIs while elevating his batting average to .294.

"We go down, we get one out, then we back up some hits and Adrian gives us a three-spot," Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said. "That's something we haven't done that much. It's good to have a lead. I think we were able to come back and feel good because we had a lot of at bats where we had the lead today."

Gonzalez' offensive explosion came at the right time for the Red Sox, who claimed their second victory of the season against the Yankees.

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