Recap: Boston vs. Florida

Sports Network | June 17, 2009

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Brad Penny threw five innings against his former team to record his 100th career victory, and Dustin Pedroia went 3-for-5 and knocked in three runs to help Boston beat Florida, 6-1, in the 500th consecutive sellout at Fenway Park.

Penny (6-2), who has been the subject of trade rumors lately, won for the first time in four starts. The right-hander, who spent his first four-plus seasons with the Marlins, allowed three hits and an unearned run before departing due to throwing 100 pitches. He also had four walks against three strikeouts.

Rocco Baldelli had a pair of hits and an RBI, while David Ortiz scored three times for the AL East-leading Red Sox, who won for the seventh time in eight games. They'll try for the sweep of this three-game interleague series Thursday. Jacoby Ellsbury homered in the win.

The Marlins, who totaled six hits, came into this series off a three-game sweep at Toronto. They went 0-for-15 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base.

Andrew Miller (2-3) was charged with seven hits and four runs over 5 1/3 innings and absorbed the loss.

The Marlins struck first, thanks to an Ellsbury error in the opening inning. Hanley Ramirez walked and Jorge Cantu followed by hitting a ball to the gap in left-center field. Ellsbury raced over, but the ball nicked off his glove, allowing Ramirez to score.

Boston went ahead for good with a two-run second. Mike Lowell singled and Ortiz doubled before Baldelli's base hit to right tied the game. Ortiz scored on Jason Varitek's double-play grounder.

Florida wasted a bases loaded opportunity in the fourth and the Red Sox padded their lead in the bottom of the inning when Pedroia singled with the bases loaded for a 4-1 cushion.

Ellsbury homered to right leading off the seventh against Brian Sanches.

The Marlins put their first two runners on base in the eighth, but couldn't score as the final two batters struck out to end the inning.

Pedroia singled in Ortiz in the bottom of the frame, a play that saw Varitek out at the plate.

The Marlins threatened in the ninth with two more men on base, but with Jonathan Papelbon on the mound, Ramirez grounded out to end the game.

John Smoltz allowed three hits and a run over four innings while making a rehabilitation start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Wednesday. He's scheduled to start for the Red Sox next Thursday at Washington...Jon Lester (5-5) will pitch for the Red Sox in Thursday's series finale. He's given up one run in each of his last three starts, a span of 22 innings. Ricky Nolasco (2-6) gets the start for Florida...Penny became the 31st active pitcher to reach the 100 victory mark and the first since the Cubs' Carlos Zambrano, June 5 this season. Tim Wakefield was the last pitcher to earn his 100th career victory with Boston, doing so on August 11, 2002 vs. Minnesota...Boston has won four straight against Florida and 11 of the last 15 matchups dating back to July 20, 1999...Ortiz remains three RBI shy of 1,000 for his career.