CSN: Middlebrooks clubs 3 HRs as Sox blast Jays

TORONTO -- The season-opening road trip for the Red Sox turned out a lot better than the last two.
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After going a combined 1-11 on their first two trips in 2011 and '12, the Red Sox turned recent history on its head with a 4-2 trek, culminating with a 13-0 pasting of the Toronto Blue Jays Sunday.
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The Sox rapped out 15 hits -- six of them homers, three by Will Middlebrooks -- and took their second straight series of the young season. The Sox were 2-1 against both the Blue Jays and New York Yankees.
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Not since 2006 have the Sox opened a season on the road and come home with a winning record.
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Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Napoli and Daniel Nava joined Middlebrooks in hitting homers. Middlebrooks, who also hit a homer here Friday, hit one in the first, doubled in the third, then homered again in the fifth and seventh.
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He came to the plate in the eighth with a chance to become the first Red Sox player in history to hit four homers in a game, but had his bid fall a few feet short with a long fly ball to the warning track in left field.
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Armed with plenty of support -- the Sox scored five runs in the top of the first -- Jon Lester tossed seven shutout innings, allowing just five hits while striking out six, to improve to 2-0.
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R.A. Dickey was roughed up for eight runs on 10 hits in just 4 2/3 innings.

STAR OF THE GAME: Will Middlebrooks
Middlebrooks smacked three homers and a double and came within 10 feet or so of becoming the first Red Sox player in history to hit four homers in a game in the eighth inning. He totaled four homers in the series, to go with two doubles.

HONORABLE MENTION: Jon Lester
It helps to have five runs in your back pocket before you even take the mound, but Lester was masterful for seven shutout innings, throwing strikes (no walks) and allowing just five hits -- all singles.
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GOAT OF THE GAME: R.A. Dickey????
Last year's Cy Young Award winner in the National League is off to a rough start in the American League at 0-2. He was knocked around for 8 runs on 10 hits in just 4 2/3 innings.
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TURNING POINT: The first of Middlebrooks' three homers -- a two-run shot in the first -- made it 5-0 Red Sox before an out could be recorded. With 8 1/2 innings left, the game was already effectively over.
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BY THE NUMBERS: Middlebrooks became the first Red Sox player to hit three homers in a game since Dustin Pedroia hit three in Colorado on June 24, 2010.

QUOTE OF NOTE: "I was blowing on it running down the line, but it didn't have enough steam." - Will Middlebrooks on his failed bid for his fourth homer.

Source: http://www.csnne.com/blog/red-sox-talk/red-sox-crush-blue-jays-series-finale-13-0

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