By Lance Reynolds
HARWICH, Mass. ? The Y-D Red Sox are just having fun as of late.
And, there?s certainly a lot to be happy about heading into the stretch run of the season.
Whether it be at the plate, in the field, on the basepaths, or on the mound, the Red Sox are clicking on all cylinders.
Relief pitcher Andrew Quezada anchored the bullpen Tuesday night and kept the good times rolling for Y-D in a 4-2 11-inning victory over the Harwich Mariners at Whitehouse Field.
After starting pitcher Tim Brennan and reliever Hunter Parsons tossed the first seven innings of the game allowing just two runs, Red Sox field manager Scott Pickler called Quezada into the game.
The decision certainly paid off.
Quezada was pressed into a 2-2 ballgame in the bottom of the eighth, with Nico Hoerner hitting a two-run tying homer in the top of the frame. Y-D?s second reliever of the night continued to do what he had done in his first four appearances ? keep hitters from reaching base.
Backed up by a solid defense, Quezada threw three scoreless innings to earn the win ? allowing two hits, no walks, while picking up three strikeouts.
?I have one of the best defenses in the country behind me,? Quezada said. ?I made a couple of mistakes, but for the most part I trusted what I was throwing and I was able to come out with a scoreless few innings to put us in position to win.?
Quezada?s performance Tuesday night is just one of several notable performances put on by Red Sox relief pitchers over their four game winning streak.
In Friday?s 2-1 win over the Brewster Whitecaps, the bullpen threw six shutout innings of one-hit ball. Brandon Nail, who was selected for this Saturday?s all-star game in Wareham, recorded seven of his nine outs via strikeout.
In Saturday?s 4-3 walk-off victory against the Hyannis Harborhawks at Red Wilson Field, Quezada finished the final 3.1 innings to earn the win while allowing one run.
In Sunday?s 6-5 marathon 12-inning win at Falmouth, all-star closer Riley McCauley went three innings to save Pickler from having to turn to more arms out of the pen.
?Those games are what you live for ? that?s what you?re prepared to do,? Quezada said. ?You want to be in those games, you want to be in that position and to get the call. Our bullpen has done a great job keeping our composure and throwing strikes and getting out of those tough jams.?
Y-D (18-11-1) returns to Red Wilson Field Wednesday for a 5:00 pm first pitch against the Orleans Firebirds.
