Red Sox Hot and Not: April

Ortiz%20had%20the%20best%20April%20of%20his%20career%2C%20batting%20.405%20with%20six%20homers%20and%2020%20RBI%20%26%238212%3B%20all%20tops%20on%20the%20Sox.%20Big%20Papi%20hit%20.543%20at%20Fenway%20Park%20in%20the%20season%26%238217%3Bs%20first%20month.%20%28Photo%20by%20Elsa%2FGetty%20Images%29

Dustin%20Pedroia%20was%20again%20a%20constant%20in%20the%20Red%20Sox%20lineup%20and%20infield.%20%26%238220%3BThe%20Muddy%20Chicken%26%238221%3B%20started%20the%20season%20off%20with%20a%20.301%20average%20in%20April%20with%20three%20homers%20and%20seven%20RBI.%20%28Photo%20by%20J.%20Rogash%2FGetty%20Images%29

It%20was%20a%20tough%20start%20for%20Kevin%20Youkilis%2C%20who%20began%20the%20year%20just%202-for-20%20and%20was%20called%20out%20by%20his%20new%20manager%20just%20two%20weeks%20into%20the%20season.%20He%20finished%20the%20month%20with%20a%20.219%20average%20and%20nine%20RBI.%20He%20was%20scratched%20from%20the%20final%20two%20games%20of%20the%20month%20with%20a%20bad%20back.%20%28Photo%20by%20David%20Banks%2FGetty%20Images%29

Minus%20a%20little%20gaff%20in%20the%20media%20about%20his%20brief%20stint%20back%20in%20the%20bullpen%2C%20Bard%20has%20been%20a%20solid%20addition%20to%20the%20Red%20Sox%26%238217%3B%20rotation.%20Their%205th%20starter%20is%202-2%20with%20a%203.79%20ERA%2C%20picking%20up%20one%20of%20his%20wins%20in%20relief%2C%20and%20went%20seven%20innings%20of%202-run%20ball%20in%20his%20last%20outing%20of%20the%20month.%20%28Photo%20by%20Elsa%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20front%20end%20of%20the%20Red%20Sox%26%238217%3B%20rotation%20was%20shaky%20to%20start%20the%20season%2C%20although%20they%20have%20turned%20it%20around%20a%20bit%20as%20of%20late.%20Jon%20Lester%20%28Photo%20by%20David%20Banks%2FGetty%20Images%29%2C%20Josh%20Beckett%20%28Photo%20by%20Jonathan%20Daniel%2FGetty%20Images%29%20and%20Clay%20Buchholz%20%28Photo%20by%20J.%20Meric%2FGetty%20Images%29%20went%20a%20combined%206-6%20with%20only%20seven%20quality%20starts%20in%20their%2015%20starts.%20The%20three%20allowed%2060%20earned%20runs%20in%2092.1%20innings%20pitched%20in%20the%20season%26%238217%3Bs%20first%20month.

Mike%20Aviles%20made%20sure%20no%20one%20mentioned%20Jose%20Iglesias%20in%20April%2C%20batting%20.291%20with%20five%20homers%20and%2017%20RBI%20to%20go%20with%20some%20steady%20defense%20at%20short.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jim%20Rogash%2FGetty%20Images%29

After%20a%20bad%20%26%238211%3Band%20we%20mean%20really%20bad%20%26%238212%3B%20first%20two%20weeks%2C%20Melancon%20finds%20himself%20in%20Pawtucket%20to%20work%20things%20out.%20Melancon%20went%200-2%20with%20a%2049.50%20ERA%20in%20four%20appearances%2C%20allowing%2011%20earned%20runs%20and%20five%20homers.%20%28Photo%20by%20Elsa%2FGetty%20Images%29

Ryan%20Sweeney%20was%20a%20big%20hit%20at%20the%20plate%2C%20and%20in%20the%20field%2C%20in%20his%20first%20month%20in%20Boston.%20Sweeney%20impressed%20with%20a%20.373%20average%20in%20April%2C%20driving%20in%20eight%20and%20leading%20the%20team%20with%2011%20doubles.%20%28Photo%20by%20Elsa%2FGetty%20Images%29

Ellsbury%20was%20off%20to%20a%20slow%20start%2C%20batting%20just%20.193%20with%20three%20RBI%2C%20before%20injuring%20his%20right%20shoulder%20in%20the%20home%20opener.%20He%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20out%20until%20the%20end%20of%20May%20and%20possibly%20into%20June.%20%28Photo%20by%20Elsa%2FGetty%20Images%29

Cody%20Ross%20only%20hit%20.257%20for%20the%20month%20of%20April%2C%20but%20crushed%20five%20homers%20and%20drove%20in%2018%20runs%2C%20both%20second%20on%20the%20team.%20He%20also%20led%20the%20team%20with%2024%20strikeouts.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Jim%20Rogash%2FGetty%20Images%29

Marlon%20Byrd%20has%20thrived%20since%20coming%20from%20the%20Cubs%2C%20clubbing%2010%20hits%20in%20eight%20games%20with%20the%20Red%20Sox.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jim%20Rogash%2FGetty%20Images%29