Beckett retired the first 12 A's on only 37 pitches. In the 5th, he allowed a single to Mike Piazza and a double to Dan Johnson. He got two strikeouts, but Jason Kendall singled home two runs. That tied the game at 2-2. Johnson's 2-out single in the sixth gave Oakland a 3-2 lead.
The Sox came right back in the home half of the sixth. Varitek singled to center, chasing Gaudin. Crisp doubled into the left field corner, moving Varitek to third. Cora's 6-3 grounder brought in Tek and Lugo's line drive sac fly to right gave Boston a 4-3 lead. The Sox added additional runs in the seventh (Cora's two-out single scoring Lowell) and eighth (Drew's single to right scoring Youkilis), upping their lead to 6-3.
Mike Timlin pitched the ninth (after Beckett (7-6-3-2-7, 103; now 6-0 2.72) and Okajima (BB, 543DP, K in the 8th). Timlin allowed a leadoff single to Bobby Crosby and a two-out RBI hit to Todd Walker, but recorded his first save of the season.
Youkilis was on base four times (5-3, 1B, BB, HBP, BB); Ortiz singled, doubled and walked; Manny singled twice and walked; Crisp singled, doubled and reached on a CF error, and scored twice -- and made a great diving catch in right center in the top of the ninth.
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Chad Gaudin (2.54) / Josh Beckett (2.48), 7 PM
Speed at the top of the line-up, thats how to manufacture a run, now if Lugo would only get on base more often :)
ReplyDeleteTimlin owes Coco a haunch of venison or a wild boar or whatever it is he 'harvests'. Also, Mr. Cora making it mighty tough for Tito to stick to the Pedroia Plan.
ReplyDeleteBeckett looked good but it would be nice if he went into a game and lowered his ERA. Jeez, he gets the win while his ERA climbs .24 runs. What a waste :). Seriously though, an excellent outing by everybody but Timlin who I hope is just being rusty yet.
ReplyDeleteWith Coco going 2 for 4 he’s now up to .253 and once again made another very good catch.
Also, Mr. Cora making it mighty tough for Tito to stick to the Pedroia Plan.
ReplyDeleteCora will go back to being Cora soon enough. I hope Pedroia becomes Pedroia soon, too!